The Portcullis 2023

The Portcullis

2023 The Chronicle of Warwick School

WARWICK SCHOOL STAFF LIST 2022-2023 SENIOR SCHOOL

2004* 1993 1975 1990* 1990 1995 1997 1998 1998* 2000 2002 2003* 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2006 2006 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2009 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010

Mr J.S. Barker Dr S.R. Chapman Mr P.J. O’Grady Mr E.J. Hadley Mr D.J. Snatt Mr J.N. Jefferies Mr J.D. Stone Mrs L.H. Hodge Mrs A.J. Lee Mr C.G.J. Gibbs Mr B.L. Davies Mrs A.M. Albrighton Mr C. Riman Mr G.J. Field Mr T.W. Hancock Dr A. Hodskinson Mr P. Montero Mrs A.S. Quinn Mrs O.P.M.M. Thomas Mr M.C. Perry Mr T.D. Pierce Mr K.C. Davenport Miss H.J. Bowie Mr S.R.G. Francis Mr M.G.L. Cooley Mr N.A. Martlew Dr C.M.L. Nuttall Mr D.A. Stephenson Mr L.D. Eaton Mrs R.E. Morgan Mr O.R. O’Brien Mr G.M.F. Wade Mrs K.J. Wyatt

2010 2011 2011* 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018

Miss E.R. Smith Mr C.J. Grant Mr P.M. Titmas Mr T.J. Lindsay Mr D.C. Bull Mr E.N. Leaf Mr P.M. Walker Mrs H.V. Brebner Mr M.J. Alton Mrs J.R. Estill Mrs J.E. Goodbourn Mrs D.M. Hammond Mrs G.E. Taylor Dr K. Tudge Mr H. Venter Mr R.M.H. Thomson Mrs V.J. Bell Mr W.A.C. Deacon Mr J.E. Delaney Mr G.D. Milsom Mr J.A. Sutherland Mrs A.L. Wilson Mr D.G. Robertson Mr J. Soper Mr D.J. Storer Mr A.P.M. Whittle Miss Z.J. Yeldham Miss N.J.E. Atkinson Mrs M.F.V. Browne Mrs H. Leaf Dr G. Cafolla Mr M.D.W. Graham Mrs P.J.S. Kitchen Mr A.R.G. Peck Dr M.L. John Miss A.R. Andrews Miss H.V. Hemming Mrs A.S. Kirby Mrs K.A. Poole Mrs I. Sanchez-Sanz Mr F. Viti Mr I.R. Willis Mr B.P. Andrews Mrs R.M. Francis Mr C. Hibbard Mrs E.R. Jacka Mrs A.L. Larke Miss F.L. Porter

Head Master Senior Deputy Headmaster, Geography Mathematics Russian, History, Latin Art Politics, History Design Technology English Japanese, French, Spanish Deputy Head (Co-curricular), History Mathematics English as an Additional Language, History Design Technology Physics Physical Education Geography Music (Woodwind) English French Drama Physical Education Mathematics Geography Physical Education Latin, Greek, Classical Civilisation Mathematics Biology Latin, Greek, Classical Civilisation Theology & Philosophy Latin, Classical Civilisation, Greek, EPQ History Physical Education Deputy Head (Teaching & Learning), English, Design Thinking Spanish, French Chemistry Mathematics Music Boarding House Master Mathematics History, Politics German Assistant Design Technology German Spanish French Assistant English Chemistry Physical Education Deputy Head (Pastoral), Geography Mathematics Economics, Business Studies History, Politics Mathematics History Pastoral Support Manager Music (Performance) Music (Academic); Chaplain Music (Jazz and Rock) Physics Biology English History Senior Mental Health Lead Physics Economics, Business Studies Curriculum Support, English Design Technology Chemistry Art Psychology Psychology Mathematics Spanish Assistant Latin, Greek, Classical Civilisation Physical Education Deputy Head (Academic), German Art Physics Theology & Philosophy Geography Mathematics

2018 2018 2018 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2021 2021

Mrs A.J. Stevenson-Ray Mr A.C. Ward Mrs N.J. Fitch Mrs A.L. Bradshaw Mr C.T. Bennett Miss J.J. Burel Mr M.R. Burchett Mr R. Etheridge Ms J.A. France Mr D.J. Hesketh Mrs S.H. Sutherland Mr C. Roberts Mr D.J. Tibbitts Mr A.W. Town Mr R.A. Parkinson Mr N.O. Tapper-Gray Mrs B.V. Holton Mrs R.C. Hardiman Mr A.O. Jones Mr B.W. Smith Mrs M.E. Forde Mrs O.J. Davies

Drama Chemistry Curriculum Support Geography History, Politics French, Spanish Physical Education Physics Chemistry Physical Education, Geography English Physical Education (Hockey & Cricket) Music (Brass) English, Drama Art Careers & Volunteering Mathematics English Mathematics Theology & Philosophy, Classical Civilisation Spanish, French Curriculum Support, Theology & Philosophy, Critical Thinking Physical Education Business Studies, Design Thinking Physics Curriculum Support and SEND Biology Computer Science English French, Spanish Sixth Form Supervisor Economics, Business Studies Biology Music Mathematics Chemistry Computer Science Art, Design Thinking (maternity cover) Psychology Music (Keyboard) Biology, Chemistry, Physics Mathematics Computer Science Music (Strings) Biology, Chemistry, Physics French, German Biology Theology and Philosophy Classics

2021 2021 2021 2021 2021 2021 2021 2021 2021 2022 2022 2022 2022 2022 2022 2022 2022 2022 2022 2022 2022 2022 2022 2022 2022 2023 2023

Mr C.T. Maguire Mrs P.J. Allard-Dando Mr J.T. Allen Ms A.L. Hillman Ms R. Irani Mr A.S. Keech Ms K.E. Lance Mrs S.L. Mills Mr J.A. Ryan Mr T.J. Mahony Mr E.M. Bamford Mrs C.V. Baskerville Mrs C.A. Baxter Mrs R. Chapman Mr P.J. Clarke Miss A. Cox Ms R. Evans Ms E. Hooker Mrs N. Husselbee Mr G. Maycock Mr H.J. Preece Mrs K.M. Robinson Mr Z. Shirley Mr G.P. Stingemore Mrs R.T. Stokes Dr D.A. McKee Mr J.G. Boyd

2023 2016 2007 2004 2008 2008 2008 2010 2012 2012 2014 2015 2015 2015 2017 2017 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2019 2019 2020 2020 2021 2021 2022 2022 2022 2022

Mr J. Bond Headmaster Mr A.C. Hymer Headmaster (till December 2022) Miss H.N. Mellor Deputy Head Mrs K. Bull Mrs J. Kruze Mrs C.J. Askwith Mrs R.J. Cowie Mr O.R. Herringshaw Miss L.C. Sharp Mr J. Williamson Ms H.D. Sayers Mrs H.D. Brotherton Mrs F.J. Goodrem Miss K.L. Walton Mrs E. Bradbury (Teaching Assistant) Mrs S.A. Morris (Teaching Assistant) Miss D.H. Curle Mr R.J. Hargett Mrs L.S. Pascoe Mrs K. Perry (Teaching Assistant) Mr T.I. Wurr Mr M.R. Burchett Mrs J.L. Shepstone Mr A. Lewis Mrs H. Blake Miss N.L. Pinson Mr M. Homan Mrs J. Bartley Mrs C. Robertson Mrs H. Stevns Mrs L. Hardstaff (Teaching Assistant)

JUNIOR SCHOOL

* denotes break in continuous service

Message from the

Head Master am confident that with our ongoing “ Idedication to innovation, personal development, and holistic education, we will continue to provide our pupils with the skills and values necessary to thrive in the ever-changing world.

R

eflecting on my third year as Head Master of Warwick School, I am filled with mixed emotions.

Every year, The Portcullis provides an opportunity to read about the remarkable achievements of Warwick School’s pupils, and the pages that follow are no different. In November, these achievements were recognised when Warwick School was named Independent Boys’ School of the Year, an award that acknowledges our commitment to providing an education that combines our rich history and traditional values with an innovative approach. We strive to prepare our pupils not only to achieve outstanding exam results but also for the challenges and opportunities that await them in the future.

It is gratifying to see the rest of the world finally recognising what our community has long known – that a Warwick education is truly holistic and prepares our pupils for successful careers and fulfilling lives.

will also be offered as an option for Year 9 pupils, with plans to introduce GCSE and Sixth Form options in the future.

Through these curriculum initiatives, we ensure that our pupils not only acquire subject-specific knowledge but also develop critical thinking, communication, and collaborative skills that are essential for their future success and highly valued by employers.

In line with our commitment to the holistic development of our pupils, we introduced the Floreat Programme this year. Derived from the Latin word for “flourish,” which forms the rousing refrain of our school song, it brings character education to the forefront of our curriculum. Through this programme, our pupils are encouraged to participate in a range of activities and reflect on their experiences to develop our school values.

However, Arun’s death has further highlighted the importance of mental health among young people, and we are committed to working alongside organisations such as the Samaritans, Papyrus, and Ripple to support our students’ emotional well-being. To further enhance our pastoral care, we will be introducing mixed-age tutor groups from September. This change will allow us to know and celebrate every pupil, fostering our sense of belonging and community.

Curriculum innovation is a key focus at Warwick School.

This year, we launched the Year 8 Design Thinking course, developed in partnership with Warwick University’s Business School. This course, the first of its kind in the UK, encourages interdisciplinary thinking and problemsolving skills. Our Lower Sixth participated in our annual conference, held in partnership with the London Interdisciplinary School. This conference provided our pupils with the chance to explore the topic of inequality from different perspectives. In September, we will be introducing Food Science to our curriculum for the first time. With support from a current parent, our modern food laboratory will be ready to welcome all Year 7 and 8 pupils for a fortnightly lesson in this important life skill. The subject

Undoubtedly, this year will be remembered for the tragic loss of one of our Upper Sixth students, Arun. Arun’s passing has deeply affected our entire community, and our thoughts remain with his family. This sorrow has been balanced with an overwhelming sense of pride in how our community has come together to support one another during this difficult time. My colleagues have shown remarkable pastoral care, and our pupils have displayed compassion and empathy towards one another and the staff.

As I reflect on the past year, I cannot ignore the depth of sorrow we have experienced, but I am also filled with immense pride in our community’s resilience, compassion, and commitment to supporting one another. It is through times of adversity that the true essence of a community is revealed, and we have all witnessed the strength and caring nature of our school. I am confident that with our ongoing dedication to innovation, personal development, and holistic education, we will continue to provide our pupils with the skills and values necessary to thrive in the ever-changing world.

JSB Portcullis 2023 / 1

Meet the

T

Editor

he pages that follow are testament to the hard work, dedication, and talent that our students and staff bring to Warwick School every day. From academic triumphs to artistic endeavours, from sporting accomplishments to community outreach, the stories found within these pages reflect the vibrant and dynamic spirit that defines our school.

The Portcullis

THE CHRONICLE OF WARWICK SCHOOL

NUMBER 126 AUTUMN 2023

CONTENTS Message from the Head Master .......P1 Meet the Editor ......................................P2

This year has seen the introduction of the Floreat program. This initiative, steeped in the values and traditions that define the school, has been invaluable for our boys as they seek to become responsible, compassionate, and well-rounded individuals.

The accounts within these pages bear testament to the transformative power of character education and we are proud of all those who have embraced the program with dedication and enthusiasm.

Another highlight of this year’s journey was the return of overseas trips to a wide range of destinations, from India to the United States. Our boys embarked on journeys of discovery, broadening their horizons, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

It would be remiss of me to not pay tribute to my predecessor, Eric Hadley. It brings to mind the timeless words of Sir Isaac Newton, who once remarked “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Eric is undoubtedly one of those giants who has played an instrumental role in shaping this very publication, crafting its identity, and nurturing its growth. Although he has stepped down from his role as editor, his legacy remains woven into the fabric of this publication. I am grateful for the guidance Eric has given me as I take on the mantle.

Community ............................................P36

I would like to extend my thanks to all who have contributed to this year’s edition, to Allan Young of Fosse Cottage Media, Ellie Young and Peter O’Grady for supplying many of the photographs featured, Heather Mellor for her work as the editor of the Junior School content, and Anne Douglas for editing the Old Warwickians content and compiling the obituaries of former staff and alumni.

Activities ................................................P44

BWS

From the Principal ................................P4 Around the Departments ...............P18

Creative Arts ........................................P56 Travel .......................................................P70 The Junior School ..............................P84 Pastoral and Features ....................P106 From the Archivist ...........................P118 Sportcullis ...........................................P121 Old Warwickians ..............................P154 Obituaries ............................................P162 Editor: Benedict Smith Photography: Peter O’Grady and Ellie Young Front Cover: U15 Rugby quarter-final Rear Cover: Lower Sixth Geography Fieldwork Trip E: portcullis@warwickschool.org Design and Print: fcmltd141@gmail.com 2 / Portcullis 2023

In Memory of Arun Dhir 2005 – 2023

It is with our deepest sadness that we are dedicating this edition of The Portcullis to an incredible individual. Arun was a remarkable student: intelligent, witty, but above all a loyal friend. It is fair to say he was a kind, generous, and fun person with a wonderfully dry sense of humour. I know his friends cannot help but smile when they tell stories of him, and I am certain he will always be remembered for the joy he bought to those around him and his ever-infectious ear-to-ear smile.

GCSE Results Day 2023

A Level Results Day 2023

Portcullis 2023 / 3

From the

Principal “

We will inspire and excite imaginations, bringing joy to lives.

A

year in the life of our Foundation is impossible to capture succinctly. This magazine is dedicated to the life of Warwick School: equally full testimonials are written for our other schools. Whole volumes are needed to do justice to the richness of the experiences and opportunities for the communities which make up our wider Foundation family.

During the year, the new Warwick Schools Foundation strategy was launched. This is strategy for the charity overall, giving it both a character and articulating the values and intents. It provides a framework for what makes an education at all of our schools so special, and the ‘plus’ of being part of a group of schools. It also provides space for the growing educational initiatives which sit outside the schools, but from which our communities – including the wider educational community – benefit. The full strategy document may be found here; www.warwickschool.org/warwick-schoolsfoundation and in summary is as follows:

Purpose: Transforming Lives through the Power of Education Our Values Together, we aspire to excellence Together, we lead with courage Together, we foster inclusivity Together, we are respectful Together, we draw on the best of each other Our Strategic Intents We will put learning at the heart of all we do We will cultivate a healthy environment for the mental and physical self We will be forward-thinking and innovative We will inspire and excite imaginations, bringing joy to lives We will build a connected local, national and global community We will take responsibility for protecting our planet

Values:

At the Foundation Service at St Mary’s last September, I highlighted one of these values: drawing on the best of each other. This has been lived out amply this year, and I am pleased to share just a handful of highlights.

Often the most impactful shared initiatives are those which come directly from the student body. This year, one such impactful development is deserving of particular note. Spearheaded by Josh Turner, Warwick’s Head of School all our schools and other schools locally contributed to the purchase of a delivery van for our local foodbank, answering both a local need and supporting those less fortunate on the doorstep of our schools.

This example of pupil-led initiatives was a spur for our first Foundation Pupil Conference. With contributions from Warwick and Kingsley Pre-Prep up to sixth formers from our three senior schools, there are many great ideas on which to draw.

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Music has also played a major part in both our pupils’ shared experiences and our partnership work – drawing on the best of ourselves institutionally as well as individually.

2022-23 saw the second year of ‘Warwick – A Singing Town,’ funded through the grant made to the Foundation by King Henry VIII Endowed Trust, Warwick. A core part of this initiative is putting singing back in the curriculum experiences of pupils in town’s primary schools. To that end, some 1600 pupils now have singing provided through our dedicated team of choral specialists. A high point for the programme was undoubted the commissioning and performance of ‘Weaving Warwick Stories’, a song-cycle written by Lillie Harris (music) and Laura Attridge (lyrics), ‘crowd funded’ by the participating schools, the Town Council and the Foundation. Well over 300 pupils performed this to a packed Warwick Hall in July, with a second performance scheduled in the newly refurbished Lord Leycester Hospital. More about the programme may be found here: www.warwicksingingtown.co.uk.

One of the termly singing days organised as part of Singing Town saw the re-launch (post pandemic) of the Foundation’s choral society, Canticum. It has been a real privilege to direct this group of enthusiastic and ambitious singers, who all have such a strong affinity to our Foundation – current and former parents and staff, and our friends from the wider community.

Another important partnership about to enter its third year, is our residency with the Orchestra of the Swan. Not only are their headquarters now on the Myton Campus, but the concert series is helping to put both Warwick Hall and the Foundation more widely on the artistic and cultural map. Allied to this are education programmes for our own pupils (notably a ‘side by side’ concert performance) and keen musicians at local schools. This has included orchestra days for primary pupils and secondary pupils. What a joy it has been to see – and hear – so many local pupils making music together.

Such is our commitment to the importance of music in education that we are welcoming Mr Stuart Thompson to the new role of Executive Foundation Music Lead in September, to work shoulder to shoulder with the schools in further developing excellence and creating a more vibrant Foundation pillar of music-making, building on the successes of the Foundation Symphony Orchestra and the Foundation Chamber Choir, and also developing our partnership programmes.

None of the great work across the schools and the Foundation could happen without a strong community: expert staff – both teaching and in Professional Services, committed parents, and forward-thinking Governors, and of course our wonderful pupils. I would like to thank everyone for the part they play in making our Foundation such a positive force for good, and a beacon for educational excellence, made all the more meaningful by wholeheartedly drawing on and sharing selflessly the best of ourselves.

Richard Nicholson

Staff News

Newly-appointed staff: September 2023 John Boyd Nick Foan

Tristan Brooker Cahir O’Kane

George Bates

Meagan O’Sullivan

Patrick Horsington

Abigail Sugden

Ben Hurst

Elliott Stevenson-Ray

NEWLY-APPOINTED STAFF

January 2023

■ Mr Dan McKee, to be Head of Theology and Philosophy, having initially provided maternity cover in the absence of Mrs Jacka

June 2023

■ Mr John Boyd, to teach Classics

September 2023

■ Mr George Bates, OW, to teach Design and Technology ■ Mr Anton Clarke-Butler, to be Head of Woodwind

■ Mr Patrick Horsington, to teach Business and Economics ■ Mr Benjamin Hurst to teach Physical Education ■ Mrs Meagan O’Sullivan, to be Head of Food Science ■ Mr Elliot Stevenson-Ray, to teach Geography and Theology and Philosophy ■ Miss Abigail Sugden, to be Head of LAMDA ■ Mr Tristan Brooker, OW, and Mr Cahir O’Kane, alongside Mr Nick Foan, and Mr Ayden Hurst (who joined us in September 2022), to assist in the Sports Department.

CHANGES IN STAFF RESPONSIBILITY 2023 ■ Mr Craig Bennett was acting Head of Character Education from January 2023.

■ Mr Alex Peck was acting House Co-ordinator from January 2023.

■ Mrs Kimberley Wyatt has been appointed Senior Deputy Head.

■ Mr Dave Hesketh is now the Director of Rugby, having taken over from Mr Tom Pierce who leaves to become the Director of Foundation Sport at Berkhamsted School.

■ Mr Chris Grant has taken over as Contingent Commander CCF from Mr Keith Davenport.

■ Mr Henno Venter has been replaced as Head of Tudor House, by Mr Edward Leaf. Mr Conor Maguire and Mrs Annaliesa Stevenson-Ray are now the repective Heads of Brooke and Greville.

■ Mrs Rachel Hardiman has been appointed Head of English, handing her responsibility as Assistant Head of Middle School over to Mrs Alice Larke.

■ Mrs Alexandra Quinn is now the Assistant Head Teaching and Learning.

■ Mrs Ashleigh Kirby has been appointed Assistant Head of Sixth Form as Mrs Kate Poole takes on the role of Assistant Head Pastoral.

■ Mr Ed Bamford is now the Lower School Science Coordinator.

■ Ms Kate Lance has been appointed as the Head of Debating.

■ Mr Ayden Hurst, a Sports Graduate, has been appointed the Physical Fitness lead.

Portcullis 2023 / 5

The Staff Year: Retirements and Resignations

SIMON CHAPMAN 1993-2023

Simon Chapman arrived at Warwick School in 1993 as the Head of Geography, bringing with him the youthful enthusiasm and idealism of David Powlett-Jones (from the TV series “To Serve Them All My Days,” ITV 1980-1981). Over the next thirty years, he made an incalculable contribution to the life of Warwick School as an inspiring teacher. His exceptional grasp of detail, intellectual brilliance, complete sense of fairness, and absolute integrity earned him deep admiration and respect as a Deputy Head Teacher, making him one of the few teachers deserving of the title “Warwick School legend.” Supported by Rosemary, another brilliant teacher, and his wonderful daughters, Sarah and Jenny, Simon’s impact on the school is truly remarkable.

Although many students and colleagues will associate Simon with his role in senior management and school development, he is also a formidable geographer. Early in his career, he published an acclaimed textbook and quickly established himself as a fantastic Head of the Geography Department at Warwick, making the subject one of the most popular with consistently excellent results. As a young History teacher, I aspired to achieve results even remotely close to Simon’s exceptional GCSE and A Level records. His success stems not only from his infectious enthusiasm but also from his unparalleled attention to detail, extraordinary ability to derive meaning from data, and profound understanding of educational theory. In fact, he was awarded a PhD in 2002 for his research on curriculum development.

Teachers who possess the ability to extend their expertise beyond their own subjects and enhance the overall educational experience are rare, and those who do so

6 / Portcullis 2023

with such empathy for others’ sensibilities are even rarer. It was inevitable that Simon would be promoted to Director of Studies and then Deputy Head (Academic), where he brought exceptional professionalism to academic development, target setting, and results. He even introduced Heads of Departments to daunting concepts like Alis and MidYIS. Simon accomplished all of this while maintaining his focus on helping students achieve their best, earning the admiration of his colleagues. His seamless transition to greater professionalism is a testament to his kindness, compassion, and deep Christian faith. Simon never loses sight of the individual, and some of my happiest moments at Warwick have been our conversations about figures such as Henry VII and other legendary personalities from Simon’s beloved homeland. Simon’s passion for History rivals his love for Geography, as evidenced by his recent promotion as co-presenter of the Heaton Podcast, where his detailed notes match his incisive questioning. His skills as an academic and his engaging demeanour would undoubtedly have made him an exceptional presenter for Radio 4’s Today programme. Just listen to his interviews with Michael Heseltine or his guided tours of Edgehill battlefield with a microphone to experience his expertise firsthand. Even Geography Field Trips were enriched by Simon’s wit, charm, and encyclopedic knowledge. Richard Thomson fondly remembers their year 8 trips to Castleton, where he always wanted to be on Simon’s coach, feeling like he had a personal tour guide.

Simon’s initiatives and changes to the school, often met with opposition, have been so successful that it is difficult to imagine the school without them. The introduction of the two-week timetable and the elimination of form banding, streaming, and the practice of posting subject exam

results in order of merit are just a few examples. Simon’s profound understanding of academic theory is evidenced by the publication of his work in the Times Educational Supplement. However, this is not to say that Simon is perfect. His tremendous workload may only allow him to fully focus on his keyboard skills once he retires. But then again, who would want to miss receiving an email like this recent one: “As many of you may already be aware, a number of Travellers have occupied part of Myton School’s fields overnight. Myton has closed today, with the execution of those taking external exams.”

In addition to his numerous academic commitments, Simon is also a passionate sportsman. The aroma of swimming pool chlorine often permeates his study, and he has coached both rugby and cricket teams, as well as presiding over swimming galas with his inimitable energy and adherence to the highest standards of sportsmanship.

Simon’s unwavering commitment to fair play and his dedication to Warwick led to his appointment as Senior Deputy Head in later years. His appointment from among the teaching staff, with universal acclaim, is a fitting recognition of his exceptional qualities. In this role, Simon guided the school through various challenges, including the relocation of King’s High to the Myton Road site, relentless inspections

by ISI, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the sudden loss of colleagues Bill Macro and Bill Gill, as well as Upper Sixth Former Arun Dhir. No one else could have handled these situations as Simon did, and I will always remember his beautiful eulogy for Bill Gill. Simon’s ability to strike the right tone during moments of grief helped many of us cope with our loss and is just one of the many reasons why the school will never be the same without him.

JNJ

STAFF NEWS

TOM PIERCE 2006-2023

In bidding farewell to Tom Pierce, we are saying goodbye to one of the outstanding educators at Warwick School. Most people will think of rugby coaching when they think of Tom, but there is, in fact, much more to him and his career at Warwick. His ability to inspire and encourage his colleagues, players, and pupils is what has made him such an exceptional member of the school community. Tom’s teaching philosophy focuses on the importance of educating the whole person, and he has consistently put this into practice, especially with his rugby tea Parents have consistently remarked upon his ability to be a strong role model for the young men under his guidance. Tom has made significant contributions across our school community in the seventeen years he has been here, serving as a pastoral leader in addition to his sporting commitments.

Let us begin with rugby, as it has been the focal point of Tom’s school life. After spending time playing rugby for Wasps and representing England at the agegroup level, Tom chose to pursue a career in teaching. He initially taught at a school in Reading before joining Warwick.

At Warwick, he has always coached a variety of teams with a range of abilities. I can vividly recall him often coming along to help me coach the U16C rugby team on Wednesday afternoons. Needless to say, the boys tended to respond better to his coaching methods than to mine.

Tom has been particularly successful at the elite level. Over the years, we have come to associate Tom with remarkable achievements, delivering memorable moments for our entire school community. The opportunity to visit Twickenham for finals day in the rugby schools cup and support the U15 and U18 teams in exciting matches were incredible experiences. For those who witnessed these events, they undoubtedly became lifelong memories.

However, what stands out most to me about Tom’s coaching career are his abilities to transform teams throughout a season. In 2013, Tom won his first

PHILIP MONTERO Schools Cup, thanks to some stunning play by Will Stride in the final. Yet, it was the semi-final match against Bromsgrove that was even more dramatic. Having suffered a 50-0 defeat to them the previous September, Tom masterminded an unlikely win when the teams met again. It truly was a victory by the narrowest of margins, winning by just a single point, including a try scored by Nick David, who dived full length to get his fingertips on the ball while chasing it. Tom’s consistent ability to create a team greater than the sum of its parts is a remarkable skill he possesses. As the Director of Rugby, Tom has remained committed to getting as many boys as possible involved in playing rugby. It is a testament to him that we have continued to field C and D teams regularly on Saturdays, even as participation in the sport has declined more widely. He leaves behind a flourishing and dynamic rugby programme.

Within our community, Tom has made valuable contributions to school life in numerous ways. He has served as a Form Tutor, Head of Year, Head of House, tennis coach, and a PE teacher.

In all these aspects of school life, Tom has brought his enthusiasm and passion to maximize opportunities for the pupils in his care. Perhaps the best example of this is his complete revamping of the tennis programme at the school. Here, he not only increased the number of boys playing the sport in matches for the school but also achieved success in national competitions. As a Form Tutor and Head of Year, he has shown care and dedication. More recently, as the Head of Greville, he has inspired boys to participate in house events.

On a personal note, I would like to express my gratitude to Tom for his friendship over the years. He has been a sociable member of the Common Room and always excellent company. We wish him, his wife Lucy, and their children Lily and Charlie all the best on their new adventure at Berkhamsted.

ORO’B

2004-2023

Philip Montero first joined Warwick School, fresh from the Birmingham Conservatoire, as a part-time, temporary, visiting music teacher in April 2004. Nearly twenty years later, we bid farewell to him as the Head of Woodwind and the master in charge of music scholars; and, needless to say, a teacher who dedicated much more than full-time hours, despite his daily commute to and from Rutland. He leaves us, primarily to prioritise his family and to spend more time with his partner and young daughter.

As our first Head of Woodwind, Phil has overseen the flourishing of wind playing across the entire foundation. Currently, there are eight woodwind teachers across the foundation, and 100 boys at WS/WJS who have weekly lessons. At the senior level, he has assembled and conducted groups from various parts of the foundation, capable of skilfully tackling wind repertoire masterpieces such as Mozart’s Gran Partita and Dvorak’s Serenade for Wind.

In addition to organizing the Music Scholars’ Concerts, which have now expanded to several per year, and monitoring the progress of music scholars, he has recently established a ‘pathway’ for aspiring professional musicians.

Nevertheless, he has always made time for younger and smaller groups, as well as arranging pieces to be performed en masse by every single Warwick School or Foundation wind player as a grand finale for wind concerts.

Phil has inspired players through his own example, which includes some memorable solo performances at concerts, but most often by leading groups and showcasing his proficiency on a wide range of instruments, including his EWI (electronic wind instrument).

He has also led and accompanied numerous ‘string weekends’ and concert trips. Last, but certainly not least, Phil has always shown genuine and broader interest in his pupils.

One of the highlights of his final term must have been achieving a crucial victory in the staff vs. leavers chess match against a music scholar he had taught all the way from Year 3 to U6th.

We wish him every success in his future endeavours, whatever path he chooses to pursue.

MGLC Portcullis 2023 / 7

STAFF NEWS for jobs elsewhere. However, when I realized it wasn’t entirely due to my policy documentation, I accepted that it was a sensible decision for his future. He will certainly be greatly missed by all of us in DT. We’ve worked together for such a long time, and established patterns of work that will be hard to replicate.

MIKE ALTON 2013-2023

The Warwick School Design and Technology will no longer shake to the sound of Michael Alton’s booming voice.

Over the years, I’ve noticed a steady increase in the volume of his lessons.

Whether this is due to constant exposure to machine noise or a developing teaching style, we may never know. His physical presence in the classroom was never in doubt, and he could often be seen entering head-first, ducking under door frames.

He was initially employed as the ‘metal man’ we were looking for, but as the years passed, it became clear that Mike was not only an excellent metal basher, but also surprisingly good at Maths, adept at anything computer-based, and innovative in his approach to teaching coursework.

During departmental discussions, he often threw out the phrase ‘when I was at Chellaston’ with a regularity akin to Uncle Albert’s ‘during the war’ phrase, but he always made a good point. Mike is a clear thinker and has developed a keen filter for what is important. He would often ‘file’ my new departmental policies away for careful reading later! If the maintenance staff find a pile of ‘unread’ policy documents inside the roof space above M. Alton’s desk, then you know who to blame.

Outside of DT, I believe he would say himself that he was humbled by the respect he received from his RAF cadets over the years. He took his role as Head of the RAF at Warwick very seriously, and we’ll all miss Mike’s ritual of getting prepped and ready for it in the DT office every Friday lunchtime, with ‘You Can Leave Your Hat On’ playing in the background.

Mike’s extra-curricular talents also led him to become Head of House for Brooke.

He made it look easy, and his ability to be creative and think of new and exciting ways to involve his house made it work so well. If there was ever an example of how to perform in this role, Mike’s would be it.

I couldn’t help but feel disappointed when Mike told me he was looking

8 / Portcullis 2023

I won’t draw attention to the fires, broken windows, or floods that have occurred in his wake. Instead, I’ll just say, cheers Mike, for everything you’ve done over the years, and good luck in the future.

CR

HENNO VENTER 2013-2023

Henno joined Warwick School in 2012 as a part-time rugby professional coach.

He has spent ten years and had amazing success with the Rugby Club. After three years, he became the Assistant Director of Rugby, and it was no surprise that in his first year in that position he managed to guide the 1XV to a School Cup victory over QEGS Wakefield at Twickenham.

Henno then moved into the Junior Boarding House, Way House, with his wife Michelle and his two children, Leandi and Luwan. They quickly settled into their roles as magnificent house parents for over seven years, guiding many of the Junior Boarding House pupils and settling them off on their journey through the school. Henno continued his fantastic success as a coach, helping the U18s reach two more Twickenham finals in 2019 and 2020, only for the finals to be cruelly cancelled due to COVID-19.

Henno is a remarkable rugby coach who can engage players from different ability levels and keep them focused during all his coaching sessions. He excels at coaching the forwards in Rugby Union and has a great love for the “maul”!

Henno has organised over four tours to Edinburgh and supported the memorable

2018 tour to Australia and New Zealand.

He is one of the main reasons why rugby has been so successful at Warwick School over the past decade. The school rightfully earned the 2010-2020 School Team of the Decade award by NextGen. He is not one to promote himself, and his personal values have a positive impact on the entire rugby community. Henno is one of those behind-the-scenes staff members who drive the sport to new heights in terms of participation and performance. How does hours and hours of video analysis footage find its way onto our Coach Logic platform? How does all the kit get laid out in the 1XV changing room in perfect order? And how does every bus, catering meal, and staff member arrive at the right place at the right time? Well, that’s all thanks to Henno!

We have very fond memories of his fantastic pre-match speeches and his humble coaching style. More recently, Henno has transitioned out of his boarding role and has worked in both the well-being team and outreach. In 2021, he took over as the Head of Tudor House and has done a great job promoting a variety of house events. Henno is a fantastic mentor to the students, and he thrives on supporting their mental skills and challenging them to achieve great heights, aligning with the school motto of “Altiora Peto,” meaning “striving for higher things.” He has presented to local club coaches, organized mixed touch tournaments for local primaries, and much more.

We wish him the very best of luck with his move to Portsmouth Grammar School in September 2023, and I’m sure our paths will cross in the future. He will be greatly missed from the blue and whites. A massive thank you for all you have done, Henno.

TDP

STAFF NEWS to genuine modesty and unsignalled virtue, he really does set the standard.

I know I speak for a lot of colleagues, and for a lot of boys who will look back fondly in later life at their lessons with Mr Viti, when I say that he will be deeply missed.

He goes north to RGS Newcastle with our warmest wishes for all that lies ahead.

DAS

FILIPPO VITI

ELIZABETH JACKA

Filippo joined us in September 2017 as an NQT after prevailing over a strong competitive field of applicants and showed from the outset that he was getting into this game for all the right reasons. As his Head of Department, I certainly could not have asked for more. He was always properly prepared, dynamic, fostering friendly but productive relations with a genuinely warm caring persona. Though himself a very scholarly individual who could certainly stretch the most able in furtherance of their Oxbridge aspirations, he was equally comfortable supporting all the boys productively at their own level. As our ICT rep he led the way for the rest of the department in the foray into the dreaded One-Note, now rather less dreaded thanks to him, and I have personally appreciated his abundant contributions to our academic enrichment and trips, home and abroad, as well as his running of the junior Classics Club. More widely he has in his time coached Rugby, Tennis, Ultimate Frisbee and Basketball, run an Italian club and helped with the Linguistics Olympiad.

Lizzy took over from Reverend Gough in 2018 and quickly established herself as a dynamic Head of Department.

Within a short time, she was able to set up the School’s Certificate of Philosophy, which continues to be a popular initiative with the pupils and is a well-respected accredited course. She entirely restructured the department and curriculum, moving from ‘RP’ to ‘TP’ and overseeing the development of Critical Thinking as a subject. Her efforts added real energy to the team, which subsequently made the subject incredibly popular with the pupils. It is currently one of the top choices for university degrees. Her high standards, verve, and creativity were real features of her tenure as Head of Theology and Philosophy.

2017-2022

But this is starting to sound like a reference when all that stuff goes without saying in a schoolmaster of Filippo’s calibre. None of it quite strikes at the heart of how I know the boys feel about him – the warmth, the appreciation, the genuine affection they have for him.

You see it perhaps best on the trips – I remember for example the Gala Rizatto song redrafted by a coachful of boys in Greece from “freed from desire, mind and senses purified” to “Viti’s on fire, playing with his figurines” presumably after he’d been clocked buying them from some rip-off souvenir stand in Athens. This is my 20th year as a Head of Department and I’ve mentored more than my fair share of beginning teachers. Mentoring Filippo has been one of my career’s most rewarding experiences. He leaves us after just under six years, though it feels like a lot longer, of giving 110% from beginning to end. And what is perhaps most significant, what is perhaps the single thing I will miss most of all about him, is that you would never hear him breathe a word about it – when it comes

2018-2023

JESSICA FRANCE 2019-2023

Jess arrived at Warwick, having followed Andrew Ward from Bluecoat School. Full of energy, Jess has thrown herself into many activities at Warwick School. As a caring and passionate form tutor, she has helped many students and provided a great deal of support to her tutees during the difficulties of the pandemic lockdown.

During her time in the department, Jess led an engineering activity where she and her sixth-form students worked with members of the RAF to design and build a frame that could be quickly constructed and dismantled on board an aircraft, allowing airmen to service ordnance midflight.

Jess has inspired many of the younger students by running a Thursday evening science club, where she encourages them to plan and carry out science investigations of their own design.

As a keen hockey player, she has played an important role in coaching the senior hockey team during training sessions and matches.

Beyond her curriculum initiatives, she also set up the Floreat awards in her role as Head of Character Education. This derived from her belief in developing the whole pupil and her core value that “we are what we repeatedly do” (Aristotle).

This belief drove her to coordinate a diverse range of House events and design a programme to allow the students to flourish in all aspects of their moral, spiritual, intellectual, and physical lives. We are really grateful to her for the legacy she has created, which will last for many years to come.

As a colleague, she will be greatly missed. Her wit, sharp intellect, and gregarious joie de vivre made her a pleasure to be around. We wish her every success in her new role.

KJW

Jess is leaving us to become a house mistress at Culford School in Bury St. Edmunds, and we wish her and her son Alexander the very best as they head off to Suffolk.

CJG Portcullis 2023 / 9

STAFF NEWS

ANDREW WARD 2018-2023

Andrew joined us from Bluecoat School and, from the start, demonstrated his willingness to try new ideas and use technology in the classroom. When it comes to practical investigations, Andrew is a passionate advocate of microscale experiments, demonstrating to all of us that the same outcomes can be achieved with the use of fewer chemicals. This microscale approach proved to be a boon during the pandemic when we all faced limited access to laboratories.

During lockdown, Andrew experimented with different teaching styles and recorded exceptionally detailed lessons for his students to follow. Lockdown also saw him encourage students to focus on chess as a pastime, and when the pandemic concluded, he was able to rejuvenate the sport as both a lunchtime club and a Friday afternoon activity. Chess has grown from strength to strength, with Andrew leading the school team to many fixtures across the county.

PANDORA ALLARDDANDO 2021-2023

Pandora joined the Business department during the Covid-19 restrictions, which made for an unusual interview process involving the teaching of a remote lesson.

As a teacher, Pandora swiftly established a high level of trust among her students and skilfully utilised that rapport for great success, both academically and pastorally.

With her highly creative pedagogical style and natural, effervescent personality, she ignited student interest in the subject across all her classes. Moreover, she quickly forged positive relationships with colleagues throughout the staff body and made valuable contributions across various areas of the school. Always ready to help in any way possible, yet humble in taking credit for her achievements, Pandora was an immensely valued member of the Business and Economics department, and she will be greatly missed.

SARAH MILLS 2021-2022

Sarah joined the MFL department in September 2021, relocating back to her native UK after spending many years in the USA. She immediately impressed us as a first-rate linguist, showcasing her excellent command of French and Spanish. With her fresh teaching ideas from across the pond, gained from nine years of teaching in Hanover, New Hampshire, she brought a new perspective to the department. Sarah’s contributions extended beyond her role in the department; she actively participated in various departmental clubs and clinics and enthusiastically involved herself in wider school activities, such as assisting at the Pickard Street community centre in Warwick as a Friday afternoon activity.

As she leaves Warwick to pursue other career opportunities, we extend our best wishes to her.

BPA

TJM

As the school’s NEU representative, Andrew has worked tirelessly to support his colleagues and has recently been recognized by the leaders of the NEU for his work.

On weekends, Andrew can be seen heading to Coventry, either to cheer on Coventry City FC or to coach chess to young players for a local charity.

Andrew is leaving Warwick and teaching to embark on a PhD in Chemistry at Warwick University. We wish him the very best as he starts the next chapter.

CJG

Congratulations on the wedding of Mr James Sutherland and Mrs Sabina Sutherland (née Hill)

10 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3

STAFF NEWS

JULIE VILLIERS

PHILLIP ROTHWELL

SARAH POWELL

In 1991, finding herself at a bit of a loose end, Julie saw a job advertised in the school kitchen that would fit around the needs of her young family. She had previously worked and trained in drawing offices in Engineering and Architecture, but she found that she loved her new job: despite the hard work, the catering staff and the banter were great fun. She took time out when her third child was due, returning in 1996, since when she has worked uninterruptedly within Warwick School.

Phillip joined Warwick School staff in January 2011, almost ten years since he left the U6 as a pupil. Having pursued a career in fundraising and development in higher education, it was while attending an OW London Reunion that he became aware of Head Master Ed Halse’s plans to establish a new Development Office at Warwick School.

Phillip jumped at the opportunity to return to his alma mater.

Julie tells many tales of amusing incidents in the kitchen, most of which cannot be retold here, but anyone who asks her about the ‘pizza and false teeth’ story or the incident with the dishwasher expelling plates by the dozen will see what she means! She might have been described at one stage as accident-prone: one winter she took a bad fall, slipping on an icy road bump just by the Head Master’s house, resulting in a trip to the hospital in an ambulance, one broken tooth, a broken wrist, and a very bruised face for weeks. A few months later, she slipped on a painted area in the Junior School playground, and not long after that, she slipped down the stairs. The Bursar jokingly asked if she wanted a job in Health and Safety because if there was something to fall over, she could find it.

As Development Director, Phillip’s role was to build on the positive relations with Old Warwickians established by Anne Douglas, Alumni Relations Officer, to raise funds for the development of the school and access to a Warwick education. A former Assisted Places boy himself, Phillip was passionate about raising funds for bursaries to help more pupils attend the school from varied backgrounds. He launched a regular giving programme (including the school’s first telephone campaign), enlisted the support of generous major donors, and developed the Floreat Society legacy group. Several years on from designing the school scarf (ref. Portcullis 1997), Phillip took great pleasure in designing a new Floreat Society tie for legacy supporters!

Sarah brought great professionalism and efficiency to the reprographics team when she joined in 2016. She consistently went above and beyond to meet the needs of Warwick School, even under tight deadlines. Sarah’s ability to handle multiple requests with a positive attitude is truly admirable, especially when dealing with temperamental printers! Her willingness to offer support to colleagues in all areas of school life is greatly appreciated, whether it’s helping out admissions with mailings or assisting with school displays.

1991-2023

After eight years in the kitchen, she saw a job in Reprographics advertised, so she applied and got it. After all, how hard could a bit of photocopying be? She describes the first few weeks as a nightmare since there was so much to learn. Eventually, however, she got up to speed, and the rest is history.

She has lived a lot of her life alongside Warwick School, experiencing both the good and the bad, including surviving major surgery for a kidney tumour. She has seen five Head Masters, the present one as a boy, two Bursars, four catering managers, and endless numbers of teachers. At times, she has felt like an agony aunt. Though sad to leave, she feels the time is right for her to enter another stage of her life. The school will miss an ever-present, cheerful, and helpful colleague, and we wish her every happiness in retirement.

D. Luckhurst

2011-2023

A new fundraising challenge arose in 2015 to support the redevelopment of the Guy Nelson Hall. Thanks to the generosity of over 350 OWs, parents and friends, the school raised over £1m towards the new Warwick Hall. For the past five years, Phillip has been Foundation Director of Development, supporting all schools in the Foundation to build positive relations with alumni and friends and raise vital funds to enhance educational opportunities.

We wish Phillip all the best as he takes up the post of Director of Development at King’s College, Taunton. Although he leaves the Foundation as a member of staff, he looks forward to continuing his association with the school as a proud Old Warwickian.

GNF

2016-2023

After nearly seven years at Warwick School, Sarah has now decided to return to her roots and re-enter the world of pharmacy.

We wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

D. Luckhurst

CASSIE VENN 2015-2023

Cassie joined us in September 2015 as an Assistant Science Technician and quickly showed a very natural aptitude for the job in all the Science Departments, in a profession that Cassie had not done before.

When our former Senior Chemistry Technician retired in 2019, Cassie applied for the position and took over the role.

Since then, Cassie has done an amazing job of providing and overseeing Chemistry practicals, the training of new and existing technicians, plus being an immense support to all in the Technician team and Chemistry Department.

We wish her much happiness for the future, as well as success in her ongoing university course and in her future career.

RVE P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3 / 11

Prize Giving LOWER AND MIDDLE SCHOOL PRIZE GIVING: Wednesday 5th July 2023 The afternoon began with students, teachers, parents, and invited guests taking their seats in Warwick Hall, ready to celebrate the outstanding achievements of boys in Years 7, 8, and 9 this academic year. The Lower and Middle School Brass Ensemble welcomed everybody into the hall with a bright and catchy rendition of “American Patrol,” before Hugo Barnes (Year 7) introduced the Foundation Principal, Mr Nicholson, to the stage.

Mr Nicholson spoke briefly about the opportunities that the schools in the Foundation have had to work together and paid tribute to the efforts of all Foundation staff this year. “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” was then played to welcome guests to the stage before Angelo Forkwe and Hugo Barnes took to the microphone to outline the highlights of the Lower School year.

Beginning with the annual Year 7 Bonding Trip, they spoke of the friendships forged in such a short space of time and the opportunities to develop teamwork, resilience, and commitment.

The House Shout, Music Scheme, and Year 7 Sleepout were just some of the key memories reflected upon, with sports and drama opportunities receiving an honourable mention.

A brief interlude followed in which the brass ensemble played the theme from “Dr No” before Luke Gillard-Browne (Year 9) summarized the successes of the Middle School year. These included the massive range of clubs and activities in which Year 8 and 9 have been involved, from ethical hacking to e-sports; multiple trips across Europe; a notable commitment to Food Bank Fridays and Pupil Voice; and a spectacular engagement in this year’s House Competition. As Luke summarized, “there really has only been time for highlights” – what a year it’s been!

Mr Barker then took to the stage to give his address, which marked the achievements of a successful year and looked towards the future. He highlighted the emphasis put on instilling

12 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3

personal growth, ethical decision-making, and meaningful contributions in the boys, and touched on how a new and innovative curriculum, such as the introduction of the Design Thinking Award and Food Science, can help achieve this. The Headmaster then bade farewell to leaving staff and offered a personal goodbye and thank you to Dr Chapman, marking his retirement and cementing his status as a true “Warwick School Legend.”

This was followed by the key moment of the event – the presentation of prizes to over 80 students. The boys celebrated each other’s achievements with rapturous applause, and the Headmaster distributed firm handshakes to each of the winners (with only one accidental evasion!).

Finally, we heard from this year’s Guest of Honour, Mr James Uffindell, OW. He spoke fondly of his memories of Warwick School (showing his support for Tudor House as an ex-House Captain!) and expressed how lucky students are to have a Warwick School education. He offered wise words highlighting the power of teamwork and loving what you do. His closing remarks came accompanied by chocolate, to the delight of the Lower and Middle School, with an encouragement to take time to form quality responses and to always “think big” – an inspiring message to leave the boys with.

After the Guest of Honour had been thanked and presented with a gift by Fateh Singh (8B), the Brass Ensemble played students, parents, and special guests out with a rousing rendition of “Blue Mountain Train.” The afternoon served as a wonderful occasion to mark the many achievements of boys in the Lower and Middle School.

OJD

PRIZE GIVING

SENIOR SCHOOL PRIZE GIVING: Wednesday 5th July 2023 As the scorching sun gave way to moderate clouds in the final week of the Summer term, so did the heatwave dress give way to academic gowns in time for the Senior Prize Giving.

The Foundation Principal opened the speeches, noting the special moment that this event holds in the school calendar. He talked about the importance of developing the skills of all students and highlighted the increased cooperation within the Foundation in this pursuit. He concluded by extending his thanks to Victoria Espley, the Foundation Bursar, to retiring governors Tim Keyes and Chris Gibbons, and to the entire body of Warwick School staff and parents.

In what the Headmaster suggested may have been a first for Speech Day, he began his address with a poem about Warwick School. The real novelty, however, was that the poem had been written by a popular artificial intelligence chatbot. In light of the changing landscape of education and the world of work represented by artificial intelligence, the Headmaster set out his mission that Warwick School must prepare its students for whatever the future may bring, endowing them with transferable skills of critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. He detailed the ongoing success of the Floreat programme as a lynchpin of this mission and emphasized the importance of mental health in allowing pupils to flourish. In particular, he drew attention to the revised pastoral structure which the school is to adopt in the coming year as a facilitator of mental health. The Headmaster concluded by introducing the Guest of Honour, James Uffindell, OW, CEO, and founder of Bright Network, a company connecting graduates and employers.

When announced by Dr Chapman, students from Years 10, 11, and the Lower Sixth streamed across the stage to collect prizes from Mr Uffindell, ably assisted by Mrs Wyatt. Strong handshakes and hearty applause were seen and heard across the board. Having fulfilled this role, Mr Uffindell regaled the audience with stories from his life and career. Of special interest to the students was his account of his time at Warwick and how, after underachieving in his GCSEs, he motivated himself to achieve stellar A Level results and attend Mansfield College, Oxford, to study PPE. Mr Uffindell’s

advice to students was profuse and useful. It ranged from practical tips like harnessing non-verbal communication in interviews and using journals, to more abstract approaches to life such as being prepared to take calculated risks. These all contributed to Mr Uffindell’s overarching message that we should all think big. In the spirit of our motto, “altiora peto,” we should seek greater things.

Despite numbering only five, the platform party was accompanied on its procession to the dais by the Chamber Orchestra’s animated rendition of Bernstein’s “The Magnificent Seven.” Indeed, music punctuated the event. Following a speech from the Head of School, Thomas Macro, thanking Mr Uffindell, Warwick Hall was filled with a full-throated rendition of the school song, “Floreat Domus.” The Chamber Orchestra performed two further pieces: the Allegro from J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.3 and Libertango by Astor Piazzolla. The latter closed the ceremony as the platform party exited, leaving the rest of those assembled to disperse onto the plaza for some light yet delicious refreshment, for which our thanks go to Vlad and the catering team.

JGB

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AWARDS

Oxbridge

Medicine

BEN BARNES, OW – History at Hughes Hall, Cambridge

ARUNJEET BASSI – Nottingham University

The following received places to study at Cambridge or Oxford:

The following received places to study Medicine:

TAHA ELAMIN – Cardiff University

TOM BOSWORTH – Engineering at New College, Oxford

NATHAN TSEGAYE – Exeter University

WILL CHERRY – Earth Sciences at Exeter College, Oxford PAUL COOLEY – English Language and Literature at Lincoln College, Oxford FRANCIS FOWLER – Music at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge as organ scholar OLIVER JOHNSON – Philosophy at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge JAMES MACKENZIE – Chemistry at St Hilda’s College, Oxford LOUIS MCAULIFFE – Materials Science at Trinity College, Oxford PATRICK STIVEN – French and History at Churchill College, Cambridge

Scholarships Mears Scholarships:

FRANCIS FOWLER, OLIVER JOHNSON AND PATRICK STIVEN

Pyne Scholarships:

PAUL COOLEY AND RODERICK LUO

Ward Scholarship: TOM BOSWORTH

Lloyd-Evans Exhibition: RUPERT BEAUMONT

Oxbridge entrants

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The

Floreat Programme It has been a superb year in terms of character education at Warwick School, with the Floreat Programme rolled out across all year groups.

l

l

The Programme is intended to develop the character of the boys at Warwick School as we consider the prominence of a boy’s character to be vital in their future life chances. We do not believe education should be limited to the confines of a school curriculum. We believe that a holistic approach to education is required, and central to this is the development of our pupils’ character. Our aim is to ensure students develop a well-rounded set of character traits that will equip them for life beyond Warwick School.

Character can be developed and enhanced in the following ways: l Character caught: Character is caught through a positive and virtuous school community, where all pupils aspire to be role models of good character for their peers. l Character taught: Character can be taught through the formal school curriculum and through the school’s Floreat Programme, which is designed to foster and develop a positive, well-rounded character in our pupils, intended to equip them to flourish in life. l Character sought: Character is sought through the experiences they choose to partake in within and outside the formal curriculum. The school ensures that pupils’ creativity, curiosity, and ability to challenge themselves are facilitated through the extensive co-curricular activities on offer, which include volunteering, sport, performing arts, and intellectual enrichment.

The Floreat Programme is open to all boys at Warwick, and we ask that they focus on the following: l Intellectual virtues: Traits that are necessary for the pursuit of knowledge, truth, and understanding. Examples of these are critical thinking, judgment, reasoning, and reflection.

l

Moral virtues: Traits that enable us to act well in situations that require an ethical response. Someone with moral virtues is often courageous, honest, just, and fair.

Civic virtues: Engagement in responsible citizenship. We contribute to the common good for the wider community and society around us. Essentially, we are culturally aware and benefit the wider world we inhabit.

Performance virtues: Collaboration with others. They allow us to work positively in a group and include attributes such as confidence, leadership, and teamwork.

The Floreat Certificate, open to pupils in Years 7 and 8, serves as an introduction to character education at Warwick. Pupils are required to complete several identified tasks per ‘virtue’ (the ‘virtues’ serve as categories) over a two-year period, starting in Year 7 and ending as they approach Year 9.

The Floreat Award is open to Years 9 and 10, designed to build on the pupils’ Floreat Certificate and allow them to take advantage of the new co-curricular opportunities that will be open to them when they reach this stage of their time at the school.

The Floreat Diploma is open to boys in Years 11, 12, and 13. The requirements of the Diploma are much more extensive than the Certificate and Award, as pupils are required to amass 80 hours of identified activities within each ‘virtue’ and undertake a vivastyle interview. Pupils who successfully complete the Diploma will be awarded an EduQual accredited qualification.

All those who completed either the Floreat Certificate, the Floreat Award, or the Floreat Diploma received a lapel pin and certificate from the Headmaster in the final assembly of the academic year.

CTB Floreat Winners

P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3 / 15

Pupil Voice

This academic year, the Pupil Voice team at Warwick School has dedicated itself to enhancing school life through hard work. Their efforts have led to significant changes that have been driven by popular demand. A thank you must be said to the head of each subcommittee who have led their team admirably as well as the members who are an indispensable part of the success from this year.

The Wellbeing team has expanded by adding five new committees, including the Mental Health Subcommittee, with the goal of promoting positive mental health and raising awareness.

They successfully organized various sessions and assemblies during Children’s Mental Health Week, which received praise for its strong emphasis on the theme “Let’s Connect.”

Additionally, we celebrated “Random Act of Kindness” Day, dedicated to spontaneous acts of kindness. The team has done an outstanding job in defining their role and promoting mental health across the Warwick Schools Foundation.

Throughout the year, the Charities team has successfully coordinated non-school uniform days and organized doughnut sales, with the highlight being the largest-ever sale for the Warwick District Foodbank. “Foodbank Friday,” led by Mrs Quinn, has further nurtured the school’s altruistic spirit by encouraging students to donate and compete for House points.

The team has entered the Goldsmith’s Award competition, which provides a platform to showcase the school’s extensive charity work.

The Anti-Racism and Religious Equality committee has made a significant impact by establishing and maintaining a multi-faith prayer room, offering a serene space for boys to reflect and practise their beliefs. The committee has organized interactive activities and a successful “Wear Red Day” to support the Show Racism the Red Card charity.

The Sixth Form committee has successfully organized events such as the Movember moustache competition and a well-received Christmas Quiz with participation from over one hundred Sixth Formers. The quiz was an engaging and competitive experience, covering diverse topics.

The Eco-Committee has been instrumental in fostering environmental consciousness among students, while the Catering team has improved the dining hall’s selection and food quality. Their efforts include installing flavoured juice machines and offering condiments, including salt, on Fridays with chips.

The LGBTQ+ and Disability committee has laid the groundwork for LGBTQ+ inclusivity at Warwick School, featuring a successful LGBTQ+ week with various activities. The Gender Equality committee has led informative assemblies addressing topical gender issues. The Anti-bullying committee has implemented a new policy, created posters, performed joint assemblies with Kings High, and actively participated in national odd socks day.

The Teaching and Learning Committee has played a crucial role in staff recruitment and the introduction of the ‘Mini Mulley’ programme to enrich academic opportunities for Year 9 and 10 students. They have engaged in detailed discussions on digital textbooks, including providing advice to a visitor from Pearson.

Ongoing surveys will gauge student preferences. Additionally, the committee has examined the adequacy of current plagiarism rules in light of advancements in AI chatbots. Future debates will focus on the role of homework.

Overall, these initiatives have made a significant impact on Warwick School, and we look forward to continued progress in the coming years.

Ben Bell-Thorn, Chair of Pupil Voice 2022-23

JSB and SRC receive the Independent School of the Year Award

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PUPIL VOICE

Movember

The catering committee conducting a negotiation

Pupils wearing red to show racism the red card

P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3 / 17

Around the

Departments British Science Week 2023

March saw the return of British Science Week at Warwick. On the Monday, the event kicked off with a paper aeroplane competition.

Students were given a single sheet and had to throw it as far as possible.

There were some innovative designs, showcasing interesting flying styles. The turnout was good, and the furthest distance travelled was 19.3 metres by Aaden So in Year 9, giving Leycester the initial lead.

Monday also started with a periodic table puzzle. Students had to search the school to decipher a code made from elements. The winning student was Gregory Kornilovich from 7T, who found the final winning message of ‘I won!’

Throughout the week, each tutor group participated in the house science quiz. Every team put in great effort, and thought-provoking questions were raised. When all the results were tallied up, Brooke emerged as the winner.

On Wednesday, the boys had the opportunity to witness some cool chemistry demonstrations. Mr Ward showcased the effects of decomposing hydrogen peroxide, while Mr Etheridge ignited a few thermite reactions.

Thursday welcomed the Year 6 boys from the Junior School to the senior school, where they witnessed “cool” dry ice experiments, including sweets being instantly frozen and smashed with a hammer!

Friday marked the end of the week with the King’s and Warwick Science Fair. The fair featured a wide range of engaging, interactive projects, such as a hydraulic arm, rugby tackling, and a wind tunnel. We were fortunate to have students from Coten End primary school join us and enjoy the fair during Friday activities. The winner of the fair was Tommy Jennings, with his project on the Central Nervous System. Congratulations to all those who entered; the entries were all fantastic.

Adding up the scores to determine the grand total, the final results were as follows: Leycester placed 6th, Tudor and Brooke tied for 4th, Oken secured 3rd place, and Guy and Greville tied for 1st. Well done to everyone who helped and participated.

See you all next year!

RE

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AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

Physics

I am pleased to report another strong year of results from the various Physics Olympiads and Challenge competitions. These optional papers are set nationally and allow young physicists who relish a challenge to put their problem-solving skills to the test. The results are a testament to the hard work and talent possessed by these boys and reflect the support provided by the school and their teachers.

Upper Sixth Senior British Physics Olympiad This year, the top physicists from the Upper Sixth were among the 2,800 students across 440 schools in the UK who participated in the annual Senior British Physics Olympiad competition.

The paper is quite challenging, testing students’ knowledge, preparation, ability, and problem-solving skills. Approximately the top 15% of entrants in the UK earned Gold, 17% earned Silver, and 51% earned Bronze (levels 1 and 2). It should be noted that earning a certificate of any colour in this competition is truly an outstanding achievement. Therefore, I am delighted to confirm that the following boys received certificates this year:

Year 11 Intermediate Physics Challenge Paper The top 10% of entries in the country earned Gold, 16% Silver and 47% Bronze (includes levels 1 and 2). It should be noted that our Year 11 GCSE students commenced their Physics course in Year 9 (2020-21) which would include periods of disruption due to COVID-19. The fact our students managed to earn certificates in this competition is therefore an outstanding achievement. I am pleased to announce the following boys earned certificates: Gold: Rory Moir and Jeffrey Yeung Silver: Euan Black, Harry Colliver, Ryan Ruparellia and Ned Wilson Bronze: George Bennett, Ray’an Bhanji, Alex Bosworth, Daniel Siu, Tom Smeeton, Alex Yuan, Tony Zhang GeC

Silver: Tom Bosworth and Roderick Luo Bronze: Harrison Bunker, Joshua Dillon, Kit Elliott, Dominic Lettington, Louis McAuliffe, Tom Robson and Jimmy Williams

Lower Sixth Senior AS Physics Challenge Paper In the first year of their A-Level course, pupils across the country can test their problem-solving skills and apply fundamental physical principles to novel situations in the AS Challenge Paper.

This year, over 6,000 students entered the competition in March, and the top 9% nationwide earned Gold. The certificates earned by the boys listed below can be used to enhance their university applications next year: Gold: Locky Brown, Harry Freeman, Daniel Jenks-Berryman and Owen Robinson Silver: Jack Chillington, Oliver Crabtree, Bosco Kwong, Thomas Macro, Samuel Martin and Bernard Wong Bronze: Abbad Ahmad, William Ainsworth, Ben Avery, Amani Bhangal, Eddie Cheung, Kaan Cinar, Karam Dosanjh, Jake Harding, Abisen Kirubaharan, James Knight, Vinci Lam, William Murray-Bates, Kingsley Ngai, Dmytro Petrykov, Peniyal Pradeepan, Dougal Robson, Yarden Safra, Arjan Singh Paneser, Charlie Tilley and Ethan Trend

Year 11 Intermediate Physics Olympiad Upper Sixth Senior Physics Olympiad

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competition was Oliver Orton in Lower Sixth, and he provided a winnin raph: AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

a sparrowhawk is my entry for the biology photo competition of an orga Biology Warwick School value. This photo was taken moments after I witnessed Biology Week From October 16 to 20 , Biology Week took place, featuring attempt to prey on garden bird. This expresses the value of resil various engaging activities. Ms Irani a and small Mr Bamford conducted dissections, while students enjoyed virtual tours of the Natural History Museum, Chester Zoo, National Aquarium, and Kew one in ten of the bird of prey's attacks are successful (this photo indicate Gardens. The Biology Book Club was launched, starting with Terry Hayes’ “I Am Pilgrim”. Students enthusiastically took part in the Foundation’s Essay competition, and the a quiz was held during form acks).

Furthermore, sparrowhawk perched on the bird bath after its time. erance as itthe will goPhotography on tocompetition makewasanother attack after this until it succeeds Furthermore, Biology Week th

th

open to all students, inviting them to capture living organisms or natural environments that exemplify any of the Warwick Values.

The winner of the competition was Oliver Orton in Lower Sixth, and he provided a winning explanation for his photograph:

This photo of a sparrowhawk is my entry for the biology photo competition of an organism expressing a Warwick School value. This photo was taken moments after I witnessed the sparrowhawk attempt to prey on a small garden bird. This expresses the value of resilience as on average only one in ten of the bird of prey’s attacks are successful (this photo indicates one of the nine failed attacks). Furthermore, the sparrowhawk perched on the bird bath after its failed attack shows perseverance as it will go on to make another attack after this until it succeeds.

British Biology Challenge Success

British Biology Challenge

In May our Year 10 students participated in the British Biology Challenge 2023 with great success. Over 43,000 students from 621 schools worldwide took part in this year’s competition with congratulations to the following students for their achievements: Bronze Award (top 15% of students that participated): Theo Holland, Huw Perry, Xavier Sissins-Roffey, Zac Varachia, Jamie Cooper, Will Shepstone, Ashvin Jeyaseelan, James Townsend, Austin Willoughby, Max Bolam, Charlie Buckley, Sebastian Carr, Michael Cherniavskyi, Finlay McCombe, Mark Oliver, Ethan Phipps, John Schofield, Rohan Sharma, Alexander Steven, Alfie Thomas, Jaswinan Uruthiran, Samuel Wachira, Ptolemy Walton-Hayfield, Zack Haigh, Oscar Head, Essa Hook, Samuel Humphries, Thomas Jennings, Adrian Lee, William Lees, Jerem Mahesaratnam. Nicholas Lewis, Andrew Digby, James French and Archie Goodrem.

Silver Award (top 10% of students that participated): Harry Edges, Abdul Rehman, Tim Drake, Aaran Dayal, James Bull, Thomas Whorrod, Armand Lu, Charlie Feaver, Ari Patchett.

Gold Award (top 5% of students that participated): Xuanlin Li, Nilash Jeyakatharaja, Eynan Somasundaram, Harry Stevens, James Taylor, Harry Waters, Kaiser Wong, Oliver Grundy and Theo Cooper.

RTS

British Intermediate Biology Olympiad

Our Year 12 students achieved success in the 2023 British Intermediate Biology Olympiad held in June.

This year’s competition saw participation from more than 14,000 students representing over 700 schools worldwide. We extend our congratulations to the following students for their outstanding achievements in the event:

ediate Biology Olympiad

udents achieved success in the 2023 British Intermediate Biology Olym Bronze Award (top 15% of students that participated): Harry Ward, Nirojan Jeyaseelan, Joel Morris, Barnaby Ducker and James Thornton. r's competition saw participation from more than 14,000 students repr Silver Award (top 10% of students that participated): Remo Field-Williams. orldwide.

We extend our congratulations to the following students for Gold Award (top 5% of students that participated): Fraser MacKinlay. chievements in the event: Intermediate Biology Olympiad Success

(top 15% of students that participated): 20 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3 irojan Jeyaseelan, Joel Morris, Barnaby Ducker and James Thornton.

AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

Chemistry

This year has marked a very successful one indeed for Warwick’s chemists, along with several notable ‘firsts’ for the department.

December saw a highly engaging and challenging lecture given

by Dr Paola Cortes of the University of Basel on her research in the field of catalysis, attended by approximately 50 students from Years 8 to 13. Dr Cortes fielded questions from the audience ranging from ‘what is the most dangerous equipment you’ve ever worked with?’ through to ‘how could your work be related to the catalytic processes observed in enzymes?’.

Moving into the new year, the RSC Chemistry Olympiad produced gold awards for Tom Macro and Daniel Jenks-Berryman, silvers for Jamie Cheng, Joel Morris, Locky Brown, and Jamie Thornton, and bronzes for Barnaby Ducker, Nirojan Jeyaseelan, and Arjan Paneser. Considering the volume of Upper Sixth content in the paper, this marks an impressive haul indeed. In the Upper Sixth, James Mackenzie secured a richly deserved offer from Oxford to read Chemistry.

Our entry into the recently resurrected Rugby School Chemistry Quiz saw the team of Tom Macro, Daniel Jenks-Berryman, Arjan Paneser, and Locky Brown emerge victorious over 20 others in rounds that included identifying compounds by smell, cryptic crossword clues to identify unknown acids, and the naming of an indicator containing both an African country and a traffic light colour (Congo Red). The victorious team sang karaoke the whole way back to Warwick, trophy in tow, with Mr Grant and Mr Ward declining to participate.

GCSE Chemistry experiment

Tom Macro Foxcroft Essay Competition Tom Macro won the final of the Foxcroft Essay competition. This prestigious competition is open to Year 12 science students from Warwickshire, Rugby, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, and so Tom’s win is a clear indication of his skill and hard work. His presentation was on using big data and machine learning to further pharmaceutical development, covering and commenting on key issues in science, technology, and AI in society today.

Finishing off the year, three teams were entered into the first round of the RSC Student Analysts’ Competition held at King’s High. Tasked with analysing experiments relating to sabotage at a baking competition, our students titrated, flame tested, and chromatographed their way to identifying missing ingredients along with cake saboteurs. All thoroughly enjoyed the day and await to see if they have made it through to the regional stage.

Judging by this year’s achievements and engagement across year groups, Chemistry at Warwick is in an excellent position for future successes. Many thanks to all the students and staff who have played their part.

ACW

Curriculum Support It has been a busy year for Curriculum Support and SEND as we strive to make our community even more inclusive. Mrs Kitchen and Mrs Fitch have worked tirelessly to gain further qualifications in Dyslexia and Education Testing, ensuring that we have the knowledge and expertise to empower our teachers in supporting boys with additional needs in the classroom. Our upcoming Accessibility Series – ‘Let’s talk about...’ – which will be available on the parent portal and our website. These short videos will provide information, hints, and tips on all things SEND, ranging from how to nurture your child’s mental health to accessing support if you suspect your child may have autism. Anyone concerned about a young person at Warwick School or who would like to talk more about our approach to Wellbeing, should feel free to drop me an email A.Hillman@warwickschool.org or our wellbeing email address wellbeing@warwickschool.org.

ALH

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AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

History It has been a strong year for the History Department, with plenty going on across the three terms. We have organised three overseas trips, received Oxbridge offers, established a Film Society for the juniors, and nurtured a thriving Sixth Form Society. This summer also marks the culmination of the new two-year journey with our A-Level courses. It has been an eyeopening experience for both students and teachers, delving into the study of the British Empire from its peak in 1857 to its eventual end. This course has exposed us to surprising and shocking aspects of Britain’s past.

The American Civil War course has been a remarkable voyage of discovery, with one dismaying revelation being that racial violence in the South of the United States seemingly intensified after the abolition of slavery.

As always, the overseas trips were the true highlight. Two trips to New York and Washington provided unforgettable memories for all participants. Lastly, the summer term concluded with a spectacular trip to Normandy, organised by History Department stalwart Mr Sutherland. He orchestrated an impressive itinerary, visiting numerous historically significant sites. The visits to the British cemetery at Bayeux and the American Cemetery at Omaha added emotional poignancy to the trip.

While humanities and History may be struggling on a national scale, at Warwick the subject continues to thrive. Long may this success continue.

ORO’B

The Heaton Podcast

However, historical investigation and debate were not confined to lessons alone. The Sixth Form society flourished under the leadership of Paul Cooley and Vinny Kelly-Corcuera. Vinny, in particular, exhibited enterprise in his choice of topics, covering 18th Century Poland and the infamous career of Dan Sickles during the Civil War era. We also collaborated with King’s High School, where Mrs Browne led a Film Club for students from both schools. More recently, we were invited by Mr Grier at King’s to participate in a plan to introduce augmented reality at St. Mary’s Church.

Mr Jefferies kept us engaged with a diverse programme of Encounters, and the Heaton Podcast continued to broadcast with guest speakers, teachers, and students contributing.

Computer Science The Computer Science department has had a fantastic year, welcoming both Mr Preece and Mr Clarke into their new roles here at Warwick School. Mr Clarke has established a Young Games Designer Club in which students have been learning how to create and develop computer games using the Unity game engine. They have been working through the Junior Programmer learning pathway on the Unity Learn website.

Through this course, they have had the opportunity to build working games, starting with a driving game where the player must avoid obstacles, moving on to a shooter where the player has to fire food at oncoming hungry animals. They have been learning to write programs in C# (C-Sharp) and have had to check their own code and each other’s to make sure that there are no errors. The ultimate plan is to try and get some entries into the BAFTA Young Games Designer competition where they can come up with and create their own ideas for computer

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games. Mr Keech has also seen a good uptake in the Minecraft Club, which runs on Thursday lunchtimes. Students have enjoyed creating ‘redstone’ computers, as well as generally enjoying spending time with each other in the game.

Mr Preece has set up an ‘Ethical Hacking’ club, which has been very well attended throughout this year. In this club, students have learned how to hack in a safe and legal manner while also learning the fundamentals of hacking. This has included writing a brute force attack in Python, creating a key generator, and building our very own spoof websites. Learning how to hack has been great fun for students from both Warwick School and King’s High School. Mr Preece also runs a Python programming club each Wednesday after school, which has seen several GCSE students benefit from some extra time working with Python.

HJP

AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

English This year in the English department we have enjoyed lots of opportunities for learning beyond the curriculum.

In the Lower School students celebrated National Poetry Day with a fabulous display of their own poems on our very own English Tree with fluttering leaves spread across the corridor for all to read.

We were delighted to read poems in students’ first languages. Year 8 impressed us with their animated performances of memorable poems for our summer Elocution Competition. Well done to all who took part and especially the finalists. For World Book Day we had a department party themed around ‘The Great Gatsby’. Students hunted for books around the school; many were delighted with the ones they found, which had been wrapped and hidden by our sixth form students. They were also challenged to write a powerful story in just six words, with every year group taking part.

Later in the year, students in Year 9 delivered fascinating persuasive speeches on topics of their choice and the finalists, judged by Mr Perry, should all be proud of the high standard of their research and charismatic communication skills. Year 9 also enjoyed a creative writing day which began with a trip to the intriguing Guys Cliffe in Warwick to discover its turbulent history.

On returning to school, students used their visit as inspiration for their own written descriptions, aiming to make them as atmospheric as possible.

In the Upper School, Year 11 had the opportunity to watch performances of their set texts for GCSE Literature. We had an after school screening of the classic Gothic novella ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ which was invaluable for revision. Year 11 then journeyed to the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham to watch a critically acclaimed production of ‘An Inspector Calls,’ which caused lots of

debate on the way home about directorial decisions and actors’ interpretations of the characters. At lunchtimes, the department also ran a series of Aspire Lectures, which provided students with exciting insights into wider literary themes and historical context beyond the curriculum. Students enjoyed lectures on topics ranging from ‘Hypocrisy and Calvinism in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Works’ to ‘Understanding the Troubles and their Impact on Seamus Heaney’s Poetry’ to ‘Eats Shoots and Leaves: Why Grammar Makes a Difference in Writing’.

Our sixth form students have had the chance to watch two excellent theatrical productions. In the bitter cold of winter, we headed to London to see one of the last performances of the outstanding ‘Immersive Great Gatsby’. Staff and students relished the opportunity to mix and mingle with the characters from the play as the company brought the much-loved text roaring to life. In the spring, students were energised and inspired by Alex Kingston’s approach to playing Prospero in a gender-swapped production of ‘The Tempest’ at the RSC which explored the ecological resonances of Shakespeare’s late play. At the end of a packed Activities Week Lower Sixth students travelled to the British Library to see such impressive treasures as the Magna Carta, Shakespeare’s First Folio, Michelangelo’s anatomical illustrations and religious texts from across the world including The Ma’il Qur’an and the Library’s oldest Qur’an manuscript. They participated in a creative writing workshop, but the highlight was a lecture on ‘Exploring Black British Literature’, looking at texts from Olaudah Equiano to Andrea Levy, including letters, journal entries, advertisements, journalism, poetry, short stories and novels.

ASQ

Oliver Crow, Year 9

Guy Pridgeon, Year 9

Lower Sixth Trip to the British Library

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AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

Politics This year marked the return of the traditional trip to Westminster, an event that was brimming with excitement and activity. The boys embraced the challenge of enduring four hours of meetings, demonstrating their enthusiasm throughout.

Among the notable speakers were Sean Kinsey OW, who captivated the audience with his first-hand account of serving as a parliamentary clerk. The boys were enthralled as he shed light on the intricacies of this role. Additionally, Matt Western, the MP for Warwick and Leamington, delivered a captivating address, offering the boys a profound glimpse into the eventful parliamentary term that had transpired.

Following an insightful tour of the Palace of Westminster, the boys were privileged to witness a lively Home Office debate from the gallery of the House of Commons. Their engagement with the

A Coalition of Chaos

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democratic process was further enriched by the presence of Sir Jeremy Wright, the MP for Kenilworth and Southam, who analysed the current political landscape, providing the boys with valuable perspectives.

As the day drew to a close, the boys had the opportunity to engage in conversation with Alex Burghart, the Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar, and the esteemed Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office. Long-time readers of this magazine will remember his tenure as a History teacher at Warwick School prior to the arrival of Mr Gibbs. During this engaging discussion, a delightful twist unfolded as Baroness Garden of Frognall joined, igniting a spirited and thought-provoking debate between two politicians from different political parties.

Overall, the trip to Westminster proved to be an unforgettable experience, leaving a lasting impression on the boys, as they immersed themselves in the rich tapestry of parliamentary affairs and embraced the dynamic nature of British politics.

BWS

AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

With Sean Kinsey OW

With Sir Jeremy Wright MP

With Matt Western

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AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

MFL

In September, classrooms and corridors at Warwick buzzed with conversations in various European languages, celebrating the European Day of Languages. Year 7 boys kicked off the week with a teacher/language hunt, attempting to identify phrases in different European languages spoken by staff members. This activity opened their eyes to the multitude of languages spoken on the continent. It was wonderful to hear students and staff alike trying to pronounce the foreign language phrases throughout the day. Congratulations to Gregory Kornilovich for accurately identifying 26 European languages!

Monday marked the first of our two culinary events to celebrate European language and culture. The catering staff served delicious German-inspired food in the dining hall, including German dumplings or Knödel, Bratwurst, Kartoffelsalat, and Apfelstrudel.

On Tuesday, the Modern Languages building filled with the aroma of various European-themed baked goods as Year 7 and 8 boys participated in the “Great European Bake Off.” From south-German Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte to Spanish bizcocho, we celebrated the culinary creations associated with the modern languages studied at Warwick. William Bamford (Year 7), Harrison Phipps (Year 8), and Logan Cuming (Year 8) won the top prizes in the categories of taste, presentation, and creativity/risk-taking, respectively. Well done to all participants!

On Thursday, the Sixth Form had the opportunity to expand their knowledge of writing systems, alphabets, and etymology through a form time quiz. We discovered that the cuneiform script, used by ancient cultures such as the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Hittites, is the oldest language script. Additionally, we learned that the Latin alphabet was borrowed from the Etruscan language.

During the language celebration week, it was inspiring to see our pupils and staff engaging in conversations about their language learning experiences. It highlighted the importance of our knowledge of other languages and the skills acquired through learning a new language.

In March, Year 9 students showcased their linguistic abilities in the GCHQ National Language Competition. They deciphered challenging coded texts to uncover hidden messages, competing against schools nationwide. Although none of the teams from Warwick made it to the top ten, it was a commendable effort for our first year in the competition, and we eagerly anticipate competing again in 2024.

March also saw Warwick boys participating in the UK Linguistics Olympiad (UKLO), a national competition. Sixth form students studying modern languages, Greek, Latin, and a few mathematicians, along with selected Year 11 students, grappled with understanding

syntax and vocabulary structures in unusual tribal languages from around the world. James Coplestone-Crow in the Lower Sixth, who plans to study German and Russian at undergraduate level, achieved a Gold Award in the first round and progressed to the second round, an accomplishment shared by only 90 individuals this year.

He is the first Warwick pupil to reach the second round!

In April, boys at Warwick put their translation skills to the test in the Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators, a national competition coordinated by colleagues at The Queen’s College, Oxford. They translated texts from French, German, and Spanish into English, carefully conveying the subtleties and cultural references present in the original works. We are thrilled that George McLintock (Year 11) and Archie Selby (Year 8) won in the regional round of judging in May. Their translations, in level 3 French and level 2 German respectively, have advanced to the national stages of judging. It is a fantastic achievement for both boys, considering the high number of participants (over 15,000). We wish them continued success!

This year, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Onatti theatre company on two occasions to perform plays in French and German. Some boys even had the confidence to take the stage and participate in various scenes, showcasing their language skills.

The boys were delighted to understand a significant portion of the plays, demonstrating the payoff of their efforts in class. We look forward to welcoming Onatti back next year.

GPS

German play

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AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

Theology and Philosophy Only taking on the role of Head of Theology and Philosophy in January, I have been in the privileged position this year of being a pair of brand-new, outside eyes, able to appreciate all the things my department is doing for students at Warwick that perhaps might just get taken for granted once you have been here for a while. I’m not just talking about the exciting trips they’ve organised to interesting places like the National Holocaust Centre & Museum (although Year 9’s Rupert Dowler did call it “a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to have a talk with a real-life Holocaust survivor,” and Max McLintock described it as a “thought-provoking trip” and an “experience that made us realise how fortunate we are”), or to the National Justice Museum (although I am sure I am not alone in thinking that all of us who went on that trip will have its Victorian prison’s dastardly ‘Matron’ haunting our dreams for a long time to come!), but about the inspiring and challenging everyday teaching that goes on in T&P. Seeing every student in Year 10 get an opportunity to study for the School Certificate in Philosophy and getting to read their accomplished pieces of independent philosophical research on questions such as ‘Do democracies always make better decisions than dictatorships?’, ‘To what extent should workers have the right to strike?’ and ‘Could AI make human beings obsolete?’ has been an honour. Tim Drake even managed to pull off a miracle and make me, a lifelong detester of cricket, interested in the sport for a brief moment in his compelling, top mark achieving ethical analysis of whether different moral philosophers would walk in cricket if not given out.

The judiciary is in safe hands at the National Justice Museum

And then there are the Year 7 students grappling with political philosophy and trying to come up with the rules for their very own political state, the Year 8 students trying to decide if their teacher is a robot and if the person sitting next to them really has a mind or not, and the Year 9 students having life and death debates about various dilemmas in medical ethics. Philosophy is thriving at Warwick – so much so that next year we will be launching both a Junior (Tuesdays) and a Senior (Thursdays) Philosophy Club to keep the conversations going beyond the classroom. Our A-level students have enjoyed Friday afternoon Encounters from globally renowned thinkers like A.C. Grayling and David Papineau. Meanwhile, Year 8 incorporated philosophical questioning of their own into the Future Tech projects they were working on in collaboration with Physics, Music, and Computing. Next year will see the launch of a new student-led Philosophy podcast from Ptolemy Walton-Hayfield and James Leeson in Year 10, featuring interviews with some of our Cambridgebound Upper Sixth A-level students. But let’s not forget the Theology either. The Year 7s are exploring religious festivals and beliefs about life after death, Year 8s are learning about Hinduism and debates around religion and science, and Year 9 is considering the impact of religious beliefs on practical ethics. I’ve seen my colleagues get students thinking deeply and outside of their comfort zones in every lesson I’ve had the pleasure to observe.

All in all, the department is buzzing with big ideas and big discussions, and it’s been a joy to join such an enthusiastic team, both colleagues and students alike.

DAMcK

Steven Frank, a Holocaust survivor, speaking to Y9

Students vs the Matron at the National Justice Museum P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3 / 27

AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

EPQ

This year, once again, Warwickians have informed and entertained us with disquisitions on a range of important topics.

The EPQ is an independent learning project, where students choose their topic and generate their own question under the direction of a supervisor. They receive instruction in the skills of project management, research, academic writing, and presentation but must plan and deliver the content of their project themselves. There isn’t space here for a full list of titles, but a few are listed below to give an idea of the variety of subjects our pupils choose to study: l Irish neutrality: fact or fiction? l How can we engineer a safe solution to plastic waste in oceans? l How effective is Artificial Intelligence in the detection of melanoma? l To what extent is cupping therapy proven to aid sports performance?’ l Has Brutalist architecture had a positive impact on Britain? l In what ways was Pope’s “The Rape of the Lock” influenced by the Classics?

There are many reasons for undertaking an EPQ acquiring research and project management skills which will be useful at university and in the world of work; the enhancement of one’s university application by proving that one can undertake a sustained piece of academic work and talk about it with confidence at interview; the prospect of reduced offers for competitive courses for those students who have completed an EPQ to a high standard. Beyond all these undeniable advantages, the main reason to take the EPQ is a genuine interest in a topic and a real desire to find out more about it. The most successful EPQs are those born from independence of thought, curiosity, intellectual flexibility, and genuine enthusiasm together with, of course, a good deal of hard work. It has been a real joy this year to watch Warwickians become experts on their topics discussing them with authority at the presentation event. The accompanying photographs offer a flavour of the perseverance, creativity and industry that have gone into making this year’s projects such successful learning experiences.

REM

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AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

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AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

Geography Fieldwork This year finally saw a return to a full programme of fieldwork visits. Year 11 visited the Carding Mill valley to investigate river landscapes in September. Water levels were low after a summer without much rainfall, and the lengthy heatwave which saw a new UK temperature record of 40.3˚C. It was once thought very unlikely for the UK to exceed 40˚C, but a changing climate is moving the goalposts.

October saw Year 8 return to Castleton in the Peak District for the first time since 2019. It was sunny then and this time we were again blessed with a splendid day. The mixture of sites is always enjoyed, including the limestone Treak Cavern, the impressive Mam Tor landslide, Hope Quarry and the limestone dry valleys and resurgence in Castleton itself. The cave tour was particularly enjoyable, and thanks go to the cavern guides who show us around.

The Lower Sixth headed to Cranedale in North Yorkshire at the end of January. It wasn’t as cold as last year and again the weather was kind. Scarborough gave us an insight into geolocated human geography techniques which many will go on to use in their Non-examined Assessment (NEA). We had arrived too late to see the Walrus named “Thor” which had been seen resting on the harbour slipway earlier that month before continuing its journey north. We did though see, and hear, the large seal colony hauled out at High Stacks. Again, we were able to access Selwicks Bay at low water and experience the geos and cave systems formed as the chalk rocks of Flamborough headland are progressively dissected. Despite clear evidence of sediment movement and breakup of the cliffs, erosion rates are far slower than at Skipsea on the exposed boulder clay of Holderness. The houses at Green Lane are largely condemned now and it is just a matter of time and the potential influence of a few high magnitude storm events before the land they sit on is lost. Even the “Road Closed” barrier has been moved back – this is evident on photos and satellite images.

March saw us back at Carding Mill with the new Year 10s again investigating river landscapes – water levels were higher this time but thanks to a few dry weeks still lower than expected at the time of year.

In the summer term following exams the Lower Sixth were again busy but this time on the school site getting to grips with the use of Survey123. This is the mobile data collection app enabling highly precise geolocation of measurement sites and linking with the GIS system to produce mapped data.

Finally, we visited Birmingham with Year 10 to complete their required GCSE fieldwork. We missed out last year due to a problem with the buses, so this was our first visit since early March 2020. This gap in time proved fascinating with much change underway with ongoing HS2 terminal construction, extension to the tram network, addition of cycle lanes and complete clearance and readiness for the £1.9bn redevelopment of the Smithfield area which promises a huge transformation in the heart of the city.

AH

Lower Sixth Fieldwork

Year 8 Castleton Trip

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AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS Geographical Society The Geographical Society has been very active again with a strong collaborative focus between Warwick and King’s High.

Presentations have originated from both schools, and attendance has been excellent throughout. Thanks go to all those who have presented or taken the time to listen, and in many cases, made their own notes. I hope the ideas have sparked interest and curiosity and encouraged a higher level of inquisitive independent study.

The year began with the geography of the Hawaiian Islands and an examination of the tectonic processes and surface features seen today by Mrs White. The ongoing dynamics of the island chain were noted. The USGS observatory provided vast scope for further inquiry. The effect of autumn leaf fall on railway lines was explored, as pectin gel released by other trains crushing leaves makes the lines slippery.

Dr Kirby explained how the development of camera monitoring technology could help prevent issues by directing leaf clearing in good time. The benefits of electric vehicles (EVs), particularly in urban settings, were explored, where short journeys, charging infrastructure, and a need to reduce air pollution all point to growth in the EV market.

Mrs Bradshaw outlined the never fully resolved question of whether Mallory and Irvine did or did not reach the summit of Everest in 1924, long before the successful 1953 expedition involving Hillary and Tenzing. The discovery of Mallory’s body in 1999 indicated he had fallen from the ridge, but the mystery remains unsolved.

Carding Mill Valley Fieldwork Trip

Dr Hodskinson highlighted the progressive impact of climatic warming through permafrost thaw high on Alpine summits, leading to an increased frequency of substantial rockfall. Analysis of mountain guidebooks and changes in their description of risk, such as exposure to rockfall, was highlighted as a novel use of qualitative sources. Classic mountain routes such as the Bonatti pillar have fallen away, and many mountain guides are diversifying into other less hazardous pursuits. The North face of the Eiger is now so dangerous that it is only rarely climbed in summer when rockfall is most likely.

Dr Chapman has provided many and varied presentations to the Society over the years, and we thank him as he retires this year. As a true geographer inspired by visiting places, this year’s offering was no exception, based on a visit to Singapore earlier in the year. We learned about the rapid industrialisation of this former British colony to become one of the early Asian Tiger economies, focusing on oil trading and financial services.

The success of public housing was a key theme, being well maintained with excellent access to public transport. High employment and a strong economy were noted. This contrasts sharply with many inner-city areas of the UK blighted by loss of manufacturing, segregation, and social inequality.

In the final run-up to exams, the topic of developing coastal defences was explored, inspired by a trip to Whitby. Hard engineering to prevent erosion is expensive and confined to strategically important locations only. A variety of techniques modify the coastal system in different ways, and the discussion provided some timely revision.

Thank you to all who attended throughout the year, and we hope that more will be inspired to investigate and share the geography they encounter next year.

AH

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AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

Psychology Brain Day In June the Psychology Departments across Warwick School and King’s High welcomed Neuroscientist Dr Guy Sutton, a professor at Nottingham University Medical School, for ‘Brain Day’. Lower Sixth Psychologists were inspired by a full day of lectures exploring the brain at a more undergraduate level and going beyond the specifications of A-level study. Topics included how brain tumours can be a direct cause of criminal behaviour, how different drugs affect neural activity, and the future of cutting-edge brain research and technology, including the ethical concerns surrounding computer interfacing chips being implanted in human brains.

Students were also privileged to witness a live dissection of a sheep brain, bringing their classroom learning to life. They were able to see and hold specific structures like the pineal gland and the hypothalamus. The day showcased the far-reaching impacts of Psychology and Neuroscience and their relevance to many unsuspecting aspects of life. We look forward to welcoming Dr Sutton to Warwick School again for future Psychology students.

Trip to Shrewsbury Prison

During Activities Week, 63 Year 10 students spent the day at Shrewsbury Prison. Originally constructed in 1793, the Georgian building was home to one of the last UK executions in 1961 and held up to 450 male prisoners until its closure in 2013.

Students were given a guided tour by a former prison guard, designed to follow the journey an inmate would go through. They started at the gates of the entrance and proceeded to the ‘booking in’ process, where the whole group piled into a very small holding cell and experienced the crowded conditions while waiting to go to the wing. A-wing consisted of 172 cells where the general population was housed, whereas the ‘haunted’ and much smaller C-wing (previously for female prisoners and located next to the execution room) was reserved for ‘vulnerable prisoners’.

Warwick boys learned about the life of inmates across different eras and witnessed how the conditions have changed. They also had the opportunity to go inside a cell and experience being locked in. Some even found amusement in locking each other in and taking photos.

The day ended with a workshop where pupils debated capital punishment and rehabilitation, offering a taste of Criminology and Forensic Psychology, which we study as part of the A-level course.

ASK

Year 10 trip to Shrewsbury Prison

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AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

Mathematics

Warwick Castle

The Mathematics Department has continued to maintain its reputation for excellence and dedication this year. Its approach focuses on fostering a deep understanding of mathematical concepts, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking abilities.

Alongside the core curriculum, the department offers various enrichment activities, including UKMT competitions, clinics, Escape Rooms(!), to challenge and inspire pupils. The teachers consistently demonstrate their passion for the subject and their commitment to supporting pupils’ individual learning needs. We welcomed Mrs Baxter and Mr Maycock to the department and said farewell to Mr Honour, who trained with us this year and will begin his teaching career at Thorpe House.

During Activities Week, the department ran two trips to Warwick Castle with Years 7 and 8 respectively. In small groups the pupils had to complete the Maths Trail – devised by our very own Mr Milsom. The weather was glorious on both days and the pupils learned that Maths can be found in the most unexpected of places!

UKMT

ENL

Maths Mentors

The final word should go to our fantastic Sixth Form mentors who run the daily lunchtime clinic. We have been extremely lucky to have had Arjan Paneser lead the mentors this year and we are all very grateful for their hard work with the younger pupils.

The United Kingdom Mathematics Trust organises numerous individual and team challenges throughout the year. In another successful year, 67% of our pupils who were entered for the main challenges earned a certificate.

In the Individual Junior Challenge (Years 7 and 8) 27 Gold, 55 Silver and 62 Bronze certificates were awarded. Sam Ran (Year 8) qualified for the Junior Olympiad. At time of going to press, no result yet received.

The Individual Intermediate Challenge (Years 9, 10, and 11) saw the school gain 25 Gold, 36 Silver and 43 Bronze certificates. Year 9 pupils Eugene Cha, Aaden So (Merit) and Karsten Siu (Merit) qualified for the Intermediate Olympiad. A special mention should go to Aaden So who also managed to gain a Silver certificate in the Senior Challenge (designed for Sixth Formers!).

In the Senior Challenge the school gained 10 Gold, 18 Silver, and 12 Bronze certificates. Special mentions go to James Mackenzie, Roderick Luo, Kit Elliott, Joshua Dillon, Alok Bilkhu, Louis Wyatt, George Zhang, Thomas Macro, Bosco Kwong and Daniel JenksBerryman who all received a Gold Certificate – indicating that they are in the top 10% of Sixth Form mathematicians in the country.

Maths Feast

Four enthusiastic Year 10 pupils represented the school in the annual Maths Feast. They performed fantastically throughout and came second in a very competitive field of teams. They were the only team to achieve full marks in the opening two rounds. It was a brilliant display of knowledge and perseverance from Isaac Budd, Jasper Fong, Armand Lu and Eynan Somasundaram.

Escape Room House Competition Warwick’s Answer to GCHQ

Escape Rooms

On Friday 16th June, the department hosted the annual House Maths competition – an Escape Room for Years 9 and 10. Six classrooms were transformed into Escape Rooms that had been designed by Mr Jones and Miss Mells. The winning House (Oken) managed to “escape” in just under an hour during which time they had to solve puzzles, figure out combinations to locks and, of course, solve mathematically themed conundrums.

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AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

Classics

Speaking the ancient languages is an important part of learning them and I was encouraged by the usual levels of enthusiasm of our boys to perform at the annual East Midlands Schools Speaking Competition, hosted this year at Loughborough High School, winning in three of the four categories we entered. In the intermediate (Year 10-11) Latin Ptolemy Walton-Hayfield took first prize, Charlie Buckley second prize and Xuanlin Li third prize – vicimus! In the intermediate Greek Ryan Ruparellia took first prize, Charlie Buckley took third prize and Ptolemy Walton-Hayfield was highly commended – vicimus! In the senior (Sixth Form) Latin Olly Crabtree took first prize – vicimus!

Only in the junior (Year 8-9) Latin were we narrowly pipped to the post, with Raul Ruparellia and Iggy Walton-Hayfield both taking an equal second prize – despoliati sumus!

It has been another busy year for the Classics Department with a great many boys involving themselves in a variety of enrichment activities outside the classroom.

Warwick is well placed for meaningful and enriching day trips and the boys have been on several over the year. The Year 9 all went to Aquae Sulis in Bath to learn more about the site in which the stories in their textbook are based as well as a tour of Bath Abbey and its tower and a stroll back through some of the later architecture of note with a commentary by our very own Mr Cooley.

The Year 10 spent a day in the British Museum learning about the various artefacts to be found in the Roman and Greek life rooms as well as some more directly focused work for those studying Classical Civilisation for GCSE. The Lower Sixth went to Warwick University for their annual classical drama festival. It has been great to see more professional theatres post-Covid hosting productions of classical plays and we have been able to see five performances over the school year.

We also ran our usual two-night Year 7 residential summer trip to Hadrian’s Wall, walking along parts of it and visiting the remains of some key Roman military bases and civilian settlements, not to mention some first-rate museums.

Our biggest annual event in school is our Year 8 Classics Taster Day. This included an excellent talk on the value of Classics by Mr Cooley and the annual classical PowerPoint competition – congratulations go to Sam Ran and Stephen Taylor for their presentation on the Roman navy and the two runner-up groups, Harvey Eaton, James Greensmith, and Oscar Jenkins for their presentation on the Roman invasion of Britain, and to Christian Dillon and Jack Broadhurst for their presentation on the Olympics.

As well as this, we had a visit from Portals from the Past with their display of Greek society and soldiery and the boys had a wonderful sense of both Greek military and domestic life. Parallel to this we hosted (remotely) the novelist Ben Kane who took the boys through all the different aspects which made the Roman army so successful.

Most years, the Classics Department says goodbye to boys who are going on to university to continue their classical education.

This year, Alex Dean leaves us to study for the traditional Classics degree at Durham (making me very envious as I fondly remember my own alma mater!) We wish him the very best as he continues to reap the rewards of the Classics.

DAS

Year 9 at Bath Abbey Year 8 Classics Taster Day

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AROUND THE DEPARTMENTS

Careers Working within the Careers Department this academic year has been exciting and enjoyable because of the students at Warwick School. The boys have embraced the opportunities presented and relished the chance to explore career options.

Upper Sixth students attended mock speed interviews in October 2022. Professionals from various occupational areas, who have reached the pinnacle of their careers, along with reputable companies from across the country, generously dedicated their time to evaluate the boys. Each student participated in three one-to-one 15-minute interviews, putting their skills and knowledge to the test.

Warwick School and King’s High School Higher Education and Careers Fair February 2023 The two schools collaborated to host a Higher Education and Careers Fair in February 2023. The event brought together students and professionals, offering valuable insights and guidance for their academic and professional journeys.

Noteworthy highlights of the fair included: – British Army participation, showcasing diverse career opportunities in the armed forces.

– Guest speakers and workshops: l Mr Fred Binley (Head of UK Student Recruitment & WP, Lancaster University) shared strategies for successful university applications. l Professor Karuna Sampath (University of Warwick) discussed the field of biomedicine. l Mr Mark Johnson (experienced entrepreneur) delivered a workshop on engineering careers. l Ms Orla Harper (Senior Partner Development Manager, InvestIN Education) emphasized the benefits of work experience. l Mr John Jefferies (Senior Tutor and Head of Politics, Warwick School) provided insights on applying to Oxbridge.

Informative talks were also conducted by universities such as Bristol (Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Science applications) and Newcastle (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme).

The fair offered students a platform to engage with professionals, explore career paths, and gain valuable knowledge. It succeeded in inspiring and guiding students towards a successful future, reflecting the schools’ dedication to holistic education.

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Airline Careers Event at Warwick School

This year, the Physics Department invited staff from EasyJet to present various career paths in the airline industry. Students from Aylesford, King’s High, Myton, and Warwick Schools attended, including some of our RAF and CCF cadets. The presentation was led by Captain Clive Phillips, who oversees EasyJet’s hub operations. He has been operating Commercial Air Transport flights for over 25 years, and his roles have included trainer and simulator examiner.

Captain Phillips was also joined by two of his colleagues: Oran Aske-Haley (OW), who had just completed his commercial pilot training, and Ana Pinto, who is one of their Cabin Crew Managers.

Captain Phillips described a typical day for a commercial airline pilot, including the tools and support they rely on when planning a flight. This provided an opportunity for students to explore and hear about numerous roles that take place in and around the airport to facilitate a flight. From weather planning, ground crew activities, maintenance, scheduling, and air traffic control, the plethora of activities supporting each flight was clear to see.

Oran shared his experience of what it was like going through pilot training. After leaving Warwick School in 2017 and spending two years with EasyJet’s training partner, CAE, Oran is now type-rated to fly an Airbus A320. COVID-19 made it even more challenging, but Oran was determined to complete his dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot.

Ana Pinto then presented her experience and insight into the world of cabin crew and passenger safety. Originally from Portugal, she is now based in the UK despite the colder weather!

She chose this career as she enjoys travelling and meeting people. This was clear to see from the photos and stories she shared with the students.

At the end, students had the opportunity to ask a variety of questions, and they clearly appreciated the unique insight given to them into the world of aviation. We are very grateful to the staff at EasyJet who gave up their time to come and present to us.

GeC

Careers Fair

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Community

The service ended with a time of stillness while Miss Hooker played Rêverie by Debussy on the piano.

Chapel Report

Very quickly the Summer Term was upon us, and we were saying farewell to our leavers at their traditional final service. Henry Underhill and Dr Chapman both provided heartfelt “There is a time for everything, and a reflections their years under at thisthe school, and I’m convinced the roof must be a few inches season forof every activity heavens” higher following that final rendition of ‘Guide me O Thou Great Redeemer’.

Ecclesiastes Ch3, v1 Chapel remains the heart of the school. In times of joy, and in times of sadness, it is where

Once again, Chapel has played host to some of the pinnacles of On 6 November the Bishop of Warwick led a confirmation service this as well as some of the most sombre. for four of our students.

As ever, Bishop John was remind ouryear, students instinctively go. In the words of Jesus: “Surely I am with you always, tokeen theto very us all of our baptisms (which involves getting very wet!). We wish end of the age.”

Matthew v20.

On 8 September, the nation fell silent asCh28, we learnt of the death him well in his retirement. of Queen Elizabeth II. The following morning, the Head Master called the school for a Paul specialCooley, service of mourning, then Francis entered theFowler, season of Organist, Remembrance.

Chapel hosted I would like together to thank Chapel Prefect,Weand for their thanksgiving, and prayer for the Royal Family. That experience of four services this year, each dignified by a guard of honour from singing ‘God save the King’of for Chapel the first time will live longThanks in the theto CCF. We Chapel were pleased to welcome back Mr Mrs Owen James steadfast support this year. also the Choir, including memory.

OW, former Captain in the Welsh Guards, who spoke at our Baskerville, for your contributions to our services.Sunday Finally, thank you to Miss Sharp for Service.

A few short weeks later, our quintet of schools gathered in St accompanying the Junior School Services.

Mary’s for the annual Foundation Service.

We were treated to As ever, the candlelit Service of Advent was a highlight of the a feast of sound, including Bach and Saint Saëns played on the year. The Chapel Choir rose to the occasion with beautiful organ Francis Fowler (Upper Sixth), the fanfare team blasting anthems by Britten and Chanticleer. However, we had also just Soli by Deo Gloria a resounding rendition of Jacob’s Canterbury Flourish, and a learnt that Mrs Appleyard (teacher at Warwick Junior School for splendid concerto grosso by Handel played by our Foundation 21 years) had been moved into Myton Hospice, so our thoughts JS Baroque Orchestra. and prayers were with her.

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COMMUNITY On 6 December, Mrs Appleyard passed away. We held an emotional service of thanksgiving for her life, attended by members of the Junior School who had known her best. At the Carol Service a few weeks later, they sang their School Carol, ‘Shine the light bright’, in her honour.

All five Carol Services at St Mary’s were spectacular and poignant events; the choirs reached new heights as they led us through our celebration of Christmas. In a new initiative, the Chapel Christmas tree was decorated with memorial baubles created by staff and students to commemorate loved ones who are no longer with us.

On 17 January, we learnt of the tragic death of Arun Dhir. Arun was a bright, friendly, and generous member of the Upper Sixth, known for his humorous escapades. His death shook our school community, but paradoxically, it also brought us closer together. His memorial service the following month showed the school at its finest; Mrs Poole read the student reflections written by his friends, and Mr Soper spoke about the hope that can be found in the Gospel.

The service ended with a time of stillness while Miss Hooker played Rêverie

by Debussy on the piano.

Very quickly the Summer Term was upon us, and we were saying farewell to our leavers at their traditional final service. Henry Underhill and Dr Chapman both provided heartfelt reflections of their years at this school, and I’m convinced the roof must be a few inches higher following that final rendition of ‘Guide me, O Thou Great Redeemer’.

Chapel remains the heart of the school. In times of joy, and in times of sadness, it is where our students instinctively go. In the words of Jesus: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew Ch28, v20.

I would like to thank Paul Cooley, Chapel Prefect, and Francis Fowler, Organist, for their steadfast support of Chapel this year. Thanks also to the Chapel Choir, including Mrs Baskerville, for their contributions to our services. Finally, thank you to Miss Sharp for accompanying the Junior School Services.

Soli Deo Gloria

JS

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COMMUNITY

Charity

In the face of a growing cost of living crisis, Warwick District Foodbank has provided essential support for local individuals and families in crisis. Recognising the challenges faced by the foodbank, Josh Turner (Head Boy), took the initiative to rally support from Warwick and several other schools in the area.

Together, they set out to raise funds for Warwick District Foodbank to acquire a van, addressing a significant operational limitation.

The Food Bank operates from different locations daily which meant that essential food supplies often had to be left at the main distribution hub for a week, resulting in delayed support for those most in need. To tackle this issue head-on, Warwick collaborated with Westgate Primary School, Milverton Primary School, King’s High School, and Warwick Preparatory School to fundraise for the purchase of a van. The van would facilitate the seamless transportation of food supplies between the warehouse and distribution hubs.

To achieve their ambitious goal, the collaborative effort organized several fundraising activities: l Non-School Uniform Day: On December 9, 2022, a designated non-school uniform day took place across the Foundation schools. Students enthusiastically participated by donating £2.00 each. l Doughnut Sale Success: A doughnut sale across all participating schools generated an impressive £3,000. l GoFundMe Campaign: Recognizing the importance of involving all stakeholders, Warwick School set up an online GoFundMe page. This platform allowed community members, parents, and other supporters to contribute towards the van fund conveniently.

Through the concerted efforts of Warwick School and the other schools, an outstanding amount of £9,000 was raised towards the purchase of the van. In a remarkable display of solidarity, Warwick Foodbank combined this donation with an additional £10,000

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raised from other initiatives. The grand total of £19,000 enabled the foodbank to acquire a modern electric van, transforming its logistical capabilities and ensuring timely support for those in need.

The commitment to making a positive impact extended beyond supporting Warwick District Foodbank. The students and staff actively participated in fundraising activities for other charitable organisations, including: l Kissing it Better: On February 17, we held a non-school uniform day, raising an impressive £1,479.41 for the Kissing it Better Charity. This organisation focuses on improving the wellbeing of patients in healthcare settings through innovative programmes. l Deepalaya Charity India: The Under-15 Cricket Team organized a non-school uniform day on March 24, raising an admirable £2,620.97. These funds will contribute to the construction of a school supported by the Deepalaya Charity in India, providing educational opportunities for underprivileged children. l Rufus’ Friends’ Fund: On May 5, The School once again rallied support through a non-school uniform day, raising £1,513.36 for Rufus’ Friends’ Fund. This charity supports low-income families in Warwickshire who have a member with learning difficulties, offering them a much-needed respite.

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COMMUNITY

Year 7 Annual Sleep Out

On Friday May 26th 2023, after a busy week of exams, our Year 7 pupils took part in a Sleep Out in support of the Helping Hands Community Project.

Year 7 boys were well prepared for the challenge of sleeping overnight on the Junior School Playground and arrived at school on Friday morning with their kits and some very ambitious cardboard box constructions. A real highlight of the evening was seeing the boys setting up their boxes on the playground. We were very impressed by their creative efforts, which included a large castle and a camouflage structure with a sunroof and insulation!

Excitement was high throughout the evening as Year 7 completed a carousel of challenges and activities run by the staff. These activities included dodgeball, football, a quiz, soft-ball, LEGO in the Wellbeing Hub, and a cosy sing-along around the campfire, courtesy of Mr Soper.

A Chapel Service at 10:45p.m. offered an opportunity for boys to pause and reflect on the cause and the charity that our Sleep Out supports. We were fortunate to have two visiting speakers from Helping Hands who spoke to Year 7 about homelessness and the work they do to support those in need in the local community.

They shared their own experiences and how they were affected by homelessness. After the talk, Year 7 had the chance to ask questions about the charity, and our speakers commented on their thoughtfulness and engagement with the raised issues.

At 11:30 p.m., soup was served by Mr Barker before the boys settled into their boxes for the challenge of sleeping out for the night. Luckily, clear skies meant that Year 7 had a night out, with some sleep (or at least what sounded like sleep). They went home in great spirits after breakfast and the deconstruction of their cardboard creations, which were then recycled.

Many thanks to the boys who participated in the 2023 Sleep Out. Thanks also to the staff who supervised the event and ran fantastic activities, the Estates team for their assistance, and our catering team, who generously provided superb food for the boys, including snacks, fantastic meals, and, of course, late-night soup. We hope that the event will have raised over £2,500 for the Helping Hands Community Project.

Additionally, we ran a separate collection to donate items directly to the Helping Hands charity. These items were delivered on Monday morning and were greatly appreciated by the charity.

RE

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COMMUNITY

Volunteering

Kissing it Better

Friday Afternoon Activities Westgate Primary School:

Eleven Warwick students, from September 23, attended Westgate Primary School every Friday afternoon to provide one-to-one support to primary school children. Boys from Years 10 to Upper Sixth assisted the primary school children with their reading and helped them develop their maths skills. The Friday Afternoon volunteering initiative continues to expand, with two new projects.

Lifespace Peer Mentoring:

Seven Warwick students volunteered to train as Lifespace Peer Mentors, providing guidance and support to Year 6 students at Heathcote Primary School. The project proved to be a tremendous success, benefiting both the mentors and the mentees.

Science Outreach:

Four Warwick students volunteered to deliver various science projects aimed at enhancing science knowledge and skills to students in Years 3 to 5 at Heathcote Primary School. The experience was highly beneficial for both the Warwick students and the children at Heathcote Primary School.

Friday Afternoon Volunteering in the Community:

Using their own initiative, several boys found volunteering placements with the following organisations: l Coten End Primary School l The British Heart Foundation l The British Red Cross l Warwick School Library NOT-G

Delivering bookmarks to the Children’s Ward

Nathan and Taha

At our school, we have a strong connection with the charity ‘Kissing it Better,’ which encourages us to actively engage in community service. KiB is a remarkable charity committed to ending the isolation faced by older individuals by promoting intergenerational connections. Their innovative healthcare projects have had an immediate and longlasting impact on the lives of older people.

As students, we have enthusiastically participated in various volunteer activities with KiB. One way we bridged the generation gap was through festive events. Whether it was distributing cards on Valentine’s Day, creating handmade bookmarks for World Book Day, giving gifts during Christmas, or crafting garlands for the King’s coronation, these events provided us with invaluable opportunities to interact with older patients and engage in meaningful activities.

By doing so, we aimed to alleviate the sense of isolation experienced by older individuals in hospitals and care homes.

Another significant contribution was our involvement in healthcare projects with KiB. One noteworthy initiative was the ‘Hydration Week’ campaign. Recognizing that dehydration often contributes to elderly patients’ hospital visits, we focused on educating older people about the importance of staying hydrated to reduce accidents caused by a lack of water intake. Collaborating with students from KHS, we created a wide range of resources, including posters, stickers, crosswords, and artwork, all aimed at promoting hydration awareness. Through these intergenerational healthcare initiatives, we aimed to remind older patients of their value in our community, particularly in the eyes of the younger generation.

The collaboration between our school and KiB has had a profound impact on both our community and ourselves. By bringing generations together, our volunteer activities have successfully alleviated feelings of isolation and loneliness among older members of our community. The meaningful connections we have formed and the joy we have brought into their lives have had a positive effect on their emotional well-being and mental health. Moreover, engaging in these activities has provided us with a sense of purpose, belonging, and connection, leading to our own improved overall well-being. By witnessing firsthand the value and wisdom that older people possess, our perceptions of older individuals in our community have changed for the better, deepening our understanding and empathy.

The voluntary work facilitated by our school and the ‘Kissing it Better’ charity has brought immense joy, companionship, and an overall positive change to the lives of older individuals in our community. Together, we have made a significant difference, and we are inspired to continue fostering intergenerational connections while promoting empathy and respect for all ages.

It is worth noting that the dedication and impact of our student volunteers have been widely recognized, as evidenced by KiB receiving one of the last-ever Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service (QAVS) in May 2023.

Thuwaaragan Vivekananthan, Lower Sixth

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Coronation Garlands

COMMUNITY

Community Activities

It has been another successful year for Community Activities. Our Holiday Action programme continues to thrive, and our community outreach initiatives in local schools have provided children with immensely beneficial sporting opportunities over the past 12 months.

For Holiday Action, we welcomed an amazing 844 different children from 105 different schools this past year. Of these, 62% of the children came from schools outside of the Foundation, which further demonstrates the excellent reputation we have in the wider community.

During the past 12 months, we have been able to offer our full range of holiday services for children from Reception age up to Year 7, as well as introducing some new initiatives that we are very proud of.

Our new ‘Train like a Pro’ rugby camps were launched in the spring and proved to be incredibly popular. Our February camp completely sold out, and our Easter camp also saw an encouraging 70% of places taken up. These high-level camps were designed for older children (Y5-Y8) to experience rugby training at an ‘elite level’ and give them a taste of what training like a professional would really be like. Following their success, we are definitely planning on running more of these in 2023/24.

Additionally, we were thrilled to run our ‘Funded Place’ scheme again this past year. Across Easter and Summer, we were able to offer 400 funded day places for children from disadvantaged backgrounds to access our Holiday Action programme. The positive impact of this scheme cannot be underestimated, as the attending children were able to try activities they might not have had the opportunity to otherwise, while also building selfconfidence and fostering positive relationships with other children.

During the past 12 months, we also launched a new specialist holiday program for children from the local SEND school, Evergreen.

This was an exciting addition to our Holiday Action provision as opportunities for children with SEND to attend holiday camps are limited during school breaks. With the help of specialist Evergreen staff, we offered courses during Christmas, Easter, and Summer, providing 10 funded places for children from Evergreen school to access each of these courses. It was wonderful to see the children play, socialize, and enjoy themselves with others while participating in a variety of fantastic activities, which had a significant impact on their emotional and physical well-being.

Outside of the school holidays, it has been another highly successful year of community outreach, with our teaching providing highquality PE provision to up to 270 different children from three local primary schools every week. This service has offered the schools planning, delivery, and assessment of a year’s worth of accessible and engaging PE sessions. In addition, we were able to deliver two successful after-school clubs this past year.

Lastly, our Kick 25 swimming recovery scheme ran again this year.

The scheme invited Year 6 children from local primary schools who had not achieved their 25m swimming badge to participate in

a week-long crash course. Of the three schools that attended, 12 out of the 27 children managed to achieve their 25m by the end of the week. More importantly, all of the children were able to gain a greater degree of water confidence with the help of the instructors.

Looking forward, the 2023/24 year should be one of both stability and growth. We have exciting initiatives in the pipeline that aim to enhance the already immensely successful community service we offer. At the same time, we will continue to ensure that our current programmes maintain the high quality expected of us. Here’s to another great year!

DP/AB

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COMMUNITY

Community Sports Leaders Awards

CSLA runs as a Friday afternoon activity and provides Lower Sixth students with the opportunity to deliver various sports to children in local primary schools. The course is directed and organized

by Mr Partridge, supported by Mr Williamson and Mrs Riley, and helps students become Sports Leaders. It combines theory and practice, following the guidelines of the awarding body, to gain a qualification that holds credibility when applying for sports coaching work. Upon completion of the course, students can apply for paid employment in the school Holiday Action programme.

During theory lessons, the focus is on how to plan and structure a coaching session in different sporting activities. This is supplemented with work on the importance of risk assessment and child protection, the desired skills and behaviours of a good leader, and effective methods of motivation and group management.

Eco-Committee

The Eco-Committee has been working hard on several exciting projects in the 2022/23 academic year. The school is exceptionally proud to have completed its environmental review and to have achieved green flag status with distinction, highlighting the exceptional work carried out by the Eco-Committee to reduce the school’s environmental impact.

Coordinated by Henry Underhill and Ms Irani, the committee organized ‘Switch Off Fortnight’ as a house competition, where each house competed to turn off as many lights as possible when leaving their form rooms, aiming to reduce the school’s energy consumption. The Wildlife Photography Competition was also a great success, with over 200 entries from across the Foundation, capturing the beauty of the natural world and its inhabitants.

The search engine Ecosia has been introduced as the default web browser on all school computers. Unlike other web browsers, Ecosia uses its profits to plant trees around the world, providing an easy way for the school to contribute to environmental conservation.

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The theory is put into practice with Friday afternoon visits to local primary schools such as Ferncumbe, All Saints Warwick, and Claverdon. The budding sports leaders arrive to face 60 eagerly awaiting children in years 3 to 6, all expecting to enjoy an afternoon of well-organized sports activities led by the sports leaders. Visits also include Evergreen School, where the leaders find working with teenagers who have special educational needs very rewarding.

Students evaluate their sessions and receive teacher observations and feedback, which are essential for personal development. The current CSLA group, pictured above, has been an outstanding bunch, and the children have enjoyed their activities. The students have been a credit to the Foundation.

Anyone who would like to enrol in the course, please speak to Mr Gibbs or Mr Partridge.

DP/AB

In the Junior School, the Gardening Club remains popular among Year 6 pupils. They are learning about horticulture and how to take cuttings, fostering their growth using hydroponics and terrariums. The presence of allotments and a wildflower meadow also indicates promising developments regarding the school’s environmental commitment. It’s wonderful to see such interest in ecology from younger year groups as they progress through the Foundation.

I am excited to oversee the Eco-Committee’s future achievements in the upcoming year. We have some promising ideas planned, with a focus on tree planting and the protection of endangered species through our house mascot scheme, which we hope to launch early in the Michaelmas term. Other projects include our Formula E sustainable racing contest, led by Ptolemy WaltonHayfield, and charity fundraisers to support organizations such as the Woodland Trust. As the committee expands its focus into sustainability and conservation, we aim to make a positive impact on our environment.

Ollie Orton Eco-Committee Chair

COMMUNITY

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Activities Duke of Edinburgh

The 2023 DofE expedition season has been both challenging and successful, with nearly all teams having to contend with extreme weather conditions. The season commenced in late March with a Bronze practice expedition. Despite weeks of heavy rain before and during the expedition, the teams persevered and completed their routes admirably, especially considering the very muddy conditions on the footpaths and at the campsite.

challenge compared to the relatively flat terrain of the Cotswolds at the Bronze level. However, the breath-taking views of the moorland landscape and valleys made the effort worthwhile.

The season concludes in August with the five Gold teams travelling to the Lake District for their four-day assessment. At the Gold level, each team plans a route centred around a specific aim chosen beforehand. This has resulted in a diverse range of routes, including those exploring historical sites such as stone circles and traditional hamlets with longhouses and Elizabethan architecture, as well as routes leading to Grisedale Tarn and along Great Langdale to observe glacial landforms. Many students are now on the verge of completing their Gold Award, which will be celebrated with an invitation to either St James’ Palace or Buckingham Palace to receive their certificate from a member of the royal family.

HB

Following the Bronze practice, a Gold practice expedition took place in the Peak District at the end of the Easter holidays. The teams encountered steep climbs, intense rain showers, low cloud cover, cold temperatures overnight, and challenging boggy terrain. Over three days, they traversed the Dark Peak and conquered Kinder Scout.

In May and June, the remaining Bronze teams successfully completed their expeditions, walking from Broadway to just beyond Naunton in the Cotswolds over a two-day period, covering a total distance of approximately 22 miles. Despite earlier wet weather and subsequent heat, the footpaths were overgrown, adding to the navigational challenges.

During the May bank holiday weekend, Year 10 and some Lower Sixth students travelled to Shropshire for their Silver practice expedition. They learned how to navigate in an upland environment and across feature-scarce moorland areas. At the end of June, during Activities Week, the ten Silver teams journeyed to the Black Mountains to complete their qualifying expedition. Walking across the peaks and ridges of south Wales presented a significant physical

Boys on their Silver expedition

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Boys on their Bronze expedition

ACTIVITIES

Science in Action

It has been a busy year for students completing the Science in Action programme, where they have developed their practical science skills beyond A-level standard.

through glycerol to investigate extreme viscous effects and establish a suitable numerical model.

The practical year culminated on Friday, May 5th, with a highly The Lower Sixth students worked in two groups, one focusing on informative SIA Presentation event in the Science Lecture Biology/Chemistry and the other following a Physics/Engineering Theatre. The Upper Sixth students presented their findings pathway. The programme has helped them develop skills such through talks and answered questions articulately about their as practical planning, risk assessment, precise measurement, research methods. All Lower Sixth students prepared universitycollaboration, data processing, and the use of specialist style posters showcasing their work, which were displayed in an exhibition in the foyer for everyone to circulate and ask questions. equipment. This year, the Biology/Chemistry group conducted experiments on the effect of caffeine on Daphnia magna, AnimalTo Care Club conclude the SIA year, we were fortunate to have the tested their own DNA, and assayed the effectiveness of a opportunity to listen to and question two academics discussing B-galactosidase enzyme extracted from E. coli bacteria. The This year, we had another group of boys helping us feed, clean, and look after the biology anima their exciting current research. Dr Alexander Pretty, a teaching Physics/Engineering group undertook several investigations on The boys have been happy to handle the various animals that can be held. The snakes continue t fellow in Applied Mathematics at Cardiff University, presented structures, examining how certain structures exhibit compressions fascinate club members, and watching Sid & Nancy eat is a favourite activity. Overcoming their f ‘Modelling Transmission fascinating or tensions. They then applied their findings to build efficient of beingon near the snakesIndoor and gaining the courageof to COVID-19.’ hold them hasHis been a significant achieveme Animal Care Club work demonstrated how mathematical factors can be used to bridges, subject to specific design constraints. The winning bridge for many. predict likelihood of another personuscontracting COVID was determined based on the highest Load-to-Bridge-Weight ratio This year, the we had another group of boys helping feed, clean, and look after the biology an There were no on new animals this year, Openperson.

Evening, wecan discovered the African based their tobut anduring infected This research before breaking apart.

The boys have beenproximity happy to handle the various animals that be held. that The snakes continL Snails had eggs theirto enclosure.

We are waiting them toactivity. hatch,and anticipating haslaid contributed the of ventilation protocols fascinate clubin members, anddevelopment watching Sideagerly & Nancy eat is for a favourite Overcomingma th new snails soon!

Wethe also plans to introduce a few animals nexta year, whichachieve are The Upper Sixth students were tasked with using the skills of being near snakes and gaining the courage todifferent hold them has Bastien, been significant the reduction ofhave airborne virus spread.

Dr Christophe in the pipeline. developed in the previous year to design and carry out their own currently for many.

Associate Professor of Engineering at Coventry University, spoke investigations. Biological projects included testing algal growth about ‘Human Body Models: The Future of Transport Safety and There were no new animals this year, but during Open Evening, we discovered that the Afric at varying CO2 concentrations to contribute to the idea of carbon Forensic Analysis.’

Heenclosure. discussed use of Snails had laid eggs in their Wethe are historic eagerly waiting forcrash-test them to hatch, anticipating capture for managing global CO2 levels, testing blood types and RVE new dummies in car and how computer modelling is morenext year, which ar snails soon!

Wesafety also have plans to introduce a few different animals personality traits for any correlation, and studying the chemical efficientininthepredicting currently pipeline. the effects of a crash on the human body. synthesis of drug molecules. Upper Sixth Physics students These talks provided valuable insights into research careers and used numerical analysis to study the effects of air resistance on offered an excellent opportunity for students to explore different projectiles. They filmed paper rockets, table tennis balls, and areas of research and ask questions with curiosity.

RVE footballs in flight and compared their numerical models with the actual video footage. They also dropped steel ball bearings CMLN

Animal Care Club

This year, we had another group of boys helping us feed, clean, and look after the biology animals. The boys have been happy to handle the various animals that can be held. The snakes continue to fascinate club members, and watching Sid and Nancy eat is a favourite activity. Overcoming their fear of being near the snakes and gaining the courage to hold them has been a significant achievement for many.

There were no new animals this year, but during Open Evening, we discovered that the African Land Snails had laid eggs in their enclosure. We are eagerly waiting for them to hatch, anticipating many new snails soon! We also have plans to introduce a few different animals next year, which are currently in the pipeline.

RVE

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ACTIVITIES

CCF Army

It has been another outstanding year for the Warwick and King’s High School Army section, with a record number of cadets choosing to remain in the Section, bringing our numbers to 220. It has been a busy and diverse year, from assisting at the Willersey fete to participating in exercises in Leek and Brecon.

The year kicked off with the 72-hour exercise in the Leek training area in the Peak District. This marked the CCF’s first encounter with the Shubert group.

The section was assigned the task of retrieving classified satellite parts that the Shubert group had destroyed to gather intelligence. After numerous sectional attacks, a night ambush, and a vehicle checkpoint, the cadets successfully retrieved the parts and identified some members of the Shubert group. They then returned the parts and information to Headquarters back in Warwick.

The CCF played a significant role during Remembrance Week, providing a Guard of Honour for the Junior and Senior School assemblies. Members of the Contingent also marched through the centre of Warwick alongside regular soldiers on Remembrance Sunday, with the Senior NCOs laying wreaths on behalf of the Army and RAF Sections.

Over the following months, the Army section dedicated Friday afternoons to training, focusing on learning new section tactics, weapons handling, and drill. We also received the annual visit from the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, who presented the staff with their Platinum Jubilee medals and promoted some cadets. The overnight exercise on the school site followed, with several volunteers once again attempting to overcome the challenges posed by the Shubert group. During the evening briefing, the enemy disguised themselves as some of our own, catching us off guard and kidnapping our Contingent Commander, Lt Col Davenport. However, using their knowledge of the school site and decoding messages, the section managed to recover the hostage and defeat the enemy.

Overnight exercise at school

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Salute to mark Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II’s death But the encounters with the Shubert group were not over. We faced them once again on a gruelling 24-hour exercise in the Brecon Beacons. Through a series of sectional attacks, the cadets successfully repelled the Shubert group for the night. However, early the next morning, the section came under fire from an enemy sniper and remained pinned down for 30 minutes. Eventually, they successfully located and neutralised the sniper, causing the group to retreat for good.

At the end of the Lent term, we celebrated Review Day, a highly anticipated event in the CCF calendar. With the cadets’ uniforms impeccably presented, we welcomed the Reviewing Officer, Royal Navy Commander Jenna Kelway (an Old KHS Student), and Naomi

ACTIVITIES

Whittaker, mother of Joe Whittaker (OW), who tragically lost his life in Afghanistan in 2008. It is an honour to have her join us annually to present the Whittaker Cup in Joe’s name to the best Army Company. This year, she was pleased to present the trophy to B Company. Both guests were deeply impressed by the CCF and the achievements of the Contingent. Review Day also marked a time for handovers. Year 13 cadets bid farewell to their roles, passing them down to the next generation. Senior Cadet Ed Pollock passed on his role to Will Murden, the Head of Army Section transferred from Danielle Johnstone to Lexi Wehby, and the Head of RAF Section was handed down from Maya Mulder-Qureshi to Matt Dennes.

Since Review Day, we have had numerous successful camps and events, including adventurous training and activities commemorating the Coronation.

We express our gratitude to Lt Col Davenport, who is stepping down from his role as Contingent Commander after eight years.

We warmly welcome Lt Grant, who is taking on the position, and wish him luck for the coming year.

Summer camp was held at Driffield camp, a disused RAF airbase. The cadets spent the first two days in the field putting into practice their fieldcraft skills including harbour drill, ambushes, casualty evacuations and section attacks. Once back in camp, the cadets took part in a rotation of activities run by the cadet training team including air rifles, DCCT, command tasks, laser clay shooting, arrow tag and a gun run.

The final day took place at the North Yorkshire water park where cadets participated in a range of adventurous training activities both on land and in the water. Favourites were the water assault course and the 250m zip line. The cadets headed to Scarborough’s south beach on the final evening for a welldeserved fish supper and ice cream.

CJG

CCF Summer Camp

CSM Will Murden, Senior Cadet

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ACTIVITIES

RAF

It has been a successful year for the RAF Section, with some new ventures for our now 90-strong Squadron. This year has been largely unaffected by Covid, allowing for increased flying opportunities and training to resume as it did before the pandemic.

The year began with exciting news that we had been selected to compete in the Royal Air Squadron Trophy.

This prestigious competition takes place at RAF Cosford each November and showcases the skills of some of the best CCF (RAF) units in the region. Our team of 15 cadets competed in six different areas of training, including drill, air rifle shooting, and command tasks. Despite it being our first year at the event, the team performed admirably in all areas, earning a remarkable fourth place in the prestigious drill competition. We look forward to returning next year and building upon the solid foundation the team has established.

The virtual reality flight simulator has been introduced into regular training sessions, including a new lunchtime club that has been running since January. This has provided many cadets with the opportunity to develop their skills on both regular simulators and the virtual reality simulator.

Flying trips this year faced challenges such as technical difficulties with aircraft, national events, and, of course, the unpredictable British weather. Nonetheless, we managed to provide a good number of cadets with flying experiences through two gliding trips and two powered flying trips. These experiences allowed them to take control of an aircraft for the first time and even engage in aerobatics before being awarded their Blue ‘Wings’ badge to proudly wear on their uniform.

Review Day at the end of the Lent term featured the presentation of the RAF Trophy, awarded annually to the best of the two Flights:

The Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire learns about the VR flight simulator Red and Blue. The decision was made minutes before the parade, and Red Flight emerged victorious, receiving the trophy, which includes a part of an RAF Tornado, from the Reviewing Officer.

This year, more cadets than ever participated in external RAF camps during the summer holidays. Two NCOs were awarded places on the prestigious Air Cadet Leadership Course at RAF Cranwell, earning them their gold leadership badges. Cadets also attended two camps that were not previously included in the school CCF calendar: the Drill and Ceremonial Camp and the National Air and Space Camp.

Flight Lieutenant Alton’s departure marks his last year in the RAF Section as he moves on to his new school. He hands over the position of Officer Commanding to (soon to be) Pilot Officer Preece, who is eager to build upon the incredible work Flt Lt Alton has accomplished over the past seven years, taking the Section from a mere ten cadets to its current thriving state.

Flt Sgt Matt Dennes, Lead Cadet, RAF Section

Gliding at RAF Little Rissington

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ACTIVITIES

Cpl Walton-Hayfield in a Grob Tutor at RAF Benson As I approach the end of my final year at Warwick, I feel deeply honoured to have served as Section Commander of the RAF section. The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic tested the resilience of the CCF, but the successive cohorts of senior NCOs have admirably built upon the strong foundations laid by their predecessors. I have full confidence that this upward momentum will continue in the future, as the current Year 13 has demonstrated their efficacy and forward-thinking approach as a cohesive team.

My involvement in the CCF at Warwick School has provided me with some of my most cherished memories. The organization offers a truly exceptional and character-building experience. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the cadets who have embraced the RAF section, as well as to the dedicated staff who have supported me in organising camps, trips, and parade afternoons. Per Ardua Ad Astra!

Flt Lt Alton, RAF Section Commander

The Royal Air Squadron Trophy team 2023

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ACTIVITIES

Improv Troupe

Despite ‘Improv’ not running as a Friday afternoon activity this year, the WISF Improv Troupe has continued to enjoy rehearsing on Thursday lunchtimes with Mrs Stevenson-Ray and Dr McKee. Pupils from both Warwick and King’s High School have worked together each week to develop their comedy improvisational skills through drama games, characterbuilding exercises, quick-fire scenes, and more long form improvised scenarios.

At the end of the Michaelmas term, the troupe performed the (soon to be annual) Christmas Improv Show, hosted by Aidan Everett (Lower Sixth). The audience was blown away by the clever wit and comic timing of the whole cast.

On the final day of the Lent term, the troupe performed their second show of the year, the Easter Improv Show. Once again, audiences were roaring with laughter as they enjoyed a selection of springthemed improvised games and scenes. A favourite moment was when performers presented some brilliant scenes with audience-suggested titles, which switched genres halfway when the music started playing.

Towards the end of the show, things got very messy with Tommy Perry (Year 11) hosting a mocktail-making class and then a pizzamaking demonstration (with real food and drink!) in the game ‘his hands.’ In this game, two improvisers work together – one as the face and torso and the other as the hands – with hilarious results!

Credit must go to James Bull (Year 10), Tom Harland (Year 10), Sam Crowley (Year 11), and Rhys Mulligan (Year 11) for these rip-roaring scenes.

Most recently, during Activities Week, Mrs Stevenson-Ray and Dr McKee ran the ‘Improv Day.’ Several boys enjoyed a day full of

The Law Society

The Law Society, led by Mr Bennett, saw a strong cohort of Lower Sixth aspiring lawyers among its membership this year.

They were challenged academically on a weekly basis by delving into the complexities and nuances that reside within the legal sector.

Highlights of the year include: l

l

l l l

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A consideration of the tragic case of Re A, which involved the separation of conjoined twins, and its impact on the criminal law of England and Wales.

An introduction to the notoriously complex area of the law known as equity (which had a starring role in Charles Dickens’s classic work, Bleak House).

A review of the human rights framework in the United Kingdom and an analysis of case law surrounding it.

An exploration into squatters’ rights under the law of property.

The dispute pertaining to the status and ownership of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean under the current international law framework.

An introduction to contract and tort law.

Apart from the above, pupils were advised on what books they should be reading as part of their applications to study

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activities building their improvisational skills, culminating in a long form improvised performance using the structure ‘Spoon River,’ whereby each actor plays a different character (signified by a hat), and by the end of the play, all of the characters must have met their untimely death! Special mention must go to Ptolemy Walton-Hayfield (Year 10), who played a hilarious Spanish restaurant owner, Gonzalo, and Charlie Mackenzie (Lower Sixth), who played the Judge and did his best to keep order in this chaotic fictional world. Next academic year, ‘Improv’ will be reinstated as a Friday afternoon activity, and we look forward to our next show!

AJSR law at university, as well as receiving advice on personal statements and preparation for the infamous LNAT admissions assessment.

Other highlights included superb performances across various essay competitions entered by the pupils. Some of them even had their essays ‘commended’ in prestigious competitions such as the John Locke Essay Prize (by the John Locke Institute), the Peter Cane Legal Reasoning Prize (by Corpus Christi College, Oxford), the Robert Walker Essay Prize for Law (by Trinity College, Cambridge), and the New College of Humanities.

Many pupils were able to take advantage of work experience over the course of the year. This included shadowing a judge during a trial, shadowing a barrister both at court and in chambers, work experience at a solicitor’s firm, or even online work experience. Regardless of where it was done, the opportunity to undertake work experience provided valuable insights into the real-life application of the law.

Well done to all the pupils who participated in the Law Society.

It is hoped that this preliminary grounding in the law has planted the seeds for a successful future career in the legal profession!

CTB

ACTIVITIES

Chess

It has been another year of great success for our chess players at Warwick. Chess overall has continued to flourish, with an impressive number of players either taking up the game for the first time or deepening their interest.

However, despite Mr Ward’s repeated advice to focus on tactical puzzles and the endgame, many players remain dedicated to memorising opening traps!

Individually, Billy Fellowes of the Junior School successfully defended his title and won the annual Richard Weaving Cup, a Blitz tournament open to Junior and Senior players. He defeated all his opponents and secured a perfect score. He followed this up with another perfect score in the annual Coventry Schools’ Lightning Tournament.

In the Coventry Schools’ League, under the expert captaincy of George Topping, we once again achieved the treble of winning Divisions 1 and 2, as well as the Knockout Cup. Warwick also made its first-ever appearance in the UK National Schools’ Chess Championship and emerged as the winners of the Oxfordshire qualifying tournament at Radley College, surpassing strong competition from Abingdon School and Radley. This achievement was even more remarkable as the team consisted of both Junior and Senior School players. Unfortunately, we were unable to progress further in the regional stage, as we were defeated

by King Edward’s Camp Hill. However, we will enter the competition again next season with the hope of advancing further.

Warwick also made its debut in the highly competitive Birmingham Schools’ League Blitz event, which featured some of the strongest junior players in the region. Despite forfeiting the first round due to a late arrival (!), our ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams finished third and fourth respectively out of 20 teams, narrowly trailing behind King Edward’s School Birmingham and Camp Hill.

Schools Challenge

We started the year not knowing whether the competition would survive the retirement of its long-term organiser. The competition was resurrected about half-way through the year, though only in a remote format, which meant that the regional rounds did not take place, but instead it was arranged as a knockout competition on a national basis. Our senior ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams both managed difficult draws against schools which reached the national last eight last year. Our ‘A’ teams were beaten by a strong KES Birmingham side, while our ‘B’ team managed a first-round win against George Heriot School, Edinburgh, before losing to the RGS, Lancaster.

Our junior (U13) team had good wins against Hurstpierpoint, and Erskine Stewart Melville Schools (also Edinburgh), before losing to a strong team from The Hall School.

Hopefully the competition will revert to ‘real’ matches next year.

U18 A: O. Robinson, A. Bosworth, P. Walton-Hayfield, J. Taylor U18 B: P. Cooley, O. Johnson, R. Sandher, V. Balescu U13: R. Sandher, V. Balescu, J. Ford, R. Danylko, A. Tracey MGLC

This year has also witnessed many players making their debut for the school in competitive fixtures, with particularly impressive seasons from Gregory Kornilovich (7T), Jasper Fong (10B), Jonathan Yiu (7L), and Alex Whitfield (8T).

Additionally, several other players have started participating in local external tournaments, including the UK Schools’ Chess Challenge. This commitment to consistently pushing beyond one’s comfort zone has been wonderful to see and, I believe, is a significant factor in the school’s dominance of local chess.

ACW

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ACTIVITIES

Chapel Choir

Michaelmas is always a busy term for the Chapel Choir. We began with the traditional Foundation Service held at St. Mary’s in September. The Chapel Choir joined forces with singers from King’s High and The Kingsley School to give a fantastic performance of Matthias’ Make a Joyful Noise. Indeed, a joyful noise was certainly made by all the singers who gave an exciting performance of the work. Back in Chapel, the Choir sang for the Harvest Service in October and then the Remembrance Service in November. The Remembrance service was a particularly poignant event where we remembered those OWs who have fought for our country. The Chapel Choir gave a stunning rendition of Bainton’s very moving work, “And I Saw a New Heaven.” Rehearsals continued earnestly in the run-up to Christmas. The candlelit Advent Service at the end of November was very atmospheric and featured a range of music suitable for the festive period. This was followed in quick succession by the Christmas Cracker Concert in Warwick Hall and the two traditional Carol Services in the last week of term at St. Mary’s. Christmas was a particular highlight in Chapel Choir’s year; the boys worked incredibly hard and sang a huge range of music, which included classics such as “Once in Royal David’s City” (soloists: Thomas Dodsworth and Finlay Brazil), and more modern works such as Mac Wilberg’s “Ding Dong Merrily on High” and Philip Stopford’s setting of “We Three Kings.”

Despite the fatigue that comes at the end of a busy term, the Choir sang with energy and enthusiasm and showed a great deal of musical prowess.

After a well-deserved Christmas break, the Chapel Choir started back in January with preparations for the Candlemas Service.

Here, they sang the Nunc Dimittis from Howells’ Collegium Regale, a beautiful yet challenging work. February then began with an engaging and energetic workshop given by Ed Button (OW and current member of the world-famous ensemble The King’s Singers). We all learned a huge amount from Ed and had a

Choir leavers 2023 thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. We look forward to welcoming Ed back in the future for more exciting choral projects! The last day before February half-term saw the Chapel Choir travel to Exeter College, Oxford for the afternoon. The trip, meticulously organised

by Mr Cooley, involved an afternoon rehearsal in the college’s spectacular Chapel, a tour of the College, and a joint evensong.

The trip was a huge success, and our Choir rose to the occasion, singing some very difficult music superbly alongside Exeter’s professional choir. Special mention should go to Francis Fowler (U6) and Jim Fellows (OW) who ably accompanied the service on the organ. We look forward to returning to Exeter College, again next year.

An initiative that had been in the pipeline for a little while was the re-introduction of Junior School choristers. I am delighted to say that the return to school after February half-term saw eight handpicked singers from Years 5 and 6 of Junior School join the ranks of the Chapel Choir. These boys have proved a fantastic addition to the Choir, and their dedication and musical abilities have proved

Chapel Choir at Pembroke College, Oxford

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ACTIVITIES

Carol Service to be very impressive. The first event to include both the Junior School choristers and Senior School boys singing alongside each other was the Passiontide Service held in March. All the boys sang a number of works fantastically and gave a particularly memorable performance of Elgar’s Ave Verum Corpus, featuring solos from Harry Turnell (Year 8) and Harrison Brown (Year 5).

While the summer term is traditionally quieter due to exams, Chapel Choir rehearsals have continued, and the commitment of all the boys has been truly admirable. In May, the Chapel Choir held An Evening of English Choral Music in Chapel. This concert featured a varied program of works by English composers ranging from Tallis to Vaughan-Williams and Rutter. This event also featured a number of soloists, including our U6 leavers. It provided a fitting opportunity to thank those leavers for their commitment to Chapel Choir over the years and to wish them all the best for the future. Celebrations of a successful concert, and indeed year, continued that evening with Chapel Choir dinner. We were treated

to a delicious three-course meal, with entertainment provided by the newly formed barbershop group under the expert direction of Mr Beavis-Berry. Speeches were made, and an enjoyable evening was had by all.

I would once again like to take the opportunity to thank all members of Chapel Choir, both staff and students, for their dedication this year and their fantastic music-making. Particular thanks to all our U6 leavers for their many years of singing and especially to our outgoing Heads of Choir, Toby Hawkins and Francis Fowler. The U6 leavers were presented with their signed hymnals at Choir Dinner, as is tradition. I am delighted to report that Noah Saxton and Oliver Crabtree have been appointed Heads of Choir for the next academic year, and Nimal Carson has been awarded the Daventry Cup (for the best Lower School chorister). I look forward to a very successful 2023-24.

CVB

F1 in Schools Club

Our very successful Floreat Racing team, consisting of Team Principle Xuanlin Li, Marketing Director Isaac Turner, Finance Manager Seb Carr, Manufacturing Engineer James Bull, and Chief Engineer Thomas Russell, attended the F1 in Schools West Midlands Regional Finals at Aston University on Thursday, April 20th. F1 in Schools is a global competition open to any student. It involves a process in which a team of up to six members must build a functioning company, raise funds, and, of course, build a car. We decided to name our team Floreat Racing to connect with the school’s history, and we chose racing green and gold as our colours to reflect the sport’s heritage. From January to April, we worked tirelessly to ensure that everything was ready and up to date. On the day of the competition, we gave a verbal presentation on our individual contributions and presented our two different portfolios on branding and car construction. Then it was time to race.

Our car turned out to be an absolute rocket ship, securing first place in all categories.

After conquering all the competition in the first round, we are now looking ahead to the national finals in April next year. We would also like to express our thanks to Mr Bamford for paving the way and giving us the opportunity to achieve all of this; it would not have been possible without him.

Isaac Turner, Year 10

Floreat Racing Team

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ACTIVITIES

Library

The library continues to be a bustling environment with events scattered throughout the year, along with the usual library activities.

The year started off with an author visit from Thomas Taylor for Years 7 and 8. He spoke to students about his “Eerie-on-the-Sea” books, which are about a boy named Herbert Lemon, whose life gets turned upside down when a mysterious girl named Violet Parma asks him to hide her in the hotel where he works. It was a great event, with students being able to handle mysterious objects from the seaside that Thomas Taylor had collected. Before writing his own books, Thomas was most famous for illustrating the original “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” He was kind enough to leave some of his art for the library!

Fortnightly library lessons for Years 7 and 8 continued this year. There was a healthy mix of fun (like musical chairs with books) and reading. Lessons were so enjoyable that some year 9 and 10 classes popped by for impromptu classes. Mrs DeVouge-Bernards enjoyed getting to know students’ reading habits and their preferences. Break and lunch continue to be busy times in the library, and it’s always fun for her to interact with the students!

This year saw various book clubs and groups exploring different book awards, both locally and nationally.

Mrs DeVouge-Bernards took her group of library ambassadors to King’s High to watch the Warwickshire School Book Awards. “Dread Wood” by Jennifer Killick was a deserving winner, as voted for by students around Warwickshire. The Carnegie Awards were shadowed by Mrs DeVouge-Bernards’ Year 9 and 10 Book Club. For the second year in a row, Andrew Digby read and reviewed all the books. “The Blue Book of Nebo” by Manon Steffan Ros was the winner and the first Welsh book to win in the award’s history.

Visit from Chie Katsuwada Mrs DeVouge-Bernards wrapped up the year with a Graphic Novel and Manga Day in the library.

Noticing how many students were interested in them, she brought in Comic Book Laureate Stephen Holland (owner of Page 45 Comic Book Store), manga artist Chie Katsuwada (Carnegie-nominated illustrator of “Tsunami Girl”), and Neill Cameron (author of “Mega Robo Bros”). Students learned about graphic novels and manga and drew their own graphic novel and manga characters. Just remember this very important equation: thing that is awesome + thing that is awesome = thing that is totally super awesome.

Visit from Thomas Taylor

Young Enterprise

It has been another eventful year in Young Enterprise, with two more joint King’s High/Warwick companies entering the national competition. After several weeks of developing and discarding ideas, ‘Snatched Apparel,’ led by Dougal Robson and Carla Estrada, settled on producing and selling their own mystery clothing boxes. Meanwhile, ‘International Eats,’ led by Lizzie Hunt and Elliot Smith, created children’s cookbooks featuring recipes from around the world.

After initial fundraising, including the popular Year 7 disco, both groups quickly transitioned into production. Despite the usual challenges associated with running a small business, both groups successfully sold numerous products.

In early May, they participated in the Coventry and Warwickshire Finals, presenting their projects and undergoing interviews in front of a panel of judges.

Snatched Apparel achieved several successes, receiving awards for sustainability, marketing, and creativity. Unfortunately, both companies’ journeys came to an end as they became joint regional runners-up. The accuracy of the dreaded financial data became a key topic of discussion in the aftermath!

Nevertheless, everyone who participated in Young Enterprise has learned a great deal throughout the year.

MDWG

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ACTIVITIES

Debating

Our enthusiastic competition and club debaters have consistently demonstrated their skill and commitment to debating throughout the academic year. Once again, we have participated in a wide range of local and national competitions, ensuring that even our youngest debaters have had the opportunity to enhance their skills through weekly in-school debates. Atticus Walton-Hayfield, this year’s Captain of Debating, was particularly keen on promoting all-age debating across the school, and he certainly lived up to the challenge he set for himself.

Michaelmas Term: ESU and Warwick School House Debating Our senior debaters had a busy and successful start to the competition season on Thursday, November 17th. Debaters from Year 10 and Year 11 participated in the ESU Churchill Public Speaking Competition, while our Sixth Form debaters showcased their skills in the ESU MACE.

The MACE team, comprised of Atticus Walton-Hayfield, Will Sheehan, and Arjan Paneser, demonstrated exceptional commitment in their research and preparation for their first-round debate. They passionately argued in favour of the motion: ‘This House would ban the sale and consumption of meat,’ debating against local rivals, King’s High School. Their convincing mechanism for implementing the motion and eloquent presentation of arguments based on ‘incontestable logic’ earned them the title of ‘runaway winners of the heat’ and a place in the next round of the competition.

On the same night, our Year 10 and Year 11 pupils delivered brilliant performances in the Churchill Public Speaking Competition. James Leeson, Thomas Russell, and Ptolemy Walton-Hayfield showcased their talent in Year 10, after making a strong impression in the competition the previous year. They demonstrated excellent teamwork and presented a superb speech on the dangers of 24hour news, narrowly missing out on qualification.

Our Year 11 team, consisting of Ryan Taylor, Freddie Wyatt, and Pranav Raja, was one of only two teams selected for the next round.

They proposed the motion that prisoners should not have the right to vote, elegantly negating it as a human right by highlighting that prisoners, in the words of Rousseau, have broken the ‘social contract.’

Lent Term: A Busy and Successful Competition Season

The Lent term is always a busy one, and this year was no exception, thanks to the remarkable success of our debaters in national competitions.

Our ESU MACE team, comprising Atticus Walton-Hayfield, Arjan Paneser, Will Sheehan, and Barnaby Ducker, participated in the second round of the MACE on Wednesday, January 11th. They opposed the motion: ‘This House would use proportional representation in UK national elections.’ Although they did not advance to the third round, they performed exceptionally well as a team.

Arjan and Will in the chamber of the Oxford Union

Senior Debaters competing at the Rotary Club On Friday, February 3rd, four teams of debaters demonstrated their skills at St Edward’s School in Oxford. Two rounds of live British Parliamentary debating tested their knowledge and abilities. Our teams, consisting of Atticus Walton-Hayfield, Will Dodsworth, Arjan Paneser, Will Sheehan, Freddie Wyatt, Ryan Taylor, Thomas Russell, and Ptolemy Walton-Hayfield, displayed impressive performances.

Notably, Arjan Paneser and Will Sheehan secured a place at Finals Day, a fantastic achievement!

In February, our Year 11 speakers, Pranav Raja, Freddie Wyatt, and Ryan Taylor, participated in two fixtures. They performed admirably well in the second round of the ESU Churchill Public Speaking Competition at Stratford Girls’ Grammar School on Thursday, February 2nd. They also took part in the Warwick District Rotary Youth Speaks Competition on Wednesday, February 15th, and were recognized as Runners Up. Their topic for both competitions revolved around whether prisoners should have the freedom to vote, and their thorough research and knowledge were evident in their thought-provoking presentations.

In March, we participated in the Cambridge Union Schools’ Debating Competition. Although it was held online, our debaters managed to engage commendably, despite the challenge of speaking to screens instead of a live audience.

Oxford Finals Day

On Saturday, March 11th, Arjan Paneser and Will Sheehan participated in the Oxford Schools’ Debating Competition Finals Day at the Oxford Union. Their outstanding performance in the regional round earned them a place alongside the highest-scoring teams from the UK and around the world. With great skill and confidence, they presented their arguments logically and drew on their academic studies. They achieved two second-place rankings and a third and fourth place, which was a highly commendable set of results.

RCH

Summer Term

Even with the Year 11 and Sixth Form debaters on exam leave, Debating Club remained lively and entertaining as ever. Our strong new team of debaters tackled topics ranging from geopolitics to an extended Maths course for Sixth Formers. Here are a few highlights: l This House believes that the West should invade Russia. l This House believes that Drugs should be legalised for recreational use. l This House believes that everyone in the UK should have to study Maths until the age of 18.

Our Lower School has also participated in club debates, taking tips from the older debaters and learning the ‘tricks of the trade.’ Having debated with them, I strongly believe that the future of debating at Warwick School is bright, and I encourage anyone interested to join us. Debating Club meets on Tuesday lunchtimes in E6 (1.20-2.00), and we welcome others to get involved. The more opinions we have, the more interesting our debates become.

James Leeson, Year 10

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Creative Arts ART

What a remarkable year it has been! We are thrilled to be fully back up and running with examination groups, as well as organising a wide range of activities and events for students across all year groups. The Art team has thoroughly enjoyed witnessing the creative endeavours of our students and organising additional trips, lunch clubs, and activities throughout the year.

Trip to Harry Potter World

One of the highlights of 2023 was our trip to the enchanting world of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in London. As an Art teacher, I was personally blown away by the incredible props, scenes, costumes, and the sheer creativity infused into every aspect of bringing the beloved stories to life. Personally, I found the set of Gringotts and the transformation of the Gringott dragon from the Deathly Hallows book particularly captivating. Many students indulged in treats from the Weasley twins’ sweet shop and, of course, savoured a customary cup of Butter Beer. It was a spellbinding day for all, and we are already looking forward to organising this trip again soon.

Kenneth Qian, Year 11 Lower Sixth Art Project

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CREATIVE ARTS

Trip to Compton Verney

Year 8 Sunflowers

Trip to Compton Verney

Year 8 Sunflower Project

In the last week of term, our first-year GCSE and A-Level students had the opportunity to embark on the annual trip to Compton Verney. This excursion provided them with a chance to engage in plein-air painting and experience the challenges and rewards of creating art outdoors from life. Both students and staff found this experience invaluable, and we were impressed by the remarkable results showcased in the students’ paintings.

During the last few weeks of the summer term, Year 8 students embarked on a special project of their own. Inspired by global news of the invasion of Ukraine, we decided to create small ceramic sunflowers as a symbol of solidarity. Sunflowers hold great significance, as they are a crop commonly grown in the country. Our Year 8 sunflowers will be “planted” outdoors in the Lent term, near the Art Department, where they will serve as a visible reminder of our support.

GCSE and A-Level Art Exhibition and Gala

Year 8 Sky Garden Design Project

This year’s Art Gala was a resounding success, with a fantastic turnout of students, friends, family, staff, and parents. The sun graced us with its presence, illuminating the exquisite artwork on display. The event beautifully showcased the diverse range of work produced by our GCSE and A-Level Art students throughout their courses, highlighting the countless hours of dedication and craftsmanship invested in each individual piece. We extend heartfelt congratulations to the Art classes of 2023 and encourage them to carry their creativity, cultural appreciation, and talent forward as they continue their educational journeys. Their exceptional work has left an indelible impression on all of us who have had the privilege of teaching you.

Year 7 Tree Rings Project The summer term brought us once again to the Year 7 Eco project, where the Art Department guided all Year 7 classes through the creation of large-scale collaborative tree ring prints. Each print, measuring approximately 1.5 meters square, featured individual prints depicting one of the three themes explored in the eco project. Despite time constraints due to Activity Week, both students and staff successfully crafted no fewer than three magnificent giant tree rings for display. Well done, Year 7, on a remarkable accomplishment!

On Thursday morning of Activity Week, the Year 8 students who remained at school participated in a short design project.

This initiative, organised by Mr Snatt, was in collaboration with a project in Leamington aiming to repurpose the old railway line that runs parallel to the Chiltern Line, through the Old Town and down to London. The task assigned to Year 8 was to create designs reflecting each of the five proposed gardens for the Leamington Sky Garden project: a social garden, a faith garden, a productive garden, a music garden, and an arts garden. Each viaduct span differed in length and posed a challenging width.

The boys explored various ideas, including different path shapes, planting scales, and forms to provide unique experiences in each garden. Water features, shelters, viewpoints, lighting, and performance spaces were among the elements considered.

The resulting designs were fantastic, innovative, and sometimes wonderfully unconventional. Mr Snatt will be selecting the best designs from each category to present to the Sky Garden Committee at their next meeting.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the department staff for their unwavering support throughout the year. Additionally, we extend our appreciation to the students for their unfailing passion and creativity in the field of art. It is their dedication that brings joy to our work and fuels our love for what we do.

RAP

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CREATIVE ARTS

Parnam Sidhu, Upper Sixth Perry Song, Lower Sixth

Sam Deans, Upper Sixth GCSE artwork

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CREATIVE ARTS

Noah Mauchlen, Upper Sixth

Sam Deans, Upper Sixth Perry Song, Lower Sixth

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t only because I made t something from it because they exis n, it simply solutions to problems, but more ofte massive changes in society by offering t the products taken away by we live our lives. I'd like to think tha ishes the wayARTS r embellCREATIVE table, a er it's a fully functioning dining room eth Wh . way e som in e pos pur a e s all serv ' made on the tick, a stool, or simply a 'mushroom ge device, a paper holder, a candles t their sons have all of aningful use. Parents still tell me tha One of our old boys, whom both Mr Stone and I taught, is now e a me they all hav and Technology , I hopeDesign a passion for designing and making things them: inggood making useit's of his satisfies so many reasons for mak this A guitar and music stand e, and at homand a cabinet year passes, I hope that the Warwick design and ojects inAnother as a designer at Triumph canmotorcycles. As part of Activities Week, y the , it exhibits beauty t, poin ing talk a it's ool, sch technology students have taken something positive away from at nt spe we dropped by with the Lower Sixth to be inspired by his work. memory of time d lasting dified, and or mo ed only their time with us. It’s a fantastic thing to beers, able the to devise and ld be reworkNot cou y did we have a good look around the factory, but we were oth to on sed pas be can d, they an object yourself, and it never loses its appeal for ut and use manufacture also given a bespoke presentation on the designing and innovation that goes on behind the scenes. Being able to see first-hand what story. me. I really enjoy designing and making my ideas; it doesn’t really Cycling helmet and equipment storagefor our future matter how complex they are or even if they fully serve a purpose. a designer day tofor day is always a useful insight passion of hisdoes good use ing mak now is , ght tau I I always get something from it because they exist only because I and ne Sto designers. s, whom both Mr old boy made them. Design can sometimes bring about massive changes s. As part of activities week, we ycle torc mo h mp Triu at r igne des a as thinbygsoffering solutions to problems, but more often, it and mak ining society CRe a good look around did we hav only Not k. wor his by ired insp be simply enhances or embellishes the way we live our lives.

I’d like to 6th er Low y with the on that the des to think that the products taken away by sen our students all serve a igning and innovati tation on e pre pok n a bes give also e wer y, but we purpose in some way. Whether it’s a fully functioning dining igner does day to day is always a what a desroom -handa candlestick, firstholder, to see g able . Bein Cycling table, guitar storage device, a paper a stool, scea nes ehind the helmet and or simply are ‘mushroom’ made on the wood lathe, I hope they all rs. igne des futu our a meaningful use. Parents still tell me that their sons have all ght forhave equipment of their DT projects in a cabinet at home, and this satisfies so many reasons for making them: it’s a tangible and lasting memory of time spent at school, it’s a talking point, it exhibits beauty, they can be taken out and used, they can be passed on to others, they could be reworked or modified, and they tell a story.

storage

riginal designs and roducts created this year y our students

ACR wine glass carrier Thoughts for a product in the ‘Kitch

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A wine glass carrier

ct in the lower 6th

riginal designs and roducts created this year y our students

Original designs and products created this year by our students:

A variety of candle holders

A variety of candle holders

Thoughts for a product in the ‘Kitchen and Bathroom management’ project in the lower 6th

Thoughts for a product in the ‘Kitchen and Bathroom management’ project in the lower 6th A guitar and music stand

Cycling helmet and equipment storage

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A variety of candle holders

CREATIVE ARTS

DRAMA

Jesus Christ Superstar 2022

CREATIVE ARTS

Drama This has been an extraordinary year of performance and production, and all year groups have enjoyed a fabulous range of styles and theatre events to engage with. At the start of the year, we welcomed Miss Horton to the department. As our new graduate assistant, she had an immediate creative impact in lessons and rehearsals. Plans were quickly hatched for her to direct her own project later in the year.

An area of remarkable development has been in improvisation – original drama, often comedic in style, generated on the spot. The popular Improv Troupe, made up of boys in the Middle and Senior School, performed a Christmas special at the end of Michaelmas term at the Bridge House Theatre, showcasing their improvisation skills to a very appreciative audience. Hilarious results ensued.

Due to popular demand, the group returned at the end of the Lent term, and once again, a fabulous evening was enjoyed by all.

Our LAMDA provision continues to grow, and this year there were two full days of weekly lessons in acting, verse and prose, duologues, and public speaking from Miss Tong and Mrs Mackenzie. Such is the popularity of the provision that a new Head of LAMDA has been appointed for September 2023.

Similarly, our Youth theatre, the Bridge House Young Company, has been busy, having performed at a local Regency Ball and completing a play over a weekend – Burial at Thebes. Towards the end of the Lent term, their production of Much Ado About Nothing featured boys from all year groups. We are delighted to see this weekend provision develop, and boys who choose to can get involved in multiple shows each year.

Once again, GCSE and A Level scripted work was completed to a very high standard, covering topics as diverse as The Berlin Wall and the Asylums of Victorian England. A diverse choice of final pieces for the GCSE groups included texts from plays by Pinter,

A Monster Calls

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Miller, and Stoppard. The A Level group performed in two pieces, A Dream Play by August Strindberg, and The Accrington Pals by Peter Whelan. Both were performed to an exceptional standard, and all performance examination students should be rightly proud of their work this year.

Drama students have enjoyed workshops and participated in screenings and trips throughout the year. After a fabulous workshop, the seniors enjoyed Kin by Gecko at Warwick Arts Centre in October, and Jodie Comer’s Prima Facie screened in the Bridge House Theatre. Later in the year, a large group saw An Inspector Calls in Birmingham and Oklahoma! in London. In the Summer, we were joined by cast members from The Play’s the Thing theatre company, who brought their work exploring the criminal justice system starkly to life. It is impossible not to mention the tremendous adventure that was our New York trip – featured elsewhere in the section in more detail. In terms of enrichment, our students have had a fabulous year.

One of the production highlights was, of course, the outstanding Jesus Christ Superstar, which was performed in early November.

The cast and crew can be justifiably proud of a production that was powerful and moving, spiritual and memorable. Key performances included those of Sam Littell as Peter, Tommy Perry as Simon, and Flynn Jamieson as Caiaphas. Congratulations should go to all the boys involved, including the many in the orchestra and working backstage.

CREATIVE ARTS Gecko Workshop

The Middle School production, Chaos by Laura Lomas, lit up the stage of the Bridge House Theatre with LEDs flickering and creating animations for three nights in March. Warwick and King’s High School students from Years 9 and 10 created a fast-moving and impressive ensemble piece exploring ‘chaos theory’ and the interconnectedness of our lives. Huge congratulations to all the cast and crew for their fabulous teamwork and creativity.

At the time of writing this report, the final production of the year is opening in the Bridge House Theatre. A Monster Calls is both a challenging and theatrically imaginative piece, exploring a young man dealing with the terminal illness of his mother. A full report appears elsewhere, but it is a remarkable achievement and a testimony to the creativity and dynamism of the whole team that such challenging and thought-provoking material can be produced. It not only celebrates the performance skills of our students but also features Mr Town and Mrs Stevenson-Ray in two key adult roles. The result is perhaps the best example of what drama education at Warwick is for so many boys, led by an outstanding team who not only support the boys through an outstanding programme of lessons, workshops, and enrichment but who are themselves willing and very able to take to the stage alongside the boys and contribute directly to those experiences.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to another incredible year of drama at Warwick School.

MCP

A Monster Calls

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CREATIVE ARTS A Monster Calls ‘A Monster Calls’ started life as a novel by Patrick Ness but has since gained popularity both on stage and screen. A 13-yearold boy, Conor, must come to terms with the loss of his mother.

However, this play is not just about grief; it immerses you in grief’s journey. Conor’s ‘monster’ is an ancient yew tree that visits after midnight and promises three stories in return for a fourth from Conor – the truth that he is denying. This might not seem like a typical storyline for a Lower and Middle School production, but the story was magically brought to life in Sammie Horton’s beautiful production at the Bridge House Theatre. A cast of dedicated Year 7 and 8 students showed real sensitivity and engagement with the story that could not fail to leave the audience deeply moved. Horton challenged her young actors with highly choreographed ensemble acting. There were some standout performances, but the direction relied on the entire cast working seamlessly together in a controlled and focused way.

They rose to this challenge admirably.

Upon entering the theatre, a magical world was evoked by a large abstract arch that resembled a fallen tree. The tree itself was voiced by a Greek chorus that depicted Conor’s unsaid thoughts and ideas. The movement and vocals of the chorus were hypnotic and powerful, keeping us fully immersed in the folkloric tales.

As the tree recounts its three instructive tales, wooden puppets interact with the other performers, showing the merging of reality and imagination. Both the set and puppets were skilfully crafted by designer Chris Johns.

Harvey Eaton was endearing and heart-breaking in the role of Conor. We felt his torment as he was taunted by vicious bullies led by Harrison Newell, who had a Draco Malfoy-esque sneer and swagger. Eaton’s scenes with Mrs Stevenson-Ray as his angelic mother were sweet and heartfelt. Similarly, we felt his sense of awkwardness when faced with his absent father (Mr Town) and grandfather (Edward Gilbey). However, one of his most revealing scenes was when he destroyed his grandfather’s drawing room in a fit of rage. The objects were physicalized by the cast, giving the impression that he was attacking everything and everyone. We witnessed the sea of emotions he was navigating through and appreciated his sense of loss.

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Some great cameo roles supported the main actors. Eduardo Pass Jimenez gave an endearing performance as Conor’s best friend; a few plaintive looks conveyed how difficult it is to find the right words for someone who is experiencing such extreme pain. Newcomer Barney Street also gave a charmingly authentic portrayal of an overwhelmed and overwrought teacher! The cast were also supported by experienced sixth-form performers: Oscar Fines-Allin and Charlie Mackenzie, who appeared as ominous figures throughout.

In the final scene, Conor (Eaton) finally has to let go of his mother, and this was portrayed metaphorically as her falling down a chasm with him trying to save her. He realized that to save himself, he had to let her go. It was at this moment that we saw the extreme and mixed emotions we all feel when letting go, serving as a reminder for all of us of what some of our school community may be experiencing. This was a powerful conclusion to a stylish and well-crafted performance. Well done to everyone involved, and we look forward to next year’s Lower School Production.

KLa

A Monster Calls

CREATIVE ARTS Chaos

LAMDA

Laura Lomas’ play Chaos is a symphony of dislocated and interconnected scenes. A series of characters search for meaning in a complicated and unstable world, bouncing through physics, the cosmos, love, and violence, finding order in the disorder of each other.

It has been another busy year for our LAMDA pupils as our provision continues to grow. Around 50 boys across all year groups have received LAMDA lessons on Wednesdays or Thursdays with Mrs Mackenzie and Ms Tong.

The Middle School production of Chaos erupted onto the Bridge House Theatre stage between the 1st and 3rd of March 2023.

Freddie Brown (Year 10) led an ensemble of Warwick School and King’s High students through an energetic and ever-changing insight into the teenage brain.

On Monday, March 13th, 2023, we hosted our annual LAMDA Evening. Pupils performed a selection of poems, monologues, duologues, and speeches that they were preparing for the upcoming examinations. The evening began with Felix Rapp and Josh Graddon (Year 7) performing a hilarious scene from ‘Blood Brothers’, and what followed was an array of high-quality performance work that our audiences immensely enjoyed.

Other standout performances were Theo Thompson’s (Year 9) thoughtful monologue from ‘DNA’, Alex Whitfield’s (Year 8) electric monologue from ‘Brainstorm’, and Ryan Taylor’s (Year 11) comic speech from Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’.

Chaos director Mr Perry balanced the (forgive the pun) chaos of the teenage brain with a seemingly minimalistic aesthetic: an empty stage, the company costumed in white, and 20 individually coded LED strips suspended in mid-air. The company moved through 32 standalone scenes, isolated moments of everyday life, only for the final scene to force the audience to witness the subconscious impact we have even on strangers whom we pass in the street.

Standout performers were James Albrighton, James Bull, Michael Cherniavskyi, and George Holmes (Year 10), whose performances resonated with energy throughout the piece. All four students demonstrated honesty, openness, and maturity in exploring characters dealing with sexuality, mental health, and a sense of belonging. Chaos took the audience on a journey that revisited various characters, conversations, and events, and these students were vital in these moments, allowing the audience to feel immersed in the themes within the multi-layered world of the play.

In one poignant moment of the production, the ensemble came together to physically represent the wings of a butterfly, which one actor burst through as though attempting to take her own life. In this sensitive moment, the cast demonstrated mature focus and excellent physical awareness, and the character was dramatically pulled away from the ‘train tracks’ and saved from her dreadful fate.

Other key moments included the ‘bus’ scene, ‘flowers,’ and ‘the kiss.’ In each moment, physical theatre was used by the ensemble to bring the scenes to life in a powerful and engaging way.

The production was underscored by Mr Perry’s own compositions of electronic music, which both impressed and mystified the audience. Each scene began and ended with the invasion of the previous or following scene, creating a fluid montage that asked the audience to question their awareness in the spaces they exist in.

On March 22nd and 23rd, 2023, we held our third LAMDA Private Examination Centre. Forty-six boys took an examination ranging from Grades 1-8 in a range of exam types: Acting, Verse and Prose, and Public Speaking. The exams ran smoothly, with a few nervous butterflies being blown away just before stepping into the studios before the big moment. A few weeks later, we received our results, which were remarkable. Eighty-five percent of boys received the highest possible ‘Distinction’ grade, and the remaining fifteen percent received a highly commended ‘Merit’. Some of our older boys achieved their ‘medals’ (Grade 6 = Bronze, Grade 7 = Silver, Grade 8 = Gold), including Jeremy Zhang (Upper Sixth), who earned his Gold Medal in Verse and Prose, Tom Harland (Year 10), Archie Goodrem (Year 10), and Ryan Taylor (Year 11), who earned their Bronze Medals in Acting. Special mention must also go to Patrick Stiven (Upper Sixth), who earned an incredible full mark on his Grade 8 Acting examination – his second consecutive LAMDA exam to achieve 100%.

Next academic year, we welcome Miss Abigail Sugden as our new Head of LAMDA, and lessons will be taking place four days a week. If you would like to start LAMDA lessons, get in touch with Miss Sugden at a.sugden@warwickschool.org.

AJSR

Overall, this dynamic and innovative piece was highly engaging and showcased some phenomenal performances from our Year 9 and 10 pupils, reminding us of the importance of human connection, especially for teenagers navigating today’s world. Well done to everyone involved.

SaH

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CREATIVE ARTS

MUSIC Michaelmas Term The young musicians of Warwick School were out in the community soon after the start of the Michaelmas term.

September’s wonderful Foundation Service at St. Mary’s featured our very own Fanfare Team, a bespoke Baroque Orchestra, and a massed choir from across the Foundation.

In October, we had our first Music Award Holders’ concert, a new series of concerts offering performance opportunities to all boys with a Music Scholarship or Exhibition award. The quality of musicianship on display at these events throughout the year has been a joy to behold.

November’s Band Stand Showcase concert was the final preparation before four of our bands took part in the regional round of the National Concert Band Festival, hosted at Warwick Hall this year. Little Big Band, Big Band, and Jazz Lab particularly impressed the adjudicators and were invited to the National Finals in April.

The following week featured the year’s first concert by our resident professional orchestra, The Orchestra of the Swan.

Foundation pupils were invited to view part of their rehearsal, and selected members of the Foundation Symphony Orchestra took part in a workshop based around Dvořák’s New World Symphony, led by players from the orchestra.

Every November, our trumpeters prepare for their renditions of The Last Post to be played at a variety of Remembrance Services around the local area. This year, across twelve services, Chris Gibson, Edward Lawlor, Joe Lawson, Sam Littell, and Adam Thompson took on the responsibility of performing this solemn and challenging piece, and they all did marvellously well.

Our jazz small band concert, ‘Jazz and Scones’, is a perennial favourite – an opportunity for our improvisers to perform in an intimate setting for an appreciative audience in the Pyne Room.

It was delightful to hear bands from such a range of year groups – to see the senior players flourishing and the younger players getting their first taste of a jazz club performance.

Big Brass Concert 2023

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On Friday, 2nd December, Chris Gibson fitted seamlessly into a concert series mainly reserved for professionals with his trumpet recital at St. Mary’s Church.

The term ended with a bang at the legendary Christmas Cracker concert. This musical conclusion to 2022 featured over 170 boys performing in 17 different musical groups. The quality of all the performances was very impressive, but the highlight of the evening was without a doubt the finale, featuring every single one of the evening’s performers in an enormous rendition of Wizzard’s iconic hit ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day’.

Over the Christmas break several musicians from Warwick School’s Brass department volunteered their musical services towards carolling with the Salvation Army Brass Band, assisting to successfully raise thousands of pounds towards supporting the ‘Way Ahead Project’ in Leamington Spa.

Lent Term The Orchestra of the Swan kicked off the season with a performance in front of a packed Warwick Hall crowd. Foundation Symphony Orchestra followed their professional counterparts with a wonderful New Year Concert and then packed their bags for the inaugural Foundation Symphony Orchestra Residential, which included a fancy dress night, a muddy walk, and, of course, lots of music making.

Just a few days later, led by Mr Storer, our jazz musicians took to the stage for Jazz at the Bridge, giving electric performances over two nights. A special mention goes to soloists Alex Scott and Chris Gibson, and a hugely dynamic performance of Charlie Parker’s Donna Lee from the trio of Joe Lawson, Jai Shergill, and Fraser Venn. Next was the turn of the Warwick School rock bands, who raised the roof off the Bridge House Theatre in ‘Bridge House of Rock’ with hugely self-assured performances of a great range of styles and artists from Free to Jamiroquai.

CREATIVE ARTS Three of our concerts dedicated to a particular area of music-making fell close together in the Lent Term. This year Warwick School’s longstanding String Concert was newly rebranded ‘STRINGFEST’.

After some wonderful individual performances, our seven String groups joined forces in a magical rendition of Revolting Children from the musical Matilda, all masterminded by Mrs Robertson.

The Guitar Concert soon followed, featuring delightful range of ensemble and solo performances. Chamber Music is flourishing in the Foundation this year, and 2023’s Foundation Chamber Concert featured no fewer than eighteen small classical ensembles. Thank you to Miss Hooker for her tireless work with a great number of

these groups, and for all her accompanying across a multitude of performances and examinations throughout the year.

Reflecting the rise in chamber music this year, three small classical ensembles took the leap to enter the national competition Pro Corda. Two advanced to the semi-final stage, and eSQuires were one of only seven groups in the U12 category then to be invited to the National Finals in Brighton – a stunning achievement.

On Friday, 3rd March, Charlie Feaver gave an outstanding cello recital at St. Mary’s Church – another performance truly befitting that professional concert series.

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CREATIVE ARTS March’s concert by the Orchestra of the Swan featured something special. Selected pupils were invited to rehearse and perform as part of the orchestra, performing shoulder to shoulder in the concert with professionals. Congratulations to all involved for fitting in so well in that accomplished environment – we are very proud. Year 7 also separately had the opportunity to work with those same orchestral professionals in a one-off Year 7 Instrumental Scheme special.

Our small jazz groups returned to the stage for Jazz for Africa in the Pyne Room, displaying assured performing and improvising skills in a fine jazz club atmosphere. Foundation Symphony Orchestra then closed the term with their Easter Gala Concert, featuring an exciting programme of music that left yet another audience hugely fulfilled.

During the Easter holidays, Little Big Band, Big Band, and Jazz Lab travelled to The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester for the national finals of the National Concert Band Festival. Each group came away with a Gold award, having done themselves proud performing among the best bands from around the country. As with so many of our musical events, above and beyond the accomplished musical performances, our boys should be most proud of the positivity and self-assurance on display throughout the day, demonstrating that they belong on the national stage.

Summer Term The Summer Term opened with two more of our section concerts. Mr Montero led the Woodwind Celebration – a showcase of solo and ensemble playing from across the Foundation, featuring wonderful performances by pupils from Year 6 to Upper Sixth.

Soon after, The Big Brass Concert 2023 illustrated that brass playing is clearly thriving; a packed Warwick Hall witnessed over a hundred brass players take to the stage in a variety of group formations. All the ensembles sounded superb, and the grand pyrotechnic finale brought together these talented musicians under the expert leadership of Mr Tibbitts to perform the theme from ‘Rocky’.

The culmination of the year’s work for our top soloists was The Scholars’ Concert – a black-tie affair with performances of the very highest quality. We are blessed to work with such hardworking, accomplished musicians, and the evening was a fitting celebration of their efforts and achievements.

With school exams behind them, musicians from Years 7-10 took part in June’s Drive Time Concert – the event with perhaps the greatest variety of any concert all year. The evening flowed seamlessly from Grieg to Franz Ferdinand and from Fauré to Bruce Springsteen.

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The mighty massed orchestra of the Year 7 Instrumental Scheme gave a spectacular performance in Warwick Hall for family and friends. The concert featured iconic orchestral repertoire such as Mars from Gustav Holst’s Planets Suite and the Imperial March from Star Wars, but also a Rock Anthems Medley – the Year 7s all wowing the audience with their instrumental prowess after the year’s work.

Foundation Symphony Orchestra completed their wonderful year of concerts in Warwick Hall with renditions of Mussorgsky’s Great Gate of Kiev and Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4, with particular highlights. Thank you to Mr Derrick for his leadership of FSO this year.

Christmas Cracker 2022

CREATIVE ARTS

Year 7 Music Scheme Concert Open Evening provided the final opportunity for public performance; our jazz small groups once again demonstrating their accomplished improvisation skills, and some instrumental soloists entertaining prospective parents at Warwick Hall. Lastly, orchestral players from the Foundation joined musicians from other Warwickshire schools in Warwick Hall to spend the day learning the finale from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2, under the guidance of the Orchestra of the Swan. The day finished with a performance for parents and staff, and the quality was superb.

Special Mentions Chris Gibson (trumpet) earned a place with the National Youth Orchestra, taking part in rehearsals and concerts throughout the year alongside more of the country’s best orchestral musicians aged 13-19. The highlight of their year will be a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in August.

Three boys were accepted onto National Youth Jazz Collective summer school courses this year. For the second year running, Alex Scott (saxophone) has been invited onto the three-day short course – a wonderful accomplishment. Ben Adams (drum kit) and Theo Holland (saxophone) have been accepted on the five-day long course, for which there are only 45 places nationwide across all instruments. These are stunning achievements by all three boys.

Ben Adams (orchestral percussion) and Charlie Feaver (cello) will also be spending part of their summer with the CBSO Youth Orchestra – a hugely prestigious opportunity for musicians up to age 21 in association with an internationally recognized orchestra.

Joe Lawson (trumpet) is looking forward to continuing his journey studying music beyond Warwick School, having been awarded a scholarship to study a BMus in Jazz Performance at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, starting in September 2023.

Thank you and congratulations to all our pupils and staff for their efforts and achievements this year – they are a pleasure to witness first-hand.

TL

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Travel Normandy Battlefields Trip: 26th – 29th June 2023

For several years prior to the COVID pandemic, Mr Sutherland planned and ran trips to either the First or Second World War Battlefields. After a four-year break, with the return of Activities Week, he took 38 boys along with Messrs O’Brien, Walker, Bull and Hadley on the School’s latest trip, based on the town of Bayeux.

The group gathered at 3am on the Monday, to catch the morning ferry to Ouistreham, from where they went to the Mémorial Museum in Caen for an overview of the Normandy campaign, before proceeding to the hotel. The following day took them to the Pegasus Bridge Museum, the Merville Battery and to the coastal village of Arromanches where they enjoyed the 360° cinema before studying the Mulberry Harbours and the wonderfully-updated Landings Museum.

Assisted by knowledgeable staff presentations, in addition to working their way through the detailed workbook, boys aged 13-15 gained a rapid and thorough insight into the events surrounding D-Day and its aftermath. Practical work took place on various landing beaches, so that everyone appreciated the challenges faced by the British, Canadian and American landing forces and became aware of the huge numbers of losses. Day Three took the party to the Airborne Museum at Ste Mère-Église and thereafter they concentrated on the problems for the Americans striving to make a landing at the Pointe du Hoc. Visiting both American and British War Cemeteries was a sobering and emotional experience with which the boys engaged well, and on the final morning there was an act of remembrance at the monument to the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the outskirts of Caen before a brief spell at Sword Beach and the return to the ferry port. The weather had played its part and there were moments of relaxation, including football on the beach.

A delayed ferry departure meant an arrival at Warwick at 2am on the Friday morning, just in time for boys to grab a small amount of sleep before taking part in Sports Day! This was not just a full but also a most worthwhile visit from which boys gained much.

EJH

On the landing beaches

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Pupils pay their respects to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment

TRAVEL

History and Politics Trip to New York and Washington DC: October 2022

Staff at the Statute of Liberty

On Tuesday 18th October, thirty-nine Warwick students and five members of staff left on the second of two History and Politics trips to the USA of the half term.

After a seven-hour flight, we reached New York, where we visited the Rockefeller Centre on the first night and experienced a stunning view of the Manhattan skyline.

The following day, we began with a ferry trip to Liberty Island, home to the Statue of Liberty, before visiting the Museum of American Immigration on Ellis Island.

Afterwards, we had a solemn moment of reflection at the 9/11 memorials at Ground Zero before reaching the top of the One World Observatory for a daytime view of the city. We then proceeded to JP Morgan, where we listened to a talk from an Old Warwickian, which evidently inspired the business ventures of a certain member of the Upper Sixth for the remainder of the trip. To conclude our time in New York, we learned about the history of the Empire State Building on our way to the top.

En route to our new accommodation in Washington DC, we visited Gettysburg, where we had an eccentric tour of the battlefield, and Ed Pollock demonstrated his military leadership aptitude in a cannon re-enactment. Upon arrival in Washington, we briefly reunited with the first group at dinner, who were to return the following day. However, we still had many places to visit, including the homes of two founding fathers, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. During our visit to the University of Virginia, founded by the latter, we were given a rather shockingly honest tour of the university’s history of slavery and discrimination. We also learned about the American Civil Rights movement and prominent individuals of African American heritage at the African American History and Culture Museum. Of course, we spent a day sightseeing in Washington DC, visiting the Library of Congress, the US Capitol, and the White House (or rather, the White House visitor centre: unfortunately, the current president is not an OW). Other key historical sites included Ford’s Theatre, where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, Cedar Mountain Battlefield (the self-proclaimed fifth most important Civil War battlefield), and the national cemetery at Arlington, which offered another opportunity for reflection before our flight back the following day.

Many thanks to the staff for leading the trip and providing us with many entertaining stories – it was certainly an unforgettable experience for all.

Upper Sixth at Cedar Mountain

Paul Cooley, Upper Sixth

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TRAVEL

German Trip to Cologne: June 2023

Thirty-nine Warwick boys and four members of staff arrived in a very hot Cologne in the Rheinland at the end of June. The trip started with a jam-packed day of cultural visits. First up was the Schokoladenmuseum (chocolate museum), where the boys learned all about the history of the family behind Lindt chocolate, as well as Fair Trade cocoa growing, and they saw the production process first hand. The boys particularly enjoyed the shiny button which, when pressed, released small square chocolates upon demand! Rumour has it there’s a petition starting to get one of these installed in the dining hall. Next was a visit to Cologne’s iconic cathedral, whose construction started in 1248! A brave group of around twenty boys took on the challenge to climb the five hundred and thirty-three steps to a viewing platform in one of the towers, one hundred meters above the ground. Once back down on the ground, we travelled over to the neighbouring town of Leverkusen to visit the Bay Arena, home stadium of the Bayer Leverkusen football team. The boys had a behind-thescenes tour of the stadium, and it’s fair to say there are a few Leverkusen fans now at Warwick! After dinner, the boys entered a psychedelic world of mini-golf. The course was a labyrinth of holograms and neon lights, but there were plenty of holes in one to be celebrated! On Tuesday, the adrenaline was pumping as we spent the day at one of Germany’s theme parks, Phantasialand!

German engineering in the form of high-speed roller coasters was on full display here. A highlight for many on the trip was the evening meal after a day of roller coasters.

We sat down in the ‘Kleine Glocke’ restaurant to enjoy Schnitzel mit Pommes, which was the perfect way to refuel after a day of physical and emotional highs. In contrast, Wednesday was a gentle day of cultural visits, starting at the Marksburg castle, and then a very pleasant river cruise on the Rhine, from St. Goarshausen to Kaub. To cool off from the sunshine, we enjoyed another German specialty, Spaghettieis, at the Deutsches Eck where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet. All the boys were brilliant representatives of the school, and lasting memories have been made by all.

Cologne

Schokoladenmuseum

GPS

Trip Gruppenfoto 2023

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TRAVEL

French Trip to the Loire Valley: June 2023

Day 1 Although the bus journey was tedious and hot, the ferry crossing was a welcome relief from the bus. We were allowed to walk around, and I spent most of the journey standing in the sun, looking out into the channel. It was a very pleasant part of the day, and I enjoyed it. The bus drive, not quite as much!

Day 2 After a super fun day of rides and exploring Futuroscope, we went back to our rooms and prepared for the highlight of the day: the show! At 10:15 pm, we wandered down to the massive seating area, and the show began. With spectacular visual effects, the show followed the story of a girl’s nightmares, where she eventually overcame the scary teddy bear! The colours were stunning, and there can only be one or two places in the world that do this kind of show! They used powerful water fountains and jets to create hologramlike pictures. There was water, fire, and fireworks! This was definitely the highlight of the whole trip so far!

Day 3 After an interesting look around a mini-chateaux “village,” we went to explore a very impressive aquarium with the friendliest-looking lobster ever! We eventually found our way to the stunning town of Amboise, and we wandered through the enchanting streets that smelled of perfume from the soap shops. We stopped off at a friendly little restaurant to have an early supper, and afterwards, we walked around happily with flower ice creams. It was a very pleasant day!

Day 4 We had a slightly cooler day yesterday (much more manageable and less sweaty!). We visited an animal park where we saw the biggest gorilla I had ever seen! We were up close with the monkeys and lemurs, and we were able to follow them around! After a quick packed lunch, we found ourselves at a very nice bowling alley that was pretty much deserted! With lots of lanes, we were able to play with smaller teams, and although I wasn’t quite the best, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Madame Thomas bought everyone an ice cream as well! We were all very grateful. After that, we all spent far too much time trying to beat the high score on the punching machine and had a great laugh! Overall, it was a great trip and I would love to go again.

Fred Hallings-Pott

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TRAVEL

Spanish Trip to Cantabria: June 2023

Thirty-nine boys and four members of staff embarked on a trip to Cantabria in Northern Spain during Activities Week. Everyone had a brilliant time, partly because our hotel was practically located on the beach. Each evening, as the sun went down and the tide crept in, sports were played, and then it was time to go to bed. Our day trips were enjoyable, and the boys particularly liked the day in Santander, the boat trip, and Cabárceno Wildlife Park. The El Soplao caves were stunning, and the boys also enjoyed them, although they wished the guide spoke more Spanish than English since their Spanish skills needed a bit more practice. Seeing Gaudí’s creation known as ‘El Capricho’ was a highlight for the staff, and it was just a shame that we couldn’t have stayed longer. The boys shopped until they dropped and indulged in Spanish cuisine.

Overall, their behaviour was excellent. These were happy days, and the memories will last a lifetime.

Cantabria 2023

JEG

CabÁrceno Wildlife Park cable car ride

A visit to Gaudí’s El Capricho in Comillas

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TRAVEL

Drama Trip to New York: April 2023 On Thursday 6th April 2023, 47 drama students from Warwick School and King’s High travelled with five members of staff to New York to experience the city and all it had to offer.

On our first morning, there were many exciting activities planned for everyone on the trip to enjoy. We began with a workshop led by Broadway performer Malcolm Armwood and a Broadway musical director. All members of the group were taught the songs and choreography specifically used in the show Hadestown, in which Malcolm was starring. After a couple of hours of dancing, singing, and learning more about the Broadway experience, the whole group had the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with Malcolm himself, discussing what it was like working on Broadway.

This fascinating session inspired many of the students to ask questions about a career on stage and hopefully persuaded them to consider it as an option in the future.

Shortly after the workshop, we walked as a group through the lively streets of the city to travel across the High Line to Hudson Yard, which, for those who didn’t know, is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side.

This provided an opportunity for everyone to experience New York first hand and immerse themselves in the unique culture of the city.

We finished our first day in New York by watching Hadestown at the Walter Kerr Theatre. Our fascinating Q&A with Malcolm made it even more exciting to watch the production that evening. The musical tells the story of two young lovers, Orpheus and Eurydice, and an older couple, Hades and Persephone. The incredible numbers brought the tragic story of the characters to life, leaving a big impact on all of us.

The whole group got up early again to start the second day by travelling up the Rockefeller Centre to enjoy the breath-taking views of the city and its skyline. The views of Central Park and the Statue of Liberty in the distance left everyone on the trip in awe and heightened our excitement to visit those places. We later strolled through Central Park, listening to people playing music, buying snacks from street vendors throughout the park, and purchasing gifts for family and friends back home. When we reached the other side of the park, we were lucky enough to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and view a wide range of art from different time periods and parts of the world, which inspired creativity in the whole group.

To end our second day, we travelled downtown on the subway to watch the off-Broadway production of Titanique, a comedic parody of the notorious film. From the incredibly talented performers to the comedic timing, it was an amazing performance that the whole group enjoyed. We were even lucky enough to meet the performer who played “Celine Dion” on our way back to the hotel on the subway.

Our final day in New York started like all the previous ones, with an early start for an exciting array of landmarks to visit and activities to enjoy. The group boarded a ferry that took us to Liberty Island to view the Statue of Liberty, followed by a life-changing experience visiting the 9/11 Memorial.

The day featured one final adventure around the city, crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. We concluded our stay by shopping in the worldfamous Macy’s department store, providing the group with an opportunity to buy any last-minute gifts for family and friends.

Once we left Macy’s, the group headed to the hotel for the final time to collect our bags and start our journey back home. Upon arriving at the airport, we received the news that our flight had been cancelled, causing a significant delay. However, this didn’t stop the drama staff from teaching many members of the group choreography and leading a singing session for all to join if they wished. Despite the unexpected delay, we enjoyed spending more time together and eventually boarded our new direct flight back to the UK. As a student who was on the trip, I want to thank all the amazing staff who provided an unforgettable experience for everyone.

George Holmes, Year 10

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TRAVEL

Jude and Shiv channel their inner soldier

Classics Trip to Hadrian’s Wall: June 2023

On Day One, we arrived in school at the normal time. At 11.45am we boarded the bus on our way to York. After a gruelling three hours, we finally arrived in the city. Due to the fact we arrived early, we had some free time to spend the money that we had been given. After an hour, we met up again at a carousel to head off to a Roman history museum that explained how the baths worked and how the Romans cleaned themselves. After this, we headed off to the Jorvik Viking Centre. This museum was especially cool due to the fact it contained a moving attraction where we could sit in carts and be shown around a reconstruction of a Viking village. After purchasing some items from the gift shop, we were given dinner before getting back on the coach. After another few hours, we arrived at the hostels where we were staying for the night. We then went to bed quickly and concluded Day One. Day Two was an active day. We woke up early at 7.15am to have breakfast, before getting ready to leave for another coach journey. This time we travelled to Walltown Quarry. Both coaches dropped us off in the car park to listen to Mr Stephenson’s safety guide about the hike that we were about to undertake. It was a beautiful three-mile journey, with plenty of amazing views and wonderful historical sites. This was the first time we had encountered Hadrian’s Wall on this trip. After this journey we met back at the coaches and went on to explore the Vindolanda fortress. The Vindolanda fortress was an archaeology site for historians who wanted to learn more about Roman life. When we arrived there, we ate the lunch provided for us quickly, before being toured around the fortress and the museum to learn about the Roman lifestyle and the history of Hadrian’s Wall. After this, we returned to the hostel to have supper and had an interactive talk with a Roman soldier named Maximus.

Nephewtism

On Day Three, we cleared the hostels and packed up all our belongings, except for the equipment that we needed for the trip ahead of us. We embarked on another walk, from the Steel Rig past Sycamore Gap all the way to Housesteads. Once here, we explored another Roman Fort and watched a 20-minute film with 3D glasses about what life was like guarding Hadrian’s Wall. Finally, we went to explore Chester’s Roman Fortress and town before the last leg of our return journey on the coach.

Overall, it was a great chance to bond with classmates and we learned a lot about Ancient Roman culture.

Oliver Byrne, Year 7

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Exploring the Vindolanda fortress

TRAVEL Sparta

Classics Trip to Greece: October 2022

Our greatest adventure of the year was our seven-day trip to Greece in the October half-term. Starting in Athens for two days, we covered the key classical sites and a couple of modern ones – the Acropolis and the new museum, the Theatre of Dionysus, the Agora, Hadrian’s Arch, and the 1896 Stadium. Then we started moving west, visiting Delphi and the sanctuary and oracle of Apollo, and Olympia – you can guess what happened there! Gradually moving back east towards Athens, we visited Bassae with its magnificent temple to Apollo, Mycenae, the home of the legendary king who led the combined Greek armies in the mythical Trojan War, Epidavros with its sanctuary of the healing god Asclepius, the Roman agora in Corinth, and finally the two sites of less well-known ancient sporting festivals at Nemea and Isthmia. The standard of hotels and food was top-notch (and if, like me and Mr Cooley, you are partial to octopus, the Greek coast really is the place to be), and I doubt anyone got any thinner in spite of all the walking we had to do! Also of top-notch standard was the behaviour and genuine desire to learn of the boys.

This was maintained throughout the trip, with all the boys being reliable, well-behaved, punctual, and courteous to all whom they met. I am especially grateful to Mr Cooley, who accompanied the trip and did much of the talking and guiding at the individual sites.

Corinth Canal

DAS

Thermopylae

Olympia

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TRAVEL

Rugby Tour to Edinburgh, October 2022

After a COVID-enforced break, the U13 Edinburgh rugby tour returned in the second week of half term. This saw fifty-three excited boys venture up to Scotland to test their rugby ability against unknown opposition but, perhaps more importantly, to experience their first tour environment.

The boys produced some stunning rugby, mixing cohesive team play with moments of individual brilliance, which resulted in all teams going unbeaten for the duration of the tour. All games were played in good spirits, and the boys enjoyed sharing a meal with the opposition after the matches, which really reinforced what rugby is about.

Off the field, the boys sampled some of Scotland’s famous history and culture, visiting the National Museum, taking a ghost walk around town, visiting the castle, and perhaps the favourite attraction of the whole tour: the dungeons. Maybe the best part about the tour was seeing the camaraderie grow every day.

Whether it was discovering the best bowler or shooting each other in paintball, the smiles and laughter were constant within the group.

Finally, I would like to thank all the boys for their great etiquette, and the staff for giving up their half term to make this tour a great success.

NF

Year 8s at Edinburgh Castle

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TRAVEL

Rugby Tour to South Africa

The South Africa tour began in style; forty Warwick tourists weary from the ten-hour flight were given an exuberant traditional welcome by the people of Lesedi Cultural Village. Song, dance and most importantly were all greatly received by the boys.

The next few days the sightseeing continued with the group taking a trip to the Voortrekker monument, a moving and educational trip the apartheid museum, and an all-areas VIP tour of the Loftus Versfled, the home of the Blue Bulls.

The squad had their first game against local club side Pretoria Harlequins which finished 38-7 in a scrapped back and forth game which tested the squad. The first game of the tour will be remembered for one notable moment when winger William Dodsworth produced an otherworldly, overhead finish in the corner all whilst getting folded in half by the covering player. The group finished its time in Pretoria with a guided trip of Soweto – an experience none of the boys are soon to forget. The tour party continued onwards to Cape town where the group made the most of the good weather to explore the world-famous waterfront. Robben Island was only a short boat trip away where the group was lucky enough to be given a tour by a former inmate, adding real perspective to the experience. Game day two was special Mr Homan as Warwick faced off against his old school SACS. With the pouring rain and the mountains of Cape town as their backdrop, both schools went toe to toe in a gruelling physical encounter which saw SACS run out eventual winners 21-7. The boys who did not feature against SACS did not have to wait long for their next opportunity as the following day Warwick faced Boland – a tough no nonsense farming school. As expected, their abrasive nature in contact was difficult for the boys to deal with, struggling in the first half to gain a foothold but fought back valiantly to bring the game to 21-7 Boland at the final whistle.

With a few days until their next game, the squad enjoyed some down-time exploring the sights of cape town; including visiting the African Penguins who live on the cape, climbing Lion’s head and admiring the views from atop Table Mountain. On of the highlights of the time in cape town was visiting local club side Masi RFC. Boys provided training session for their junior sides, finishing in a group touch game and boys generously donating their old and spare kit to the players. The final matches of tour were against Paarl Boys High, one of the most prestigious school teams in the country. Two outstanding games of rugby followed with one team narrowly losing 17-12. The other team played out a classic which saw Warwick score a try with 20 seconds left on the clock to bring the team to within 3 points. A swift drop goal conversion from out wide by Freddie Wallis reducing the deficit to a single point as the clock was in the red.

Some brilliant play by George Gloster brought the team up the pitch to a threatening position. A penalty was called by the referee and all It needed was the man of the hour, Freddie Wallis, to step up a slot the winning kick to make the score 17-15 Warwick.

The tour could have easily ended on such a high but there was still one thing the group had to tick off the South Africa Bucket list.

Safari was a brilliant way to finish the tour, and despite seeing one rather excited elephant and two rather excited lions, seeing all the beauty that this country nature had to offer ensured that this tour ended on a high. Special thanks needs to be given to the staff who took time out of their holidays to take the group touring.

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TRAVEL

Cricket Tour: India (Easter 2023)

The Warwick School cricket tour – twelve days, fifteen boys in India, and lots of cricket. What could possibly go wrong?

After an early start, the team reached Heathrow Airport and safely boarded a nine-hour flight to New Delhi in good spirits. At 01:30, we arrived and were welcomed with a surprisingly wet landing, followed by loading our bags onto the coach – a familiar sight over the rest of the tour. By 2:30 am, we had arrived at the Suryaa Hotel, checked into our rooms, and retired to bed. Day 2 revolved around recovery, involving a late start and an afternoon team net session to kick off the cricket in India.

Day 3 marked our first match day; although it began with the unfortunate news of our first victim to the inevitable Delhi Belly, the team was ready and full of enthusiasm. We arrived at the ground and were met with welcoming hosts. Sadly, the result did not go our way, but we enjoyed playing against more experienced players and took away lots of learning for future games. We returned to the hotel and headed to our rooms to prepare for our match the next day. The tour was now in full swing, a few lazy hours and a delayed start left the boys yearning to return to the field. We made our second trip to the ground, where once again we were welcomed by warm hosts for the T20 format. Warwick bowled well, with Beard taking three wickets, restricting the strong batting opposition to a total of 174-3 – a valiant effort.

The batting did not go as well, with wickets tumbling, and we were comfortably beaten in the end.

Day 5 saw the team travel to Deepalaya charity, where we were given an insightful tour of their facilities, with the money donation offered by Warwick showing our gratitude. We then did some sightseeing and returned to the hotel. The next day, we reached the final day of our stay in Delhi and enjoyed our final match.

Warwick bowled first, with Watson and Budd bowling tightly in the powerplay, and other bowlers backing them up superbly. The opposition was bowled out before the full 20 overs, an excellent

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display, and we set about chasing the target down. We knocked the runs off in the final over and celebrated our first win of the tour. In the evening, the squad headed to watch the IPL and experienced an intense and incredible atmosphere while watching international cricketers. We returned to the hotel for our final night in Delhi.

Day 7 was a tough travel day with a long and exhausting drive to Agra. However, the journey was worth it as in the afternoon, the team visited the magnificent Taj Mahal and took plenty of pictures before returning to the hotel for an evening swim before retiring to bed. The next morning, we had a quick visit to the Agra fort before embarking on a six-hour drive to Ranthambore, where we relaxed and headed to bed early, ready for the safari at dawn the next day.

TRAVEL The first couple of pairs started us off well before a flurry of wickets fell in the third pair. Good recovery in the final pairs saw us reach a total of 186.

before the end, the back to the preparation in

Visiting the Deepalaya Charity

The bowling started well, with many wickets falling and almost every bowler being rewarded. However, late in their innings, a dangerous partnership started to form, which we managed to break just in time dismissing the rest of their tail cheaply. The whole team was shattered, and we headed hotel for dinner and then went to bed in preparation for our final games.

Once again, an early start meant departing the hotel at 7:10 to arrive at the ground for a comprehensive warm-up. We bowled first, and some good batting by the opposition led to an above-par score. The chase started with a couple of quick wickets, which brought the leading run-scorer Max Bolam to the crease. Just like the first game, Max scored a good fifty, but a lack of support from the rest of the batting led to the team falling short by six runs.

The safari was incredible; despite not seeing a tiger up close, we did see many other animals, including crocodiles and monkeys.

We had a late breakfast once we got back and a final dip in the pool before we left to get to Jaipur. We stopped a couple of times and arrived in Jaipur just in time to try out the pool before having dinner in the fourth and final hotel before getting to bed early to get ready for the match the next day.

An early start meant the team was down to breakfast as soon as it opened at 06:30 before leaving at 07:20 to get to the ground in plenty of time for a warm-up. The decision was taken for us to play a pairs format to allow everyone to get some time in the middle.

We were allowed a lie-in on the final day before we started our final sightseeing at the Amber Fort. We toured around it and admired the views of Jaipur before starting our final journey. We stopped midway for lunch and more soup and curry before carrying on our journey and arriving at a hotel for the final meal. We then arrived at the airport in plenty of time before heading through large queues and being allowed free in the airport and finishing with KFC for everyone. We boarded the plane and took off ahead of schedule, arriving back in the UK at around 7:30. Finally, we arrived back at school at 11 after heavy traffic – a tour with many memories that the team will carry with them later in life.

Thomas Jennings, Year 10

Exploring the Agra Fort

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TRAVEL

Hockey Tour: Holland (Easter 2023) It seemed as though some of the boys would simply fall asleep on their feet as they staggered, bleary-eyed, into Birmingham Airport on the Thursday morning. Some boys had crammed their luggage into minuscule cases, while others seemed to be moving houses. Surprisingly, everyone was on time. The boys were impeccably behaved as we made our way through the airport, and the journey through security was nice and smooth.

Unleashing the boys on the shops nearly caused a disruption to our schedule, as timekeeping was a little slapdash. When we boarded the plane, great congratulations must go to Mr Roberts for causing a panic by repeatedly miscounting the number of boys on board, which was not aided by the scattered distribution of boys around the aircraft.

Upon arriving at our first fixture, the Development Squad took to the field first, but they were soaked before they even started after failing to avoid the sprinklers. Despite the challenge of playing with a totally unfamiliar squad against very strong opposition, the Development Squad gave it their all but conceded a large quantity of goals. However, they walked away with reason to be proud and a clear set of targets for improvement. In the clubhouse afterward, the fans were entertained by a soulful duet of “Bohemian Rhapsody” performed by Nathaniel Joshi and Owen Robinson, and spirits were high despite the loss. The Development Squad showed much improvement in their second game, achieving a 1-1 draw. The final game was highly competitive, but the boys simply ran out of steam and conceded two late goals. Overall, improvements were made throughout the squad.

The Performance Squad, made up of seasoned pros from Year 13, had greater success. Although the first game did not

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go quite according to plan, with a tightly fought battle resulting in a 2-3 loss against Hoevelaken Hockey Club, things were looking promising in the second game. Again, it was a very competitive match, and the boys thoroughly deserved a win.

However, Fletiomare Hockey Club fought hard, resulting in a 1-1 draw. The boys’ most rewarding performance was undoubtedly in the last game against De Kikkers Hockey Club.

They battled hard and played outstanding hockey, edging out the opposition with a 3-2 win. This was the last competitive hockey game for the Year 13 boys at the school. Well done to all involved.

The excursions were filled with fun. On Saturday, the group travelled from Utrecht to Haarlem. Upon arriving in Haarlem, we stopped off at Utrecht Bowling. Mr Roberts and Mr Wade Sr got off to a great start, hitting early strikes. However, Mr Wade Jr and Ben Stockhill took more time to accumulate points. Mr Roberts peaked with three strikes in a row, running away with the lead in his game. On Sunday morning, the bike ride to the beach was an early morning start as we covered a total of 18 kilometres. Despite the chilly weather, the ride was enjoyable, with numerous boys discovering the local flora and fauna along the way. We had a brief stop by the beach for refreshments before the peloton weaved its way back to the hotel. Our local tour guide frequently lost his way, which added to the distance covered. After the bike ride, we headed out to watch Amsterdam vs. Pinoke in an enthralling game in the Men’s Hoofdklasse. It provided an excellent insight into top-flight hockey in Holland, with Amsterdam winning the game 4-3.

It was an excellent tour, and I want to thank everyone who participated.

CRo

TRAVEL

Winter Sports Tour: USA (Easter 2023)

After a five-year hiatus, the Winter Sports Tour returned, with a trip to North America on the cards.

Forty boys from years six to twelve travelled across the Atlantic to Boston and New Hampshire. A mix of complete beginners and experienced skiers (and two snowboarders) made the most of the spring conditions on offer at both Waterville Valley and Cannon mountains.

The conditions were perfect in their variety. Days one and five saw fresh snow, days three and four were firm and fast, and day two was cloudy with softer snow. This variety meant that no day was the same, and all the boys had to work hard on their technique and style to make the most of each day and their time on the slopes.

The instructors at both resorts were excellent and got to know the boys very well during their time together. Day five, at Cannon, was a fun day on the slopes for everyone. The boys had made such progress with their instructors that groups could ski together, and friends could spend time skiing with friends.

The boys were great company on and off the slopes, and the trip was successful because of the way the boys from different year groups bonded. Brothers could travel together, and new friendships were made.

Away from the slopes, the boys enjoyed the obligatory trip to Walmart, with some very interesting purchases made and some life lessons learned! We also visited the world’s biggest arcade, FunSpot in Laconia. With some high-quality sunglasses won and new varieties of bowling discovered, our stay in New Hampshire came to an end, but not before our ‘awards evening’. Categories including ‘most improved skier’, ‘tidiest room’, ‘the DJ Dougal award’, and ‘international man of mystery’ were awarded.

Highlights included Oliver Pitchers recalling, “The changeable conditions were challenging but equally enjoyable, creating many long-lasting memories such as Ollie Nicklin being forced to take on the black run on his backside after breaking his skis, and Mr Alton using his face as a snowboard due to a big fall further up the mountain. Other incidents included Henry Nicklin being read his Miranda rights by Mr Herringshaw after wiping out our 72-year-old instructor on the way to the chairlift.”

Boston was a wonderful place to spend the day, despite feeling colder there than on any day on the slopes. Quincy Market provided the warmth and sustenance required to fuel us through the remainder of the day. After a couple of hours seeing the sites around the market and Faneuil Hall, we headed to Fenway Park to watch the famous Boston Red Sox. It was a truly incredible experience, an old stadium with character and atmosphere. Food stalls sold Fenway Frank hotdogs, monkey nuts, and pretzels. Stores sold the obligatory Red Sox baseball caps and more. The game ended in defeat for the Red Sox but was a wonderful event, nonetheless.

We headed back into Boston via the Freedom Trail, passing by Boston Common, the new Martin Luther King Jr. sculpture, and onwards back into the city for some food before flying home.

This was a trip that I know will live long in the memory of the staff, and I hope the boys remember it with the same fondness. An ex-headmaster approached me on the final day at Cannon and told me how impressed he was by our boys, “they’re good kids,” he said. He was right. I couldn’t have been prouder of the way the boys conducted themselves and how much fun the trip was.

I’m already looking forward to the next one.

OH

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The

Junior School

Editor: Heather Mellor

The Junior School has had an incredibly busy year. Every week the calendar has been filled with a list of events ranging from musical concerts to sporting fixtures, trips to charity events and dramatic performances to residentials.

All of these have run alongside the day-to-day routine of lessons, hard work and personal challenges.

GOODBYES Andrew Hymer

The end of the Michaelmas term saw the departure of Junior School Headmaster, Andrew Hymer, after just over six years at the helm.

Andrew joined WJS in September 2016, and quickly introduced new awards and schemes for the boys, to promote the areas of school life that were particularly important to him. Headmaster’s Commendations meant that there would regularly be a queue of boys waiting to proudly show him a piece of work they had recently completed in order to receive the much coveted ‘HM’s Commendation’. Similarly, Mr Hymer was always delighted to hand out CCC awards in assembly, to highlight examples of occasions where the boys had exhibited the key characteristics of Care, Courtesy and Consideration towards others.

A keen advocate of Outdoor Education, Andrew promoted the introduction of residential trips for all year groups, and he was always ready to pack his suitcase and join the boys on them.

He firmly believed in the value of such trips in enabling the boys to develop their skills of independence, determination and resilience, and challenging the boys to go a little bit out of their comfort zone, within a safe and supported environment. Still going strong, these residential trips are, more often than not, the highlight of the boys’ year and, even those who stepped on the coach with feelings of apprehension, stepped off with feelings of pride at what they have achieved – exactly as Andrew intended.

Lockdown saw probably the biggest challenge of Andrew’s tenure as headmaster; not only did he have the task of guiding the staff through the unknown territory that this presented to us all, but he also had to get to grips with the associated technologies that were suddenly thrust into school life. Whilst not a technophobe, Andrew would certainly admit that IT was not an area of expertise (or enjoyment) for him; however he accepted the challenge, had a crash course in Teams and before long was, leading online assemblies, storytime and meetings as a matter of course.

In 2022, Andrew decided that it was time to close the door on his headmaster’s office and, with plans to spend more time on the things he enjoys the most; art, cycling and cricket, we wish him well for his retirement.

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Jennie Kruze

Jennie first started at Warwick Junior School in 2008, as Miss Needham, a Newly Qualified Teacher. Young and enthusiastic, she was ready to begin her teaching career. It didn’t take long for staff at school to realise that she was not only an excellent teacher and supportive colleague, but also a loyal friend to everyone.

She began her career in Year 3 as a form tutor, and her pretty, fresh face was soon plastered across the sides of buses and train stations in the local area as part of a marketing campaign for Warwick School! Other roles Jennie took on during her time here include Year 4 form tutor, Head of French, and Head of Year 4.

A legacy that Jennie left behind is the Junior School Bake Off Competition which she pioneered with fellow colleague, Helen Wragg, and is still popular to this day.

One of Jennie’s many strengths was the compassion and commitment that she showed towards every student in her care.

The boys adored her, and she was quick to build up a rapport with every single boy in her class. Years later, pupils who were taught

by Jennie still talk about her fondly as do their parents.

A key event in Jennie’s time at school was when she worked alongside Ben Kruze, who she fell in love with and later went on to marry in 2016. Recently, Jennie felt the time was right to expand the Kruze family and went on to have a beautiful baby girl called Molly. As Jennie begins a new chapter in her life as a mum, she is also about to begin a new career outside of the teaching world.

Everyone who has had the pleasure of working with, or being taught by Jennie, wish her all the very best in her new adventures.

FG

Angela Appleyard 31st May 1976 – 6th December 2022 After a long battle with cancer, Angela, a member of Junior School staff for over 20 years, passed away peacefully at Myton Hospice in December.

Her full obituary can be found at the back of the magazine.

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

CHARITY

Scott House Charity – The World Wildlife Fund

An important part of school life is ‘Serving our Community’ and the boys are regularly encouraged to think of others and do what they can to help. This year, the Junior School has raised money for a number of Foundation Wide events; including raising £361 for Kissing it Better, over £8000 each for Myton Hospice and Macmillan, £245 for the British Heart Foundation and £324 for Show Racism the Red Card. Alongside these events, each of the four Junior School Houses, chooses a charity to raise money for on a boy-led charity day.

Drake House Charity – Alzheimer’s Research

One of my proudest achievements during my time at Warwick Junior School was being elected as Drake House Charity Leader. Drake House voted to support Alzheimer’s Research UK. Alzheimer’s – a form of dementia – is a progressive condition which affects the brain in different ways, primarily with memory loss – which becomes severe over time. Other symptoms include confusion, difficulty with speech and language, mobility issues and personality changes.

This year, our charity was the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). WWF is the world’s leading independent conservation organisation. Their mission is to create a world where people and wildlife can thrive together.

For our charity day, we set up many activities for the school to enjoy such as ‘pin the tusk on the elephant’ and ‘bamboo limbo’.

Our most popular activity, the lunch-time cinema, included people being able to enjoy refreshments and snacks whilst watching animal-related videos. Our mission was to raise as much money as possible; thanks to our charity day, that was achieved. We raised £432 for the charity whilst still having a lot of fun!

Charlie Holland 6C Scott House Charity Lead

On Thursday 17th November 2022 Warwick Junior School boys were able to come to school in their pyjamas for a small donation. During break and lunch, we held a book sale, a quiz, and a ‘name the brain’ competition, with a brain plush as the prize. And at the end of the day, boys were able to purchase hot chocolate and a cookie and relax in the assembly hall to listen to a story. An enjoyable day was had by all.

It was a privilege to lead and be involved in helping to raise a whopping £1,102 for Alzheimer’s Research UK, which is a very worthy charity, and whose goal is to develop the first life-changing dementia treatment by 2025. Thank you to everyone who supported the Drake House Charity fundraising day to help provide vital funds towards helping to cure Alzheimer’s Disease.

Xander Billington 6C Drake House Charity Leader

Scott Charity Day

Drake Charity Day P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3 / 85

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Nelson Charity Day – Helping Hands and The Shakespeare Hospice

I was delighted to be elected as Nelson’s Charity Leader. At the start of the year, Nelson House met to decide which charity we would support. Several boys put forward their ideas; there was a draw in the votes between Helping Hands, which I suggested, and the Shakespeare Hospice which Seth proposed, so it was decided we would support both.

On Nelson’s Charity Day, we did lots of fun games and different activities to help raise money for both charities. One of the activities was a run; we calculated the distance between the two charities and ran that distance, as a House, at break time. We also had ‘Guess the weight of the donation box’ which included a sleeping bag, lots of socks and underwear, tea and coffee. This box was later given to Helping Hands. There was also a massive cake sale at the end of the day which everyone enjoyed.

I decided to put forward Helping Hands as I believe these charities need as much help as they can get, I also chose it as it is a very local charity to my house. Helping organise this event was a great privilege of mine, and it was very successful as we raised a whopping £600! This money was shared equally between the two charities.

Freddie Seamer 6C Nelson House Charity Lead

Nelson Charity Day

Wellington House Charity – Fairtrade

On the 4th May Wellington House ran the final House Charity Day of the academic year. As a House we chose Fairtrade which was nominated by Danny Hardiman. To make the day a success it required a team effort with many boys from Wellington contributing to the day’s activities.

Fairtrade works in collaboration with farmers and workers so they can improve their living standards, invest in their communities and businesses, and protect our shared environment. Fairtrade achieves this by rallying a global community of millions of farmers and workers, supply chain partners, brands, retailers, shoppers, schools, government to pay fair prices and uphold fair production standards and practices. Fair prices provide an immediate lifeline for farmers and workers struggling with low incomes and disadvantaged by global trade.

Our aim for the charity day was to create a Fairtrade themed “funfair” which allowed us to have lots of fun, enjoying several activities all with a Fairtrade twist. These included lucky dip, guess how many coffee beans are in the jar, guess the name of the avocado, coconut shy, Fairtrade bingo and a raffle.

Pupils from all years enjoyed the charity day, The Avocado’s name was guessed correctly, Mr Homan’s Football Shy always had a queue of eager pupils and remarkably Tommy Wiggin guessed within one coffee bean, how many coffee beans were in the jar.

We can assure all readers that the events were held under the strictest scrutiny of external invigilators!

Overall, the charity day was a remarkable success. We had lots of fun raising a whooping £450, but we also raised the profile of a particularly important charity for farming communities. It also highlighted that to organise such events is a real team effort and I would like to thank all the boys from Wellington House for their help. In addition, I would like to thank everyone who supported us on the day.

We hope everyone had fun but also learnt about the importance and necessity of Fairtrade.

Sam Dane 6L Wellington House Charity Lead

Wellington Charity Day

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

IN THE CLASSROOM The boys have been working incredibly hard this year and have produced many fantastic pieces of work.

Year 3 The Hunt for Antonio

As the vicious yellow lightning struck the wet and muddy ground, Mr and Mrs Panetta struggled resiliently though the remarkable storm in search of their beloved son, Antonio. Suddenly, sharp, loud thunder shook the earth below them threateningly. Through the trembling air, a hostile wolf howled in the darkness. With salty, bitter tears streaming down her cheeks, wondering where Antonio was, Mrs Panetta stood up and headed into the abyss.

Myles Mortimore-Price 3BA

The Legend of the Dragon Slayer

One day, there was a tempestuous storm. Lightning fractured the sky, crackling with the dark, rumbling thunder. Rain beat down on Tarragon’s back as he rode on his majestic horse up the hill. He glimpsed the Black Smith, with his flame-haired son and pushed up his massive, huge horned helmet in an unsuccessful attempt to make himself look presentable.

Approaching Dragon’s Canyon, Tarragon jumped off his horse and regarded his surroundings warily. At last, he found what he was looking for, the leathery hide of a lesser-spotted Emerald dragon.

Hugo Attwood 3BP

The Slayer’s Shipwreck Tragedy

The wreckage of the ship drifted away into the impenetrable darkness. I lay there petrified with fear… Suddenly, bright shots of blazing hot lightning lit up the enormous foreboding sky. I saw the fizzing foam of the crashing waves eroding the boulder-like cliffs. The smell of salty seaweed made me extremely seasick.

Tempestuous winds sent shivers down my spine.

“Help!” I cried. But no-one answered.

Just then, a shark started chasing me and frantically I swam for my life with the shark still hunting after me. The best I could hope for was a deserted island and that there could be food supplies for me.

Edward Keating, Teddy Macpherson, Max Mitchell and Leo Stephenson 3BP

10 Things Found in a Shipwrecked Schoolboy’s Pocket A pencil case full of water, A soggy piece of artwork, A damaged moonball, A mouldy rubber, A piece of broken wooden board, A damp commendation, A broken pencil, A dead piece of coral, A cracked seashell, A decayed shark’s tooth.

Nihaal Rai 3BR

Thunderbirds

As the bright, hot sun was rising, the Thunderbirds were getting ready for another new, nice day on the red planet, Marcin. Henry Tracy was one of the Tracy brothers. He was a SMBF (Secret Military Backup Force). He even had a suit that allowed him to breathe under water and in lava.

With all his strength, Henry got in the aircraft with his little, robot called Jeff. But then, a huge problem came out of the speakers, “Calling all Thunderbirds. Pilot John is in big trouble. He is stuck under a very high, rocky bridge!” said Grandma Tracy.

After the speech, Henry got into the tanker ship and pressed a button that made the working area fold slowly in. As quick as a flash, Henry arrived at the scary, sharp wasteland and reported to the speaker that he had arrived. After that, he got the suit on and then got out of the tanker ship. He looked into the gloomy, dusty wasteland and he found where the bridge was.

All of a sudden, he started choking and his oesophagus was starting to swell up. But luckily, he ran back as fast as he could to the oxygen room. Next, he got in his car and arrived at his location. He then got his drill out and his robot used his laser eyes and made a hole in the metal. After they made the hole, they found the pilot and brought him back to the ship and returned back to the Thunderbirds HQ.

Oscar Butterfield 4P

Year 4 The Magic Pants

One beautiful summer’s morning, a handsome boy called Billy was searching for gold in his back garden. Billy loved rugby, he would play in his back garden all day and all night. Billy’s wish was to be in England’s starting XV. Suddenly, his shovel hit something. He wondered what it could be. With all his might, he pulled a rusty, old, red time capsule out of the ground.

His mind was blown. What could it be? Slowly, he opened it and inside was the most magnificent pair of pants he had ever seen.

Glossy and red, they were beautiful. As quick as a flash, Billy put the pants on. All of a sudden, he found himself in the England changing room. His dream had come true. There he was next to some of the best rugby players in the world. Even the changing room he was in, was spotless. His name was carved into the wall. It was a miracle.

“Come on lads!” said Eddie Jones. Billy thought he was going to have a heart attack. He was deafened by the crowd’s roars. As soon as he stepped onto the pitch, his heart sank. He was scared.

Frrr! Kick-off. Billy was the number 10 so he had to kick the ball to start. The game was against England’s bitter rivals, Scotland.

Scotland’s Stuart Hogg caught the ball spectacularly and they were on the attack. Bang! An agonisingly big hit on his teammate. 5-0. All hope was lost. If Scotland scored again it would all be over. As the game restarted, England did a massive magnificent crossfield kick to Henry Slade who did the most dramatic dive you’ve ever seen to make England level with five minutes of the match left. The clock ticked on. Can England pull this off? In the dying minutes of the game, the scrum half passed the ball to Billy who kicked the ball.

The crowd fell silent like an owl, as the ball went flying through the air. Frrrr – it’s in! England won. The crowd burst onto the pitch.

The crowd were chanting, “We love Billy! We love Billy!” It was the best day of his life. His dream had come true. Billy was escorted off the pitch and into the changing room. All the England rugby team cheered while lifting him up. After a while, they put him down again so he could dance. While he was dancing, he teleported back home.

When he got home, he was bursting with happiness. At dinner, Billy told his loving family about his adventure. They didn’t believe him. He started to doubt himself but when he looked down, he saw grass stains on his knees.

James Jennings 4P P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3 / 87

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL The Mansion of Magic

Lucy looked out of the window watching fire and smoke filling the air. Tears filled her eyes as bombs dropped from the moody sky. Her brother was pulling her out of the bedroom into the garden. The loud echoing noise of guns being fired and jets cutting through the air like bruises filled her ears. Step after step, it became more intense for the little girl. As they arrived at the deserted train station, the family leaped on and slumped into their seats. Leaving the abandoned city, they fled to a safe house in the countryside.

A loud honk filled her ears as the train stopped at a towering mansion. Lucy struggled out of the train and then watched it disappear out of view. She had a very strange vision of the building in front with statues that seemed to follow every twist and turn she took. Lucy was a girl who loved reading books.

She had blonde pigtails and a purple dress with a permanently worried look on her face. Rain poured down the windows as her brother, Peter, ordered her to go to bed but something else was on her mind.

When the house was quiet apart from the flickering flames of the candle, the curious girl stood up and tiptoed along the birchwood planks. A floorboard creaked. Peter grumbled. Lucy stood still and took a deep breath. Peter lifted a corner of his bed sheet over and followed the girl. A beam of light shot around the room.

The children sprinted over to the source of the light.

On the floor, a broken plant pot exploded out of a large book with crinkled pages. Lucy dropped the candle as a large plant with teeth sprouting out of its lime shaded gums stared at her. Lucy stared back. Peter gulped. The wind howled as time seemed like it had frozen. The carnivorous plant opened its beady eyes and crept out of the book. Whilst it ran for Peter, with saliva making puddles on the floor, Lucy hid in an empty bookshelf. A loud stomping noise thundered through the large tunnel as a huge pair of bloodshot eyes stood in front of her. A snarl echoed through the corridor. It started running as Lucy shut her eyes. It seemed like it was all over.

Peter came in shouting in anger as he leapt off the ground and landed on the monster’s great broad back. The creature thrashed and bashed against the walls nearly knocking him out.

He pulled out a candle stick from his pyjamas waving it in the air and stabbed it point first in its eye. The beast collapsed and whined with sadness as Lucy ran over to Peter and gave him a nice bear hug.

Arthur Jaques 4P

Year 5 Setting Description – The Attic

The attic was long and gloomy, boxes lined the walls filled with snatches of other worlds. To the right of an ornate wooden trunk, bound in leather and covered with twisting trees, was a dolls’ house. The once red roof, now a mundane brown, covered a white window which seemed to be ornated with memories.

Hanging from the curved roof, a lightbulb swung, its spark long extinguished by time; a picture long devoid of colour showed a ghost of a man smiling a forced smile; above that, a cuckoo clock sat, waiting to call and announce the time of however many years…

Dust swam through the air, causing upset whenever something moved. A box lay open, showing numerous decorations of past and lost celebrations. And a faint footprint, imprinted in the dust, remained as a reminder of a past that once cared.

Barney Stevns – 5H

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Setting Description – The Attic

Slowly and cautiously, I opened the attic door. As I poked my head through the hatch, dust filled the air, second by second it spread like a forest on fire. The moment I walked in, I could hear rats scuttling across the wooden, creaky floor. As I took a closer look at all the books, chests, paintings, boxes and old furniture, I realised they had been taken over by cockroaches, who had made it their own kingdom.

Though I dared go no further into the dusty old attic, cracks of light showed from above, revealing paintings of old relatives who had passed away many years ago. I reached out for a chest; the cold metal hinge of the chest rattled as I pulled the lid open. An army of dust attacked my face, making my teeth all gritty and horrible. Knowing that I was about to leave, I turned to close the hatch, but before I could do so, cobwebs splattered my face. I shut the hatch rapidly and hoped never to go in there again…

William Line – 5S

Setting Description – The Lost City On this uninhabited planet sits a lost city which once was vibrant and colourful, but now it has been engulfed by invasive lush flora, green as grass. Sentinel skyscrapers gasp for air with trees entwining and rapidly climbing, dominating and conquering every corner, trapped with flora dominating every road. A dense jungle remains on the freeway; debris and rusted cars like obstacles in anything’s way. An irritating buzz always there…

The scent of petrichor is nothing like before and the smell of animal droppings takes over all noses present. Trees are crowding and bombarding the square, the air is filled with the souls of the young. Unchallenged, nature eradicates this poor metropolis, and the air remains thick with death and destruction. With formidable force, animals conquer rusted and busted cars and derelict buildings. Signs lie covered in moss. Could anyone survive here?

Frederick Kilonback – 5W

Year 6 The Soldier As the dust flew up like a whale’s spout, the desert was silent, apart from the lone footsteps of the final soldier coming from battle. The skirmish was calamitous, as the enemy had ambushed his unit.

In his right hand, he was armed with an assault rifle. On his waist, were pouches of ammunition, first aid and water. His eyes with solemn, showing images of horror and anger after the loss of his friends. A deep frown had overtaken his face as he limped away, sighing deeply, while one or two tears rolled down his face, picking up dirt and blood. His jumpsuit was sodden with sweat and blood as it swayed in the wind.

His heart was in his throat; he had dreaded this day would come.

Taking off his camouflage helmet, he walked away into the misty distance.

Rupert Robinson 6S

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL The Knight

I heard him before I saw him; the clanking of metal hitting the long and lonely path gave him away. He walked like a lord, as if he owned the world. The trees bowed to him, the path praised him. God loved him. His armour twinkling like stars in the sunlight.

As he marched on towards the creaky, rotting and obnoxiously smelling building, it seemed impossible that someone so regal would even step foot in a common building. The only thing that did not shine, was the tip of his long, murderous sword. It was painted a deep shade of crimson. I need not explain what that scarlet was. Sword in scabbard, he marched into the decaying building.

As he walked inside, the bar (once filled with the belly laughter of drunks) fell silent. It was as if time had stopped. As he marched up to the bar, I saw his tired face. However posh and noble he looked, his face told a different story. His eyes were vacant, as if all the life had been drained out of him. His face sodden and raw with tears, and yet there were none. His head decorated with scars and bruises as if he collected them from battle and yet did not want them. As he sat down on the chair, I could see he did not love himself like others did, he seemed to despise himself.

Poetry based on ‘The Varmints’ by Helen Ward The Varmint’s world is one of caring, heavenly joy.

Blossoming in the sunny skies, the plants are peaceful.

The Varmint is thoughtful.

The Varmint’s world is a fervent place of hope.

In a kaleidoscope of colours, The Varmint is rapturous.

The Varmint’s world is a calm place of joyous fun.

In this lovely world, the plants will thrive.

The Varmint is alive.

The Varmint’s world is a lost place of discontent.

Grave, the once lush world is broken.

The Varmint is crestfallen.

The Varmint’s world is crippling with death.

Stuck in a nightmare, The Varmint is in directionless despair.

The Varmint’s world is a hell-like trap of melancholy.

A dark cloud engulfs the countryside.

The Varmint is petrified.

Samuel Parsons 6L

Ethan Jones, Freddie Seamer and Harry Yarwood 6C

LIBRARY

To celebrate World Book Day pupils and staff alike dressed up as their favourite characters, brought in books from home and shared them with their friends.

The library continues to be a popular place to spend time at lunchtime, as well as during fortnightly Library lessons. The Year 6 Librarians are often on hand to advise about book choices for the younger boys.

This year, we have been lucky enough to have two author visits.

In September, Cressida Cowell, the award-winning author of the How to Train your Dragon series and the Wizards of Once series, visited Warwick Hall and spoke to Years 4, 5 and 6. Then in March, a local author and King’s High alumna Terri Daneshyer came to speak to Y5 about her book The Treasure Thief.

In June a group of boys from Year 5 took part in the Warwickshire Junior Book Awards. They read and discussed the 4 shortlisted books and were lucky enough to meet the authors at the Awards Ceremony, where they were able to ask questions and have their books signed.

HS

Cressida Cowell visit

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Print making workshop

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

THE ART YEAR

There have been many moments over the course of this academic year that have brought me great pride. I have, as I always have, enjoyed the varied ways that each year group attack the challenge of being creative, original and determined to produce work better than previous years. This includes but is not exclusively; the Year Six boys taking ownership of the production of many of their masks for The Lion King; the quality of the Year Five pop art and their application and devotion to this, spending many hours at lunchtime completing work; the giant tiki heads that the Year Four boys made and their excitement as they arrive in the art room for their weekly lessons and the Year Three boys’ enthusiasm for every art lesson, rising to the different challenges posed to them.

The quality of the work produced for the termly art competitions has been of an incredibly high standard this year. The carousel nature of this work on display, means boys see and are inspired by the work produced by their peers and contemporaries. Older boys being impressed and amazed by the work of those in other year groups is also a great thing to see.

The element of the year that has brought me most pride has been the artwork that we have been able to donate to the charity ‘Kissing it Better’. These included the ‘positive messages

art’ produced during the Year Five Link Day, the beautiful Easter cards given by art competition winners in the Lent term and the Coronation artwork produced in May, all of which have brightened up spaces in Care Homes and Warwick Hospital wards, in a way that can make a real difference.

For young people to develop an understanding of the transformative qualities of art and the impact it can have on theirs, and other people’s, lives at such a young age, is a wonderful thing to be part of.

OH

LINK DAYS

Over the course of the year, each year group has had the chances to participate in Link Days with the girls from the corresponding year at the Prep School. The activities have provided the pupils with opportunities to work together on a range of different challenges, ranging from creating art, designing ‘clothes’ and playing cricket and tennis.

Year 3

The children worked in mixed groups to create a team collage of Warwick Castle, using magazines, tissue and scrap paper. The sections were then combined and compared against the original picture. The children were delighted by the results, whilst also reflecting upon what went well, how effectively the teams had collaborated, and what they might do differently next time. Alongside this, the children were given the opportunity to discuss and debate important philosophical questions such as, ‘If you could only keep one, would it be chocolate or sweets?’ and ‘Which is the most important ingredient in being a good person – following the rules or trying to make others happy?’. The children also participated in the ‘Naughtyometer’ activity, whereby each group was tasked with agreeing how to arrange their set of cards, from most to least naughty. The children were a credit to themselves, showing a range of learning strengths throughout the morning including communication, focus and empathy.

Year 3

Year 4

The Year 4 boys joined the Year 4 girls from Warwick Prep School for a morning of team activities. The first activity involved working in groups to build towers using only marshmallows and spaghetti; it was a messy but enjoyable task. Next, in a ‘winner stays on’ style tournament, the children played games of Guess Who in which they really thought about the questions to ask – it was healthily competitive! Finally, the children were introduced to some philosophy where they practised their debating and thinking skills.

Year 5

Year 5’s Link Day took an artist route with the pupils taking inspiration from the artists Bob and Roberta Smith. The pupils began by having to get to know another member of their group by asking about favourite colours and patterns, before producing a colourful ‘letter’ to represent the initial of their partner’s name. Once these had been created, they worked together in groups to produce positive words and slogans, using the letters.

Year 4

Year 6

Year 6 were challenged with designing and creating a fashion masterpiece from limited resources. The boys and girls worked in teams and were given an hour to turn their ideas into a reality. An amazing array of themes and unique styles were then showcased in a spectacular fashion show, with designers from each team explaining their vision and creations. Outfits inspired by the Roman era mixed with disco, chess and mermaids were just a few of the eye-catching ensembles on show. A fantastic morning was had by all and the enthusiasm and co-operation by all Year 6 participants, was something of which they can feel very proud.

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Year 5

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

OUT AND ABOUT

As well as a full programme of educational day trips, for the first time in four years, all year groups were able to take part in a residential trip. For some boys, this proved to be their first time away from home, but despite some initial nerves, the trips provided the boys with amazing experiences, that will stay with them for many years. Challenging yourself to go out of your comfort zone, can be hard, but the feeling of achievement when you succeed makes it worth it.

Year 3 Residential Trip to Blackwell Adventure

On the 27 March, Year 3 arrived at school bursting with excitement for our first residential trip. We couldn’t wait to board the coach and begin the fun at Blackwell Adventure! th

After a cheerful and extremely noisy journey, we finally reached our destination. Now the fun could start! First, we put our bags in our cosy cabin, which had bunk beds. Then we were divided into small groups for the activities. My first was go-karting, which was fantastic. I zoomed around the track like a racing driver! Next, we tried grass sledging, which was a totally new experience for me. I was grinning all the way down the hill!

My tummy was rumbling like thunder by lunchtime. Having rested for a while, we moved on to the zip lines. That was so much fun, even Mrs Bartley had a go while we all cheered her on! Following a tasty dinner in the dining room, we settled into our cabins and chatted until it was late. I’m sure lots of boys were pretending to be asleep when Mr Burchett checked.

The weather next morning was not kind. Still, we started well, with a delicious, cooked breakfast. A crate stack challenge was next, then archery and the impressive tree trek. It was incredibly difficult not to slip in the wet, but at least it tested our resilience.

My favourite activity was after lunch. The laser tag took place in the forest, so the atmosphere was eerie. I loved creeping around, spotting our targets and blasting them.

The last challenge of the trip was the huge outdoor climbing wall. I really didn’t think I could do it, but somehow I made it to the top. I felt over the moon and quite relieved. Soon the coach was waiting to take us home. I was very disappointed to leave such a marvellous place after so many amazing experiences.

But perhaps after the best part was working as a team.

I won’t forget any of it!

Trip to Ryton Pools

On a lovely warm day in June, we excitedly boarded a coach to take us to Ryton Pools. After a short journey we arrived and were met by two of the rangers. We were divided into two groups, the groups were called, Hedgehogs, Rabbits, Badgers and Squirrels.

Our first activity was den building, so we headed to the forest with our ranger, Lianne. When we got to the forest, Lianne gave all the groups a bag; in the bag there were instructions on how to build a den and a hammock! Each group had to choose an area of the forest in which to build their den. We used fallen branches, twigs and leaves to build with. The tricky part was making it waterproof, we tried to fill the gaps with leaves and moss. When we had finished building, we all sat in our dens and had our snacks – that was so much fun!

After snack-time, it was judging time; Lianne said she thought we were all winners, but we still wanted to vote for the best den, because when we were in our dens, Lianne sprayed them with water to see if they were waterproof. Most of us got a little bit wet, which was really funny!

After that, we had to find some strong tree trunks and Lianne helped us to put up some hammocks. Mr Foan thought he could have a nice rest in our hammock, but we rocked him lots!

A short while later, both groups joined together, and we all enjoyed a picnic lunch. After lunch, it was our turn for minibeast hunting. First of all, ranger Vicky took us to a wooded area where we she gave us a box full of minibeast catching equipment. After that, we went to a large meadow with very long grass. We loved running through the grass with nets trying to catch the minibeasts.

We found a millipede, lots of spiders, some woodlouse, ladybirds, wasps, moths and some beautiful blue dragon flies. Once we’d caught the minibeasts, we recorded our findings on a worksheet, examined them carefully using magnifying glasses, then carefully released them back into the wild.

Just before 3 o’clock, a very tired and happy bunch of Year 3 boys got back on the bus and returned to school. We all had an amazing day and learnt lots about minibeasts and den building!

Ike Wilson and Grayson Campion 3BR

James Palmer-Brown 3BA

Y3 trip to Ryton Pools

Y3 trip to Blackwell Adventure

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Year 4 Residential trip to Blackwell Adventure

The Year 4 boys enjoyed two nights away at Blackwell Adventure in the Michaelmas term, as they looked to make new memories, new friends and challenge themselves to face their fears and try new things. The majority of the boys stayed in the main house with the Year 4 staff, split into large, warm rooms throughout, whilst a small group of boys stayed in Blackwell’s glamping pods, accompanied by Mr Hargett and Mr Homan.

Over the three days, the boys enjoyed some incredible activities, like the big 3G swing, the massive zipline, crate stacking and wall climbing. Some of these activities required good teamwork, concentration and communication skills, which were all on display by our Year 4 boys.

There were also activities which required less ‘fun to feel scared’ moments, such as archery, rocket launching (not real rockets!) and trips to the Blackwell shop, as well as some supervised free time, giving the boys a chance to play football, cricket and generally enjoy each other’s company!

With amazing camp facilitators, good food and warm beds, the boys had a fantastic time and learned a lot about themselves and one another. A big thank you to Mr Burchett and the Year 4 teachers who organised the residential.

MH

My Historical Trip to Warwick Castle On Friday 9 June Year 4 had a memorable visit to an ancient medieval castle, Warwick Castle. We started our experience with a short walk from school to the castle with an eagerness to explore the history of the castle and take part in lots of activities. th

We first went to the attack and defence tour where it was explained how strong the castle was when built and possible ways of defending the castle from an attack. It included the legend of the trebuchet which is a siege weapon. I learnt that there are different types of siege weapon.

Further, I explored and read an interesting fact that the legendary trebuchet at Warwick Castle is among one of the world’s

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largest siege weapons; it is 18 metres high and built from 300 pieces of oak. Another thing used to defend the castle were the murder holes which were used to drop things like boiling water and rocks on attackers.

We were also given a view of ‘War of Roses’ by pretend jousting on real horses, which was amazing and exciting.

Another astonishing activity was the Falcon Quest show at the castle, looking at that scared me initially as I felt that the giant birds were going to pick me up.

We also went into a maze at the castle, and we were given an inside tour of the castle where we were shown the ancient child armour and a silver sword. The trip gave us a good insight into the history of Warwick Castle and has developed an interest in me to get to know more about the castle.

Jay Nagpal 4P

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Year 4 and 5 at Hazard Alley

This year, both Year Four and Five boys visited Hazard Alley Safety Centre in Milton Keynes. Whilst there, they learned about how to be safe and how to find help in a number of different scenarios including water safety, online safety, road safety, fire safety, how to dial 999, and other experiences they may encounter as they grow. The boys thoroughly enjoyed their time on their visit and found it both informative and fun. The boys demonstrated a really good knowledge of what to do in emergency situations and hopefully will have the confidence to use this knowledge should a real-life emergency occur.

Year 5 Year 5 Residential to Barnswood Camp

Year Five spent three days in Staffordshire from 7-9th June.

The boys experienced a wide range of activities during their time away. From axe throwing and archery, to weaselling and trig walking, the boys made the most of the opportunities and the weather. We were blessed with sunny days and cool nights meaning that camping was as good as it gets.

The boys were excellent company and really bought into the ethos of the trip. The importance of teamwork, of giving everything a try and having fun doing so. Evening activities included the ever-popular game of boys vs. staff manhunt, a campfire, the ever-so important sacrifice of the gnarliest stick and the now legendary ‘toothbrush disco’.

Boys woke early on Thursday morning, clearly eager to get started but unaware that the dawn chorus really isn’t the alarm call to start their day.

Nevertheless, the energy levels remained good throughout our time in the Peak District National Park. We visited an area known as The Roaches and the boys spent their day exploring the area through walking, bouldering and squeezing themselves through imaginarily small gaps in the rocks.

Staff on the residential were incredibly impressed by the resilience of boys, that they continued to try even when something seemed too big or too much. For some boys this was their first residential and even their first nights away from home. It makes the fact the trip was so much fun and such a happy event even more pleasing. The boys got along so well and seemed to enjoy the trip hugely. Hopefully the memories will last a lifetime and the boys will use the skills they have gained and the knowledge they have learned way beyond Year Five.

OH

Top Adventure

As we got to school, we had to wait for everyone to come so we had to play handball. We got on the bus and we all had to sit down and take the register. Most of the trip was in the countryside and the sun was shining.

When we got off the coach, we were greeted by the Top Adventure crew.

There were three groups: 5S, 5W and 5H. I am in 5S. All the groups did the same activities just at different times.

First, I did the activity course. We had to get from tyre to tyre by using planks. By using the planks, we made it across. Then we had to hold long and short pieces of black guttering. The man tipped some water into the gutters and then we had to go to the back of the line of gutters to get the water into the bucket. Next we went caving. We went through a forest and a field to get to the cave. We wore a helmet and had to crawl through the pitch black and rocky tunnels. We then stopped in a bunker where we went through the next tunnel which was a bit tighter. Suddenly, someone saw a frog! We had to go through a tunnel so tight, that we had to go on our front and there were turns and slopes. I was so glad I had a helmet.

Next, we went to the laser tag activity. It was all in the dark, lush green forest. We all got a headset and a gun. Some guns were big and heavy, and some were like sniper weapons. I love sniping and luckily, I got a sniper. I was in the blue team and we were going to beat the reds. When we set off, I ran to the nearest tree to climb and get sniping. When I had ‘shot’ two people, I ran to the dip at the side and went on my knees and carried on shooting. Next everyone went to the enemy’s base and I went to the other side. The blues won – hurray!

Last we did water sports, and I went kayaking. Some people went on a paddleboard too. When we did the chaos tag, I fell in the water. It was so cold! I had goosebumps everywhere! Next, we did water polo and William fell in six times. At the end we all jumped in. I was so cold and so was everyone else who jumped in. It was the best fun! Finally, we had a nice warm barbecue and went home.

Amar Gill 5S

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

THE NATIONAL SPACE CENTRE

After a knowledge packed topic full of space, planets and solar systems we were looking forward to head off to the National Space Centre in Leicester for a fun-filled and informative day.

Excitement levels were high as the end of exam week appeared over the horizon and it was time for our trip!

The coach arrived and we found seats on the bus, then spent a relaxing journey playing Top Trumps and chatting. In no time at all we had arrived at the Space Centre and the day had really begun!

On arrival we gathered in the main hall to explore the first displays.

I remember a high ceilinged place with criss-crossing walkways above us, as well as a very detailed large model of the earth.

I was in Mrs Wragg’s group, and our first activity was a science show: Reactions and Explosions! We answered questions about Newton’s Laws and learnt some facts about how rockets fly. We heard about the history of rockets from the warlike and decorative start in China, to the modern day enormous versions which explore the fathoms of unexplored space. This was followed by a live demonstration of different reactions and mini rocket explosions. To finish it off we were waved goodbye by a banger of an explosion caused by a highly flammable gas and a lighter!

Next, we faced our fear of heights as we climbed a dizzying staircase all the way to the top of the… Rocket Tower! We explored the first three floors which explained the history of space travel using displays, timelines, and interactive activities. Our group enjoyed the popular interactive activity which allowed us to support the USA or Russia to win the space race, by firing a rocket up a tube. Some attempts were more successful than others!

After lunch we headed off to what was many people’s favourite part of the day – the gift shop! I bought myself a chocolate bar, a tiny

puzzle in a test tube and a keyring for my school bag. Loaded up with shopping bags we queued up for what was my personal highlight – the Planetarium. As we took our seats, I could see that the ceiling was actually a gigantic screen. Sitting back into our comfortable seats, the lights dimmed, and I heard the narrator start to speak, beginning our adventure into space. After absorbing many facts about our solar system, and answering a few questions, our experience had come to an end. The lights flashed on and our eyes adjusted to the new brightness.

Exiting the Planetarium, we had a short time to let off steam with a game of tag before we had to board the coached back to school.

Climbing onto the coach I reflected on my day and knew that I would be asking my parents if we could return at some point soon! Thank you to Mr Lewis and the other teachers for an amazing trip that I will remember for many years to come!

Barney Stevns 5H

Year 6 Year 6 Residential to Plas y Brenin

When the bags were all lined up, mine seemed like the smallest compared to everyone else’s body bags. I was worried I hadn’t packed enough – did I miss a page of the kit list? I thought I knew what to expect, we’d had our welcome talk, we looked on the website, but when it really came to it, I guess I was wrong! I imagined we were going hiking up hills or long walks in the forest. I was not expecting to be jumping off rocks into freezing water or to climb a mountain!

My third day of the trip was one of my favourites. It was the day we were going to go down a mine. I thought it would be an ordinary history talk, but there was nothing ordinary about being down this mine. Once the iron barred gate was opened the adventure of the mine began and also a birthday was celebrated in the dark cavern – with hot chocolate!

The most exhilarating activity of the great week was the gorge walking. It was so, so cold; it felt like your feet were frozen, but the giggles were infectious as the water suddenly got deeper. On the positive side, it meant that we really appreciated the warm shower, followed by a hot cooked meal to fill our bellies. We were kept busy even after dinner with a full, fun-packed timetable. When it was time to go back to our rooms, we were really ready to go straight to sleep. I was in a dormitory with nine other people, all in bunk beds. We even got to watch some TV on the last night. Can you believe our dorm won the tidy room competition?

This trip has been my favourite during my time at the Junior School as it was so different and adventurous. The experiences were absolutely unforgettable, and so fun. It was a great chance to talk to more people than I normally chat to. It was well organised, and the food was amazing, especially the full English breakfasts!

They catered really well for any allergies (and ‘meat free me’). We coped well, being away from home – the first time for many of my friends. And seeing the smiles (and tears) from the welcoming party of parents was amazing for the return of the weary travellers. This was a brilliant adventure and one that boys in years 3, 4 and 5, should be definitely looking forward to!

Freddie Blackwall 6C

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Trip to Blists Hill

In December we went to Blists Hill and for the first time got to experience what it was like in the life of a Victorian. It was a cold day, and we were only a few days away from Christmas. We got on the bus at around 7:45 in the morning. There was a buzz of excitement in the air. After roughly two whole hours we arrived and saw the wonder that was Blists Hill. Then, we split off into separate groups, with our group changing into Victorian-style clothes (we all looked very realistic!).

Then, we had our first (and probably last) Victorian lesson. It’s fair to say that the teacher was a little bit strict! An hour later, we had had our first tastes of what it had been like for a Victorian child in school. After the lesson we had time to walk around Blists Hill and use our £10 allowance and a very informative expert told us all about Blists Hill. This was a fantastic opportunity, and we hope to visit again in the future and experience the wonder of it all.

HS

Bletchley Park Trip

In March the Year 6 boys had a brilliant visit to Bletchley Park, the centre of Britain’s secret code-breaking operations during World War 2. This work, as the boys quickly found out, was crucial to Britain’s war effort, allowing the Allies to decipher the Nazis’ supposedly unbreakable Enigma code – without the Germans knowing. This advantage is estimated to have shortened the war by two years and so saved thousands of lives.

The boys enjoyed exploring the site, including the Mansion and particularly the wooden huts, barely more sophisticated than a garden shed, where much of this vital work took place. During the codes and ciphers workshop, the boys successfully decrypted messages in the Caesar, Pig Pen and the Rail Fence ciphers, among others. A major highlight was handling an original Enigma machine as used by the Germans to create their encrypted messages: the settings on the machine were reset each day to one of over 160 sextillion possible options – and the Bletchley codebreakers, led by Alan Turing, had to crack this changing code every 24 hours!

We returned to school full of admiration and curiosity.

The next time this country needs codebreakers, perhaps some of our boys will be ready to help.

Freddie Hunt gives his thoughts on the guided tour that day: After having our sandwiches, we met our tour guide to have a look around the entire park. She told us to act like codebreakers from World War 2, meaning we had to keep the pace up when moving from building to building, “time was of the essence”. Standing by one of the secret entrances, we were told lots of information about where Bletchley is and why. She also knew a lot about its history, for example that there were mostly women working there because the men were more commonly soldiers or generals. Next, we went to have a look at some of the vehicles used at the time such as the enormous cars and motorcycles (which are remarkably like our motorbikes today, other than that they are double the size). After the cars, we made our way to our final stop: The Mansion. En route, we encountered on old tennis court but the peculiar thing about it was that the surface was grass! As we arrived

at the Mansion, we were in shock at the architecture and how big it was. To our surprise, our tour guide informed us that it was worth £6000 at the time (that’s inflation for you).

Unfortunately, our group only had enough time to have a look around a couple of the rooms such as the library, one of the living rooms and a history room with artefacts from when the Mansion was built, such as mugs, horseshoes and many more random things that are now precious, but certainly were not at the time. The library looked incredibly full of wisdom, and the books were all kept in good conditions so that the information could survive for future readers. Interestingly, there were no images or photos on the front or back, just a plain leather cover with a golden spine.

Overall, it was a highly informative and interesting trip. After a short trip to the gift shop (where they sold the greatest fudge known to humankind), we all hopped on to the bus for the one-hour drive home.

CA

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

ON THE STAGE

Our Year 4 and Year 6 pupils get the opportunity to put on a musical performance at the Bridge House Theatre. Whilst every member of Year 4 is on stage, the pupils in Year 6 have the opportunity to also try their hands at the key production elements of any stage show, taking on roles including lighting, sound, stagehands and as part of the house band.

Y4 Play – Porridge

The Year 4 boys showcased their talents this year in a delicious musical comedy called ‘Porridge’. It was a familiar tale, told like you’ve never heard before, with familiar fairy-tale folk brought to life as you’ve never imagined, from Goldie Lox to the barmy Billy Goats, loopy lumberjacks to a potty police squad!

When a crime wave hit Happy Valley, there was a caseload of mysteries to be solved! Who’d stolen Ma Hubbard’s recipe book and what dirty secret was Papa Bear hiding behind his Porridge empire? It was down to Private Detective, Jack Spratt, to uncover the terrifying truth in this tale of mystery, mayhem, and breakfast cereal! The singing, dancing and acting from these young boys was exceptional and left the audience hungry for more entertainment at the end of each performance.

KW

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Y6 Play – The Lion King Jr.

‘The Lion King Jr.’ tells the story of Simba, an adventurous and energetic lion cub, who is tricked by his evil uncle, Scar, into believing he is responsible for the death of his father, Mufasa. Wracked with guilt, Simba leaves his home in the Pride Lands and heads to the jungle. Here he starts a new life with two friends, Timon and Pumbaa. Just when Simba seems happy in his ‘worryfree’ jungle home, Nala, Simba’s childhood friend, arrives desperate for Simba’s help to save the animals in the kingdom and restore happiness and peace to the Pride Lands.

On Thursday 18th and Friday 19th May 2023, the boys in Year 6 performed their production of ‘The Lion King Jr.’ in the Bridge House Theatre. The whole year group worked incredibly well together, with direction from Denise Curle and Louise Sharp, to create a theatre production team where every boy was involved. The acting, dancing, singing, lighting, sound and backstage roles were all performed to a high standard and they even had their own house band! Massive congratulations must go to all of the boys in Year 6 for their outstanding performances!

Below is a report written by Archie Teja, who played the part of a hyena during the production.

“Year 6 put on an amazing performance of ‘The Lion King Jr.’ in the Bridge House Theatre across two consecutive evenings for parents, and one daytime show for the Junior School/Prep School. The main characters were played brilliantly by all. My personal favourite was Zazu (played by Ruben), especially his funny dance in, ‘I just can’t wait to be King’. I played the role of a Hyena, along with Jack, Rupert, Xander, William, Ajay and Rubens, who made up the rest of the pack. We sang in the song, ‘Be Prepared’ along with Scar (played by Nate) and, ‘The Mourning’ with the Lionesses. Every boy in Year 6 put a lot of hard work into our rehearsals. As well as the main actors and ensemble, everyone joined in either the band or the technical crew, made up of sound, lighting, props and stagehands. We couldn’t have done it without our amazing director Miss Curle and our musical mastermind Miss Sharp. We also appreciated the help that Mr Herringshaw gave us with making our animal headdresses. My favourite moments from the play were when everyone sang, ‘The Circle of Life’ at the start and, ‘Hakuna Matata’ as the encore, where we got a standing ovation from the audience! Everyone in Year 6 had a real blast! We loved every minute of being involved in the production!”

DC

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

MUSIC When Covid-19 struck at the start of 2020, it had a devastating impact on education. Even after a sense of ‘normality’ started to appear back in the classrooms after the initial lock-down, music was still an area that was devastated and the music-making that we had all enjoyed at such a high level for so long was reduced to virtually zero. We muddled through with Year Group Bands, Virtual Concerts and recordings to keep it going as best we could, but it was a far cry from the richness of musical life that we had all benefitted from for as long as we could remember. However, undeterred and little by little, our fabulous music team, both boys and staff, have been building it all back up.

As I watched our 17 ensembles performing in our Summer Concert with such enthusiasm, at such a high standard and with a huge sense of enjoyment, it suddenly struck me that we have not only finally made it back to where we were; we have gone far beyond.

It is the boys who are at the heart of everything we do, so this year I thought it would be good to hear it from them, straight from the horse’s mouth as it were. I asked our four House Music Captains to write a little bit about their musical year and it has been wonderful to read how much they have enjoyed and made the most of all the opportunities available to them. Warwick Junior Music is very definitely ‘back in town’!

LS

Kai Johnston – House Music Captain of Scott:

I have always loved music, and when I joined Warwick Junior School in Year 4, I had already been learning the Classical Guitar for 3 years. I found that there were a huge number of opportunities to practise music here, both in private lessons and as part of ensembles. I enjoyed playing in the Guitar Ensemble so much that I was keen to join a few more music groups, and to that end I was motivated to pick up another instrument – the trumpet – in Year 5. This allowed me to join several more ensembles. I was able to join Brass Monkeys as soon as I was able to play just a few notes on my trumpet, but as I got better, I was invited to join All Stars and Orchestra as well. This is really fun and never boring, because each ensemble plays a very different style of music – Brass Monkeys being popular music. All Stars is a wind band, so we play quite powerful, energetic pieces. Finally, Orchestra is the biggest ensemble and while we play all sorts of music, it always results in a very powerful sound which feels amazing to be part of – especially when we join up with the big choir for pieces as well.

Besides my private instrument lessons and ensemble practice, I enjoy my weekly class music lessons very much. Here we get to try lots of different things, including African drumming, rap battles, compositions on GarageBand and learning to appreciate musical styles from Jazz and Blues to Reggae to Baroque music. At the end of Year 5, I put myself forward as Music Captain for my House (Scott) and was very proud and excited to be elected!

But the highlight of Year 6 was being selected for the band for the Drama Production (The Lion King), where I played my trumpet alongside my friends who played the violin, the cello, the bass guitar, the clarinet and the djembe. This was enormously fun as I already knew most of the music and enjoyed performing it. The whole band wore zebra masks which we had made ourselves to add to the performance.

Last month, Miss Sharp hosted our annual House Music Competition – I got to introduce all of the acts performing for Scott House (which definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone!) and also got to perform in a band for one of the acts. We played ‘I Ain’t Worried from Top Gun: Maverick’. It was such a lot of fun and winning the Competition with my House was the cherry on the cake.

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Thomas Woodhouse – House Music Captain of Wellington: When I joined Warwick Junior School, I started playing classical guitar, alongside the Year 3 Strings Project. We were out of school during lockdown later that year and my guitar teacher continued my lessons virtually. That meant I was ready to take my first grade when school reopened.

Oscar Fowler – House Music Captain of Nelson: My experience of music at the Junior School has been outstanding and phenomenal. I’ve been involved in so many groups and special occasions over the years. My personal favourite would be the end of term concerts. The reason for this is because you get to see every group having its moment to shine. The variety of groups playing different styles is incredible, including rock bands, jazz bands, choirs and also handbells. It is a true celebration of music at the Junior School and also the boys’ hard work at clubs every week. There is a real buzz on concert day when we rehearse and it’s wonderful to hear the applause from the audience who seem to appreciate our efforts. A big thank you to Miss Sharp! We couldn’t have made these concerts as good as they are without her help, enthusiasm and encouragement.

Since then, I have progressed through grades, having just taken my Grade 4. I now play bass guitar in a Rock Band and electric guitar outside of school. I play one of my guitars most days.

In Year 6 I was asked to play one of my grade pieces, Village Blackbird Blues, at the Joint Senior and Junior School Guitar Concert, this was a solo. I set to work practising and before I knew it, I was sat in front of a packed audience at Warwick Hall. The tension was high, but I kept cool, and it went well.

I was also part of the band for our Year 6 play, The Lion King. We did a lot of rehearsing as there were a lot of songs to learn. It was good to play as part of a band alongside other instruments.

I have also been able to do this in one of our rock bands called ‘Mayhem’. I like playing a different style of music, alongside friends each week, practising for Junior School concerts which happen at the end of each term.

The Teatime Concerts are a great opportunity for boys, whatever level, to perform in a fun, encouraging, friendly way in front of parents and peers. They help to build confidence and new skills such as playing with an accompanist. Best of all, you receive a commendation and cake at the end!

Rising Strings is a rather unusual group because you play without any music. So, the way we play our pieces is totally from ear (listening). It’s a lot of fun and we have many laughs and giggles along the way. It helps to develop your listening skills and improves your music memory.

Dynamo Strings is a lot of fun too and involves almost all string players who play at a certain standard, including those from Year 3 who have evolved from The Dynamix. We play a wide repertoire such as classical music, folk music and modern theme tunes such as Star Wars.

Ethan Jones– House Music Captain of Drake: The music at the Junior School is something I will definitely miss.

There is such a huge variety of musical instruments to learn, and even if you don’t want to take up one of these you can still look forward to the weekly class lessons. Over the course of the four years, we do lots; from rap to reggae, and everything in between, there is something for everyone.

There are also exciting events to enjoy, like the three concerts in the year – which are always brilliant – and also the House Music competition. For me, personally, this is my highlight of the year. You can take part as a band, or enter as a soloist, and four acts from each House are selected to perform in the Warwick Hall for the grand finale. This is great fun.

Also, earlier this year, the eSQuires, our string sextet, got through to the national final of the Pro Corda Chamber Music Festival. Overall, I think this shows just how high quality the music is in the Junior School, and I’m sure it will carry on thriving in the future.

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

IN COMPETITION

Whilst a bit of healthy competition can often be found in the Junior School, winning is not how success is measured. For Junior School sport, successes are counted in the number of boys who, over the course of a term, have been able to participate in sports clubs, entered additional sporting events on offer, as well as participated in fixtures against other schools.

Chess

It gives me great pleasure to report on a year of unprecedented chess success at Warwick Junior School. I don’t use such superlatives lightly; it was going to take a lot to surpass a highly successful 2021-2022. However, it is fully justified given the scale of the boys’ over-the-board progress and achievements.

The game’s popularity continues to rise throughout school, with high numbers in attendance at lunchtime chess club. The Autumn Championship and the UK Schools Chess Challenge Group Stage, once again proved popular events, with boys vying to win the many prizes up for stake. Respect for the rules and etiquette of play has been outstanding; you could hear a pin drop on the floor during play! The standard of chess across all year groups is better than ever and the difficulty of the positions we have seen on the demo-board has increased correspondingly, but the boys have risen to the occasion. Even ‘fun time’ at the end of club has been increasingly taken up by puzzle-solving; such is the enthusiasm of the boys. The Master Club has grown considerably, and some exciting new talents have made their mark.

For the first time in school history, we fielded a team in the Coventry Schools Chess League, the only primary school to do so, and finished in second place in division 2. The star performer was the team’s captain Ajay Prinjha who lost only a single game all season, winning all the rest. Memorable match wins against much older opponents were also achieved by Dylan Godhania, Dougie Cowie, Ethan Jones, Sam Parsons, Ilyas Rashid, Reuben Lidher and Rubens Kang. Billy Fellowes was unbeaten for the season on top board for the Senior School A team, helping them to win both the division 1 championship and the cup competition. To top it off, he won all his games to retain his Coventry Schools Lightning Chess title at the annual end-of-season tournament. He was also the winner of the annual Warwick Junior and Senior School joint-Blitz tournament, again with a 100% score. A special mention must go to James Palmer-Brown who scored 4/6 in the same event and defeated several Senior School opponents despite being in Year 3. Then, in another first, a unified Warwick School team competed in the National Schools Chess Championship, with Billy and Ajay scoring 3/3 each to help Warwick win their regional zonal.

There have also been sparkling performances in tournaments outside of school. In the Warwickshire Junior Chess Championship, Joshua Wong scored 3/7, Lucas Wong scored 3.5/7 and Ilyas

Golf

Golf in the Junior School has been strong this year. We have a group of Year Six boys who are eager, interested, focused and improving.

The weekly sessions at Stratford Oaks have seen boys make great progress under the coaching of Tom Whitehouse and his team.

The fact that we were able to host a Junior School Open at the Warwickshire’s ‘castle’ course is testament to how far the groups have come. All the boys completed the round with some excellent scores from the top four. Louis, Sam, Harvey and George have a bright golfing future ahead of them if they choose to continue playing and many of the other boys will continue to make good progress if they keep working hard at their game.

Golf takes time and discipline, and the senior golf team can look forward to an excellent group of talented young players, who have the dedication, bolstering their ranks when our Year Six join the Senior School.

OH

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Rashid won a bronze medal with 4/7. All three along with Bo Choi, Monty Sweet, Sam Parsons and Hugh Swabey-Collinson competed on behalf of Warwick, in the Birmingham Megafinal of the UK Schools Chess Challenge. It marked the first time that Bo, Monty, Sam and Hugh had ever competed in a chess tournament outside of school. llyas scored 4/6 in the U10 section and qualified for the prestigious Gigafinal, the penultimate stage of the competition.

Thanks to results like this, he was selected for the Warwickshire U11 Chess Squad and scored 100% on his county debut.

The captain for the Warwickshire U11 Chess Squad was none other than Billy, who had a season full of milestones. He finished on 4.5/9 playing for England in the European Youth Chess Championship held in Antalya, Turkey. He played in the Menorca Chess Open which featured over 30 grandmasters and scored 4.5/9, despite being the 194th seed of 200 competitors. He scored his first draw in an over-the-board tournament game against an International Master and qualified for the 2023 English Chess Championship, one of the youngest players to ever do so.

My thanks and congratulations are extended to all the boys for their fantastic efforts and enthusiasm that have been pivotal to Warwick’s chess success this year.

PL

Y3 Sports Day

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Year 3

The Year 3s have been a pleasure to work with this year and have demonstrated a fantastic attitude towards not only rugby, football and cricket, but all forms of physical activity that has been put on for them. Their energy is infectious, and I have been delighted with the number of boys that have been attending the wide range of after school clubs. Representing the school in fixtures is a large part of the sports program at the Junior School and I have been encouraged by the whole year groups approach to these fixtures. It is not just the matches that are important but the values the boys exhibit both before and after the games that make them such an important learning experience. This year every boy has represented the school at least nine times, with some boys playing an upwards of 20 games across a range of 6 sports.

I look forward to watching this year group develop over the next three years, they certainly have lots of potential.

Y3 Football

Year 4 The Year 4s have had a wonderful year of sport. Their appetite, enthusiasm and passion for all forms of physical activity is clear to see and I have been particularly impressed with the teamwork and togetherness they have shown. Every boy in the year has represented the school on at least ten occasions, which when you add on class and house matches in both rugby and football is a really pleasing statistic.

U9 Rugby sees contact being introduced for the first time and this year group have taken to it incredibly positively. The physicality they have demonstrated both in fixtures and in training sessions is something I have not seen before at this age. The enjoyment of contact has been infectious, and I have been amazed how many boys have demonstrated good technique and a desire to make tackle after tackle. I am really looking forward to seeing how they embrace the U10 rules next year and the introduction of rucking.

This is without doubt a very talented year group, who are showing bags of potential. I have been especially pleased with the number of boys who have represented the A team in rugby. The strength

MB in depth is incredibly encouraging and will hold them in good stead as the move through the school.

The Lent term saw the boys turn their hand to football. Despite not being the most technical football group, their attitude and desire to win meant they were an incredibly tough team to play against. A number of thrilling games against Spratton Hall and Bablake saw them come from two goals down to snatch welldeserved draws.

This Year 4 group also love their cricket and we have had over 40 boys turning up to the Wednesday night club during the summer term. The A team have really impressed playing some fantastic cricket. Their performance against West House was one of the best U9 games I have seen. It was not just their cricket skills on show but also their maturity and independence in setting fields, picking batting orders and encouraging each other that really impressed me.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all boys on their progress this year and I look forwarded to seeing more of the same as they move into Year 5.

MB

Y4 Aquathlon

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Year 5 Rugby

The Year 5 rugby teams made fantastic progress during the Michaelmas term. The year group consists of some outstanding individual athletes, who on their day, were a match for any school team around. The area they must work on is their game understanding and tactical awareness.

As the season progressed, they started to make real strides in these areas, working better as a team and understanding that keeping a shape, passing the ball and supporting runners is really important in rugby. Tackling and their breakdown skills are also areas they must also work on, especially as they step up to U11 rugby next term.

The highlight of the year must be the number of boys that progressed through the groups and represented the A team during the season. Strength in depth is so important and a healthy competition during games lessons will really help them progress in future years. In terms of a performance, the final games of the year at our very own Rugby Festival where were they really clicked. A thrilling draw against Bedford was probably the highlight of an excellent afternoon of competitive rugby.

MB

Y5 Rugby

Football

A group of individuals become more of a team. In a nutshell that is basically it. But there is so much more to it too. Some comfortable early season victories led to confidence and complacency. A chastening defeat away as Solihull showed the boys that there was a lot of work to be done to become the team they thought they were.

Ultimately, it was no longer about the results. It was about the team approaching the sport in the right way. It was about them taking responsibility and working harder. Things improved. Boys played to be part of a team and not just to show their skills. Selection became more difficult as boys made progress at different speeds.

Cricket

There are some talented boys in Year Five. Boys who can bowl well and bat well, boys who can catch and boys who can throw.

There are boys who can do all of these things but still need to practise the craft of playing cricket.

This year group has potential to be an excellent team and this was evident when we travelled to RGS The Grange to play an eight-aside tournament. A resounding win in our first game was followed by a fixture that we were well ahead in throughout, only to manage to lose when victory was so close. It is moments like that when boys have the chance to learn the most and recognise what went well and how to improve. This defeat ultimately took the wind out of our sails, and we fell to another defeat in our final game.

The real test is often gauged by how well we play against RGS The Grange and whether we could compete at their annual Under 10 tournament. Again, we took two teams who competed in different groups and played good football against tough opposition. A penalty shootout, a golden goal, a runners’ up medal. This could have been England, except we won a most extraordinary shootout, only to run out of steam in the final. Adversity seemed to bring the group closer and support for each team was infectious. A good season. Progress had been made and the boys have hopefully learned the importance of ‘team’.

OH

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Year 6

Y6 Rugby

Rugby The start of the Michaelmas term means one thing: a new rugby season! Our new U11 group were very enthusiastic and excited about the season ahead, as evident by the incredible effort and numbers at games on a Wednesday and after-school club on a Monday.

The goal for this year was clear: build rugby players who love the game, tackle, catch, pass and read the game with good effort and most importantly, confidence.

The season started off very well, with some tight games and a lot of crucial learnings. The boys were becoming more and more settled and understood the type of game we wanted to play.

There were many ups and downs in the early part of the season: a tough day at the Stowe festival, followed by some great running rugby in our big block fixture against RGS The Grange.

As always, our philosophy at WJS is to get every boy representing the school in a fixture during the term, as well as approaching our fixtures and training with the attitude of ‘winning is not everything, but effort and enjoyment are’. We strongly believe that we have achieved this in spades in Michaelmas 2023, and the U11 players have been a testament to their school, showing tremendous growth, both on and off the field.

MB

Cricket This year’s U11A Cricket team have made more progress than any other U11 cricket team I have ever worked with. Their attitude to training, fixtures and also the approach I was trying to get them to play in, was second to none. Bowling is certainly their strongest discipline, with every boy in the A team group being able to bowl accurately. This was evident in the final two T20 games where they bowled out Eversfield and The Croft for 77 and 42 respectively. The team’s fielding was also strong, always showing lots of energy and, as the season progressed, they started to make some educated decisions about field placings. The team’s batting is certainly the area they need to work on. The running between the wickets did improve during the term but their shot selection still needs lots of work. The highlight of the season would have to be the victory over Spratton Hall with Leo Hallings-Pott making a season high 46 to chase down 90 runs comfortably.

Overall, this year group has shown a fantastic attitude to their cricket, with every boy playing at least three fixtures this term.

MB

Football

Our U11 footballers enjoyed an excellent football season which was characterised by high participation across the year group.

There were several times when we put out five, six or even seven U11 teams, against different schools, on the same day, which enabled every boy in Year 6 to represent the school. The boys worked on the themes of playing out from the back and using wide players in build-up play. It was lovely to see the progress that the boys made throughout the season as their teamwork developed and each of our teams put in some outstanding performances and achieved some excellent results. The effort and commitment that all the boys put into their football led to a very enjoyable term for all involved.

The highlight of the season for the U11A team was the ISFA regional qualifying tournament. Placed in a tough group, the day could not have got off to a worse start when they lost 2-1 to arguably the weakest team there. This certainly woke the boys up and after gradually improving across the day it came down to the final group game against Fairfield Prep School. Earlier in the season they had lost 6-1 to this talented team. However, in this match everything clicked, the team put into practice everything Mr Hargett had been working on during the season and they won a thrilling game 2-1 to book a place in the semi-finals. A heartbreaking 1-0 loss in the semi-final meant it wasn’t to be this year, but the boys should be proud of their performance and take confidence from the progress they have made.

MB

Y6 Cricket

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THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Swimming

Swimming continues to be one of our flagship sports in the Junior School. The overall quality of swimming is extremely high, and the top end are regularly challenging at the highest level.

Regular Galas both against the Prep School and alongside them, allow boys to experience the thrill of swimming in a competitive environment. We are especially hopeful about our younger years who have shown bags of potential across a range of strokes.

Y6 Swim Team

The U11 swim team of Fenton, Nate, George and Ethan qualified for the IAPS Championship finals held, once again, at the iconic Olympic Pool at the London Aquatics Centre. The day started with the Medley Relay event. Our boys raised their game, knocking over four seconds off their qualifying time, finishing in a creditable 6th place overall. The team’s good form continued in the next race with a ninth place finish in the Freestyle Relay.

The day continued with George, Ethan and Nate competing in the individual events. Ethan was first to go in the 50m backstroke, followed soon after by George in the 50m Breaststroke.

Both boys posted impressive new personal best times and improved the ranking positions, with Ethan finishing 19th and George 16th in their respective events.

Next up was Nate competing in the 50m Freestyle.

After posting a highly competitive personal best time in the heats, he went into the Grand Final ranked in fourth position. In the final there was nothing to separate the four fastest qualifiers for the entire race. As they entered the last five metres, nobody watching could predict who was going to win. When they touched the wall, less than two tenths of a second was all that separated the four boys.

Such is the nature of sport; you sometimes have to accept the agony of defeat in pursuit of the ecstasy of victory. Unfortunately for Nate, he missed out on a position on the podium by less time than it takes to click your fingers (two hundredths of a second). However, he and the rest of the team, could rightly leave the pool with their heads held high after producing a series of excellent swims.

The swimmers continued their incredibly successful season with some outstanding performances at the ESSA Primary National Finals. The Medley team of George Bull, Fenton Cooper, Nate Johnson and Ethan Jones qualified in second place after recording their fastest swim of the year, in the final they managed to go faster still but unfortunately, so did their closest rival. A second-place finish at the national finals is an incredibly impressive achievement and one that has only been achieved twice before in the Junior School. Later in the afternoon, it was the turn of the Freestyle team of George Bull, Nate Johnson, Ethan Jones and Tommy Wiggin. They once again qualified in second place for the finals but unfortunately could not back this up in the finals, finishing in fourth place and just missing out on a podium. I would like to take this opportunity to say well done to this group of boys. They are up there with one of the most successful swimming teams in the Junior School’s history, their commitment to training is exceptional and I look forward to watching their progress throughout the Senior School.

MB

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Hockey Hockey in the Junior School continues to blossom with over 60 Y5 and Y6 boys regularly attending club on a Friday evening. When you combine this with the work that is taking place in PE lessons, it is no surprise that we are continuing to see big improvements in the quality of our teams. The interest is also growing, with a large number of the Year 5 boys coming to the school with previous hockey experience, which is fantastic to see. The U11A team have also impressed this year and had the potential to play some outstanding Hockey. This was evident at the IAPS regional Hockey tournament, where they qualified from their group without losing a game. Unfortunately, they were not able to continue this form into the semi-final and ended up losing 1-0 to a team they had the potential to beat.

Due to frozen pitches the county tournament ended up being a single game against Bilton Grange and despite losing, it meant we qualified for the Midlands finals. This was a fantastic experience for the boys, and they really stepped up to the challenge, competing in all their matches and demonstrating the progress they have made.

MB

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

Year in Pictures

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Pastoral and Features The Pastoral Team Year From a pastoral perspective, the year was dominated by the tragic suicide of Arun Dhir, a highly intelligent, articulate, kind, and universally well-liked Upper Sixth pupil who was particularly close to a small but tight-knit group of friends. His death in January deeply affected the school community.

Our pastoral staff and form tutors deserve commendation for their response. Despite their own grief, they found the strength to support our vulnerable pupils. Many sought support through our Wellbeing Hub, while others turned to their form tutors or trusted teachers. As a community, we came together and found strength.

A memorial service was led by Mr Soper, our Foundation Chaplain, with significant involvement from Arun’s family and closest friends.

It was an incredibly sad but poignant event, providing a fitting way to commemorate his life. Mrs Poole’s speech offered insight into Arun’s humour, loyalty, and empathy.

We took proactive measures to address the issue of mental health, introducing Protective Behaviours sessions to Year 8 in September. Protective Behaviours is now taught to all pupils in Years 7 and 8, and it will be taught to Year 9 from September.

We hope to see the positive outcomes of this programme in the coming years as it is implemented across the school, enabling students to better identify early warning signs and develop coping strategies during challenging times.

The care provided in our Wellbeing Hub, led by Mrs Leaf, was further expanded this year. In addition to targeted sessions with a range of therapists and coaching sessions from pastoral staff as part of our universal provision, our Wellbeing Ambassadors programme grew. We hosted Diana Award training for ten other

Wellbeing Aggie

Aggie has been a delightful and highly sought-after addition to our Wellbeing provision in the Hub! She has a remarkable sense of knowing when pupils need a comforting cuddle on the sofa, and she sits calmly with them, offering gentle hand licks to those who welcome them. She also seems to intuitively understand when pupils desire some fun and distraction. Playfully, she races around the Hub in pursuit of her toy dinosaur or tennis ball, bringing smiles and laughter to all.

We thoroughly enjoy having Aggie in the Hub, and the pupils quickly learn her schedule, eagerly visiting on the days she is working with us.

HL

Students meeting Aggie, the Wellbeing dog

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local senior schools, and an additional 15 of our pupils were trained, bringing the total number of trained anti-bullying ambassadors to 25. Throughout the year, they did excellent work in helping students with issues ranging from organization problems to feeling overwhelmed by time commitments.

Mr Andrews introduced one-to-one meetings between pupils and tutors, focusing on academic and pastoral matters. These meetings, along with talks on relevant pastoral issues, received positive feedback.

Mr Venter implemented a Players Expectations Agreement for sports representation, promoting positive character development and inclusivity. When pupil behaviour fell short of these expectations during the year, we imposed sports bans in some cases to address the issue effectively. The Heads of Rugby, Hockey, and other sports, along with first team captains, met with the pupils during their bans to discuss the importance of inclusive behaviour within their team’s setting.

Pupil Voice Wellbeing Committees organized pastoral weeks throughout the year. The anti-racism committee ran Show Racism the Red Card Week in October, while the anti-bullying committee organized Anti-Bullying Week in November. The gender equality committee celebrated International Men’s Day for the first time in November and International Women’s Day in March. The mental health committee ran Children’s Mental Health Week in February with the theme ‘Let’s Connect,’ focusing on finding common ground with others to build a network of support in times of crisis. In June, the LGBTQ+ committee organized diversity week.

In recent years, we have made significant progress in creating a more inclusive school environment that values responsibility, humility, celebrates uniqueness, and discourages bigotry.

RMHT

PASTORAL & FEATURES

PSHEE Having introduced joint PSHEE in the Sixth Form with King’s High last year, our focus this year in PSHEE was to consolidate these gains and further improve the programme to meet the needs of our pupils. In the Sixth Form programme, we introduced more lessons on personal finance education in response to pupil feedback, and we also made adjustments to the mental health lessons to make them more accessible. Additionally, for the first time, Year 7 lessons on first aid were introduced to the PSHEE programme.

Looking ahead to next year, it will be the first time at Warwick that every year group will have a timetabled fortnightly PSHEE lesson, as we have adjusted the Year 9 timetable to create space for this. PSHEE continues to be taught by pastoral staff with the experience, training, and temperament to effectively teach a wide range of challenging topics as set out in the PSHE Association’s recommended learning outcomes. Our aim is for principles of decency, respect, tolerance, humility, and kindness to not only be taught but also lived out by all individuals in our community.

As you can see, we are continuing to work hard to embed these principles through our PSHEE programme.

Our programme of talks from outside specialist speakers to pupils and parents was extensive this year. Some talks were given in person, particularly those at Meet-the-Tutor events in September, while several Parent Pastoral Forum talks were conducted via Teams. The list of talks included: l

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Jenny Parkinson-Mills gave a talk on digital parenting to Year 7 parents.

Encounters This year, the Encounters programme has featured an exceptional array of speakers from various fields, including Politics, History, Physics, and Mathematics.

We were delighted to welcome back two distinguished Old Warwickians. Ameet Gill, a key adviser to David Cameron, delivered a brilliant talk on the challenges and excitement of working in Downing Street. His recollections of conversing with Cameron on the morning of the Brexit referendum were profound and unforgettable. James Uffindell also spoke with wit and insight about entrepreneurship, inspiring many students to follow in his successful footsteps, while embodying kindness, good nature, and thoughtfulness.

One of our most exciting encounters in the political sphere was with Lord Heseltine, whose appearance filled the King’s High Hall. Expertly interviewed by Charlotte Allen, Lord Heseltine eloquently expounded his pro-business and pro-European One Nation philosophy. At the age of 89, Lord Heseltine’s vitality, presence, and intellectual prowess remain undiminished, hinting that a return to power may not be impossible. Lady Carnarvon also addressed the students, captivating them with the story of the discovery of Tutankhamen by Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter 101 years ago. Her presentation was so gripping that Mr Jefferies has decided to lead his first school trip down the Nile since 2001!

James Uffindell OW with JNJ

Chip Somers gave a talk on drugs and alcohol to Year 8 pupils and parents.

Craig Joyce, an Educational Psychologist, gave talks on mental health to Year 10 pupils and parents.

PC Lund of Warwickshire Police gave a talk on the topic of consent to parents.

Funke Abimbola gave talks to all pupils and parents entitled “Why Equality Matters.”

Ollie Welsby gave a talk to parents on the topic “Supporting Young People with Anxiety.”

Eleanor Chesser gave a talk to parents entitled “Supporting Your Child with Exam Stress.”

PC Lund gave a talk to pupils in Years 7 to 10 on the issue of drug dealing through county lines.

Samaritans gave talks to Year 9 to Year 11 pupils, and to Lower Sixth pupils on coping in times of crisis.

Year 11 pupils had sessions from ‘Elevate’ on revision and selforganisation. As part of their Sixth Form Induction, they also attended workshops from ‘Beyond Equality’ on the following topics: Introduction to Masculinities, Privilege and Emotions; Healthy Relationships, Sex and Sexuality; Preventing GenderBased Violence.

Lord Heseltine

Sixth Form pupils had talks from ‘Fatal 4’ on safe driving, from the charity ‘Anthony Nolan’ on stem cell donation, from PC Lund of Warwickshire Police on County Lines, from Will Hollis from Nottingham University about Student Finance, and from ‘The Oddballs Foundation’ about Testicular Cancer. Russell Robinson also gave talks on criminal law to Year 12 pupils and parents.

Mr Jefferies also organized the ‘Encounters’ talks series, which provided pupils with opportunities to hear from speakers from different walks of life.

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PASTORAL & FEATURES In January, in commemoration of the Holocaust, Mindu Hornick MBE shared her experiences of growing up in Czechoslovakia and surviving Auschwitz with a captivated audience. Her account of rebuilding her life as a successful businesswoman in Birmingham was empowering, and her profound insights and optimistic enthusiasm regarding the positive changes in multicultural Britain since her arrival in 1948 provided a refreshing counter to media negativity.

Dr. Tom Crawford from Oxford University delivered a fascinating encounter on the practical applications of Mathematics, while Professor Philip Burrows, also from Oxford University, enthralled the audience with his brilliant talk on subatomic particle accelerators, sharing his contagious passion for Physics. Holly Reeve’s presentation on a life in Chemistry was equally entertaining, especially as she demonstrated how her love for science led her from academia to entrepreneurship.

Faraz Shibli’s presentation on crossing the Gobi Desert offered an exhilarating encounter with one of the world’s last great empty spaces.

Ameet Gill

Philip Neale

There were also several captivating historical encounters. Clare Jackson discussed her new book, “Devilland,” which investigates whether England was a “rogue” state from 1588-1688.

Philip Neale delivered a remarkably insightful encounter on Lawrence of Arabia, delving into the extraordinary contradictions of Lawrence’s life. Stuart Orme’s presentation on Oliver Cromwell provided profound insights into an equally complex figure whose impact on British history remains as controversial today as it was at his death in 1658. Two powerful encounters examined the challenges of contemporary Britain. Sunder Katwala, President of British Future, explored how to enhance the functioning of multicultural Britain, while Sam Fowles, in conversation with Noah Saxton, elucidated how unchallenged authoritarian governments can pose serious threats to our civil liberties.

Many students had the opportunity to have Sam sign their copies of “Overruled,” his powerful wake-up call that the rule of

Dr Tom Crawford

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Lord Norton

PASTORAL & FEATURES law may not be as secure as we assume. Stephen Brown, representing the Trades Union Congress, prompted students to reassess Conservative rule from a socialist perspective. We were also thrilled to delve into philosophy with three distinguished academics. AC Grayling delved straight into the heart of the matter with his presentation on the meaning of life, while Stephen Law and David Papineau provided captivating explorations of what philosophy can and cannot teach us. Kimberley Reeve’s psychological assessment of memory tricks and their relation to criminology further illuminated the extraordinary complexities of the human mind.

Professor Phillip Burrows

I extend my thanks to all our fantastic speakers, as well as the students from Warwick, King’s High School, Myton, and Aylesford who regularly attend Encounters. I would also like to express gratitude to the catering staff, whose wonderful dinners provide a convivial setting for speakers and guests to continue their debates in the most delightful surroundings.

JNJ

Stephen Law

Professor David Papineau with Mulley bowties Sunder Katwala

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PASTORAL & FEATURES

THE HOUSE YEAR Michaelmas Term

The term began with the House Quiz led by the mastermind, Mr Cooley. Fingers were quick on the buzzers, and all brains were engaged, but the champions for Year 7 were Greville, Year 8: Oken, Year 9: Brooke, Year 10: Guy, Year 11: Greville, Lower Sixth: Leycester, and Upper Sixth: Brooke.

Year 7 Tug of War was won by the strength and perseverance of Leycester, and students in Year 8, Greville, dodged, ducked, dipped, dived, and dodged their way to victory in House Dodgeball.

Aptly named House Shout returned with more enthusiasm and energy than ever after a three-year COVID hiatus. Mr Barker, Dr Chapman, and our guest judge, professional singer and OW Edward Button of the world-famous King’s Singers, heard everything from Backstreet Boys to Pink Floyd. Overall, Leycester’s rendition of Aha’s “Take on Me” won the event. Within the same afternoon, House Music was a real triumph. This year, House Music was almost entirely student-led, and Brooke was the worthy winner. However, everyone put in an excellent effort, and the standard of the ensembles was the highest it had ever been.

Foodbank Friday was a new addition to the House Event calendar, with hundreds of students generously donating to those in need in the local community. Positively contributing to society and showing humility and thought for others were key parts of Warwick School’s ethos, and it was great to see how many of you got involved with this initiative. Mrs Quinn was really impressed with the efforts made by students from all year groups.

As always, House Debating was hotly competitive this year, and students relished the return of face-to-face debating led by Mrs Wyatt and Mrs Hardiman. Persuasive arguments were made regarding environmental issues such as the consumption of red meat, financial issues such as how best to tackle the rising cost of

House Debating

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living, and educational issues including whether the school day should start later. Guy was the overall winner, winning both the Middle and Upper School competitions.

Finally, the Winter Term ended with Winter Sportsfest in which every student represented their House by playing unihoc, table tennis, racketball, or football. Greater strategy was used this year in picking teams within forms, which played to the advantage of some Houses. The overall winners of Sportsfest were Guy.

Lent Term

The Lent Term started with the hugely popular House Chess led

by Mr Ward and Mr Cooley. Great enthusiasm and sportsmanship were shown, resulting in a highly contested competition where Greville won in Year 7, Tudor in Years 8 and 9, Brooke in Year 10, Oken in Year 11, Leycester in Lower Sixth, and Guy in Upper Sixth.

PASTORAL & FEATURES House Photography ran with the theme of “Layers,” and students were tasked to put their cameras to work. Greville had the best photograph, while Brooke gained the most points through a strong combination of podium finishes and highly recommended entries.

House Drama that year focused on recreating movie trailers.

Entries ranged from the Matrix to the Mandalorian, and bonus points were awarded for the best performance, best crowd scene, best special effects, best costume, best technical skills, and best overall production. Oken won in both the Lower School and Sixth Form categories, while Guy won in the Middle School, and Brooke won in the Upper School.

Science Week was packed full of competitions. Each tutor group represented their House for the science quiz during registration.

Brooke won three out of the six quizzes and came second in two of them. Leycester won the paper airplane competition with a distance of 19.3 meters, and Greville sailed to victory with the boat design competition for Years 7 & 8. The week ended with a spectacular science fair with 26 projects presented, ranging from a ‘home-made wind tunnel’ to a project on ‘should humans have tails’. Points were calculated, and Oken scored the highest.

House swimming was split into two separate events that year, with pupils in Years 8 to 11 competing together, while the Year 7s had their standalone event. Both competitions ran smoothly, and the quality of the swimming was impressive to watch, with lots of closely-contested individual and team races. The scoring was close, and all Houses quickly accumulated points, but as per the rules of the event, points were also deducted where teams did not have enough swimmers to compete in all of the races! The final standings combined the results of both events, and it was Brooke House who emerged victorious. The traditional end-ofterm SportsFest was running in the last week of term. The sports played in this round were Badminton, Touch Rugby, and Hockey.

The results from all events and year groups were combined to give an overall House winner, but this would be announced next term as some events were taking place that afternoon.

Year 8 House Hockey

Year 8 House Hockey

Summer Term

The House Competition continued throughout the term, bringing all houses together to showcase their teamwork, sportsmanship, and talents. Events included House Cricket, House Escape, and Sports Day. House Cricket generated great excitement and fierce competition, with Oken named the eventual winners. House Escape challenged each student’s problem-solving skills under pressure, and it was Oken who were the fastest on that occasion.

Approximately 480 boys competed at Sports Day. In Year 7, there was one clear house that was crushing all in front of them, and that was Tudor. Dr John and Mrs Larke had organized the house superbly, ensuring consistency across all the events that could not be matched. Year 8, though, was a different tale. Greville and Brooke were determined to do their house proud. This resulted in Brooke winning several field events and managing to sneak ahead of Greville and win Year 8. Year 9 had records broken across the houses. Guy showed great teamwork to push each other and achieve the 4x100m record. Oken’s house captain called for Year 9 to turn it around, and they certainly listened!

Winning five events meant they surged to a commanding lead.

Finally, Year 10. Tudor has historically dominated this year group and took more records that year. Trying to disrupt this legacy, Leycester were heaving the opposition out of the way with a dominating performance in the Tug of War, but it was Brooke who sprinted past the rest of the pack, winning by 20 points and sending Brooke up the results table! Thank you to Mr Willis and Mr Hancock for organizing such a fantastic morning.

After an action-packed year, the final results for the Cock House Cup were, in reverse order: Tudor; Greville; Oken; Leycester; Guy; and, in first place, Brooke.

Year 9 House Hockey

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PASTORAL & FEATURES

The Boarding Houses

Trip to Go Ape

The boarding houses have wrapped up another eventful year, filled with exciting announcements regarding the future of boarding at Warwick School and throughout the wider Foundation. The year began with the induction of new boarders, a three-day process aimed at helping them settle into both the boarding house and the school. Staff and returning boarders all played a role in this process, with the prefect team leading many activities to assist the new boarders in finding their place.

We have witnessed an increase in the number of weekly boarders across all year groups, with five boys residing with us during the week and returning home on weekends.

Our collaboration with the Royal Springboard Foundation continued this year, welcoming another Lower Sixth student through this programme. This foundation provides opportunities for students from less advantaged backgrounds to attend schools like ours and benefit from the numerous opportunities our students enjoy. Having had three students from this programme, it is evident that not only have they greatly benefited from their time here, but we, as a school and boarding community, have as well.

In response to recent events in Ukraine, we received a request to provide boarding places for students who had been impacted by the turmoil in their country. After navigating delays in paperwork and visa applications, a student from Ukraine joined us at the end of the October half term. Despite the challenges he had faced and his late arrival, he quickly adapted to life at our school and in the boarding house, catching up on all the missed work. To our surprise, he had diligently continued his Ukrainian studies online and even completed his leaver’s exams in the Summer, achieving outstanding results. This remarkable accomplishment led to an invitation to the Ukrainian Embassy in London, where he received his certificate from the Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK. We have been deeply moved by his resilience and are incredibly proud of his remarkable achievements. In September, we will welcome another student from Ukraine to our school community.

I must express my pride for the boys in both houses who have warmly embraced and welcomed these new students from diverse backgrounds, including those from Ukraine and the Royal Springboard Foundation. Their efforts in helping them settle in and feel accepted have been commendable, and both groups have gained valuable insights from each other throughout the year.

Boarders at Warwick Castle

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Spot the photo bombers Furthermore, we have every reason to be proud of our school and foundation for providing support to students like the boys from Ukraine and the Royal Springboard Foundation. This support has only been made possible through the generosity of the wider Warwick Community. The necessary funding for these opportunities comes from legacies and donations contributed by OWs and other individuals. The exceptional work of our Alumni and Development Office in generating these donations deserves special recognition. There is no better use for these funds than enabling those who would not have had the chance otherwise to experience the transformative power of an education at a school like ours. It has undeniably changed the lives of those involved.

PASTORAL & FEATURES For anyone interested in learning more about contributing to these initiatives, please contact our Alumni and Development Office.

Throughout the boarding year, the boys and staff have enjoyed a variety of traditional events, such as Mid-Autumn Festival, Fireworks, Chinese New Year, and the unforgettable Christmas Party Karaoke, where boys and staff compete to impress on the microphone. Who would have guessed that a certain Head of Department possesses a secret passion for Taylor Swift songs and graced us all with his rendition of “Shake It Off,” accompanied by a Theology and Philosophy teacher associated with this publication! This moment will be etched in the memories of those who witnessed it, though not necessarily in a positive way. (Copies of the video are available upon making a generous donation to the Boarding Bursary Fund).

Boarders have enjoyed an extensive selection of activities throughout the year, and we extend our gratitude to Miss Lowe for organising them. Favourites included paintball, laser quest, and go-karting, with return trips to each activity over the course of the year.

The boarders have excelled in all areas of school life, whether in the classroom, concert hall, theatre, or on the sports field. They contribute fully to the school’s vibrant community.

Go-Karting

Boarders Christmas Party

Earlier this year, it was announced that the Foundation, building on the success of boarding at Warwick, would offer boarding for the first time to pupils at our sister school, King’s High School.

Way House, currently home to Year 9 and 10 boarders from Warwick School, will become a Sixth Form boarding house for King’s High pupils, while all Warwick School boarders from various year groups will be housed together for the first time since the reopening of Way House in 2012. To accommodate the additional boys, School House will expand into the former Head Master’s house. Work on this expansion and the refurbishment of both houses will take place over the summer holiday to be ready for the start of the new academic year in September.

Mr Broadley and Miss Lowe will continue their outstanding work in Way House. They have been joined by Miss Chima from King’s High School, and together they will care for the Sixth Form girls joining us. Dr Hodskinson has moved to School House to join the team there as the number of boys in the house increases.

Although the education of the girls and boys will remain separate, the boarding family will embrace both communities. They will dine together, share the use of our school’s excellent facilities, and participate in activities and numerous events held throughout the year.

Boarding and the boarders have always played a significant role in the life of Warwick School, and I have no doubt that King’s High will experience the same benefits with the introduction of boarding. Lastly, a huge thank you to the boarding community, including the boys, resident staff, matrons, support staff, and the countless individuals across the Foundation who contribute to the success of boarding. Their collective efforts make my role the best in the Foundation.

DCB Basketball match against LGS

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PASTORAL & FEATURES

The Sixth Form Year The academic year was overshadowed by the tragic loss of Arun Dhir, a student in the Upper Sixth. His passing deeply impacted the Sixth Form and the wider school community. Despite the sorrow, the entire Sixth Form came together, supporting one another and forging strong friendships that helped them navigate through the year.

The Lower Sixth boys, after overcoming the challenges of their GCSE exams, have excelled throughout the academic year.

Embracing their newfound freedom and academic independence in the Sixth Form, they have shown tremendous growth and adaptability, distancing themselves from the constraints imposed

by COVID-19 during Years 9 and 10. Naturally, there were initial challenges with private study, as many boys had to adjust their study habits to meet the demands of A-Level coursework.

However, through perseverance and stoicism, the Lower Sixth boys have successfully adapted to the rigorous pace of Sixth Form life. The Upper Sixth boys, fresh from their achievements in the previous year, demonstrated resilience and camaraderie as they supported one another through the challenges of their final year at Warwick School.

The academic achievements of the Sixth Formers were cause for celebration, with several students exemplifying the school values of curiosity and creativity. Notably, nine Oxbridge offers were received across various subjects such as Material Sciences, Music, Chemistry, History, French, and Philosophy. Furthermore, many students received offers from esteemed institutions like UCL, Durham, Bristol, Bath, Warwick, and Exeter, pursuing fields like Medicine, Law, Economics, Politics, and the sciences. The recognition of academic enrichment was accompanied by the presentation of Mulley ties and bowties, as well as Floreat Diplomas. Additionally, outstanding performance in the Lower Sixth examinations sets a positive foundation for the upcoming crucial exams. The Sixth Form pupils also showcased their

abilities in the Chemistry Olympiad and the Maths Challenge, earning gold, silver, and bronze awards. Notably, the Upper Sixth displayed remarkable progress in their second set of mocks, instilling hope for favourable exam results.

The year was filled with notable highlights, including the boys’ performances in Jesus Christ Superstar and other productions organized by the Drama department, such as Phaedra and Oklahoma. Students also took advantage of various trips, including visits to the British Library, the Tempest, the Gatsby Experience, as well as trips related to English, History, Politics, paintballing, the hockey tour to Holland, rugby pre-season in Snowdonia, and a post-season tour in South Africa. These diverse trips exemplify the richness and variety of Sixth Form life at Warwick School.

Additionally, Thomas Macro was appointed as Head of School, succeeding Joshua Turner, and will be supported by James Knight (Wellbeing), Noah Saxton (Pupil Voice), and Oliver McGinnity (Duties), forming the new Senior Prefects group. Congratulations are extended to these boys for their appointments, which reflect their esteemed status among their peers and their exemplary conduct throughout the year. Similar congratulations are extended to the new House Captains: Locky Brown (Brooke), Freddy Wallis (Greville), Barnaby Pidler (Guy), Karam Dosanjh (Leycester), Kane Cuming (Oken), and Will Dodsworth (Tudor), who will provide valuable support to the Heads of House in the upcoming year.

Lastly, heartfelt appreciation is expressed to Joshua Turner, the outgoing senior prefect team, and all other prefects for their tireless dedication to the school community.

Overall, it has been remarkable to witness the growth and maturity of the Lower and Upper Sixth boys throughout the year.

They have proven themselves as exceptional leaders and role models.

KAP, CTB, MGLC, KT

This year’s Upper Sixth

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PASTORAL & FEATURES

Sixth Form Team

PREFECTS 2022 – 2023 Senior Team:

Head Boy: Josh Turner Pupil Voice: Ben Bell-Thorn Wellbeing: Will Cherry Duties: Cameron Collie

Heads of House:

Brooke: Max Blinkhorn Greville: Toby Atherton Guy: Oliver Johnson Leycester: Cian Gerber Oken: Harry Williams Tudor: Joseph Lawson

Pupil Voice

Anti-Racism: Taha Elamin Anti-Bullying: Samuel Littell Mental Health: Toby Hawkins Gender Equality: Daniel Martlew Diversity: Alex Dean Green Team: Henry Underhill Catering: Atticus Walton-Hayfield Charities: Nathan Tsgaye Teaching and Learning: Joshua Dillon Sixth Form: Chair: Tom Bosworth

Chapel: Paul Cooley

Boarding: Christopher Leung and Alexander Lau Year 7 Peer Support

Brooke: Kenzo Ward, Freddie Ackerman Greville: Francis Betts, Noah Mauchlen Guy: Rajan Hayer, Sam Jordan Leycester: Rodrigo Acuero Cuñado, Louis McAuliffe Oken: George Topping, Methusan Jeyakantharaja Tudor: Will Richardson, Arunjeet Bassi

Lower Sixth at paintballing

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PASTORAL & FEATURES

‘BEYOND THE CURRICULUM’: INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING In preparing our pupils for the ever-changing workplace, we want to encourage them to think beyond the siloed nature of traditional education and develop interdisciplinary thinking, which is increasingly valued by employers. This year, we have offered a range of opportunities to Warwick School pupils to allow them to think beyond the curriculum.

Lower Sixth Interdisciplinary Conference

In June, we worked with LIS (London Interdisciplinary School), a new university described as “the most radical new university in decades” (The Times). They offer degree courses that aim to solve problems through an interdisciplinary lens, rather than studying discrete subjects, and they have helped us design and implement a day of thinking about ‘inequality’ from a range of different approaches.

As part of the day, the pupils had sessions with representatives from the university, as well as discrete lectures from some of our own academic staff. At the end of the day, they had the opportunity to make a podcast on the topic of their choosing in small groups. Lectures were offered on subjects as diverse as epistemic inequality, psychological bias, and data science.

Students were challenged with questions about whether access to the arts is the preserve of the minority and whether the oppression of minority languages in certain countries prevents access to education.

At the end of the day, students recorded blogs and podcasts on a theme of their choice, using interdisciplinary thinking. Groups chose topics such as ‘how could we work to prevent language being a barrier to accessing health education?’ and ‘how far is housing cost a barrier to good education in the UK?’ The winning blog was on the theme of how racial inequality affects access to maternity healthcare and was by L6th students Hari Goodman, Leon Gee, Thuwaaragan Vivekananthan, Nirojan Jeyaseelan, and Barnaby Ducker. The winning podcast was on infrastructural inequality in the UK and was by Ollie Pitchers, William Dodsworth, Elliott Smith, and Harvey Wilson. Both groups will be invited to LIS to present to the university and their business partners.

Lower Sixth conference

Year 10 Sustainability Conference

We also worked with VW to consider sustainable solutions to problems around the school site. Alongside demonstrations of electric cars and discussions around air pollution and climate change, pupils were able to look under the bonnet of the latest models and use their research to consider ideas for real change on our site. Judged by our Foundation Bursar, Victoria Espley, the winners were named as Charlie Buckley, Theo Holland, Nathaniel Joshi, James Leeson, and Tom Harland.

Year 10 Sustainability Conference

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PASTORAL & FEATURES Year 8 Future Tech Project

Inspired by the 1977 Voyager mission where a Golden Disk was launched into space that contained sounds and images representative of life on Earth, the Year 8 students undertook a 2023 version of this project.

In our project, the boys learned about the physics involved in rocket design and made their own artefacts.

The boys analysed and plotted the time of flight from telemetry data, as well as recording their own data from simulated flights. In Computing, pupils explored how current computer technology could be used to encode and transmit messages over time and space.

As well as considering some of the ethical questions surrounding space travel, the pupils also had the opportunity to delve further into the cultural decisions that went into the original Golden Disk and created their own Platinum Disk, considering what music and images they would use to represent 2023 to other life forms.

Year 8 Future Tech Project

The eventual winners were Eddie DuBois, Will Harris, Daniel Cashman, and Arlo Stokes.

Year 7 Eco Project

Inspired by a local field trip visit to St Nicholas Park in June to explore the more common and unusual tree species adjacent to our school site, Year 7 embarked on a cross-curricular ecoproject looking at different aspects of trees. In Art, the students created giant tree rings made up of bespoke wooden stampers they carved. In English, the students used stimulus from the field trip to craft poetry and short stories based around trees and wildlife.

In Biology, the students delved into vital concepts such as biodiversity and the growing conditions for trees. In Geography, the students explored concepts such as deforestation and reforestation in relation to local woodland impacted by HS2.

Equipped with a wealth of information, the students then embarked on the collaborative group work nature of the project, crafting their own research question into a variety of areas, including biorights, the British Oak, trees in modern society, and deforestation in

Borneo. The students displayed core skills including intellectual curiosity, resilience, and responsibility to create their research projects. Moreover, in Drama lessons, the students worked on vital presentation skills, including pace, tone, and body language, to prepare for the presentation event. This work was showcased in the Halse Pavilion at the end of the summer term. At the far end of the venue, the bespoke tree rings were illuminated with green lights, forming a prominent focus for the showcase. Guests from the Heart of England Woodland Trust and local tree experts attended, as well as over 100 parents, to help judge the best work.

The eventual winners were: 1st place: Ben Beckingsale, Jamie Dewhirst, Bruno EdgingtonGibson, Arthur Hayton, Shiv Vitish, Jude Woodbridge 2nd place: Sebbie Broughton, Percy Crow, Harry Fawdry-Jeffries, Harry Hanbury, William Jarratt, Monty Nash, Jude Newey-Keane 3rd place: Marcus Dale, George Keating, Finn Rieder-Wood, Ollie Scott-Brown, Aeron Somasundaram.

KJW

Year 7 Eco Project

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e h t m o r F

Archivist Royal V isits Through the Ages

TO CELEBRATE THE CORONATION OF HM KING CHARLES III

T

he highly successful visits to the school of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1958, and of HRH Prince Charles in 2014, should, perhaps, be set in the context of previous and subsequent Royal visits – or almost visits, or near misses.

Queen Elizabeth I visited Warwick in 1572, and was told that her father, King Henry VIII, had endowed the town (in 1545) and had provided for “a skolemaister for the bringing up of youth in learning and vertu”. The premises occupied by the school at this time were undoubtedly at what is now called the Lord Leycester Hospital – the boys would certainly have been released to visit and cheer the Queen, but there is no record that she set foot in the school.

Moving forward several hundred years, there are two successive entries in the Master’s Book (Vol II) dating from the late 19th century: Tomorrow at the request of the Earl of Warwick, a whole holiday will be granted to the school in honour of the visit of HRH the Prince of Wales.

May 16th 1895 J. P. Way HRH the Prince of Wales has requested me to grant a holiday to the whole school in honour of his visit. I need not say that such a request comes to me as a command. There will, therefore, be no school today. The Prince passes the school on his way to Leamington Station about 2.15 this afternoon. I must ask the whole school to be present at the gates and to give him a hearty cheer.

May 20th 1895 J. P. Way

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1953 Coronation

FROM THE ARCHIVIST Perhaps the school got two whole-day holidays out of this visit – and, perhaps, Rev. Way was hoping for more than just a drive-past. It was rather naughty of the present archivist to suggest, live on BBC local radio on the occasion of Prince Charles’ visit, that maybe the future King Edward VII passed this way more than once, on account of his mistress at the time being Daisy, Countess of Warwick. Jane Ridley, in her biography of Edward VII (called simply Bertie), mentions “Daisy Days” – marked with a reverse D in the Prince’s diary. She states that the May 1895 visit was Bertie’s first visit to Warwick Castle, but also that there were around 40 such Daisy Days in 1895 and 1896. It would seem the affair had fizzled out by 1898.

Prince George, Duke of Cambridge (1819 – 1904) visited Warwick Castle on 30th November 1896, and the new headmaster, Rev. Robert Percival Brown, breathlessly advised the school that “a whole holiday” would be granted “on the intercession of HRH the Duke of Cambridge, who is staying at Warwick Castle” that day.

The November 1958 visit by the Queen Mother to Warwick School was a triumph of minute-by-minute organisation.

Headmaster A. H. B. Bishop had been rather surprised to be telephoned months beforehand, advising him that the Queen Mother was going to open the new Shire Hall on that day, and did he have an idea of what she could do if she also visited Warwick School? Off the cuff, he said that she could open the new school gates – and that was the first time he had thought of the idea.

The old ones had been donated for scrap to help the war effort in the 1940s. The school was in a messy state at the time, and oddlyplaced groups of boys were delegated to screen building work, and also piles of coal. The Queen Mother saw through this, of course, but pictures of the event show magnificently straight lines of CCF boys – and virtually every lady attending the event wearing a hat. She did, indeed, open the new school gates (through which her grandson, Prince Charles, was driven 56 years later) and walked through Big School (now the Pyne Room) where staff wives and children were placed. At one point she handed her flowers to the headmaster and signed the brand new autograph book, costing £4 4s (or 4 guineas, worth about £90 in modern values), which had been specially purchased for the occasion –

1990s Princess Anne planting a tree

and subsequently hidden away for the next 44 years. She was also conducted briefly to the chapel, the gym and the chemistry lecture room in the new 1957 science block, where a high-voltage Tesla coil (properly called a Ruhmkorff coil) was used to illuminate gas-discharge lamps. Parts of the visit were filmed by the physics technician, Lt Col P. N. G. Whitlam, and his film was used as the basis of a Midlands Today programme in 2003.

In 1990 Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, visited Warwick Preparatory School, aka The Squirrels. On July 5th of that year the Princess Royal opened the Science, Technology and Art building, named The Hogan Centre, after the former headmistress. It was

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FROM THE ARCHIVIST

HRH Prince Charles signing the autograph book fitting that Mrs D. V. Hogan was able to attend the ceremony in person and she, and many others, were presented to the Princess. Jean Field (in Acorns, Oaks and Squirrels) also notes: “During the tour of the school the Princess Royal visited the Nursery where the children were engaged in a range of interesting activities.”

What happened at Warwick School at the same time as her visit is fondly remembered by many: boys working on the then school hovercraft in the brick shed on the school field set fire to some petrol. The accusation that the boys were smoking in the shed is hotly disputed by those who were present, needless to say.

However, the ensuing minor fire initiated the most spectacular response from Princess Anne’s security personnel – it was only 16 years previously that the Princess had survived an assassination and kidnap attempt in Pall Mall, after all.

The Princess Royal rounded off her visit with a planting of a tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), at the time in a piece of lawn, but which was later turned into a playground. Perhaps it was the knowledge that this species could have grown to over 32m in height, or, more likely, that it was in the way of the possible expansion in the number of buildings at the Prep School, that it was felled around 2018.

Tree felling, and tree planting, goes on all the time, needless to say. We have lost a couple of historic trees recently – one of The Limes, planted to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887 was found to be in a dangerous state a few years ago, and we also lost a Hubei Crab “of national importance” dating, presumably, from 1879, from the far corner of the former headmaster’s garden. They have been replaced, albeit not directly, by a Cedar of Lebanon – which should last a good few hundred years - planted in the corner of the playing fields near the Toll-House to welcome King’s High to the Warwick

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School campus, and three grafted surviving Victorian apple trees, formerly growing by the side of the old Guy Nelson Hall and which were re-planted along the Myton Road frontage in 2021.

HRH Prince Charles helped Warwick School to celebrate its (alleged) 1,100th anniversary in June 2014 by signing the autograph book, hearing the chapel choir sing Parry’s “I was Glad” (which was sung, of course, at his own Coronation in 2023), observing a physics lesson, unveiling a plaque and by addressing the whole school, which was gathered in front of the Halse Pavilion.

There was a curious parallel between the Queen Mother’s visit in 1958 and Prince Charles’ in connection with the signing of the autograph book. Headmaster A. H. B. Bishop had purchased a Georgian inkwell, and equipped it with a feather pen, for the Queen Mother – but she declined to use it. That (unused) inkwell was kindly presented to the school by Bishop’s daughter in 2013. In 2014 the author proffered a very fine pen (Mont Blanc, if you must know) to Prince Charles, but he, too, produced his own, maintaining that it contained “permanent ink”. A sequel to this event occurred at Hillsborough Castle in September 2022, when the new King’s pen leaked and he was filmed getting visibly irritated signing the Visitors’ Book there.

The Princess Royal’s visit on 5th November 2021 was not confined to Warwick School. Far from it – a wide range of local community organisations and schools was assembled in Warwick Hall for her to engage with, and she toured some of the new buildings of King’s High School, which marked the completion of “Project One Campus”. To round off her visit, therefore, she unveiled a plaque marking this completion. It remains, however, true that Warwick School has never had a visit from a reigning monarch.

G. N. Frykman (Warwick School Archivist) May 2023

Sportcullis

RUGBY

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Squad: R. Acero Cuñado, T. Atherton, R. Beaumont, B. Bell-Thorn, M. Blinkhorn (vice capt), R. Brown, B. Bryan, C. Collie (capt), A. Everett, C. Gerber, E. Green, E. Jones, H. Jones, J. Line, O. McGinnity, O. Melville, A. Naylor, J. Selley, R. Thomas, A. Thompson, J. Tomlinson, F. Wallis, C. Whorrod, W. Wilkinson, H. Williams, A. Wintle, J. Yates After the previous years of cancelled tours, the season finally returned to begin with a summer rugby tour. The team might not have made it down to the southern hemisphere, but North Wales would provide the platform for a pre-season training that would set the tone of hard work for the rest of the season. Time was filled with climbing mountains, swimming in the sea, and watching a local rugby league match with the week culminating in a brilliant match against locals Coleg Llandrillo. This preparation came to the forefront as the 1st XV began their cup run against Rugby School in late September, who had knocked us out the previous year. Three tries down with 10 minutes to go, it looked as though Rugby were going to do the double. However, this year’s team were different. Warwick scored the three tries we needed, with the final try through a rumbling maul.

The Warwick scoreboard would become very thankful for it as the season went on. However, the boys’ goals of getting back on that Twickenham patch fell at the next hurdle in the form of this year’s winner, Oakham. An excellent first 55 minutes from the team kept Warwick closer than any opposition had come since, but a late flurry of tries for Oakham left that Twickenham goal unfulfilled.

The 1st XV came back from the half-term break with new targets.

First up was an unbeaten Bedford team whose winning record was ruined after an outstanding performance from the team. Next up was a Stamford team who frankly embarrassed us last year. Not this year, however a 20-10 victory made for some sweet revenge. When asked about which game they would choose to have again, the reply, “Sedbergh,” is high up that list. 10-0 up at halftime and some resounding defence left us at the same 10-point margin with ten minutes to play. Sadly, it was not to be the upset of the season, and the boys came up short, losing 21-10.

After Christmas, a few of the team would leave to represent their academies, but the 1st XV continued to motor on. An unbeaten spell would follow in the new year, including a resounding 43-5 win over rivals NSB, as well as a hat-trick for the maul in a 24-17 win away against Sir Thomas Rich. The season culminated in a fixture against national cup semi-finalist Finborough, and the boys put on a performance to be proud of. A final score of 31-3 showed the quality this team had, and how, had a few things gone differently, the team was not far off a record-breaking season. Instead, it was a season of just falling short. Yet nevertheless, a 70%-win percentage and a strong positive points difference will ensure the 1st XV of 2022/23 are remembered for years to come.

As usual, Warwick began their assault on the national sevens competitions after the half-term break. It all began with a brilliant session with OW and Ex-England Sevens star Charlie Hayter, where the boys quickly shifted mindsets away from the fifteen-a-side game, although the squad couldn’t let go of their rolling maul, as Monmouth would fall victim to during the Solihull Sevens. However, the tournaments began away at KES Stratford, where defeat in the final stung that bit more as the boys watched Bromsgrove lift the cup.

It was a valiant effort for the first tournament, nonetheless.

Next up was the Solihull Sevens, where the team topped the group, scoring 118 points in just three games whilst conceding just seven.

A quarter-final victory against familiar faces Coleg Llandrillo left Warwick with Denstone in the semi-final. A disappointing performance from the team meant we left without silverware, losing again to the team who would go on to win the tournament. Warwick then sent an Under 17 team over to King’s Worcester to gain some vital experience.

The final tournament of the year would be Rosslyn Park. The boys immediately made it a challenging task after a slow start and a loss to The Perse. However, they quickly found their feet, winning 34-5 against Campion School, Essex. Going into the final game, the boys knew a big score was needed to progress to day 2. Shawnigan Lake was the opposition, and the boys took centre stage on RE1 putting in a mighty performance winning 35-0 in front of a big crowd and a big YouTube audience. Yet, it was not enough, and the boys made an early exit on the field but had created some brilliant memories to take with them.

A final thanks to our coaches, Mr Venter and Mr Pierce for their tireless efforts, our parents for their help and all those current pupils or OWs who have come out to support us this season it is really appreciated.

C. Collie (1 st XV Captain)

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SPORTCULLIS

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Squad: M. Adlington, S. Asharia, J. Bahia, R. Brown, B. Bryan, L. Chapman, T. Denton, J. Dow, A. Everett, H. Fifield, E. Freeman, H. Goodrem, E. Green, T. Hawkins, J. Hewett, C. Higgins, F. Hurley, J. Lawson, N. Mauchlen, O. Nicklin, W. Osborne, T. Sarson-Hirst, A. Singh Paneser, J. Singh-Mann, E. Smith, A. Thompson, J. Tomlinson Despite losing many players at the end of last season and the cancellation of a considerable number of matches due to inclement weather, the 2022-2023 rugby season proved to be another very rewarding and successful one for the Warwick School 2nd XV rugby squad, with many matches against highquality rugby sides, including some 1st XV teams. The wonderful addition of Mr Hurst to the coaching team meant that the boys were well-drilled and well-prepared before every match. As always, there were moments in the season that left the boys pondering the inevitable ‘what if…’. Despite this, given the changes that any 2nd XV side will face during the course of a season, with players moving up to the 1st XV and the inevitable injuries that ensue as the season progresses, it was an admirable feat that the squad put in the performances it did. This is largely down to the highly talented group that made up the core of the 2nd XV, the coaching of Mr Hurst, and a wonderful team spirit.

Highlights of the season include fantastic wins at home against Whitgift at the very start to the season, Stamford School, local rivals Solihull School and Sedbergh School. The latter was particularly special as it was a very close contest, with the 2nd XV eventually emerging as 8-7 winners. Another highlight was the away victory over NSB, in which the boys’ backs were against the wall for the vast majority of the match and the 2nd XV only had possession of the ball for approximately four minutes in the second half. Indeed, that particular result added credence of the old adage “defence wins games!” The aforementioned matches represented the boys at their best as they demonstrated excellent work rate and intensity, as well as playing some superb rugby. As with any season, there are lessons learned after particularly difficult defeats, as well as suffering defeats that are agonisingly close. In relation to the former, the 2nd XV suffered a chastening defeat away to Magdalen College School, Oxford 35-0. In relation to the latter, the away defeat to Rugby School proved to be a real nail-biter of a match, with the only difference between the two sides being Warwick’s indiscipline.

Apart from the results, particular high points were the ability to grind out wins against the odds, but also the wonderful and infectious team spirit created by the boys, which in turn generated a culture of positivity and a belief within the 2nd XV that they could mix it with the best teams out there. With a number of the boys leaving to go to university, it is hoped that they enjoyed their last season as a rugby player for the school. Regarding the boys who were new to the squad this year, it is hoped that their first taste of senior rugby has been a source of enjoyment for them.

Particular mention should go to Noah Mauchlen and Joe Lawson, both of whom were outstanding in their respective ‘elder statesmen’ roles throughout the season. Other notable mentions must go to Monty Adlington, who displayed excellent leadership qualities, James Tomlinson, who consistently demonstrated his ability to marshal the side, and Freddie Hurley, whose work rate was a joy.

Overall, every boy who represented the 2nd XV should be proud of his efforts this year in terms of the results, performances, and the team spirit that they created during the season.

CTB

122 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3

3rd XV P

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12

11

0

1

Squad: J. Bahia, C. Butt, G. Chamberlain, J. Clifton, S. Deans, W. Dodsworth, H. Freeman, T. Hawkins, C. Higgins, A. Jones, A. Khalil, S. Laycock, E. Leung, J. Liu, O. Malby, F. MacKinlay, W. Richardson, J. Robbins, W. Sheehan, E. Smith, H. Stanton, K. Ward, K. White A magnificent season defined by victories in all Saturday fixtures against traditional rivals such as Berkhamsted, Stamford, Rugby, and Bedford, with the highlight being a 24 – 17 victory over Sedbergh. The team, consisting of a healthy balance of Upper Sixth and Lower Sixth boys, opted to play high risk open rugby, resulting in tries from all distances and delightful gameplay.

Team captain Sam Deans had an outstanding season, showcasing running flair and tactical decision-making beyond his years. He was ably supported by vice-captain Toby Hawkins, who wisely directed the efforts of the pack. Marauding back-row player Greg Chamberlain and tearaway winger James Clifton were also notable players, along with Braveheart scrum half and the player of the season, Kenzo Ward. The team was blessed to have a group of enthusiastic Lower Sixth boys who brought energy,

SPORTCULLIS

3rd and 4th XV

U16A

enthusiasm, and a refreshing high work rate, epitomised by the tireless Duracell open-side wing forward, Kristian White, and the runaway second row, Joss Robbins, who became the team’s top try-scorer. Other vital ingredients were added by the tough-asteak Elliot Smith, the directness of hooker Edlin Leung, and top team points scorer Fraser MacKinlay with five tries and twentythree conversions. The season’s most improved player was Ali Khalil, whose trademark drives at close quarters constantly created the attacking options for others to thrive on. It was a season to remember, and well done to all the boys for their efforts and commitment.

J. Williamson

4th XV P

W

D

L

6

6

0

0

Squad: D. Atkinson, L. Brown, B. Coane, J. Fennelly, H. Fifield, H. Flint, O. Hood, T. Islam, S. Jordan, O. Magraw, F. Malia, J. Penfold, J. Playdon, F. Roberts, D. Robson, A. Sahota, R. Snelson, E. Trend, H. Wilson The 4th XV had the best season for well over a decade.

Berkhamsted School was the first victim, and from there onwards, the team went from strength to strength. Further victories over Stamford, Bedford, Sibford, Rugby, and KES Birmingham cemented this team’s place in history.

The team combined the experience of Upper Sixth boys, notably Jack Fennelly, Sam Jordan, Freddie Roberts, with the enthusiasm of Lower Sixth players like Harry Freeman and Will Sheehan, who were quickly promoted to the third team. Jack Fennelly, the top try-scorer and captain, was named the player of the season, and the giant second row player, Hugo Fifield, became the most improved player. It has been a pleasure to be part of coaching these players, and I hope that they will continue to find enjoyment in the game.

ENL

P

W

D

L

16

11

1

4

Squad: R. Bhanji, W. Callender, H. Cardona, J. Carless, E. Caven, M. Challis, M. Dillon, T. Dunning, J. Field, F. Henry, M. Malpass, S. Martin, M. Mendia, D. Oliver, S. Perez, S. Price, T. Quinn, W. Rickett, J. Simpson, M. Spencer, F. Spiewakowski, O. Tomlinson, F. Turner, J. Turner, A. Yuan The 2022-23 U16As have proved themselves to be a tough and dogged team who have worked hard for each other throughout the season. The season itself can only be described as a roller-coaster ride, with highs and lows throughout the year. It started with a tour to Snowdonia, which posed a great challenge for many of the boys.

They worked hard both in training and during the extra-curricular activities such as swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, pump track cycling, skateboarding, and the Ninja Warrior course. The highlight of the tour was a highly competitive game against RGC rugby academy to finish it off.

We had some fantastic wins against Whitgift and Millfield earlier in the regular season, which almost allowed us to go through the entire first half term unbeaten. However, a tough Stamford side proved to be our undoing, followed by a disappointing draw against Bedford and a tough trip to Sedbergh. The challenge against one of the strongest schools in the country was made even harder with a number of injuries in the backs. This led to some creative substitutions and a need for a big dose of Warwick fighting spirit. The boys’ attitude in that game, to take it to the opposition for the whole game, will stay with me for some time.

The roller coaster continued into the second half of the season and into the 7s season, but the boys never backed down from a challenge. They kept working hard in training and made great strides in their skills and game understanding.

Once again, a number of players were selected to train with either Midlands Central or Midlands West Academies or DPP groups, as well as having player involvements in Exiles Pathways.

Congratulations to all those boys whose performances have merited these selections. I hope this group continues to work hard and develop as they move in the 1st XV squad over the coming seasons.

DJH

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U16B

U15A

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

10

6

0

4

12

10

0

2

Squad: T. Beresford, W. Callender, J. Carless, M. Challis, S. Cockburn-Miller, T. Cooper, R. Court, I. Crow, M. Gill, A. Hargett, S. Kitchen, R. Maclagan, M. Malpass, J. Marlin, R. Moir, T. Mordue, S. Perez, B. Rankin, C. Ridley, W. Robson, T. Smeeton, M. Spencer, R. Taylor, T. Thomas, A. Tibbetts, O. Walmsley-Jones, N. Wilson, Z. Wilson The 16Bs enjoyed a successful season, finishing with a hardfought winning record. Their strength lay in their aggressive defence, which had the capacity to both absorb pressure and force turnovers in dangerous areas. This was exemplified

by Sebastian Perez, who had an outstanding season at the 12 position, particularly in forcing turnovers and stifling the opposition’s attack at its source. Our two best results were against Magdalen College School’s 16As, which went right down to the wire until a late score allowed Warwick to pull away as 36-26 winners, and against Stamford, where we broke their multi-year unbeaten run as the 16Bs systematically wore down the opposition to secure a victory. Ned Wilson led the team and showed great poise under pressure at 10, while William Callender also had a wonderful season and served as the team’s release valve on the wing, scoring a number of crucial and beautiful tries. There were also disappointments and challenging moments, particularly Anthony Hargett’s injury, which ended his season he had been playing so well.

However, overall, I will always remember the physicality which this team played, which should see them transition well into senior rugby.

PMW

Their strength lay in their aggressive defence, which had the capacity to both absorb pressure and force turnovers in dangerous areas.

U16C P

W

D

L

3

0

0

3

Squad: T. Bailey, J. Critchlow, I. Crow, G. Dhillon, F. Fellows, D. Ismail, A. Kadone-Nzama, H. Kennedy, E. Lawrence, J. Marlin, T. Mordue, F. Moody, I. Papathomas, H. Peckmore, W. Prince, T. Stanley, E. Wheals Due to a lack of player availability this season, the U16C season was rather truncated, with only three matches played, resulting in three losses. The home game against MCS Oxford was an entertaining affair, with Henry Peckmore’s physical presence acting as a real wrecking ball. The match was also notable for the red card given to Daniyal Ismail for punching. Despite the outcome, the pack gave their all, and the leadership of Amile Kadone-Nzama was impressive.

OROB

124 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3

Squad: O. Anderson, C. Beard, B. Braine, I. Budd, T. Cole, J. Curley, A. Goodrem, F. Gravenor, R. Hurley, T. Jennings, H. Magraw, S. Morris, O. Olomolaiye, T. Patrick, W. Payton, J. Schofield, T. Selby, R. Sissins-Roffey, J. Townsend, N. Stevens, B. Thurston-Thorpe, A. Watson, T. Whorrod This season witnessed significant progress from the group. It didn’t take the boys long to realise that with hard work and a more physical edge, they could pose many problems for their opponents.

This was evident in the first few games, including a resounding 40-0 victory against Stowe School and a 45-10 win against Berkhamsted.

However, we knew that tougher tests would lie ahead.

SPORTCULLIS With the National Cup approaching, the forward pack worked hard in training to provide front foot ball in attack. Captain Benjie Braine, Hector Magraw, Tom Selby, Ben Thurston-Thorpe and Seb Morris showcased dynamic ball-carrying abilities, enabling the team to play at a faster tempo and forcing opposition defences to become narrow. This opened up opportunities for our threatening backs, including Ned Stevens, Oscar Anderson, Seun Olomolaiye, Will Payton, Tolly Patrick, Isaac Budd, and Archie Goodrem, all of whom scored multiple times.

I think the fixtures against Bedford School and Sedbergh School in November were pivotal to our later successes. The Bedford fixture was a tightly contested affair, and the team managed to secure a 19-18 victory – a game they previously might have lost.

The confidence gained from this win helped the team start quickly away to Sedbergh, but unfortunately, three late tries prevented a famous victory. Nonetheless, these experiences made the team more battle-hardened, which proved crucial in a tough contest against local opposition, Bromsgrove. Despite a bout of flu affecting the team during the week, determination and resilience led us to a hard-fought 12-10 win.

At this stage of the season, the team had improved in all areas.

Alex Watson, Tommy Cole, Seb Morris and Rupert SissinsRoffey displayed dogged defence, while James Curley, Johnny Schofield, Rafe Hurley, and Charlie Beard showcased powerful mauling skills that made it difficult for opponents to attack. The game management of scrum halves James Townsend and Finn Gravenor, along with the impressive duo of Tom Whorrod and Tom

Jennings, who demonstrated exceptional distribution and game understanding, were instrumental to our success.

The team’s ‘whole team’ performances were evident in the NatWest Cup wins against Oakham School (41-12) and QEGS Wakefield (31-20), where the team negated the physical threats of the opposition and were clinical in their execution in attack.

This set up a semi-final match up with NSB at Aylesbury RFC. Unfortunately, this was a tough experience against a physically huge and well drilled side, who would go on to become the overall winners. However, I have no doubt that the experience gained will benefit the players moving forward.

It has been a pleasure to coach such a fantastic group, and with the unwavering support from their families, I look forward to watching them flourish in the coming years.

CTM

It has been a pleasure to coach such a fantastic group, and with the unwavering support from their families, I look forward to watching them flourish in the coming years.

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U15B

U15D

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

11

7

0

4

2

1

0

1

Squad: B. Ainsworth, J. Albrighton, M. Bolam, S. Bostock, I. Budd, J. Bull, N. Byrne, H. Clarke, T. Cooper, H. Drake, T. Ehsan, E. Gloster, A. Goodrem, Z. Haigh, J. Henchley, C. Lawson, F. McCombe, J. Moreton, A. Nash, A. Patchett, A. Richards, A. Sagoo, W. Shepstone, R. Sissins-Roffey, J. Taylor, I. Turner, L. Valentine, A. Wadland, O. Watson, G. Westrope, G. Williams The U15Bs had a fantastic season, and although the end-ofseason stats show that they played eleven games, won seven and lost four, all four of those losses came against A teams.

The season began with a strong performance away against Berkhamsted, resulting in a 31-12 victory. However, a loss to King Edward School Fiveways A’s helped the team identify the areas that needed improvement and served as a valuable lesson.

This loss led to increased focus during training, and the results followed suit. The most notable win came against Bedford School in a tough 11-5 victory. Prior to this game, Bedford were unbeaten in the previous three and a half seasons. The victory against NSB also required a huge defensive effort, with dogged try-line defence repelling NSB in the last play. The character shown by the team continued with resounding wins against tough opponents such as Sir Thomas Rich’s and Rugby School.

Throughout the season, this team have been hardworking, eager to learn, and a pleasure to coach. I look forward to seeing them develop as rugby players and as continue to make progress as a team next season.

Squad: K. Chohan, P. Davies, A. Digby, E. Evans, H. Gibbs, G. Hockaday, T. Holland, A. Kang, X. Li, C. Mee, S. Owen, S. Phillips, S. Sateeskumar, L. Smith, F. Swain, I. Thandi, S. Thomas, A. Ting, J. Tsui, H. Waters, J. Zhen The U15Ds had a somewhat frustrating season, with more than half of the matches being cancelled. However, the boys still showed great dedication by turning up in great numbers for our tri-nations internal series of matches in November. Even in the dark of winter, several boys still attended after-school practices, and many of the players regularly represented the U15C team during the season.

The stand-out moment of the season was a fantastic display away to Berkhamsted, where Sevvon Sateeskumar scored two tries while playing on the wing. In the backline, Harvey Gibbs, Edward Evans, and Xuanlin Li were excellent that day, while Theo Holland put in a terrific performance at scrum half, and Andrew Digby was combative at hooker. Even in the defeat to Rugby School, when over half the team were absent due to a a virus, George Hockaday put in a heroic defensive performance, holding their players up over the line on three separate occasions.

RMHT

S. Conduit

U15C P

W

D

L

10

10

0

0

Squad: S. Bostock, S. Carr, K. Chohan, H. Clarke, H. Edges, H. Gibbs, D. Gill, E. Gloster, Z. Haigh, B. Hampson, H. Hancock, T. Havard, G. Hockaday, L. Hodgson, S. Humphries, A. Kang, N. Lewis, F. McCombe, S. Owen, A. Patchett, H. Perry, A. Sagoo, W. Shepstone, R. Sissins-Roffey, S. Thomas, Z. Varachia, G. Westrope, G. Williams, O. Watson This team have had a truly exceptional season, remaining undefeated for another year. Their dedication to showing up and developing their skill sets at each training session, their desire to play with real ambition no matter the match situation, and their never-say-die attitude have carried us through tough moments. Two matches from the season stand out. The first was against Rugby School, when over half the year was decimated by a virus. Yet, the team, many of whom were still ill and could barely walk in the last ten minutes, somehow conjured a victory from the jaws of defeat. The second was against a Solihull A/B team, where they rallied from being 14-0 down to defeat a side that may have had individual strength and speed advantages but couldn’t withstand their relentless pressure.

126 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3

Their dedication to showing up and developing their skill sets at each training session, their desire to play with real ambition no matter the match situation, and their never-say-die attitude have carried us through tough moments.

There have been a great many standout individual moments, too many to mention them all, but here are a few examples: Harry Clarke’s decision-making and distribution, Ari Patchett’s 50m sprint and tackle to save a certain try against KES Stratford, Dylan Gill’s 50m demolition derby run to score against MCS, and Nick Lewis’s and Zac Varachia’s destructive running against Thomas Rich’s. What a season it has been – absolutely brilliant.

RMHT

SPORTCULLIS

U14A P

W

D

L

14

10

2

2

Squad: H. Askin, E. Bannon, O. Blake, A. Blenkinsop, C. Bryan, R. Caven, C. Cooper, J. Deeley-Tham, G. Din, L. Gillard-Browne, F. Hallings-Pott, M. McLintock, J. Mothersdale, H. Nicklin, W. O’Reilly, N. Paley, G. Pridgeon, P. Shannon, D. Simkiss, T. Simon, K. Trend, T. Widdowson, R. Zhang With the new laws at U14 Rugby, the game changes dramatically, and it is rare to find matches that finish in a draw. Our first match against Berkhamsted managed to go against this, but credit needs to go to the opposition kicker who managed to convert under pressure with the last kick of the game! Determined to go one better, we managed to draw 0-0 away at Sedbergh!

This feat has only ever happened in four other rugby matches in England since the game was created! This team has an incredible attitude to never give up, with three games being won in the last minutes of play, but this attitude was so important in this unique Sedbergh match. The cover defence by Widdowson, Mothersdale and Bannon kept us in the game and stopped Sedbergh line breaks. Trend, Pridgeon, Simon, and Paley kept on flattening defenders, causing Sedbergh to be happy with kicking the ball off the pitch to ensure the game finished tied.

U14B

Blenkinsop, O’Reilly, Nicklin, and Caven will always give their all in defence, chopping attackers, which helped the team register their first-ever win against a powerful NSB side. Simkiss and Zhang have developed dummies to create line breaks and give the team the momentum they need to open up chances for Din, Cooper, and Blake to utilise their speed.

I have been so impressed with the development the boys have achieved this year, and it is down to their commitment.

Askin, Deeley-Tham, and McLintock have stepped up into the A’s seamlessly and all boys in the team have been regularly attending the video analysis, completing individual development plans, and focusing on the feedback given has helped bring on their game. Bryan, Shannon, and GillardBrowne have been key to improving the tactical approach for the team, resulting in us being more effective with our attack and defence. The maul tries scored against Stamford and RGS High Wycombe are specific highlights, showing how important teamwork is to our success. There have been bumps along the way, such as the Rugby or Thomas Rich games but this is important learning for them on how to manage emotions both before and during a match to give themselves the best chance of performing well. Finally, a big thank you to the parents for their co-operation and support this year. I have really enjoyed working with you all.

IW

U14C

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

12

8

0

4

10

9

1

0

Squad: H. Angel, S. Bentall, A. Blenkinsop, C. Cooper, H. Cooper, O. Crow, J. Deeley-Tham, S. Hunt, T. Jaques, G. Larucci, J. Lin, S. Lloyd-Evans, H. Martin, F. McGrory, M. McLintock, G. Oliver, A. Quinn, S. Roberts, S. Sanyal, W. Sayers, X. Sturt, W. Thompson, T. Thurston-Thorpe, T. Widdowson, A. Wilson This season saw 38 different boys play for the U14B team, which shows the depth of talent in this year group. Excellent teamwork has created a cohesive squad mentality that shows on the pitch. Lots of hard work in training and matches saw the team develop an exciting style of play. The backs could execute thrilling moves off the back of solid set pieces provided by the forwards. The scrum rarely conceded yards, and the rolling maul was an effective attacking weapon. Several individuals took on the responsibility of captain, with George Oliver, Harry Cooper, Max McLintock and Joseph Deeley-Tham all stepping up to lead their team. Over the course of the season, the squad has shown great determination, sportsmanship, and growth both on and off the field. During what was a stop-start season due to weatherenforced cancellations, it was clear to see how much the team had developed from the start of the season. Warwick School B teams also have the challenge of taking on other schools’ A teams. This group always stood up to the task and gave their best. They have supported each other through victories and losses and have always shown respect to their opponents.

Special mention must go to Joe Lin, who experienced his firstever season of rugby. There are too many individuals to mention in such a short space, but every player should be proud of their contribution to what was a successful and enjoyable season. And always remember, boys #DBB…!

Squad: R. Badial, M. Bains, A. Charnock, O. Crow, F. Espley, M. Grewal, A. Hughes, B. Humphries, S. Hunt, I. Khan, P. Kidane, H. Martin, T. Parker, B. Pass, L. Potgieter, J. Protherough, R. Sasikumarasarma, E. Seshie, J. West The U14C team enjoyed an unbeaten season, which was not surprising given the depth of talent available. The season opener against Berkhamsted proved to be one of the toughest fixtures of the season, with the squad digging deep to cling on to a slender lead and set the standard for the matches to come. Captain Oliver Crow led the team from scrum half, with the forwards providing quick ball for the backs to exploit gaps in the defence. A special mention goes to Alex Charnock, who always threatened with ball in hand. The back row of Jacob West, George Leaver and James Protherough tackled consistently, while Thomas Parker, Maanav Bains, and the other front-five forwards made the hard yards. As the season progressed, the squad produced many dominant performances, even against some schools’ B teams. The only blemish on the playing record was a frustrating draw against Bedford. The final match of the season saw all the hard work come together, with forwards and backs combining seamlessly in an impressive display of attacking rugby.

GM

J. Simpson

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U14D P

W

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7

4

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3

Squad: Y. Bhyat, E. Cha, E. Chesser, G. Cole, P. Giddons, E. Gorner, M. Heeley, Z. Hesketh, M. Holmes-Turosik, L. Kennedy, P. Kidane, D. Kisiala, C. Lewis, M. Li, K. Liu, T. Papathomas, G. Rayat, J. Sathyanathan, S. Sheung, W. Stevns, T. Van Der Schalk The U14D team played some excellent rugby over a season shortened by weather-related cancellations. The squad can take pride in the effort and determination shown in both victory and defeat, with the highlight of the season being a hard-fought win over local rivals at Rugby School.

While all the boys played with great heart and made improvements throughout the season, special mentions go to Yaseen Bhyat, Edward Chesser, Zak Hesketh, Philemon Kidane, Christopher Lewis, Manson Li, and Wilfred Stevns who all showed great progress in their skills over the season and pushed for selection in the C team.

CGJG

U13A P

W

D

L

20

10

1

9

Squad: L. Balzaretti, J. Budd , D. Cashman, S. Dunning, H. Downes, L. Foster, N. Gambroudes, M. Kelleher, G. Lakhpuri, K. Matthews, H. Pitt, T. Richardson, N. Roberts, S. Scott, T. Tilson, H. Thomas, D. Ward The first fixture against NSB was brilliant. The team really stepped up against a strong opposition. Led by Gobind Lakhpuri and Theo Richardson, the team managed to hold their ground against a barrage of big ball carriers. This marked the first of four difficult challenging matches against NSB throughout the year. Despite the outstanding defensive efforts from top tacklers, Todd Tilson, Noah Roberts, and Sam Dunning, it wasn’t quite enough to prevent further losses against Bedford Prep and Bablake before the Edinburgh tour. However, the team did secure wins against Winchester House, Stamford, and King’s School Worcester. Max Kelleher did a stellar job in play-making, supported by the fancy footwork of the back three, including Henry Downes, Louie Foster, Dominic Ward, Daniel Cashman, and Joel Budd.

The Edinburgh trip really brought the squad together, as they adapted to a new set of rules and some player changes.

Power players such as Seb Scott, Kit Matthews, Daniel Mendia, Raul Ruparellia, and Harrison Newell worked hard to show the Scots how ruthless English Rugby can be! The likes of Jack Thomas, Ralph Evans and Luca Balzaretti brought a faster brand of rugby, showcasing serious skills in the backline.

Despite the team bonding in Scotland, the team suffered a string of losses before Christmas, with four out of five games

128 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3

ending in defeat. However, after Christmas, on the 3G pitch against Berkhamsted, the team showed powerful tackles and carries from Theo Richardson and Harry Pitt. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to thwart the opposition’s ruthless attack.

Great credit to the team for not letting a series of losses affect their effort and intensity. They went on to win four of the final five games of the season, displaying a ‘never give up’ attitude despite the emotional rollercoaster of the season. My highlight of the year was earning the title of ‘Giant Killers’ after defeating NSB at the Caldicott 10-a-side tournament, following three previous defeats earlier in the season.

We had some brilliant individuals involved in the squad this year, many of whom played a lot of their school rugby in the B/C/D teams. Oscar Dunlop, William Ericson, Felix Jenkins, and Dylan Lal were exceptional in the forward pack. Oliver Adams and Felix Davis also delivered great performances in the backs, utilising the skills of their teammates around them.

Special mention goes to Louie Foster, Henry Thomas, and Noah Gambroudes for handling injuries professionally and coming back with even more passion and drive to improve.

Louie Foster scored in every game he played in, while Henry Thomas showcased intense tackling and passing skills comparable to All Blacks player Aaron Smith, as well as making scything runs through defensive lines. Noah became a stalwart of the midfield, carrying hard and using a classic draw and pass dummy move to assist in several excellent tries.

Overall, it was a challenging year with moments of brilliance throughout and a positive record to finish. Well done to all involved, and I look forward to seeing this team perform even better in future seasons.

TB

SPORTCULLIS

U13B

U13D

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

21

15

1

5

7

6

1

0

Squad: O. Adams, H. Angel, J. Budd, S. Clarke, F. Davis, O. Dunlop, W. Ericson, R. Evans, F. Jenkins, O. Jenkins, D. Lal, D. Mendia, J. Neal, H. Newell, T. O’Dell, R. Ruparellia, A. Selby, C. Shalders, J. Thomas, H. Turnell, I. Walton-Hayfield, H. Woods

Squad: A. Baxter, I. Bloor, E. Buller, K. Chaudry, G. Dabinett C. Dillon, Te. Davies, H. Eaton, M. Fincher, J. Ford, E. Gilbey, R. Green, J. Greensmith, M. Hogg, L. Holland, K. Kamalanathan, S. Kan, M. Krauze, X. Li, C. Lovell, I. Mulligan, A. Stokes

It has been a successful season for the 13Bs, where they have demonstrated real skill, passion, and determination. Our ambition was to display an exciting brand of attacking rugby built on a strong foundation in our forward pack, and the season started off with a bang. Winning six out of our first seven matches set us up well for the games ahead. It was fantastic to get back to Edinburgh during the October half term, and we truly made the most of it with an unbeaten run. Visiting the home of Rugby 7’s at Melrose Rugby Club was another highlight.

A home win against Bedford Prep marked the beginning of an exciting and successful season for the U13 ‘D’ team, which has not suffered a single defeat. The boys have played some outstanding rugby, and not many schools can claim to have a ‘D’ team of this calibre, with a significant number of original players ending the season in the ‘C’ and ‘B’ teams.

Two matches really stood out this season. The first match was against Bedford at home, where both teams gave their all, demonstrating bravery, courage, and ambition in abundance.

Throughout the entire 50 minutes played, every single possession was fiercely contested. We managed to hold on for a hard-fought 30-25 victory.

The second match was against the formidable RGS High Wycombe. It was a match that had everything! We found ourselves trailing 25-10 by halftime, seemingly facing defeat.

However, with a resilient and combative attitude, we fought hard to level the scores with one last play remaining. It took determination, composure, and sheer guile to score a matchwinning try in that final play. This victory was well-deserved by the team. It is going to be incredibly exciting watching this team develop over the next few years.

Among the many other incredible individual contributions from the boys, Erran Buller’s immense power carrying the ball forward created space time and time again for our quickest runners, such as Euan Alemi, to race over the try line. However, it has been teamwork that has made the biggest difference to the squad, with special mentions to Teddy Davies, Christian Dillon, and James Ford for their superb encouragement and leadership during their appearances for the team. I look forward to seeing the squad progress even further in coming years.

OJD

MPS

It was great to see boys having opportunities to move up throughout the season, and I am looking forward to seeing many of this squad further develop throughout their time playing rugby at Warwick.

U13C P

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L

12

10

0

2

Squad: E. Alemi, W. Alston, A. Baden, S. Ball, F. Brazil, H. Cannell-Lloyd, R. Cook, L. Court, Ty. Davies, T. Dodsworth, E. Du Bois, O. Featherstone, W. Harris, S. Johnson, B. Kitchen, A. Lawlor, H. Phipps, N. Sandhu, A. Sharp, H. Thomas An enjoyable and successful U13C season was had by all involved, a group of boys who really jelled as a team throughout the season, creating some exciting and memorable rugby not only for the boys themselves but also for the spectators.

The season had it all, with high-scoring wins at home against Stamford, closely contested games against NSB and Bedford Prep, and the squad consistently proved their determination to perform well in the blue and white shirt.

The highlight of the season came on tour, with two lastminute tries to secure the win on Melrose RFC’s first-team pitch.

Although everyone in the squad had an amazing season, there were some outstanding individual performances that really pushed everyone forward. This came from hard running in attack by Harry Turnell, Lucas Court, and Oliver Featherstone, incisive tackling and work rate from Euan Alemi, Fin Brazil and Sebastian Ball, and finally, some excellent finishing by Samuel Johnson and Roman Cook.

It was great to see boys having opportunities to move up throughout the season, and I am looking forward to seeing many of this squad further develop throughout their time playing rugby at Warwick.

ZS

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U12A P

W

D

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14

11

1

2

Squad: B. Balfe, H. Barnes, J. Beaumont, B. Buckle, L. Cooper, T. Gray, E. Grundy, G. Horner, S. Ingram, H. Isbell, H. Jennings, M. Liddington, T. McFall, N. Modi, W. Nock, T. Ollerenshaw, A. Robertson, T. Vitty The 2022/23 season started very positively, with plenty of boys putting their hands up for the A team. This meant that we had five permanent reserves for every game, which is every coach’s dream. The first two games were comfortable wins against Stamford and Winchester House. The boys were showing early signs of the incredible potential they had.

Our first proper test came in a triangular at the Dragon School against Bilton and the Dragon School. We displayed immense defensive discipline and shut down both teams with fantastic line speed, scoring two intercept tries on the day.

As the season progressed, the boys grew in confidence every week, and it showed on the field. George Horner and Archie Robertson led the backs, while Sam Ingram and Henry Jennings took charge upfront against other teams.

Our first big challenge came against a very strong NSB team.

They were incredibly physical and skilful, and after conceding

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three quick tries, our boys were shocked and struggled to regain momentum in the game. It was a tough but important lesson for us. Our boys, who never back down from a challenge, pleaded with me to arrange another game against NSB because they knew the first game was not a fair reflection of their playing ability. We arranged the game, NSB returned, and we fought it out in a fantastic game of rugby, ultimately losing by a much narrower margin. It was a true testament to the fighting spirit of this group.

We took those lessons into our remaining games and played some fantastic rugby, scoring nearly 150 points against RGS High Wycombe, RGS Worcester and Sir Thomas Rich’s School. One thing this team knows how to do is score tries. The boys scored 80 tries in 14 games, only conceding 24, which is something to be proud of.

Every member of this squad has proved their worth tenfold, understanding their roles as part of the team and playing for one another. Whether it’s Niki Modi and Tom McFall dominating on the wings, Tom Gray and Tom Ollerenshaw leading the team with massive tackles, Ellis Grundy and Luke Cooper keeping things tight and organised from scrumhalf, or Tom Vitty’s overall leadership of the team.

It has been a fantastic year of rugby, and the boys have remained focused and humble throughout the entire season. This is a special group of players, and I have no doubt they will achieve great things in Warwick School rugby in the future.

MH

SPORTCULLIS

U12B

U12C

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

19

12

1

6

13

7

1

5

Squad: H. Barnes, C. Burcher, J. Coghlan, E. Cooper, J. Davies, J. Dewhirst, A. Forkwe, S. Guest, H. Hanbury, M. Hesketh, C. Madden, H. May, J. May, F. Rapp, O. Scott-Brown, M. Stanojevic, C. Wheeler

Squad: S. Akilan, H. Bayliss, B. Beckingsale, B. Blair, E. Cooper, R. Danylko, H. Deacon, Y. Elsharkawy, H. Fawdry-Jeffries, C. Gambles, M. Hesketh, C. Hogan, A. Jones, C. Madden, H. May, G. Owen, S. Sawle, A. Sherriff, D. Tetley, O. Thewlis, L. Vilimaitis

The season started with a difficult first game defeat to Stamford.

However, this was no indication of the direction of the season as the boys bounced back brilliantly, going undefeated for the next six games (including a 60-20 win over former foes Stamford).

During this period, the team scored 260 points while conceding 110. This is a testament to their hard work and dedication, with all players showing a desire to improve. Special mentions must go to Ollie Scott-Brown and Hugo Barnes, both of whom staked a claim for the top scorer title by crossing the whitewash on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, this momentum could not continue as the boys were given a harsh lesson in physicality by NSB. However, we showed incredible drive to use this defeat as fuel and went on to win the next three games in emphatic fashion.

The U12C team serves as the development squad of the year group. They have worked hard on their basics of tackling, passing, catching, and rucking, as well as their general understanding of the game. Their hard work and commitment to games and training sessions paid off as the season progressed.

Early on, they were taught some valuable lessons in aggressive running by Stamford and Abingdon, which they turned around a month later with a fantastic five-match winning streak. After a period of numerous cancellations, the boys once again found their flow, with some incredible passing skills to defeat OSH and KES Stratford. Towards the end of the season, they faced teams a level or two up and were outmuscled. Overall, the boys had a positive season, recognising the need for a real focus on tackling and team play in the coming year. Special mention goes to Callum Hogan for his fantastic commitment and dedication to the team, and to Max Hesketh for his significant improvement in skills development, particularly in tackling.

After this strong first half of the year, the group had a trickier run of games, winning three out of the next seven. However, the team did not lose heart despite the difficulties, as all the defeats came against ‘A’ teams in very competitive games, never losing by more than three scores. The biggest highlight of the season came in the final match of the season. The culmination of a year’s work resulted in a season-best performance, stunning a strong Kenilworth side with excellent handling and teamwork. As a new member of staff at Warwick School I am incredibly lucky to have worked with this group, and I look forward to seeing what they can achieve in the future.

SRGF

Overall, the boys had a positive season, recognising the need for a real focus on tackling and team play in the coming year.

N. Foan

U12D

U12E/F

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

10

6

0

4

6

4

0

2

Squad: K. Barber, P. Crow, H. Deacon, B. Edgington-Gibson, L. Edginton, R. Forsyth, J. Gallagher, R. Gill, L. Gore, A. Hayton, Q. Hornby, J. Newey-Keane, H. Osborne, O. Pitt, H. Potts, B. Street, O. Thewlis, A. Tracey, A. Westwood

Squad: J. Ackerman, D. Radial, O. Byrne, C. Chan, J. Cullen, H. Gorner, P. Harper, C. Heeley, T. John, S. Kanwar, G. Keating, J. Kemp, R. Mann, F. Rieder-Wood, N. Sales, S. Sheepy, E. Thorp, H. Walter, R. Weston, A. Wigley, J. Woodbridge

A memorable year for the team which saw strong contributions from thirty-nine boys this season. The boys were a credit to the school and showed much development over the year, finishing their season out with two outstanding wins against OSH and KESS which finished a thrilling 35-30.

The E team had a good season, establishing themselves as a formidable force in their league. They showcased their skills and determination with remarkable victories over Bedford and Bablake and King Henry VIII, both of whom fielded their D teams. It was particularly inspiring to witness the progress of the boys, as many of them and their coach had limited experience with rugby.

Regardless of the score line the team never gave up and always played for each other showing heart, courage and always, boundless energy.

Special mention goes to Arthur Hayton for his tireless work off the ball and strong rucking grit, Oscar Pitt who ran in six tries vs OSH, Barney Street for his unwavering commitment to improving his overall game and Harrison Deacon for his love of interception tries.

Moving on to the F team, known as the Barbarians, they fully embraced their name and reputation. They should feel immensely proud of all they have accomplished throughout the year.

BWS

JA

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HOCKEY 1st XV P

W

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20

8

2

10

Squad: K. Ashe, C. Baldry, J. Bailey, H. Bradbury, C. Gibson, R. Hayer, B. Holding, O. Kovacs, C. Mackenzie, W. Murden, E. Pollock, W. Richardson, B. Stockill, J. Teasdale, K. Umashanker, A. Walton-Hayfield The 1st XI has made excellent progress this season as they tested themselves against some of the top hockey-playing schools in the country in the England Hockey U18 Tier 1 Championships. At the start of the year, the group made the decision to enter this tough competition, knowing that they would have to commit fully to the training and playing programme and that creating a real team spirit would be key to an enjoyable season. This was established right from day one, with competition for places in the squad being fierce, alongside a togetherness and fun environment that enabled all involved to play to their full potential.

The season started with a win at KES Birmingham, but then followed a tough run of fixtures with more losses than wins. The first cup group game away at Millfield was a turning point in the season. Finding themselves 2-0 down after just three minutes, the team pulled together, and a Will Murden half-volley goal gave the team belief. Millfield scored again, but Murden scored once more, this time from a well-placed penalty corner, to get back to 3-2. The team then produced half an hour of excellent hockey where the home team and the coaching staff were clearly a little

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panicked. Running out of energy in the final ten minutes, Millfield did pull away to finish 5-2 winners, but this gritty determination became a benchmark of the team for the season. Jack Bailey and captain Rajan Hayer built a formidable partnership in the middle of defence, supported on either side by the energetic running of Jem Teasdale, Oliver Kovacs, and later in the season, Keeran Umashanker. Behind them in goal, Chris Gibson played consistently well and made key saves in big games throughout the season. In midfield, Ed Pollock, Ben Stockill, and Charlie Mackenzie linked up well and worked hard, while Ben Holding was the standout performer for the season with his all-round ability to pass over, round, or through the opposition, as well as scoring freely himself. Will Richardson was a constant threat with his winning goal in the dying seconds of the KES Southampton match, a real highlight for the season. Up front, the pace of Atticus Walton-Hayfield and the work rate of Killian Ashe enabled the team to press aggressively, and Charles Baldry and Harry Bradbury grew in confidence throughout the season, making excellent contributions.

The season finished in brilliant fashion with a four-game unbeaten run, with wins against Princethorpe and Denstone, followed by a fantastic draw against Tonbridge school in the Oxford, Cambridge Varsity schools match, and then a 4-0 win for our U6th leavers’ 1st XI. We wish the U6th leavers all the best and very much hope they continue to enjoy playing beyond school.

This group of players has created an amazing team culture where everyone has felt part of the team and been able to play at their best, and they leave the 1st XI with a benchmark of how the team is more effective than the sum of the players within it.

GMFW

SPORTCULLIS

2nd XI

3rd XI

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

15

3

0

12

12

7

1

4

Squad: H. Bailey, E. Black, W. Chesser, T. Chu, K. Cinar, M. Daler, O. Goodfellow, H. Hateley, J. Morris, S. Martin, A. Narayan, S. Rai, O. Rose, F. Venn, E. Wye

Squad: F. Ackerman, J. Barker, E. Black, O. Brown, O. Crabtree, J. Harding, T. Macro, H. Mander, G. McLintock, W. Murray-Bates, T. Peranantham, O. Pitchers, O. Robinson, J. Rose, P. Stiven

The 2nd XI got off to a flying start with a 7-2 victory over KES Birmingham, displaying excellent finishing and team play.

However, the early momentum soon halted after convincing defeats to Solihull and KES Stratford. After implementing some team changes and discussing tactics, the boys began to string together competitive performances and build great team chemistry.

This season, the boys embodied what it means to be a team.

Whether we were leading by two or trailing by three, we played with upright zeal and held our heads high. At the top of the pitch, the strikers employed a scattergun approach, slotting in 37 goals past opposition goalkeepers. The highlights of this prolific season in front of goal were Tivik Peranantham and William Murray-Bates’ wonder goals. However, achieving the best record in senior hockey requires more than just goals.

A thrilling 8-0 win against KES Aston Sports College boosted the boys’ confidence as they entered the County Cup. Despite a tightly contested battle, they fell short against a strong KES Stratford team, who eventually won the County Cup and the Tier 4 Final. The season showcased a significant improvement in play as the boys fought until the final whistle against Rugby School, with goalkeeper Fraser Venn making some standout saves, but ultimately falling short once again.

The season concluded with better team performances, challenging the likes of Solihull and KES Stratford 1st XI, highlighting the remarkable progress the boys have made as a team and a credit to their hard work, even when results didn’t always go their way.

The season ended on a high note with a well-earned 7-0 victory over Bablake, with Joel Morris securing a hat-trick. It was a brilliant end to the season.

A. Wade

At the other end of the pitch, we defended doggedly, with co-captain Tom Macro often finding himself on all fours while attempting to defend (or giving away a short corner). A special word must be said for our ever-reliable left-back, Patrick Stiven, who is like a brick wall. We are all convinced he could tackle a freight train. Despite changes in the midfield throughout the season, once settled, they managed to run rings around our opponents with limitless stamina and occasional precise passes.

While we always brought the fight to our opponents, some players may have taken it too literally, with Harry Mander and Tom Macro occasionally helping opponents to the floor. However, such strategies may have had their merits, as we topped off an already impressive season by dispatching arch-rivals Solihull School 4-0. Once again, we were the only senior hockey team to win that day. Finally, the boys achieved a resounding 10-goal victory at Bablake and King Henry’s, providing a resounding finish to the hockey season.

Tom Macro and Harry Mander

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U15A P

W

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L

17

7

0

10

Squad: A. Attwood, T. Bamford, C. Buckley, T. Drake, C. Feaver, A. Goodrem, O. Grundy, O. Head, N. Joshi, D. Nichols, M. Oliver, H. Waters, O. Watkin, K. Wong

Well done, boys! You have all shown tremendous dedication throughout the year. Best of luck as you continue progressing towards the senior squads in the 2023/2024 season.

4th XI P

W

D

L

9

1

2

6

Squad: G. Bennett, F. Buckley, A. De Passemar, G. Du Bois, A. Gadhary, O. Ghobara, M. Khan, B. Parfitt, P. Raja, D. Rogers, A. Scott, L. Sica, T. Thirunathan, S. Wallin, O. Wang Despite a challenging set of fixtures this year, the 4th team has worked well together, with important contributions from everyone in the squad. All our games were close at halftime, but often the opposition’s superior fitness levels gave them the edge in the second half of matches. The best games this year came against KES Stratford. In the first fixture, Warwick won 5-1, with George Bennett scoring two goals and Bryn Parfitt securing a hat trick, highlighting the goal-scoring potential of this group.

In the second fixture, Oliver Wang contributed two goals in a thrilling 4-4 draw. Warwick trailed 3-1 with 12 minutes remaining but showed incredible perseverance to equalize with less than a minute to play.

A good season in terms of development and progress, with Archie Goodrem leading the group admirably as captain, setting a strong example for the team. He displayed confidence, commitment, and a high level of energy. The first half of the season proved to be challenging, facing tough opponents such as Loughborough and Solihull, as well as engaging in close and competitive matches against Bishop Vesey’s and King Edward’s School (Birmingham).

After the new year, the boys returned in excellent shape, sharp and determined. They played exciting hockey against King Edward’s School (Birmingham) and secured a well-deserved 2-1 victory. Oscar Watkin and Dan Nichols were outstanding in defence, while Oscar Head, Tom Bamford, and Mark Oliver made powerful contributions charging forward from the half-back positions.

Although there were some frustrating defeats, the midfield trio of Charlie Feaver, Charlie Buckley, and Oliver Grundy displayed unwavering effort throughout the season and will approach the next year’s senior squads with confidence. In the ISHC, we faced a strong St. George’s College (Weybridge) and suffered a heavy defeat, despite creating excellent goal-scoring opportunities. On a better day, Kaiser Wong, Harry Waters, Nathaniel Joshi, Alex Attwood, and Tim Drake would have found greater success, but unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be.

The County Cup provided thrilling moments as we triumphed over Princethorpe and Bablake before encountering our rivals, Solihull. Warwick demonstrated real aggression and determination, securing a narrow 1-0 victory. However, a draw against Bishop Vesey’s in the semi-final forced a penalty shootout, where we narrowly missed out on a sudden-death shoot-out with a score of 2-3.

Daniel Rogers grew into a leadership role while playing at centre back, and goalkeeper Alex Scott could always be depended on to make crucial saves. This team has been a pleasure to be with on Wednesday afternoons, and I hope that many of them will continue to develop their hockey skills next year.

Well done, boys! You have all shown tremendous dedication throughout the year. Best of luck as you continue progressing towards the senior squads in the 2023/2024 season.

Congratulations to Archie Goodrem, Charlie Feaver, and Oscar Watkin, who represented Warwickshire Hockey this year.

GDM

CRo

134 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3

SPORTCULLIS

U15B

U14A

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

13

7

0

6

18

10

5

3

Squad: W. Cartwright, J. Cooper, J. Clifton, P. Davies, E. Dumbreck, T. Gilyead, T. Harland, A. Joshi, H. Mills, J. Priestley, T. Russell, A. Thomas, J. Uruthiran, P. Walton-Hayfield, F. Ward, A. Willoughby, K. Wong

Squad: S. Bentall, L. Byrne, B. Cadbury, E. Chesser, R. de Passemar, R. Dowler, C. England, C. Graham, T. Hargett, J.J. Lloyd, R. Saluja, T. Thompson, T. van der Schalk, W. Vaux, O. Walmsley, O. Yates

The U15B team have had a mixed season, but we were pleased to achieve a positive win-loss ratio in our final game against Nottingham High. Thee match showcased our best half of hockey all year, followed by a dramatic decline in quality in the second half. This pattern reflected our overall performance throughout the season – moments of real quality mixed with inconsistency, even within matches.

Many teams struggle to transition from a half-sized pitch to a full-sized pitch. However, this group of players managed it very well over the season, starting with an awesome end-to-end battle with KES Birmingham, coming out on top 5-4. The boys had an outstanding run; in fact, they remained undefeated until early February, including eight wins and three hard-fought draws. This culminated in them winning the county cup on goal difference after drawing with Solihull, their eventual nemesis, who also qualified for the regionals. It was at the regional tournament that the boys’ determination, guts, and potential really shone through. The squad was joined by the top U13s Barney Gale and Harrison Newell, who bolstered our goalscoring ability. In terrible sleet and snow, the boys battled for 20 minutes in each game. It was an incredible spectacle to watch them take the lead against the head versus Repton in the first game and hold on valiantly for ten minutes to open the tournament with a win. They showed incredible resilience to defend attack after attack from the skillful opposition.

Against Denstone, they worked so hard for each other to come away with a 2-1 victory. Uppingham physically challenged the team, stretching them to the limit and forcing a 1-1 draw. The semi-final saw us pitted against our old foe Solihull (eventual winners) who, on this occasion, had the better of us physically, as tired legs and minds began to show. It was an epic effort by all the boys.

Alfie Thomas has consistently performed solidly in goal, supported by a generally well-organised defensive line consisting of Anay Joshi, Ptolemy Walton-Hayfield, Thomas Gilyead, and either James Clifton or Tom Harland. Opponents have found it challenging to break down our defence when properly set, although there has been a tendency to switch off and be caught out of position during opposition breaks.

In midfield, we possess genuine creativity with Fred Ward, and we have willing runners on the wing like Will Cartwright and Jamie Cooper. Austin Willoughby has often acted as our midfield general in the centre. However, our forward momentum has sometimes outweighed our defensive efforts, leading to vulnerabilities against stronger opponents. Additionally, a lack of physicality has proved to be a weakness when facing fitter opposition.

Up front we have never struggled to create chances; converting them has proven harder. This has undoubtedly cost us in close matches. The team includes some very committed and enthusiastic hockey players who I am sure will continue to represent Warwick in the senior teams for years to come.

JAS

U15C P

W

D

L

10

3

1

6

Squad: A. Alavan, J. Cooper, A. Dayal, G. Gao, N. Jeyakantharaja, A. Jeyaseelan, J. Leeson, J. Mahesaratnam, H. Mills, E. Phipps, J. Pink, J. Priestley, J. Reed, T. Russell, M. Simmons, A. Steven The U15C team has had an enjoyable season, featuring more fixtures than ever before. The season began on a high note with consecutive victories, with Harrison Mills impressively netting numerous goals, while Jerem Mahesaratnam showcased his goalkeeping prowess by being difficult to beat. Ethan Phipps worked hard in midfield, and the team displayed a commendable level of hockey. As the season progressed, the team fostered a strong bond, and despite a decline in results, there were numerous positive aspects to highlight from this enthusiastic and hard working group of players.

The season was a huge success with much progress as a team and on an individual basis. The defense was immense all year, only conceding 19 goals, with Tom Van der Schalk maturing as a keeper and an excellent shot-stopper. Ed Chesser, Liam Byrne, and Raphael de Passemar rotated on the flanks, with Olly Walmsley dominating the right, and our very reliable duo of Sam Bentall and Ben Cadbury in the middle, holding the fort. The midfield engine room of JJ Lloyd, Will Vaux, and Oscar Yates (players’ player) kept the team in check, leading many of the attacks as well as successfully marshalling the opposition. Up front, Ted Hargett (most improved award), Charlie Graham, Theo Thompson, and Ranveer Saluja ran their socks off all season, assisting in scoring thirty-seven goals, a great achievement.

The future is exciting for this group, and we all look forward to seeing what the 2024 season brings.

GMFW

The season was a huge success with much progress as a team and on an individual basis. The defense was immense all year, only conceding 19 goals, with Tom Van der Schalk maturing as a keeper and an excellent shot-stopper.

GMFW

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SPORTCULLIS

U14B P

W

D

L

14

2

2

10

Squad: S. Almond, J. Davies, R. de Passemar, H. Dickson, R. Dowler, J. Dunne, C. England, A. Jahanzeb, A. Khatkar, A. Mehta, R. Neville, J. Phillips, J. Pond, D. Roche, R. Wong Not by any means a vintage season in terms of results, but the boys maintained a positive attitude and persevered in developing their individual skills and understanding of the 11-a-side game. Attendance at practice remained consistently high throughout the season. Despite facing tough competition, including other schools’ A teams, the team remained competitive. Notably, in the ‘tier two’ county cup, our victories came against B teams from Bablake/King Henry’s and Princethorpe, culminating in a satisfying 5-1 win in the final game of the season. The Players of the Season were Henry Dickson and Rex Wong.

MGLC

U14C P

W

D

L

7

5

0

2

Squad: S. Almond, R. Dougall, Y. Fowler, R. Hothi, M. Krishnan, A. Mitroi, P. Mitroi, R. Neville, A. Pala, E. Payton, O. Thompson, S. Walsh, A. Yeung The U14Cs have had a fantastic year, starting with a bright winning streak of their first five games, all decided by a single goal. Sam Walsh displayed remarkable form as he consistently found the back of the net, scoring freely in many matches. Josh Davies, known for his powerful running, caused numerous problems for opposing defences. It was a truly impressive team effort this year, with Roshan Dougall, Rawal Hothi, and Manas Krishnan all performing exceptionally well.

136 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3

In defence, Ed Payton provided unwavering solidity throughout, supported by Oscar Thompson and Yannick Fowler. Rory Neville made crucial saves in goal, contributing to the team’s success. Anskar Yeung was deservedly awarded the Player’s Player of the Year, as his exceptional skills and trickery made him a challenging player to handle.

Looking ahead, this particular group of players would benefit from more competitive fixtures to further enhance their skills.

Overall, it has been an excellent season. Well done, boys!

CRo

SPORTCULLIS

U13A P

W

D

L

25

17

2

6

Squad: S. Abuelmaatti, O. Adams, T.J. Bethell, S. Clarke, B. Gale, A. Lawlor, E. Pass Jimenez, H. Newell, F. Singh, I. Walton-Hayfield, D. Ward, F. Wye This squad of players has significantly grown this season.

Training sessions on Tuesday evenings have been great fun, with the players bringing great energy and focus. The team’s performances have improved throughout the season, highlighted by an improved result against Solihull in a rematch, turning a 6-4 defeat into a 6-4 victory.

There have been individual highlights as well. Suliemann Abuelmaatti made a remarkable penalty flick save against Dean Close at the Padfield tournament, diving to the top of the backboard to secure the win and the eventual trophy. Ignatius Walton-Hayfield has shown game-changing performances with his individual creativity and energy from the left-back position.

Barney Gale has demonstrated his goal-scoring prowess from penalty corners and from the top of the D. Harrison Newell’s memorable backhand strike resulted in a fantastic goal scored during the regional tournament against Nottingham

U13B

Team highlights include forwards scoring aerials from the 16yard line, rounding the goalkeeper. When the team gets on a run during a match, they score selfless team goals. Finally, the camaraderie, support, and fun that the group shares together have been remarkable.

The group has achieved great success on the pitch, winning trophies, scoring many goals, and demonstrating great passion and togetherness. Despite early losses in the season, they have shown great resilience and ended with a series of consecutive wins. Perhaps most notably, they have bonded as a group of young men and become great friends.

This is a wonderful group of players with great potential in hockey, and I look forward to seeing how they progress through the school.

R. Hobley

U13C

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

18

10

2

6

12

5

1

6

Squad: R. Ashe, T. J. Bethell, S. Clarke, R. Copland, L. Cuming, R. Evans, D. Fovargue, M. Hogg, R. Khan, A. Lawlor, B. Priestley, A. Stokes A very good season for the U13Bs, and I was particularly impressed by their effort, commitment, and enthusiasm.

All the boys who played showcased fast and aggressive hockey. TJ Bethell was especially impressive in front of goal, scoring six goals in one particular game.

Daniel Farvargue, in goal, played with confidence and was a brave stopper of the ball, especially in tighter games.

In defence, Monty Hogg, Braden Priestley, and Rory Copland were solid, although on occasions a lack of concentration allowed the opposition to score some easy goals. Oliver Adams, Archie Lawlor, and Ralph Evans consistently put in strong performances in midfield, with some moments being outstanding.

The boys amassed a total of 64 goals in just 18 games, which is a testament to how well they performed on a weekly basis.

Arlo Stokes, along with TJ Bethell as mentioned before, posed a major threat throughout this enjoyable season.

Keep working hard, boys, and I look forward to seeing how you progress next year.

CRo

High School, with an excellent team celebration. Fateh Singh, Oliver Montandon, and Eduardo Pass Jimenez formed a strong defensive combination, tackling everything that came their way.

Dominic Ward has been an exciting, creative, and fast forward, often creating scoring opportunities. Freddie Wye has shown skill in carrying the ball with his left foot. Other team members who rotated in, including Archie Lawlor, Sam Clarke, Oliver Adams, and TJ Bethell, have all worked hard and demonstrated their strengths when given the opportunities.

Squad: L. Cuming, E. Clarke, J, Greensmith, E. Greensmith, T. Jennings, R. Khan, A. Lewis, X. Li, O. Norrington, D. Page, R. Pandey, S. Taylor, Y. Thapliyal The U13C team epitomized the term “rollercoaster” this season, with results always being very close but never able to string together a run of wins.

They only won two games consecutively once throughout the season, against Kes Stratford, followed by a win against Bishop Vesseys. In many of the matches, the game itself was a rollercoaster, with one of the two teams taking an early lead and the other fighting back to make the game close. The penultimate game of the season demonstrated the team’s strengths and weaknesses. They went into halftime 4-0 down after a lack of concentration in the first half.

However, the group refocused and with three goals from Elliot Greensmith, they fought back and very nearly secured a draw in the dying moments of the match.

Many of the boys in this team moved up to the B team at various points this year, and with plenty of athletic ability, it will be interesting to see their progress next season as they transition to eleven-aside and the full pitch. Overall, it was a very enjoyable and progressive season. Well done, boys.

GMFW

P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3 / 137

SPORTCULLIS

U13D

U12B

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

10

7

0

3

18

14

0

4

Squad: W. Alston, W. Dalby, M. Hannan, J. Gill, J. Greensmith, W. Harris, Kan. Kamalanathan, Kav. Kamalanathan, S. Ran, S. Seshadri, G. Subanthran, A. Whitfield, K. Wong, H. Woods It has been a successful season for the U13Ds, with some hardfought victories. Highlights include a 6-1 victory over Stamford and a 4-1 victory against the KES Stratford C team. The team saw many boys promoted to the U13C and B teams but still managed to score 30 goals overall, conceding fewer in comparison. Kavish Kamalanathan displayed cat-like reflexes in goal and was ably supported by the solid tackling in defence by Jovan Gill and Girish Subanthran. Kanish Kamalanathan and Kean Wong contributed excellent performances upfront, scoring many of the goals. Well done to all the boys who played for the U13Ds this season.

MFVB

U12A P

W

D

L

24

23

0

1

Squad: O. Cadbury, Z. Gardner, E. Grundy, G. Horner, G. Horton, H. Isbell, N. Modi, A. Tracey, O. Scott-Brown, T. Vitty The U12A team has been nothing short of sensational this season, and the results table speaks for itself. From back to front, the level of commitment, ability, and teamwork has been outstanding, impressing opposition coaches with their skills and teamwork throughout the season.

Squad: W. Bamford, S. Broughton, H. Browne, E. Dhesi-Dabb, H. Deacon, M. Hesketh, J. May, J. Slade, D. Tetley The U12B team has enjoyed amazing success over the course of their first school hockey season. The boys started the season strong with early victories against local rivals Solihull. However, close competitors KES Birmingham became a challenging team for the boys, as we lost both games played against them before heading into the County Cup. We began the County Cup with an excellent performance, winning 4-0 against Bablake and Princethorpe. The team displayed mature team hockey, and Sebbie Broughton’s outstanding goalscoring performance earned him a hat-trick. This victory provided the team with excellent momentum leading up to a monumental clash with KES Birmingham.

The match against KES Birmingham was a hard-fought battle, and goalkeeper Jude Slade made some excellent saves, keeping the score at 0-0 with just minutes to go. However, KES Birmingham broke away and scored, ultimately winning the match 1-0. A team regrouping was necessary, and after a heroic team talk between Mr Wade Jnr and Mr Roberts, the boys battled their way to a welldeserved 1-0 victory against Bishop Vesey’s in the semi-final. Max Hesketh stood out as our standout player in that game.

In the final, we faced a rematch against KES Birmingham, providing us with another opportunity to defeat our closest competitors.

A beautifully set-up goal between Sebbie Broughton and Eshan Dhesi-Dabb resulted in a deflection flying past the goalkeeper, and Henry Browne celebrated the goal with the rest of the team as they ran back. The team’s unity and celebration of goals have been key factors contributing to their success this year. Well done, boys!

A. Wade

In goal, Arthur Tracey was well protected by Harry Isbell, Oliver Cadbury, and Tom Vitty, and he made some outstanding saves when needed. In midfield, Ellis Grundy, Nikki Modi, and Oliver Scott-Brown proved to be creative and hardworking, scoring goals and creating opportunities for the forward line consisting of George Horton, Zane Gardner, and George Horner. The team displayed hockey skills well beyond their years, with structured attacking play and moments of individual brilliance.

U12C

The boys also perfected a well-drilled penalty corner routine during their lunchtime free practice, which proved effective throughout the season. Their only defeat of the year came in the unfortunate semi-final of the Midlands Championships against KES Birmingham on penalty strokes. However, prior to that, they had an impressive group stage, scoring thirty unanswered goals in five fourteen-minute matches.

The U12C team has improved enormously this season. At the start of the year, we had players who had never picked up a stick before, and some with only a little experience. Game sessions have focused on lots of gameplay, and the team’s confidence has grown. We now have many boys with a powerful strike, and the team can confidently defend a short corner. It has been great to see them take the advice given to them and apply it on the pitch.

Despite the disappointment, the team has grown together this season, and the prospects for next year are very positive for this exciting, hardworking, and talented group of young sportsmen. They have set a new standard of excellence for the hockey club, and their season has been incredibly impressive. Well done to all!

GMFW

W

D

L

9

5

0

4

Squad: J. Barnes, O. Byrne, N. Carson, M. Dale, R. Danylko, S. Gupta, M. Hesketh, E. Littleford, W. Jarratt, T. John, W. MacGregor, I. Mather, B. McKenna, J. Morris, J. Steele

Will McGregor and Jakey Morris have developed their skills on the ball, particularly in backhand and forehand shooting. Ollie Byrne and Rory Danylko are confident and influential presences on the pitch, and they have also improved their understanding of “off the ball” play. As a whole, the boys have developed an understanding of how to move the ball between players to maintain possession and, ultimately, score lots of goals. They have scored eleven goals across nine games this season.

CAB

138 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3

P

SPORTCULLIS

CRICKET 1st XI P

W

D

L

19

7

1

11

Squad: F. Ackerman, D. Ainley, H. Bailey, C. Beard, M. Bolam, T. Denton, J. Dow, T. Drake, T. Ehsan, J. Mills, W. Murden, B. Pidler, T. Sarson-Hirst, W. Sheehan, K. Umashanker, E. Wye Out of darkness shines the light, and certainly, this year the light shone when the boys took to the field. After a winter of netting and training indoors, the boys were ready to hit the ground running with high confidence. A young team was ready to right the wrongs of last year. Despite the terrible weather, the team spent more time working on their basics, especially their fielding. Football was removed from the warmups as the team decided to focus on their skills and mentally prepare before each game. Despite two early losses, the benefits of their energetic and cricket-focused approach took both games very close and duly paid off with an onslaught against Bloxham, with Jacob Mills leading the charge with figures of 5 for 2!! Three additions to the winter squad, Dow, Murden, and Sarson-Hirst, all had a positive influence with the ball, particularly in the field, with their athleticism aptly backing up the team’s bowlers.

Freddie Ackerman was leading the boys with renewed enthusiasm after the second victory over Loughborough, when despite another low score batting, all the bowlers dismantled the opposition to win by 87 runs. Tom Denton also caught up with Mills’ wicket tally. It was the balance and depth of bowling that made this possible, with four frontline seamers and three to four spinners, often giving us the edge over other teams. Sadly, Loughborough was the last taste of victory until July.

Amid this, though, shone a performance that the boys will remember fondly and kick themselves over. The prestigious MCC match showcased an incredible bowling and fielding performance, led by Denton taking 5 for 32, restricting the MCC to 175. After a very positive start, the team reached 130-4, and for the first time, the opening pair scored over 50. Sarson-Hirst (58) marshalled the team towards victory, but within sight of the finish line and needing only 24 runs from 42 balls, panic set in, and the boys managed to snatch a tie from the jaws of victory. There was a similar pattern against the OWs as the team fell just 10 runs short, with Will Sheehan scoring a half-century but running out of partners.

The team really struggled with the bat all year, with many combinations in the top five, sadly none that brought enough consistency. Beard, Bolam, and Ehsan showed that there is real potential coming, and there were glimpses of excellence from captain Ackerman, Sarson-Hirst, and Sheehan, who all scored fifties at different points in the season without managing to get the team over the line. The team managed to finish the season on a real high at the Bablake T20 festival with a young squad featuring ten players who will return next season, including four from the U15s. They played six matches in three days, winning four of the five league games to reach the final, beating Lawrence Sheriff, BKHS, Queen Mary’s GS, and John Hampden GS, who would take their revenge in the final. The boys stuck to their guns throughout, trusting both bat and ball, and this paid off with these victories, setting up a positive feeling around the squad going into the winter and next season. The team will need to step up again next year as we say farewell to one of the school’s most prolific bowlers, Jacob Mills, who has been the leading wicket-taker every season for his year group since he was U12, leaving big shoes to fill.

Many thanks to all the boys for, on reflection, a fantastic season due to their phenomenal perseverance, determination, and camaraderie on and off the field, working hard to continually improve every aspect of their game. On to next year.

SRGF

P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3 / 139

SPORTCULLIS 1ST XI BATTING

1ST XI BOWLING

INN N.O. RUNS AVE BALLS SS%

SR 50s 100s Highest

O

M

R

W

AVE ECON

SR

BB

Ackerman 15

0

350 23.3 394

39.8 88.8 2

0

71

Mills

80

7

325

28

11.61

4.05

17.18

5~2

Ehsan

14

1

264 20.3

314

44.6 84.1

1

0

60

Denton

67

8

284

15

18.93

4.24

26.8

5~32

Sheehan

15

4

258 23.5 347

39.9 70.2

1

0

55

Sheehan

46

1

288

15

19.2

6.24

18.47

4~46

Denton

18

3

215 14.3 292

39

73.6 0

0

43

Dow

59

2

388

15

25.87 6.56

23.67

4~52

SarsonHirst

16

0

203 12.7

244

45.9 83.2

1

0

58

Ainley

49

5

227

14

16.21

4.63

21

3~17

Beard

9

0

141

15.7

180

43.3 78.3

1

0

54

Beard

18.0

0

107

7

15.29

5.94

15.57

2~14

Bolam

9

2

139 19.9

152

55.9 91.4

0

0

40

Ehsan

26

3

176

7

25.14

6.77

22.43

2~19

Ainley

10

1

78

8.7

123

35.8 63.4 0

0

18

SarsonHirst

14.0

0

104

5

20.8

7.52

16.6

2~15

Gerber

8

0

64

8

77

33.8 83.1

0

0

24

Bailey

36

1

211

5

42.2

5.86

43.2

2~13

Drake

8

2

54

9

105

35.2 51.4

0

0

16*

Murden

33

1

219

3

73

6.64

66

1~21

Dow

13

2

49

4.5

89

31.5 55.1

0

0

12

Pidler

17

1

93

2

46.5

5.47

51

1~25

Bailey

8

4

29

7.2

75

33.3 38.7

0

0

7

Mills

7

3

8

2

46

17.4

0

0

4

17.4

Most Catches: Murden 9, Ackerman + Denton 8 Most Stumpings: Drake 4

3rd XI

2 XI nd

P

W

D

L

5

2

0

3

Squad: C. Baldry, T. Dunning, A. Hargett, S. Jordan, O. Kilsby, T. Macro, A. Paneser, T. Peranantham, S. Price, S. Powell, J. Singh-Mann, M. Stanton, A. Thompson, O. Tomlinson This was a season of ups and downs. The downs were not so much the losses, although we did drop a large number of catches, but the difficulties of getting fixtures for boys who wanted to play. A wet spring did not help, but the main and perhaps inevitable problem was the pressure of exams, with matches having to be cancelled both by us and by our opponents through shortage of players.

Losses came against both Worcester schools and Solihull, in games in which we were second best. The two wins, however, more than compensated, in being as thrilling and remarkable run chases as one could wish to see. Chasing 115 in a T20 against Bloxham we were 34-7 after 10.5 overs and 70-8 after 17.1, but still won with four balls to spare, thanks to Baldry’s remarkable 47* and good support from Hargett and Pidler. As remarkable was the 25-over game against Trent College, whose opener scored 132 in a total of 215-3.

Dunning and Baldry (67) then pillaged 87 off the first six overs; a middle-order collapse was steadied by thirties from Price and Wye who took us to the last over with only two to win. But both fell and Powell came in to face the last ball of the match; his last ball of Warwick School cricket; hat-trick ball; with scores level; and poked a single (and the inevitable four overthrows) to round off the drama and the season.

MGLC

140 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3

P

W

D

L

1

0

0

1

Squad: A. Ahmad, S. Archer, M. Challis, J. Coplestone-Crow, B. Ducker, O. Goodfellow, O. Kovacs, G. McLintock, J. Robbins, A. Tibbetts, W. Wilkinson With the 3rd XI’s season consisting of just one match, this report is less about the ups and downs of a season and more of a concise summary of an enjoyable T20 encounter between two groups of boys displaying questionable ability but significant enthusiasm.

While we provided limited contributions with both bat and ball, with Ahmad’s score of 20 being the sole exception in an otherwise lacklustre game devoid of individual brilliance, our fielding was exceptional. We executed three outstanding runouts and made a couple of magnificent stops that prevented certain boundaries. The fact that these fielding skills were displayed without any recognizable drills prior to the fixture adds to the overall mystique surrounding this performance.

It is hoped that next year, this enthusiastic group of cricketers will have more opportunities to refine their skills on the 3rd XI circuit.

BPA

It is hoped that next year, this enthusiastic group of cricketers will have more opportunities to refine their skills on the 3rd XI circuit.

SPORTCULLIS

Staff vs Brooke House Staff: M. Cooley, B. Davies, S. Francis, T. Hancock, M. Homan, A. Hurst, M. Perry, T. Pierce, Z. Shirley, J. Sutherland, D. Tibbitts, P. Titmas Brooke House: F. Ackerman, D. Ainley, M. Bolam, H. Clarke, T. Davies, J. Dow, A. Hargett, T. Hargett, T. Jennings, W. Payton, A. Robertson, R. Saluja, F. Singh, G. Westrope The second staff vs house match in honour of Bill Gill took place on the last full day of the summer term. This time, it was Brooke’s turn, with a team that included representatives from all seven-year groups, and an impressive lineup of five U15A and three other 1st XI regulars.

Ackerman once again lost the toss, so the staff batted first.

They had a slow start, with Cooley falling to Jennings early on.

However, Tibbitts and Perry found their rhythm, and both retired after scoring thirties. Pierce had a final match for the staff team before being bowled by Bolam, while Sutherland was caught

by Dow off Payton’s delivery without scoring. This brought in the “professionals,” Hancock and Francis, who accelerated the scoring rate from a solid foundation. Hancock elegantly scored an unbeaten 21 off 17 balls, while Francis raced to reach his unbeaten 30 off just eleven balls, including three big sixes, although he did offer a chance off Bolam.

The staff innings closed with a total of 151-3. Brooke House opened with Clarke and Payton, who faced a challenging few overs from Homan and Hurst. Payton hit two good fours before being caught by his head of year, demonstrating once again that slow and steady bowling can be just as effective as faster deliveries. Davies, the staff ’s most economical bowler, showcased his skills. Titmas also bowled well and dismissed A. Hargett with an excellent catch behind the wicket. However, the backbone of Brooke’s team remained their Year 10 players, as Clarke (32 balls) and Westrope (21 balls) both reached undefeated thirties, each with three fours and a six. Bolam was given out leg before wicket (lbw) to Hurst, but Ackerman (25*) in his final school game received valuable support from Robertson (returning from a county U12 match in Cheshire), Dow, and finally Jennings. In the end, Brooke House emerged victorious in the final over, despite Francis being allowed to bowl (slowly!) and taking 2 for 15.

The Most Valuable Player award went to Westrope for his rapid 30*. A huge thanks goes to Tom Macro for umpiring, and to Thomas Russell and Sam Thomas for scoring.

Staff vs Greville is scheduled for next year.

MGLC

Staff vs Brooke House

P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3 / 141

SPORTCULLIS

U15A P

W

D

L

10

7

0

3

Squad: C. Beard, M. Bolam, B. Braine, I. Budd, H. Clarke, T. Drake, T. Ehsan, A. Goodrem, R. Hampson, J. Henchley, A. Joshi, T. Jennings, W. Payton, K. Sahay, A. Watson, O. Watson, G. Westrope The U15A team has made significant improvements this year, coming together as a cohesive unit to achieve greater consistency and quality in their play. Instead of relying on individual star players, they have worked collectively for their successes, with every member of the squad making key contributions. We began the season with three comfortable victories, experienced a dip with three losses in the middle, but then bounced back with four consecutive wins to end the season, often against strong opponents. Whenever the team executed their game plan and skills to their best standards, they emerged victorious. It is only regrettable that we did not perform as well in the cup and enjoy the anticipated run we had hoped for at the start of the season.

There were numerous highlights throughout the season, although I will mention just a few. Alex Watson proved to be our most successful bowler, taking 15 wickets at an impressive average of 11.93 runs apiece. His swing consistently troubled opposition batsmen, and he decimated RGS’s top order with figures of 3-7 in our first game. He found a reliable new ball partner in Bobby

U15B P

W

D

L

9

9

0

0

Squad: B. Braine, N. Byrne, J. Henchley, R. Hurley, J. Moreton, S. Owen, T. Russell, N. Stevens, J. Taylor, A. Thomas, J. Townsend, L. Valentine, H. Waters, G. Williams The U15B season had a slow start with the first three games being cancelled or abandoned due to poor weather conditions. However, once the games got underway, the team hit the ground running.

The boys displayed strong and hard-fought performances against Loughborough, Solihull, and King’s Worcester, where the team embraced a positive style of play known as Venter-Ball! A walkover in the cup led to two outstanding performances where the side faced tough challenges against strong cricket schools such as KES Birmingham, Repton, and Trent. The team’s character shone through as Warwick outplayed the opposition, remaining undefeated and advancing into the county trophy quarter-finals.

Hampson, who steadily improved throughout the season and achieved his best figures of 3-14 against a touring Wellington side in our final game. Bobby’s extra bounce and pace proved to be an asset. Other wickets were shared among the team, but Tom Jennings also had notable figures with a remarkable economy of 3.45 and an average of 9.45.

Among the batsmen, Will Payton was particularly prolific, twice coming close to a century with his formidable hitting. His unbeaten 96 against LGS on a challenging wicket was one of the best schoolboy innings I have witnessed. Isaac Budd led by example with two half-centuries, one against KES Stratford and the other against Trent, the latter being a crucial contribution that helped secure victory in the game of the season. The match against Trent was a gripping contest, with momentum swinging back and forth, but we showed resilience and determination to emerge with a narrow victory. It was the kind of game that will be remembered by all those who participated in it. Tim Drake has been exceptional behind the stumps, earning a well-deserved call-up to the 1st XI, and he also showcased his batting prowess with a magnificent unbeaten 80 against KES Birmingham. It has been highly encouraging to witness Anay Joshi and Ollie Watson stepping up from the B-Team and demonstrating the depth of talent within this year group.

Overall, it has been an impressive season for the U15A team, and their progress and achievements have been commendable.

JAS With the trophy games in full swing, all eyes were on the last two rounds in the final week of term. The team had the opportunity to walk out onto the 1st XI Oval for the first time in the semi-final, and they made short work of the Kineton team.

They anxiously awaited to find out when the final would be, and it turned out to be at home against the Saltley Academy U15A team the next day. Led by Rafe Hurley, the boys started slowly, but thanks to some powerful hits and excellent running from the middle order, they managed to put up a reasonable score.

Tensions were high in the changing room. However, the team put together a well-balanced bowling and fielding performance, taking crucial wickets and securing the win and the trophy with only nine balls remaining.

The U15B team finished the season undefeated and with welldeserved silverware to show for their efforts. All fixtures were played in great spirits, with smiles on faces, and excitement every time the team took the field.

A big thank you to everyone involved for a fantastic cricket season!

HV

U15C P

W

D

L

2

1

0

1

Squad: B. Ainsworth, S. Bostock, C. Lawson, S. Morris, M. Oliver, H. Perry, J. Priestley, W. Shepstone, L. Smith, I. Thandi, S. Thomas The U15C team had a short but competitive season. With record numbers regularly attending training, the squad was able to perform with confidence and cohesion. The first of the two performances resulted in a convincing win against Solihull, with outstanding bowling that led to Solihull being all out with 20 runs to spare.

142 / P o r t c u l l i s 2 0 2 3

The second performance was a thrilling match, as we went head-to-head with a strong team at Trent College. The unique pitch boundary played a significant role, and the home team utilized their knowledge of the turf to overtake our score of 205 runs by 3, with two and a half overs remaining. Despite the loss, the sportsmanship and camaraderie displayed by both teams were a joy to watch and created a great spectacle for the final performance of the season.

I eagerly look forward to witnessing these cricketers take on more challenges in the coming year.

TB

SPORTCULLIS

U14A

U14B

P

W

D

L

P

W

D

L

8

7

0

1

9

7

0

2

Squad: H. Askin, L. Gillard-Browne, T. Hargett, G. Larucci, G. Leaver, F. McGrory, W. O’Reilly, J. Protherough, R. Saluja, P. Shannon, K. Trend, O. Walmsley

Squad: H. Askin, L. Gillard-Browne, T. Hargett, G. Larucci, G. Leaver, F. McGrory, W. O’Reilly, J. Protherough, R. Saluja, P. Shannon, K. Trend, O. Walmsley

The team has had a highly successful season, building on their performance as U13s last season. Unfortunately, the weather played a significant role in our schedule, leading to the cancellation of our games against Abingdon and Loughborough Grammar, two matches that would have been tightly contested.

Led by captain Rory Caven, the squad witnessed several players being promoted to the ‘A’ team throughout the season, causing Mr Hurst many selection headaches due to the high quality of talent at his disposal.

The season began on a high note, with two comfortable wins against RGS Worcester and KES Stratford, with notable contributions in both games from captain Henry Askin. After a three-week break due to weather conditions, we faced Solihull and once again secured a comfortable victory, winning by eight wickets. It was a true team effort, and everyone contributed to the win.

Our first real challenge came against King’s Worcester on a small pitch with the ball swinging significantly. Unfortunately, we struggled with the bat and were bowled out for under 100. Despite a valiant effort with the ball and in the field, we lost the game in the last over by four wickets. It was a learning experience for us, and we moved forward to the next game.

What followed that loss was an amazing run of performances against KES Five Ways, Repton, and our rivals KES Birmingham.

Three games, three wins, losing only two wickets in total. It became evident that our team excelled in chasing targets, despite Askin’s best efforts to win the toss and bat first. Notable performances came from Kieran Trend (41* against Five Ways), Pat Shannon (3 wickets against KES Birmingham), and Max McLintock (3 wickets against Repton).

Unfortunately, we missed out on the semi-finals of the Solihull 6’s tournament due to net run-rate. However, we entered our final game of the season against a strong Trent College team.

Once again, we lost the toss but were unexpectedly put into bat.

However, our top order couldn’t capitalize on this opportunity, and we quickly slumped to 29-4. The innings was saved by Pat Shannon, who played some beautiful and powerful shots to score an unbeaten 64, including 11 fours. In the field, we displayed a ruthless performance, highlighted by an incredible one-handed catch by Oliver Walmsley and two excellent grabs by Trend in the gully. It was another impressive win for our determined team.

A special mention goes to Gianluca Larucci, who represented the 1st XI against the MCC during the season, which is a fantastic achievement.

Overall, it has been a memorable season, winning seven out of eight matches, with a county cup final awaiting us in September.

MH

In the field, we displayed a ruthless performance, highlighted by an incredible one-handed catch by Oliver Walmsley and two excellent grabs by Trend in the gully.

The team played with great spirits throughout the year, while also allowing themselves to enjoy their cricket and improve their skills with both bat and ball.

I look forward to witnessing this team’s continued cricket journey at Warwick School, as they strive for higher honours and further cricketing development in the upcoming summer seasons.

AHu

U13B P

W

D

L

10

6

0

4

Squad: S. Clarke, T. Davies, F. Davis, W. Ericson, N. Gambroudes, W. Harris, M. Hogg, F. Jenkins, G. Lakhpuri, D. Lal, K. Matthews, H. Newell, H. Phipps, J. Thomas, I. Walton-Hayfield The start of the season took a few weeks to produce a match due to the rain, but the boys were really committed to training and pushing each other. They have shown this positive spirit in supporting each other, resulting in 15 boys regularly rotating to represent the team and getting their chance to bat and bowl.

The first five matches were victories, and we saw the batting prowess of Kit Matthews, Harrison Newell, and Noah Gambroudes, who scored top scores of 70, 51, and 47 respectively. This has spurred on other boys in the team to try and hit the ball with more intent, and Felix Davis found his eye, booming 44 from 47 balls against Solihull!

The boys have improved at keeping the strike rotating and running between the wickets, but they found it tough against Nottingham Trent when they bowled full, managing to get us all out for 30! Don’t worry, it’s not a school record; that was 20 all out!

The team has transformed their knowledge of field settings and adapting to the bowler, which will greatly help them move forward. Iggy Walton-Hayfield has been the best fielder, and the top wicket takers have been Lakhpuri with 13, Hogg with 9, and Davies with 7. The cup final didn’t end as we would have hoped, but I have been proud to see the progress they have made this year.

IW

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Squad: J. Budd, T. Davies, H. Downes, O. Dunlop, R. Evans, B. Gale, S. Dunning, D. Page, H. Pitt, F. Singh, H. Thomas, D. Ward, F. Wye It has been a highly successful season for the U13A cricket team.

The team has played good cricket, learned a lot, honed their skills under Mr Francis’s watchful eye, and sealed the season by winning the county cup. The team’s focus has been on improving their batting, and they have been quite successful in this regard.

Captain Sam Dunning has led the way with over 300 runs at an average of nearly 40, hitting many square drives to the boundary.

Harry Pitt has also batted exceptionally well, with his power hitting contributing to the team’s competitive totals. The team is fortunate to have a plethora of fast bowling options, with Joel Budd being a seriously quick bowler and the remaining seamers able to swing the ball in the air, along with some useful spin options.

The team’s cricket season ended on a high note with a finals day in the last week of term. We faced a real challenge in the semi-

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final as we came up against a formidable player who had scored a century against us in the T20 match. Fortunately, the rest of their team was less talented, and we were chasing a gettable 132 to win.

After a slow start with almost no boundaries in the first ten overs, it seemed that we would be heading home at lunchtime. However, the prospect of returning to afternoon lessons seemed to motivate the remaining batters, and we managed to pick up the pace. Henry Thomas and Henry Downes rescued the situation with a fantastic partnership, and we chased down the total with an over to spare.

In the subsequent final, we lost the toss and bowled first. The team displayed an electric performance in the field, undoubtedly our most impressive of the season. Freddie Wye took two early wickets, and the fielding was energetic with accurate throws from the boundary hitting the stumps directly. The seamers continued to bowl well, and Dan Page’s leg spin claimed a wicket as we restricted the opposition to 111-6. After safely navigating their quick bowler at the start of our innings, we progressed steadily in the chase, led by our captain Sam Dunning, who scored a fifty.

Due to the slow pitch, the game was drawn out, and we did lose a few wickets. However, Fateh Singh hit the winning runs through point, and the team finished the season with well-deserved silverware. It has been a great season, with all players showing strong development.

ORO’B

SPORTCULLIS

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Squad: L. Cooper, Z. Gardner, E. Grundy, G. Horner, G. Horton, R. Jaswal, G. Keating, H. May, J. May, N. Modi, A. Robertson, T. Vitty After a very brief pre-season, a fresh U12A squad assembled for the first game of the season against RGS Worcester. The boys batted superbly, scoring 185 for 6 off 30 overs, with Jack May (59) and Ellis Grundy (40) in good form. With such a high score, RGS were bowled out for just 44 runs. Niki Modi bowled superbly, finishing with figures of 2-0-7-3.

In the County Cup, the U12As beat King Edward’s School (Stratford) by 31 runs. Warwick were put into bat and accumulated 103-5 off 20 overs, with Zane Gardner (49) and Jack May (25) scoring most of the runs. In return, Warwick bowled well and restricted King Edward’s School (Stratford) to just 77 runs. With an abandoned game against Solihull School, Warwick progressed to the County Final, which didn’t quite go to plan. Playing against a strong King Edward’s School (Birmingham), Warwick conceded 140 runs off 20 overs and struggled to gain any batting momentum.

In the Saturday fixture against Loughborough Grammar School, Loughborough batted first and struggled against Warwick’s bowling, managing only 104-8 off 25 overs. In return, Warwick completed the run chase in the 22nd over, with Zane Gardner scoring another 49.

The King’s School Worcester proved too good for Warwick, with

U12B

King’s scoring 95 runs off 20 overs. Tom Vitty bowled superbly, finishing with excellent figures of 4-25-4. In return, Warwick were bowled out for just 85 runs off 19.3 overs. Another tough fixture was against King Edward’s School (Birmingham), with Warwick being bowled out for just 112 off 28.4 overs. Tom Vitty top-scored with 29.

King Edward’s School (Birmingham) reached the total in the 27th over. Niki Modi was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 6-0-23-3.

It was a tough day in tough conditions, but the boys battled hard.

Bromsgrove School is always a tough fixture, and playing away where the boundary is very short added to the challenge.

Winning the toss and deciding to bat, Warwick posted a solid total of 163-7 off 20 overs, with contributions from Niki Modi (28), Ellis Grundy (28), and Archie Robertson (25). The bowling and fielding were superb, with George Horner taking three vital wickets in a fiery spell, finishing with figures of 2-1-2-3 in just two overs.

Bromsgrove batted cautiously, but wickets soon started to fall, and they were eventually bowled out for just 65 off 16.2 overs, resulting in an emphatic victory for Warwick.

The final Saturday fixture was against Trent College. Winning the toss and electing to bat, Warwick scored 124 runs, with Jack May leading the way with 40 off 32 balls, including 5 fours and 2 sixes.

The fielding and bowling were excellent, and Warwick bowled Trent out for just 66 runs off 12.5 overs. Once again, Niki Modi bowled particularly well, taking three wickets off 2.5 overs. In the six-a-side tournament, Warwick finished second to a very strong King’s School, Worcester. It was a good start for the boys, and I look forward to seeing how they progress with their cricket.

CRo

U12C

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Squad: W. Bamford, E. Dhesi-Dabb, H. Fawdry-Jeffries, S. Gupta, S. Ingram, H. Isbell, H. Jennings, W. MacGregor, T. McFall, F. Rapp, D. Tetley, S. Vitish

Squad: S. Broughton, B. Buckle, O. Byrne, J. Coghlan, H. Deacon, L. Edginton, S. Guest, Q. Hornby, A. Jones, M. Liddington, R. Mann, S. Sawle, A. Tracey, A. Westwood

This year’s group is a strong cricketing year, and this team was a strong B team. The results of playing eleven matches and winning ten highlight this. The team was masterfully captained by Harry Isbell and Henry Jennings. Harry was responsible for field placings, and Henry handled the bowling changes. Both led by example with their performances, with Henry and Harry leading the batting ladder, scoring a total of 150 and 114 runs respectively for the season.

The U12C team has been a force to be reckoned with this term, with most of the squad playing regular club cricket. There was plenty of competition for places in the team.

Will MacGregor was the man given the new ball and he took 18 wickets this season. However, he was not alone. He was ably supported by Sam Ingram, Eshan Dhesi-Dabb, and Shivam Gupta, all of whom tied down the opposing batting line-up with their accurate and consistent bowling. The strike bowler this year was Will Bamford, known for his fierceness and pace. The batting line-up was strong, with regular openers Felix Rapp and Shiv Vitish often providing a flying start. They were supported later in the innings by Digby Tetley, who possesses a real sporting brain for understanding the context of a game, and Thomas McFall, whose brave approach quickly brought the team closer to a winning target.

The fielding improved over the season, particularly in terms of catching. However, there was one standout fielder in every game, Harry Fawdry-Jeffries. He is known for his bravery, quickness in covering ground, and alertness in the field. If there were to be an award for this, he would surely win it.

This team was a terrific group to work with – competitive, hardworking, and good fun off the field. I am grateful for their efforts this term and wish them the best of luck for the future.

They started the season with two pairs’ softball games against KES Stratford and then Loughborough Grammar, both of which ended with wins. After these two matches, it was clear that the team was ready for some proper hardball cricket.

The season started well with a 28-run victory at Solihull School, with some excellent bowling across the team helping to set a very chaseable target. This target was reached with ease, despite one or two ducks along the way.

However, Bromsgrove School inflicted the team’s only loss of the season, as a disappointing batting display saw them tumble for 64 all out. Some batting practice over the next few weeks did pay off, though, resulting in wins against King Henry VIII School and then Trent College. Oliver Byrne took two wickets for five runs off two overs, while Max Liddington and Harrison Deacon batted impressively to chase down the target in just eight overs.

Overall, it was a very successful and enjoyable season for this enthusiastic and talented group of young men, and it will be interesting to see how they progress in future years.

GMFW

RHo

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SPORTCULLIS Intermediates

TENNIS Juniors The Lower School Tennis season has been a very memorable one.

There have been record numbers of boys at training after school and a real appetite for learning and getting better. Highlights of the season have been Ollie Scott-Brown and Ollie Cadbury winning the Junior Doubles competition. Alex Lewis won the Year 7 and Year 8 internal singles competition in July too. The U13 Team has had an excellent season where they played in the Aegon regional competition. They defeated North Leamington, KES Birmingham, and Kenilworth but narrowly lost to Princethorpe in a championship tiebreak. Other highlights have been the fixtures against MCS Oxford home and away for A, B, and C teams where the teams lost 5 sets to 4. Also, it has been great to see the boys having the opportunity to use Warwick Boat Club, and many thanks to the coaching of Gavin Henderson for supporting this.

The U13 team of George Keating, George Horton, Oli Adams, and Eduardo Pass Jimenez, plus Toby John (injury), traveled to Eton College for the National Junior Schools competition. George and George won two of their box matches on day 1 and 2 but fell short to Yarm School, missing out on the Quarter Finals. This was the same story for Oli and Eduardo, who finished third in their secondday box but defeated a very strong KES Birmingham team. Well done to all the boys for their efforts this term.

TDP

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The U14s continued last season’s form and showed their strength as a year group by performing well at A and B team levels. The strength in depth meant there was a healthy level of competition among the group, and therefore, all players strove to improve.

The U14As started the season by beating Wellington College 7 sets to 2 on the first Saturday of the term. The team, made up of Aryan Mehta, Theo Thompson, Jonny Mothersdale, Henry Nicklin, Cameron Bryan, and Ben Cadbury, performed well and rebuilt their pairings from the previous season. The U14B team, consisting of Clark Cooper, JJ Lloyd, Raphael De Passemar, Alexander Wilson, Sam Bentall, Roshan Dougall, and Oliver Crow, also played fantastic Tennis, winning all sets with a final score of 9 sets to nil. The U14As continued to win regularly throughout the season, and another highlight was an impressive 6 sets to nil win against St Edward’s Oxford. Clark, Raphael, and Roshan bolstered the A team in this fixture and again highlighted the strength in depth by winning their matches. The final external fixture of the season against Abingdon was the toughest test the players faced, and the B team battled well to win two sets, while the As made several matches go all the way to a tiebreak. Jonny Mothersdale and Charlie Feaver won the internal doubles tournament held at the end of the season, winning all four of their matches.

The U15A team began their season with a tough fixture against KES Birmingham but showed plenty of promise, winning three sets to make the final result a 6 sets to 3 loss. The team of Seb Carr, Theo Thompson, Aryan Mehta, Harry Waters, Tom Whorrod,

Youll Shield Win 2023

SPORTCULLIS Dan Nichols, Harlan Drake, Tom Bamford, and Charlie Buckley responded well to beat St Edward’s School, Oxford, 7 sets to 2 in a dominant display. The players worked well together on court and showed that their regular attendance at sessions was beneficial. The U15Bs started their season with a narrow victory over Wellington College, 5 sets to 4, and this was a sign of things to come with the team winning all but one of their fixtures.

Oscar Au and Oscar Head made their first appearance of the season and performed well, winning their match. The team, including Tom Selby, Oscar Anderson, James Curley, Zac Varachia, Oliver Grundy, James Clifton, James Reed, Ptolemy Davies, Jamie Cooper, Charlie Feaver, Tom Havard, AJ Nash, Alex Ting, and Adrian Lee, had a fantastic season and notable wins against KES Birmingham (7 sets to 2) and Abingdon (6 sets to 3).

Internal tennis tournament

Seb Carr, Theo Thompson, Aryan Mehta, and Harry Waters played in the U15A team league fixtures. They beat North Leamington and Kenilworth, who proved to be strong opponents and required the players to lean on each other for support at various stages of the matches. The final fixture was a decider to determine who qualified for the next round. This was against Rugby School and ended in a tie after both doubles matches, requiring a Championship Tie Break. It was an extremely tense match, but unfortunately, Rugby ended up victorious. It was a valiant effort from the team against strong players. The Division 2 Team comprised Tom Bamford, Dan Nichols, Charlie Buckley, Oscar Au, and Oscar Head performed well, and most notably, they beat Alcester Academy 10 sets to 2.

The end of the season saw various tournaments take place. Dan Nichols, Oscar Anderson, Ben Cadbury, and Roshan Dougall played in the Magdalen College Singles Tournament, an annual event that provides a great opportunity for players to experience grass courts. All players fought well against high-level opposition and won several matches. On Saturday, June 24th, the first Mixed Doubles tournament was held with King’s High School, which was a great experience for pupils from both schools and was enjoyed by all. The U15A team of Seb Carr, Theo Thompson, Aryan Mehta, and Harry Waters competed at the Eton National Tennis Tournament. This tournament sees the best players from across the country compete over three days. Both pairs won two of their group stage matches and then won their second group, which meant they progressed to Day 3 and the last 16 of the Plate. Seb

Carr and Theo Thompson beat KGS to reach the quarter-finals, and Aryan Mehta and Harry Waters narrowly lost out in a tiebreak to a strong Abingdon pair. Seb and Theo faced a strong Hampton pair in the following match, ending up in the final. The players represented the school with pride over the three days and can be proud of their efforts.

CTM

Seniors Senior Tennis Squad: K. Ashe, W. Barnes, S. Carr, J. Coley, F. Cooper, H. Hart-Buck, H. Jones, T. Hawkins, B. Holding, A. Mehta, V. Mehta, T. Robson (capt), G. Topping, T. Thompson, M. Thompson, H. Waters, N. Wilson, B. Woollon

1st VI

The 1st VI has enjoyed a strong season and has been one of the stronger 1st teams in recent memory. Their strength on the court has come down to years of hard work that the players have put in behind the scenes, both at school and at local tennis clubs.

Monty Thompson and William Barnes have formed a formidable partnership, and it is amazing to think that we will still have them for another year. Harrison Hart Buck has been the youngest member of our 1st team, but his iron will to compete and low error count have made him a frustrating opponent for rival schools.

Special tribute, though, should be given to our outgoing Sixth

Barnes and Thompson in action

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SPORTCULLIS Formers, especially to Thomas Robson, who has not only improved dramatically as a player but has also shown great commitment and character throughout his Warwickian tennis career. I would also like to thank Killian Ashe, George Topping, Barnaby Woollon, Finlay Cooper, Toby Hawkins, and Ben Holding for their service to the tennis club. We hope to see them turning out for OWs tennis in the future.

The 1st team had high hopes in the National Cup, having reached the finals stage last year. However, after a strong start, their hopes of a deep cup run were dashed by a reinvigorated Ellesmere College, whom we defeated last year. In weekend friendly fixtures, our 1st team performed well with excellent wins against Rugby and Abingdon. Ben Holding and Joe Coley, playing as the 3rd pair, often belied their status, pushing top pairs all the way and forming an effective partnership essential to overall victories.

The curtain call for the year was the Independent School National Championships held at Eton College. Here, our top four players pushed the tennis scholars of Euell Castle Tennis Academy all the way in the quarter-finals of the U19 Youll Cup. This put us into the Youll Shield, where we faced Repton, who have a fearsome tennis reputation and history. Here, we came through on a ‘shoot-out’ set to get through to the final and our first chance at Eton silverware in seven years against St. George’s. Thomas Robson, in his final match as a Warwickian, with Harrison Hart-Buck, came from a set behind to once again force another ‘shoot-out’ set with the Youll Shield on the line. Monty Thompson and Harrison Hart-Buck played superbly to create chance after chance to win the match in challenging and wet conditions, but match points came and then they went. Eventually, in the tie-break at 6-6, Warwick got over the line to record a famous win.

REAL TENNIS This has been another excellent year on the court for those who signed up for coaching in this magnificent racket sport. Over the course of the year, approximately a dozen boys have battled on the court in Leamington under the keen tutelage of the pros, Lewis and Chris, and have made steady progress. Once they successfully navigated the baffling vernacular of tambours, railroads, dedans, chases, and boomerangs, and mastered the basic ground strokes and serves with varying degrees of skill, the games became hard-fought, showcasing their abilities. With two of the world’s fifty courts located within five miles of Warwick School, there is a faint hope (at least from me) that this place could become the world’s hub for this endlessly fascinating sport. Next year, with the return of some participants, we hope to arrange a couple of fixtures. We extend our great thanks to the pros at Leamington and also to the club members, whose indulgence of our presence every Friday afternoon and occasional lack of white attire on the court is greatly appreciated.

BPA

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2nd VI

The 2nd team has played well as both a developmental squad for younger players and a team based on competition and fun for our departing Sixth Formers. The Upper Sixth Formers have been wonderful in their reliability and keen attitude to compete, and I would like to pay particular tribute to Killian Ashe here. In our final fixture against Rugby, all Upper Sixth boys wished to play despite us being oversubscribed and were happy to fill in where necessary to get one more final game in blue and white. Ned Wilson has played in great spirit and with skill, showing himself ready to step up to the 1st VI next year when called upon. Fittingly, the last game of the year ended with a strong victory against Rugby School, which should have provided a great send-off for our departing boys.

PMW

SPORTCULLIS

TABLE TENNIS Table tennis continues to thrive at Warwick, with two after-school clubs running this year and several pupils learning to play the sport for the first time. We are fortunate to have some astonishingly talented players as well, and we were able to field teams in the National U16 and U13 competitions. The U16 team won three zonal rounds, qualifying for the National Final in April.

Despite a narrow defeat in the final against a table tennis academy, our top two seeds, Starry Sheung and Rex Wong, remained undefeated in the competition. Additionally, Yannic Fowler (Year 9) and Toby John (Year 7) delivered incredible performances. This achievement was truly fantastic, especially considering that three of the four players were U14 or younger! We eagerly anticipate the next year and aim to enter more teams to represent the school in the national competition.

PMT

FENCING Various competitions were entered this year. In February, Daniel Jenks-Berryman took part in the men’s under 18 Foil at the West Midlands Championships held in Solihull. It was Daniel’s first-ever foil competition, and he finished third, qualifying for the ‘2023 British Youth Championships National Age Group Finals’ in May. In March, Daniel fenced again in the West Midlands Epée Championships, competing in the highly competitive under 18 boys event, which included several members of the British under 17 squad. He finished tenth.

In June several of our fencers competed against the fencers of Kenilworth Fencing Club at Myton School. Daniel Jenks-Berryman and Oliver Crabtree formed an epée team, defeating the home team 20-16. Meanwhile, Patrick Stiven led a Foil team in two matches. They lost the first match to a very strong Kenilworth team, 45-16, but performed much better in the second match. They took a strong early lead, but the hosts gradually closed the gap, leading to an exciting end to the match. In the final fight, Patrick carried the team over the line to a 45-41 victory.

Jacob Kemp travelled to Bromsgrove Prep School to participate in the Age Group Epée competition held there. Jacob competed in the Year 7 and 8 event, being at the bottom of the age group. He won a fight in the first round and two fights in the second round, finishing 12th overall.

However, the highlight of the year was the three-day residential Public Schools Fencing Championships in London, which took place two weeks ago. Patrick Stiven, Daniel Jenks-Berryman, Wilf Alston, and Ethan Seshie all travelled with Mr Stephenson. Each of them survived at least one cut in each event, resulting in top 75% finishes in every category. This is a remarkable achievement, especially considering that three out of the four participants were competing in their first big Public Schools tournament.

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SPORTCULLIS

SKI RACING

During the second year of Ski Racing across the Foundation Schools, there have been some fantastic results and a significant improvement from the boys at Warwick School and the girls at King’s High School.

September is ESSkiA (English Schools Ski Association) time, with qualifying races at Gloucester leading to Finals Day in Norwich. In the 21/22 season, we had one Warwick team qualify for Norwich, but this time we had three teams of boys qualify: l Hugh Swabey-Collison, Fenton Cooper, and William Atkin at Cat 1/U12 level. l Tycho Davies, Charlie Lovell, and Monty Hogg at Cat 2/U14 level. l Tom Gilyead, Dan Gilyead, Ptolemy Davies, and Josh Davies at Cat 3/U16 level.

The highlight of the “Age group” National Finals was Hugh and Fenton placing third and fourth individually in the U.2 category, which earned them recognition and selection for the first tier of ESSkiA’s National training pathway. They will be training indoors in Peer, Belgium, this summer. Their team placed fifth in the U.12 category, the U14 team unfortunately didn’t finish as a team, and the U16 team placed seventh.

During the Finals weekend, we also entered a team in the ‘Open Race’, and the boys’ team consisting of Tom, Dan, Ptolemy, and Tycho managed to qualify as part of the English quota for the British Schools Championships, held in Stoke in November. Next year, this race will be in Edinburgh, so the boys will be aiming for a trip north of the border. The girls from Kings High School also qualified for this race, marking another step up for the Foundation’s ski racers. Teams from all over the home nations participated, and the standard was very high, with our skiers performing admirably on this significant stage.

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In March, the skiers raced in the Birmingham and Midlands Schools Champs at Ackers Adventure, with good performances all around.

The Warwick Junior Boys triumphed in their category, while the Senior boys finished second in theirs.

In the last Schools races for Warwick School this year, the ESSkiA Indoor races at Xscape, Castleford, the U19 team of Tom Gilyead, Dan Gilyead, Ptolemy Davies, and Josh Davies finished fifth. The standout performance of the day came from the U.14 team of Monty Hogg, Tycho Davies, Charlie Lovell, and Hugh Swabey-Collison, who secured a podium finish in second place.

In addition to the schools events, skiers from Warwick and King’s High are starting to train for and enter races on the UK dry slope circuit. They have also been away training indoors and in Italy.

Considering that this activity has been running for barely two years, the results thus far have been outstanding. May this success continue for a long time to come.

Robin Gilyead

SPORTCULLIS

SWIMMING Our Warwick swimmers completed another noteworthy season in the pool, led by our impressive senior team.

During the Michaelmas term, both our Senior and Intermediate teams qualified to participate in the English Schools Swimming Association (ESSA) 64th Senior Schools Relay Championships Finals. They competed against the fastest 30 teams in the country at the London Aquatic Centre.

Both teams of boys rose to the occasion and delivered an excellent set of swims, resulting in the school’s best combined results in this competition. The U18 team finished seventh in the Freestyle event and 15th in the Medley event, while our U15 team exceeded expectations with an eighth place finish in the Freestyle relay and a sixth place finish in the Medley relay.

U15 Team: Zack Haigh, Joe Lin, Charlie Mee, Will Payton, Ned Stevens U18 Team: Jason Herbert, Louis McAuliffe, Charlie Mackenzie, Ruben Snelson The season concluded on a triumphant note when our senior team returned to the London Aquatic Centre to participate in the historic Bath Cup, held in its centenary year. In response to the significance of the event, our boys raised their performance levels and delivered a series of outstanding swims. They left the pool with their heads held high after securing an eighth place finish in the Medley relay and a remarkable third place finish in the Freestyle relay, marking Warwick’s first-ever podium position in this prestigious event.

Throughout the season, the school was also well represented by many boys across all age groups in a series of interschool galas, achieving great success. We eagerly anticipate witnessing their progress in the upcoming season.

RMcW

GOLF Unfortunately, it has been a quiet summer of golf for us as we were knocked out of both the ISGA and HMC team competitions.

However, Sam Price, Gabriel Westrope, Monty Fincher, and Charlie England have been actively participating in various county competitions, representing Warwickshire. Additionally, for the school, Sam Price, Gabriel Westrope, and Monty Fincher took part in the prestigious HG Trophy held on the King’s course at The Warwickshire. It was an impressive achievement for Gabriel Westrope, finishing fourth in the individual Net competition, especially considering the participation of schools from Scotland.

Another highlight of the summer term is the annual match against the Old Warwickians. The coveted Jack Marshall Trophy was up for grabs in the OWs vs. the school golf match held at Leamington & Co. Golf Club on Friday, June 16th, 2023. The course was in great condition, and the match began with 12 eager golfers. The match followed the normal format, with 3 pairs on each team competing under full handicap difference using match play rules. The OWs were proud to include Tom Pierce, a teacher about to leave Warwick School after 17 years of faithful service, in their team. Tom was granted ‘honorary OW status’ after 15 years of service, which I believe is well-deserved. This

was Tom’s final opportunity to shine on the golf course in this event. Owen Herringshaw, the new ‘head of school golf,’ also supported the match and will be assisting the boys starting from October 2023.

In the friendly match that accompanied the main event, Owen joined myself, Tom Dodsworth, and Oscar Anderson. Meanwhile, the main event saw Geoff Tedstone and Tom Pierce facing off against Cameron Collie and Rupert Beaumont. The OWs had a great start, narrowly winning 1 up. In the second pairing, John Gibbons and Sam Gill faced Sam Price and Gabriel Westrope.

Unfortunately, exceptional play from the School pairing led to an early handshake, with the School winning 5 and 4. Thus, everything depended on the final match between Tim Harry and Harry Abell against Charlie England and Monty Fincher. The match was closely contested, and with parents, teachers, and OWs gathering around the final green, it all came down to a 3-4ft putt from Harry Abell to secure a hard-fought half. This crucial half meant that the trophy would remain in the hands of the OWs. The crowd fell silent, only to erupt in applause as Harry calmly sank the putt, disappointing the boys. The final result: 1&1/2 to 1&1/2 – the match was tied, All square once again.

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rably, progressing to the Nation The U15s: The boys competed admi d the Bronze Medal on goal dif ure sec we nt, me rna tou ve titi pe com as Hodgson and Luc Valentin Roche were our top scorers, while Luc role in the midfield as the eng back. Seb Lloyd-Evans played a vital

SPORTCULLIS

WATER POLO U18 ESSA Squad: E. Ashe, A. Bosworth, H. Colliver, J. Chillington, O. Fines-Allin, I. Morrison, L. Morrison, D. Robson (capt), R. Snelson, O. Walton-Hayfield U15 ESSA Squad: J. Davies, L. Gillard-Browne, L. Hodgson, S. Lloyd-Evans, D. Roche, N. Stevens, J. Taylor, L. Valentine, P. Walton-Hayfield U13 ESSA Squad: O. Adams, R. Ashe, L. Balzaretti, T.J. Bethell, E. Clarke, D. Fovargue, S. Guest, G. Horner, S. Ingram, W. Nock, R. Ruparellia, A. Stokes, S. Taylor The U18s: This year, we made it to the National Bowl semi-final tournament. Despite not having any Upper Sixth boys in the team, we managed to achieve this feat, so hopefully, we will take the extra step next year. Dougal Robson led the team effectively, with Enzo Ashe leading the defence.

The U15 Team winning Bronze

The U15 Team winning Bronze

The U15s: The boys competed admirably, progressing to the National Bowl Final. In a highly competitive tournament, we secured the Bronze Medal on goal difference. Fred Ward and Daniel Roche were our top scorers, while Lucas Hodgson and Luc Valentine provided solid defence at the back. Seb LloydEvans played a vital role in the midfield as the engine room.

tournaments. The Year 7 team achieved an impressive third place in the West Midlands just before the end of the term. Well done to all the boys, and special recognition goes to Raul Ruparellia, Arlo Stokes, Stephen Taylor, and TJ Bethell in Year 8 for their standout performances. We are excited to see how the Year 7 boys continue to progress when they reach the top of their age group next year. Sam Ingram, Will Nock, Max Liddington, Digby Tetley, Zane Gardner, and others have shown great commitment.

d fantastic progress thro we sho m tea 8 d an 7 r Yea e Th 3s: U1 The had several strong perform National SemNGi-Final tournament and d impressive third place in the West Mi an ed iev ach m tea 7 r Yea A mixed Year 7 and 8 team taking second place at a tournament at KES Birmingham special recognition goes to term. Well done to all the boys, and ir standout performances.

Taylor, and TJ Bethell in Year 8 for the y reach the top of their ag the en wh ss gre pro to ue tin con ys bo 7 , Zane Gardner, and others h Nock, Max Liddington, Digby Tetley

The U13s: The Year 7 and 8 team showed fantastic progress throughout the year. We made it to the National Semi-Final tournament and had several strong performances at regional

A/mixed 8 team taking second place at a tournament at KES Birmingham 152 P o r t c uYear l l i s 27 0 and 23

SPORTCULLIS

SAILING The sailing team this year has been involved in numerous races, filled with fierce rivalry, especially among the helms within our own Warwick team. However, amidst the intense competition, we have managed to achieve noteworthy triumphs against formidable opponents such as Bloxham and Cokethorpe.

These victories were hard-earned, with every member of the team demonstrating resilience and skill.

Notably, our team showcased their skill when navigating the notoriously challenging Boddington wind. The strategic strength displayed by our team this year has been truly remarkable, a testament to the unwavering dedication exhibited by the entire team throughout the winter season. As we look ahead, we eagerly anticipate further honing the skills of all our sailors, poised to seize more remarkable victories in the coming year.

Toby Atherton, Upper Sixth

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OLD WARWICKIANS

Old Warwickians OWA President

Prof Peter Varnish OBE, WS 1954-65 (to 31 December 2022) Jim Button, WS 1978-85 (from 1 January 2023)

OWA Chairman Steve Tubb, WS 1971-82

The Old Warwickian Association offers lifelong opportunities for camaraderie, friendship and networking. Today, there are over 6,300 Old Warwickians in 50 countries across the globe and from every decade since the 1940s. OWs stay in contact with the school and each other through The Old Warwickian newsletter, www.oldwarwickians.org and an online networking platform www.warwickfoundationconnect.com.

A full calendar of events and reunions continues to offer OWs a range of opportunities to revisit and stay connected with Warwick School and to meet at home and abroad to enjoy each other’s company.

U6 Graduation

In June our 2023 leavers officially marked their time at Warwick School with a Graduation Ceremony and Prize-Giving. They were warmly welcomed into the OWA by Adrian Keeling KC (WS 197585) and were presented with their OW ties.

The Head Master and Adrian Keeling KC at U6 Graduation U6 Graduation

For many OWs, Chapel was little changed

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OW Anniversary Reunions

200 OWs were welcomed back to school on 10 June for this year’s anniversary reunions. Leavers from 1973, ‘83, ‘93, 2003 and 2013, and many of the staff who taught them, enjoyed a relaxed and sunny afternoon reconnecting with each other. Prefects’ tours combined many parts of the school which were familiar while showcasing the amazing facilities and opportunities enjoyed by students today.

There we are!

OLD WARWICKIANS

1973

ANNIVERSARY REUNIONS

1983

1993

2003

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Some of our former and current staff at the Anniversary Reunions Celebrating (some of our) Old Warwickians Prefects ready for the tours

Time for a cuppa

Smile please

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OLD WARWICKIANS

Group photo at the 1940s-60s Spring Lunch

1940s-60s Lunch and 1963 Leavers Reunion

OWs at school in the 1940s-60s were welcomed back to school in March to enjoy a film show from the Warwick School archives, followed by lunch. For some, it was their first return since leaving school. The occasion also provided the perfect opportunity for our 1963 leavers to mark 60 years since they graduated.

1963 Leavers’ 60-year anniversary Recognising old friends in the school photos

The 1940s-60s Spring Lunch in the Pyne Room (formerly Big School) School Archivist Gervald Frykman offered a talk and film show from the 1950s and 60s

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OLD WARWICKIANS

The 2022 OWA Annual Dinner in the Pyne Room

OWA Annual Dinner

The OWA Annual Dinner is traditionally held at school the first Saturday in December. At the December 2022 dinner Martin Green, WS Staff 1970-2005, provided an amusing and entertaining after-dinner speech with his five most memorable moments at Warwick School.

This year’s OWA President’s Dinner at Leamington Tennis Court Club

OWA President’s Dinner

OWA President 2023 Jim Button (WS 1978-85) hosted a tremendous dinner for over 90 OWs and their wives, partners and friends at Leamington Tennis Court Club in May.

2003 Leavers regularly return for the OWA Annual Dinner Great to see so many OW Buttons at the President’s Dinner David Skinner, Eric Hadley, Niall Skinner, Tom Shattock and Martin Green Pre-dinner drinks in the Lounge

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OLD WARWICKIANS

Regional and International Gatherings

From Wessex to the West Country and Birmingham to Dubai, OWs continue to enjoy regional and international gatherings. OW boarders also enjoyed a Zoom Reunion with Head of Boarding David and Katy Bull.

OWs and OGs in Dubai met with Foundation Principal Richard Nicholson Wessex Old Warwickians The autumn 2022 Birmingham Bash

Some of our West Country OWs

Jesus Christ Superstar

Members of the 2012 Jesus Christ Superstar cast enjoyed meeting their counterparts ten years later at the 2022 production.

Members of the JCS 2012 and 2022 casts with Director of Drama Mr Perry

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The annual School vs OWs cricket

OW Sport

OW rugby sevens, golf, cricket, tennis and cross country have all been enjoyed this last year.

OW Golf Spring Meeting winners Sam Gill, Harry Abell, Carrick Waldron and Julian Marcus OW Golf Autumn Day

OW Golfers Julian Marcus, David Phillips and Peter Gedge

OW Cross Country runners, September 2022 The annual School vs OWs tennis

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Thank you

Special thanks to many OWs who return to school to support our Careers, Podcasts and Encounters programmes.

An Encounter with James Uffindell (WS 1992-97).

James was also Guest of Honour at Speech Day and Prize-Giving Mr Jefferies and Dr Chapman recorded a podcast with King’s Singer Edward Button (WS 1997-08) Owen James (WS 1993-03) was honoured to give the address during our Remembrance Service in Chapel.

Owen served as an Officer with the Welsh Guards in Afghanistan

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Obituaries 2023

We record with regret the passing of Old Warwickians and former staff mentioned below and pass on our sympathies to their families and friends. Obituaries of some follow this list.

Christopher S Allen, WS 1952-58

and Alex) the Appleyards had many happy times together. They enjoyed holidays in Suffolk, often joined by their family dog, Chancey.

Angela Appleyard, WJS Staff 2001-22 Robin Appleyard, WS Staff 1994-2015 Anthony J Atkins, WS 1947-55 Peter H E Bailey, WS 1942-49 J Geoffrey Binks, WS 1942-48 Prof Robert Bluglass CBE, WS 1943-48 Derek H Boyce, WS 1942-47 Lt Col Ian Branton OBE, WS 1947-53 Peter F T Bromwich OBE, WS 1943-51 Nigel W Brown OBE, WS 1957-64 John R Burrows, WS 1941-45 Parry John Clift, WS 1954-65 Barbara Clifton, formerly Harry, WS Headmaster’s Secretary 1966-75 John Cooper, WS 1940-49 Brian Cordery OBE, WS 1946-56 David G Cotterill, WS 1948-56 Jonathan R Cousins, WS 1983-86 William A (Bill) Crouch, WS 1940-46 Lt Col Francis Daniell, WS Staff 1986-2001 John M Davies, WS 1949-57 Roger J Diamond, WS 1941-49 Stephen (Spud) Dudley, WS 1959-64 Stuart J Hartley, WS 1978-90 Phil Heelis, WS Staff 1964-91 Cecil R H Hinton, WS 1943-49 Geoffrey Holmes, WS staff 1958-69 Peter C Jinman OBE, WS 1958-69 David Jones, WS Staff 1987-92 Michael R Jones, WS 1975-82 Michael D Knibb, WS 1947-53 Michael Laflin, WS 1956-65 Roger K Liermann, WS 1953-61 David Glyn Mellings, WS 1944-50 John R Morgan, WS 1966-74 Robert L Newbold, WS 1950-55 Nicholas (Nick) J Rabson, WS 1973-83 Peter Rendall, WS 1954-63 Mervyn Riches, WS Staff 1966-69 Christopher S B (Kit) Smith, WS 1935-42 William D Sparrow, WS 1956-64 David J T Stephens, WS 1946-52 Anthony P Twigger, WS 1949-55 George T Watson, WS 1944-46 Terence M West, WS 1941-47 Stephen M Williams, WS 1986-91 Paul R Withers, WS 1979-88

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ANGELA APPLEYARD (née Bond) WJS Staff 2001-22

Angela grew up in Kenilworth, attending Priorsfield Primary School and then Kenilworth School. From there she attended The University of St Andrews, following in the footsteps of her older brother Chris (WS Staff 2002–20).

Angela completed a Psychology degree at St. Andrews and then did her PGCE at Warwick University. She then began the career she was born to do. Her first teaching post was at The Kingsley School.

Angela joined the teaching staff at Warwick Junior School in September 2001 as a First Year (Year 3) Form Tutor. During her 21 years at WJS she took on many different roles. She moved from Year 3 to the Curriculum Support Department, then on to Year 5, where she was a Form Tutor and English teacher. She also taught French for a number of years and played the piano in assemblies and to accompany the WJS Choir. She returned to where it all began by spending her last couple of years in the Junior School, teaching in Year 3.

Warwick School was also where Angela met Robin (WS Staff 1994-2015). Angela and Robin married in 2006 and they had two beautiful daughters together.

Annie was born in 2007 and Gracie in 2008. Angela returned to work full time after Annie was born but decided to take a career break after having Gracie.

Thankfully, she didn’t stay away from WJS for too long and returned when both girls were in school full time. Together with Robin’s three older children (Frankie, Lissy

Angela was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2016 and was told almost straight away that it was terminal. In true Angela style her immediate instinct was to do everything she could to prolong her life. She took every type of treatment that was offered to her, many of which caused massive side effects. She dealt with everything bravely and often with a smile. Over the seven years that she fought the illness she understandably had a lot of time away from school. Angela liked being able to work and did everything she could to get back to ‘normal’ as quickly as possible. When she was at work, she was pretty stubborn about doing her bit, never wanting to use her illness as an excuse.

On several occasions we had to go behind her back and speak to senior management to make changes to her duties and responsibilities. Once the relevant changes had been agreed we would tell her the change of plan. She was always grateful and understanding but would never have asked for it on her own. She never wanted to think she was letting people down, even though no one would ever have thought that for a second.

The outbreak of Covid-19 and the ensuing lockdowns meant that Angela was unable to physically come into school. It was simply too big a risk to take. When we were all in lockdowns Angela did the same online teaching as the rest of the WJS staff.

When we were back at school, she took on the role of providing online teaching support for all the boys who were having to isolate/quarantine because of Covid. She named her provision ‘Appleyard’s Academy for High Achievers’! The WJS staff were supremely grateful for everything she did during this time as it meant that we did not have to worry about the education of the boys that were unable to come into school.

We all knew they could not have been in safer hands.

During all of Angela’s time at home she certainly kept herself busy. She was obviously working very hard to run Appleyard’s Academy for High Achievers, but she also took on many craft projects.

She taught herself how to crochet and made many beautiful gifts for friends and

OLD WARWICKIANS STAFF NEWS family. She took up sewing, making bags and decorations, again which she shared with friends and family. There are many of us that now truly cherish the lovingly handmade items we still have around our home, made for us by Angela.

Angela was also an avid reader. She always had the latest Kindle and it was never far from her side. She got very used to sitting around in waiting rooms so always had her Kindle with her to keep her occupied.

Angela had always enjoyed walking and running and being diagnosed with terminal cancer didn’t stop her. If anything, it gave her even more of a reason to get out and pound the pavements every day. Less than two years after being diagnosed with cancer Angela ran the Birmingham Half Marathon with her brother Chris.

Watching her cross the finish line was an incredibly emotional experience. Even more inspirational, if that’s possible, was the fact that just six months before she died, she ran the Two Castles 10km, along with four other members of WJS staff. We called ourselves “Team Applejuice”. Angela had run this event before but by the time we did it in June 2022 she really was not well. She was probably the only runner that day that had to stop halfway round to take her pain medication in order to keep going.

Not only did she complete the distance in 1 hour and 19 minutes, but she also raised almost £6500 for Myton Hospice. We again went behind Angela’s back and shared her fundraising page with the whole Warwick School community. The donations and comments that came in from OWs, parents, colleagues and current pupils showed how much Angela meant to the people that she interacted with. Angela has inspired quite a few members of the WJS team to start/ keep running. A team of five ran the Two Castles in June 2023 in Angela’s memory.

We were all spurred on in our training by the mantra she used to tell us – “there’s no such thing as a bad run”.

Even after the Covid-19 pandemic eased for the rest of us, Angela was unable to return physically to school. The risk was still too great, and her health was getting worse. The cancer was spreading, and she was suffering more and more side effects of all the medication she had to take to keep herself going. In April 2022 Angela took the difficult decision to take early retirement due to ill health. She wanted to get things in order for her family while she still had time.

In July 2022 the unthinkable happened.

While on a family holiday in Cornwall Robin suffered a seizure, which caused him to hit his head. He suffered a brain bleed and died less than 24 hours later. Angela was with him when he died. The whole family was devastated and in shock. Angela spent

the remaining months of her life organising everything in order to provide for Annie and Gracie. She was determined that her girlies would be well looked after once she was gone.

On 29th November 2022 Angela moved to Myton Hospice following a brief stay in Warwick Hospital. During her short stay at Myton she had many visitors. Lots of us read messages from WJS staff, past and present, that had been placed in a jar for her. Many of these brought a smile to her face and a laugh to her lips, despite the pain she was in.

On Tuesday 6th December Angela passed away peacefully in Myton Hospice. Her parents and her daughters were with her.

The news was shared with WJS staff and students within hours. A Chapel Service was held in her memory later on that same day.

Angela was truly one of life’s wonderful people. She was positive and upbeat, despite all the difficulties that life threw at her. She had an infectious laugh, a chuckle really. She was incredibly brave and strong, an inspiration to so many people to keep fighting no matter what.

She cared very deeply about the people in her life. She was passionate about teaching and inspired generations of WJS boys in all manner of ways. She seemed to have endless patience where teaching was concerned. She always saw the good in even the most troublesome of students!

Angela was a kind and supportive friend to so many people, often providing guidance and advice even though she herself was struggling with all kinds of difficulties. She never liked to complain and would often say “I’m fine” when asked how she was doing, even if she most definitely wasn’t.

Angela was a very important part of the WJS team, and her memory lives on in the school. We talk about her often amongst ourselves as colleagues and with the boys that remember her.

Angela is missed and remembered every day by those that knew and loved her.

KB

ROBIN APPLEYARD WS Staff 1994-2015

The death of Robin Appleyard shortly after that of Trevor Barr, while on a family holiday in the West Country, marked a gloomy period for the Warwick music community. In his 16 years at the school, most of them as Head of Strings and, later, Chamber Music, Robin superintended a continued growth in the popularity of both the violin and the viola. His organisation of the Department’s musical calendar was always immaculate. Many boys made their first experiences of these instruments under Robin’s tutelage, opening up a lifelong love of music, and his coaching of boys in his beloved Mozart, Haydn and Mendelssohn reflected in great success in the Pro Corda competition.

He was himself a consummate musician, having studied at the Birmingham School of Music. He had, as Simon Hogg highlighted in his 2015 Portcullis farewell article to Robin, a gift for arranging and composition, in his final term at school helping the Junior School Orchestra to perform with much credit at the Birmingham Music for Youth Festival.

In the years after his departure from WS, Robin worked for a while for Warwickshire Music Service, but his most significant work was when he joined a special needs Cheltenham-based college as a “Lift Travel Trainer” in the Warwickshire team.

They work with individuals with learning needs of all types to help them travel independently, for example to school or college.

Very sadly, Robin’s wife Angela (WJS Staff 2001-22) passed away after a lengthy illness in December. The school sends its sympathy to their daughters and wider family.

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OLD WARWICKIANS In 2007 he married Thelma, who he leaves behind, along with so many family and friends that I wouldn’t know where to start mentioning them. To say he was a popular and well-liked man would be a huge understatement. Those who last year attended the church service to celebrate his life will know exactly what I mean.

I hope some of you will be able to charge your glasses and raise a toast to Tony at the next OW dinner, as I know he would be honoured for you to have a drink in his memory.

Mark Atkins, son

ANTHONY J (TONY) ATKINS WS 1947-55

It is with great sadness that I write about the passing of Tony Atkins who was a hugely active member of the Old Warwickian Association for the whole of his adult life.

Tony passed away on 2nd September 2022 at Warwick Hospital, surrounded by his family after suffering ill health for the last few years.

Tony always talked of his time at Warwick School with great fondness. While attending school he lived in Dickens Road and would often cycle to school with his friends and this is where he forged some of his most long-lasting friendships.

From school he started working as an apprentice carpenter/joiner. After completing his apprenticeship, he became the third generation to run the family business which employed thousands of people over its 80-year history. For many, the sight of a spotlessly clean Crosbee and Atkins van driving around Warwick, would have been a very common sight during days at school.

The current Warwick School Art block was built by the company in the late 1980s.

Dad also loved the town of Warwick. He was on numerous committees and charities during his lifetime including The King Henry VIII Endowed Trust and Warwick Court Leet and he was a prominent member of the Warwick Lions Club for many years.

His other main passion was vintage Rover cars. He had any number of old relics over the years, including his first ever car, a 1936 Rover 10 which he kept until very recently.

He spent many hours with his head under the bonnet of a car that would inevitably break down on him.

Tony was married to his first wife Pat in 1968 and they had three children. My two older sisters Karen and Rachel, and myself. He had five grandchildren ranging in age from 6 to 20 and he was so proud of them all.

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PETER H E BAILEY WS 1942-49

Peter was also an extremely self-deprecating man, never taking himself seriously and, in his advancing years, enjoying Kate’s nickname for him – ‘The Old Bailey’.

On a personal level, Peter was my inspiration and mentor throughout my OW ‘career’. He was always the go-to-man for all things OW and had a biblical knowledge of the school, its old boys, the rugby club and of the rules and regulations governing the OWA. A calm voice throughout the various storms, his sage advice and guidance were invaluable to generations of OW chairmen and presidents; and no more so than in 2007/8, when a seismic change took place in the OWA: the school’s new alumni office took over the running of the OWA, and the failing Portcullis Club was sold and the proceeds invested in the newly-formed OW Trust to provide bursaries. Throughout that period, Peter worked closely with the newlyappointed alumni officer, Anne Douglas, to ensure a smooth handover of the work he was doing as OWA secretary.

As I wrote in my chairman’s report in The Portcullis at that time: ‘So my thanks go to Peter Bailey, a past president now in his 76th year, who continues to serve you loyally as secretary, despite having tried to resign on several occasions! Peter, as his name implies, has been the rock on which the Association had anchored itself. Thanks Peter – I don’t think that many people really know how much they owe to you for the continued existence of their association.’

For those old boys who didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Peter, he was the very foundation on which the modern OWA was built. It was often said that if you snapped him in half like a stick of rock he’d have the words ‘Warwick School’ running through him.

Peter was born in Leamington and, like his brother Colin (46-55), attended Warwick School; as did his two sons David, (78– 89), a particle physicist in Geneva and Hamburg; and Mark (70–77), an accountant in Auckland, New Zealand. After school he qualified in dentistry at Birmingham University, before spending his two years National Service as a Flight Lieutenant with the RAF Dental Branch in Malta, where he met the Aga Khan and Lady Mountbatten.

His decades of service to the Association – serving on both the Portcullis Club and OWRFC committees, his many years as secretary of the OWA and his chairmanship from 1973 to 1975 –culminated in him being unanimously voted president for the OWA centenary year, 1998; an honour he so richly deserved.

Returning home, he was the school dentist for Warwickshire County Council, travelling to village schools throughout the county with a ‘dental caravan’, before joining his father’s practice in Leicester Street, Leamington; where he continued to work one day a week as a school dentist in the aptly name Crown Way clinic.

Peter was also an ardent Freemason (he was appointed to Grand Rank in the United Grand Lodge of England) and founded the Schola Warwicensis Lodge in 1989.

In 1977, he became a Department of Health dental officer, inspecting and approving other dentists throughout the Midlands.

Working from offices in Birmingham and Oxford, he spent time visiting 1,000 dental practices – and the HMP Long Lartin maximum-security prison!

Peter Bailey, for so many years the bedrock of the Old Warwickian Association, died in March this year, aged 91.

He and his wife Kate, who were married in 1970, were always popular faces at the Portcullis Club (the former OWA headquarters in Warwick) and at old boys’ dinners, chapel services, sporting events etc, where he was always smiling and forever having a kind word to say.

Retiring in 1991, aged 60, Peter took up a cookery course, progressing to Cordon Bleu level. He also gained a BSc degree in social science at the Open University,

OLD WARWICKIANS STAFF NEWS seeking a challenge that had nothing to do with his previous profession. He and Kate then became enthusiastically involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (they were seldom seen without their beloved Labradors), learnt ballroom dancing (reaching silver medal standard) and taking active roles in Neighbourhood Watch and Crime Prevention, setting up Neighbourhood Watch schemes throughout the county for over 40 years.

Peter was also very proud of the Leamington in Bloom project and was escorting judges on their tours of the town right up until last year, when immobility got the better of him.

In their later years, away from ‘work’, Peter and Kate enjoyed cruises around the world and indulging Peter’s passion for railways by undertaking many of the Great Rail Journeys.

A devout Christian, Peter enjoyed services at Warwick School chapel and at Saint Mary’s Church, Cubbington, where his Service of Thanksgiving was held. As Kate told the congregation: “To grow old is a great gift – the best of gifts. Peter’s life was time well spent and I value my 53 happy years with him.”

Nigel Robinson, WS 1955-66

Prof ROBERT BLUGLASS CBE

A distinguished and innovative academic career followed. After national service Robert studied at St Andrews, became a consultant psychiatrist and then first Professor of Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Birmingham. A colleague, Derek Chiswick, recalls that he ‘was a pioneer in the development of forensic psychiatry and had a key role in the establishment of regional secure units when the concept did not have universal support from general psychiatry or the NHS’. Notably, he led the 1999 enquiry into Ashworth high security psychiatric hospital which called for its closure, a recommendation rejected however by the then health secretary Frank Dobson.

Among Professor Bluglass’s publications were A Guide to the Mental Health Act 1983. He coedited Psychiatry, Human Rights and the Law and Principles and Practice of Forensic Psychiatry, hailed by one reviewer in 1995 as marking the coming of age of forensic psychiatry. He was awarded a CBE in 1995.

43 years after leaving the RAF Robert was invited to accept the honorary post of Civil Consultant Adviser in Psychiatry to the Royal Air Force with the status of Air Commodore: an ‘implied promotion from the ranks in one leap’, he observed, that ‘was an extraordinary and irresistible honour’. Proof, he might have added, that we should follow our passions and take our chances, regardless of initial discouragement.

Dr Jonathan Smith

WS 1943-48

These days Warwick School boys generally go to the university of their choice, conscientiously advised by the careers department, perhaps after a gap year carefully planned to enhance their CV. For young Robert Bluglass it could not have been more different. Only a day or two after leaving school he was called up for national service with the words of his careers master still ringing in his ears: ‘A doctor? You’ll never be a doctor!’

But the disparagement was a challenge, and the fact that his ‘Certificate A’ in the Officers Training Corps at Warwick failed to secure a commission was no great deterrent.

Robert was soon a nursing orderly in the RAF, observing plastic surgery at first hand, treating patients with burns during the Berlin airlift and watching medical celebrities at work. He was also encouraged in a way that would have surprised his careers master, as when the surgeon in theatre, after amputating a limb, said: ’You want to be a doctor, don’t you? Would you like to take the leg and dissect it?’

DEREK H BOYCE WS 1942-47

Derek died on 16th March 2022. He very kindly left a legacy to Warwick School and, shortly before he died, dictated a letter to the Alumni Relations Office in appreciation of all that Warwick School had given him over his lifetime.

“My education opened many doors for me, I know that my parents sacrificed material things for me to attend Warwick School, my father being a railway guardsman, and my mother a shop worker.

My school has a reputation internationally as excelling in education and I wish to record my appreciation as a young Kenilworth boy from a normal background to have had the opportunity to have a privileged education awarded to me by the scholarship system.

To this day I don’t know how my parents afforded to provide my uniform, my cricket

bat and other essential items but they did it, and I am eternally proud and grateful to have been a Warwick School boy”.

Derek’s donation has gone to the Warwick School Bursary Fund.

Lt. Col. IAN HENDERSON BRANTON OBE WS 1947-53

Born in Coventry, Ian left Warwick School to join the army. Commissioned into the Royal Artillery from RMA Sandhurst in 1955, he fast tracked his way through Staff College (1967-8), the National Defence College (1974-5), holding regimental and staff appointments in Germany, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Britain and Northern Ireland during ‘The Troubles’.

Retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1978, Ian began a new career in environmentalism. His background gave him the skills to transform the tiny British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) into an established UK charity, earning him an OBE. He fully retired in the early 2000s, having held directorships in the Green Alliance and the Tree Council, worked for the Princes’ Trust, and managed the Forestry Trust.

His interests were legendary, chiefly his passion for the Peninsular War and admiration for the Iron Duke. Foreign holidays for his three children usually meant Spain or Portugal! In retirement Ian would be found in his Wiltshire forest garden, making it wilder rather than the reverse. Archaeology, music, politics and poetry were other enthusiasms as was enjoying good food and fine wines with family and friends.

Ian died in June 2023 at the age of 87. A kind, intelligent, articulate and thoughtful man, he is deeply missed.

Jessica Branton

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PETER F T BROMWICH OBE

Dr NIGEL WOOLDRIDGE BROWN OBE

After a long illness Peter Bromwich died peacefully at home in July 2023, aged 89.

Peter was a successful Coventry estate agent who, having split from his partners, started again on his own, just as successfully, in Leamington Spa. Latterly, he ran his business from Somerset House, a prominent building in Clarendon Place.

Nigel was everything that you would expect from a WS Head of School (1963-64) – plus much more. The breadth and depth of his activities and interests were truly astonishing, from investment management, start-up financing and advice, and venture capital funding, to significant roles in both the arts and the community.

For much of his life Peter was involved with Leamington Tennis Court Club. Having joined in 1964 he was a member for 59 years, during which time his contribution to the club was immense. He was a past Chairman and, at the time of his death, Vice President of the Club.

He firstly worked in the London Stock Exchange, then moved to Cambridge and set up his own investment business. Nigel became chairman or director of over 40 companies.

WS 1943-51

During the early 1980s it became clear that the fabric of the club was in jeopardy and a report on the state of the building, delivered in 1986, showed that the upper floor, the frontage, and the court windows were riddled with dry rot. A sum in excess of £100,000 was needed to put things right and the club had no reserves to speak about. John Camkin, chairman at the time, acted promptly and entrusted the task of raising the funds to Peter who, with his great persuasive powers, proved to be the perfect man for the task. Peter secured enough donations to get the work done and to also create a ring-fenced building fund for future capital works. Raising this amount of money at that time was a Herculean undertaking and, without doubt, saved the club from closure.

Peter succeeded Camkin as Club chairman in 1995 and served until 2003, when he became vice president. On court he was an enthusiastic player, entering most of the club competitions for which he was eligible and winning a number of titles.

He was instrumental in setting up and developing the National Fathers and Sons Championship, which was held annually in Leamington for many years. Alongside the level championship, an Invitational Fathers and Sons Handicap tournament was played, and it was fitting that Peter won this event in 1995 with Tom, the younger by just a few minutes, of his identical twin sons.

Apart from his successful business activities and the time and effort he spent on the club, Peter was chairman of the Warwickshire Association of Boys Clubs and active on several national bodies connected with that organisation. For this he was appointed OBE in 1982.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Peter’s partner Sue, his sons Edward and Tom, and their sisters Laura and Imogen. Also, to Peter’s eight grandchildren and his great grandson.

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WS 1957-64

With N W Brown Group Ltd Nigel’s expertise in nurturing early-stage hightechnology firms was recognised through his appointment as advisor on venture capital funding to the Government of Singapore. By 2007, when he retired from the organisation, it employed almost 100 people and managed discretionary funds of over $1bn. After meeting Nigel Kennedy in the 1980s, Nigel found him a sponsor to buy the 1707 ‘La Cathédrale’ Stradivarius. Two years later, The Stradivari Trust was born – making it possible for outstanding musicians to own their own fine stringed instruments.

Nigel was given an individual Queen’s Award for Enterprise Support in July 2007, awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List January 2008 and was High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire for 2010-11, turning up to the OW dinner at Girton in full ceremonial attire. Afterwards when I insisted that we visit his local hostelry, he was amused to be asked if he had been to a fancy-dress party. Nigel was chairman of the University of Cambridge Audit Committee. Anglia Ruskin University made Nigel an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy, he was an Honorary Fellow at Hughes Hall and Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.

Nigel Brown with wife Fiona Nigel clearly believed in the old adage that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing very well, and he was adept at persuading others to adopt that philosophy. He genuinely wanted the pleasure he derived from business, music, theatre, arts, tennis, motorcycling etc to be shared as widely as possible, and was constantly introducing others, either as players, sponsors, or spectators. All this was achieved with modesty and great good humour, and infused with a terrific sense of fun, without any sense of rush – so it was a shock to learn, or remember, that he was a man of so many other commitments, responsibilities and interests. He served as President of the Old Warwickian Association in 2016, hosting a dinner at the Garrick Club.

His health deteriorated after the death of his wife, Fiona. He will be missed by many friends, individuals and organisations.

Norman Hyde, WS 1956-63

In his early days a squash player, his discovery of Real Tennis turned him into an active supporter of the Cambridge club for nearly 50 years.

Along with son Ben, he was a keen highperformance motorcyclist and supporter of endurance racing with his own team. His workshop had around a dozen bikes, many being Yamahas, but with one special Hyde Harrier that he commissioned me to build for himself.

Nigel Brown when High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire

OLD WARWICKIANS STAFF NEWS

BRIAN CORDERY OBE WS 1946-56

After leaving Warwick School in 1956, Brian studied Law in London and moved to Paris in 1962, where he worked in the same law firm (Clifford-Turner, later Clifford-Chance) from 1966 until his retirement in 1998. He married Brigitte in 1964 and they had three children.

BARBARA A CLIFTON

formerly Mrs Barbara Harry WS Headmaster’s Secretary 1966-75 Barbara Clifton (previously Harry, née Walter) passed away in August 2022.

Barbara was Headmaster P W Martin’s Secretary from 1966 to 1975. She was usually the last face you saw before entering Paddy’s study to face the consequences of some misdemeanour!

In the process she presented a kindly disposition to most individuals. Viewed as a highly efficient individual, she helped to bring the Headmaster’s office up to speed with respect to modern day practices.

Born in Warwick in 1929, Barbara went to King’s High from 1938-45, followed by secretarial college in Oxford. Like many others, she was part of a family, a number of whom had been to King’s High or Warwick School. Her father very briefly attended Warwick for one term in 1914 but apparently the school was not for him, and he joined the Royal Navy as an underage midshipman soon after. Barbara’s brother Tony Walter (WS 1937-43) was a particularly well known OW who captained the rugby team from 1950-52.

After her retirement from school, Barbara became an avid golfer at Stratford Golf Club, where she was Lady Captain and Lady President and where she played Veterans County for Warwickshire. She used to play with son Tim (WS 1963-73) in the Club Mixed Open and she was delighted when, at the sprightly age of 85, she won by a runaway score!

Brian was very active in the British Community in France. He was President of the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce, President of the Hertford Franco-British Hospital and Warden of the British Embassy Church before becoming H.M. Honorary Consul and President of the Association Franco-Britannique in Tours.

In 1983, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the British community in Paris.

Brian’s funeral took place on 24th July in Ballan-Miré near Tours. He is survived by his sister Helen, his three children Philip, Chantal and Patrick and his five grandchildren. A memorial service will take place in the UK in January 2024.

WILLIAM A (BILL) CROUCH WS 1940-46

William Alfred Crouch (known as Bill) was born in Coventry on 12th January 1931 to John William Crouch and Victoria Maud Crouch (née Phillips). His father was from an English car manufacturing family (the Crouch car) and mother from the Phillips bicycle firm.

Bill’s particular and often exceptional mathematical and English language skills were most evident in various banking and accounting positions he held over his employment years in England, Australia and finally New Zealand. He enjoyed travelling and, after a short post-war Army role in Germany, took up various positions around England in Warwickshire, Leicester and Hove.

In December 1957 with his wife (Julia) and young son (Stephen) Bill sailed for Melbourne, Australia – a country he referred to as ‘the lucky country’ for the rest of his life. Four months later his daughter (Peggy) was born, and Bill spent his nine years in Australia working in parts of Victoria and New South Wales.

In December 1966 in search of a more temperate climate the family settled in Wellington, New Zealand, where Bill worked until retiring in 1989 and moved with Julia to Marton, a small town in NZ’s North Island. He enjoyed a long retirement of over 30 years tending his garden, writing letters and walking, often with his dogs. Bill died aged 91, five days before his 92nd birthday on 7th January 2023.

Bill was first educated at Coventry Preparatory School and, after gaining first place in the County of Warwickshire scholarship exam in 1940, attended Warwick School from September 1940 to July 1946. Bill often recalled fond memories from his days at Warwick School and the letter he received from the Headmaster dated 18th May 1955 stated he was ‘a boy of outstanding ability’.

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OLD WARWICKIANS

ROGER J DIAMOND WS 1941-49

In his 90th year, Roger passed away on 3rd August 2022. Born in Leamington, he was Bar Mitzvahed at the Singers Hill Synagogue in Birmingham. He did not follow any Jewish pathway, but years later he visited his family roots in eastern European countries and always joined in his extended family’s landmark events.

JOHN M DAVIES WS 1949-57

John Davies, WS 1949-57, died in November 2021 at the age of 83.

The son of a Coventry clergyman, he excelled in English and won an Open Scholarship to St. Catherine’s College, Oxford. Afterwards, he became a solicitor and then Senior Partner of a prominent London law firm: testimony not merely to his competence, but also to his quiet self-confidence, and conciliatory manner.

He exuded trust. He loved the theatre, he loved opera and he loved Italy. He also had a wry sense of humour and could be very amusing indeed. He kept in close touch with old Warwick School friends with whom he shared annual reunions. He will be missed terribly. We loved him.

Kevin Cox, WS 1949-56

School began at the kindergarten of the local Girls High School and then Warwick School. He did his Higher School Certificate exams a year early and had an extra year in the Sixth Form. For one year, in 1948, the three Diamond brothers (Roger, Bryan and Gerald) were at Warwick together.

Roger studied physics at Birmingham University and then joined General Electric in Wembley and Hammersmith, working with lighting and fluorescence tubes. At the same time, he studied Law as an external student at London University and got his LLB. In the late 1950s he left the UK for the USA and did a business studies course at Columbia University, living in their Riverside Drive building and making a lifelong friend at a production of My Bare Lady, based on the fable of Lady Godiva. From there he joined the DuPont Company in Wilmington Delaware. He took a sailing navigation certificate in the Caribbean and learnt to ski. Some five years later he transferred to the DuPont Geneva office and division of polyfluoride (Teflon), where he eventually become European Marketing Manager.

In 1966 on the shores of Lake Geneva he married Annalise Hollman, a linguist at the UN and a photographer and skier. They took a holiday in India and, guided by Ella Maillart, they took a small plane flight close to Mt Everest. Ella owned a chalet with extra land in a small village in the Swiss canton of Valais. This became Roger’s 35-year project, with the design and building of Chalet Solaris on a south facing steep hillside in the small ski resort of Chandolin. He was the first to use solar panels for base load heating the four-bed chalet in that canton and attended a conference in Israel on the technology. In the late 1980s the building

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was ready, and our now elderly parents made a short visit there to see it. From then on family skied there regularly and friends used it as an Alpine base in summer.

To celebrate his 60th birthday in 1991 Roger arranged for a family group to walk the summer route from Zinal to Zermatt, an overnight escapade involving a mountain guide, crampons, a descent to a glacier as the sun rose, and climb up a 50m, 45 degree ice face.

After retirement from DuPont Roger found partners to create a factory in Nyon, to manufacture replacement hips of titanium and Teflon, but it was an uphill task and only lasted a few years. Roger used his navigation skills with joint ownership of a boat on Lake Geneva.

In 1985 he married Hannelore Pistorius who was a school language teacher in Geneva and latterly a textbook writer and editor in the field of linguistics. She joined with him to organise the Chalet for the extended Diamond family of nephews, nieces of two generations as well as Hannelore’s extended family. Roger and Hannelore’s mutual great love was opera and they travelled to the opera houses of Europe and regularly to Glyndebourne, where he was a founder member of the new opera house.

In July 2019 we joined Roger and Hanne at the Fête des Vignerons in Vevey which takes place every 20 years; a winemakers’ celebration that only the Swiss who laugh at themselves could do.

He loved to visit the Caves in the Valais and purchase local wines. Three years ago, Roger was still skiing and cycling in Geneva until ill health started to limit his activities.

He continued to upgrade the Chalet until quite recently.

So, a life of achievements and successful endeavour and his family and friends will sorely miss him.

Bryan (WS 1946-54) and Gerald Diamond (WS 1948-58) Roger, Gerald and Bryan Diamond

OLD WARWICKIANS STAFF NEWS

STUART J HARTLEY

PHIL HEELIS

PETER C JINMAN OBE

Stuart James Hartley died in Santiago de Chile on 4th May 2023, following a courageous battle with cancer. After studying Civil Engineering at Kingston University, Stuart worked as Project Engineer for Arcadis in Chile before, in 2001, moving to Golder, where he was Associate, Project Manager. He stayed in Chile, working for Golder for 22 years. The company are going to plant 22 trees in Cisnes, Aysen, Patagonia in his memory. On one occasion he was even able to meet a group from Warwick School who were on a rugby tour to Craighouse School, the British School in Chile which his sons attended. Stuart leaves a wife, Macarena and two sons, Daniel and Benjamin.

Phil died aged 87 on 12 October 2022.

He taught Physics at Warwick for almost all his career and his talent was also employed in the Mathematics department for some years. Philip had an immense enthusiasm for Physics and his insight was hugely respected by both his colleagues and his students. He relished the academic challenges of his subject and was always recognised as a valued member of the Science department who could be relied upon to share his skills in an individual and original way.

Peter was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire on 20th February 1951, the only son of Charles and Florence Jinman.

He attended Feldon Prep School in Leamington and then Warwick School, where he developed a keen interest in bird-watching under the influence of teacher, David Keighley, and decided to become a vet. He went to the Royal Veterinary College, London, graduating in 1974. After his first veterinary job with Renfrew & Sons in Broadway he took a job at a practice in Ewyas Harold, Herefordshire, later marrying the senior partner’s daughter Gill Carter, who he met while they were students in London.

WS 1978-90

WS 1964-91

Phil’s contribution to Warwick extended well beyond the academic. The RAF section of the CCF came under his influence and hundreds of OWs will remember learning to fly the school glider in the CCF. He also used his qualifications as a mountain leader on camps, climbing and adventurous training. Phil was primarily responsible for the emergence of hockey as one of the major winter games. For many years the school’s hardest fixture was against his PSH XI – an invitational side which included several national players. The night before he died he was planning to play bridge.

WS Staff 1958-69

In a distinguished career he served as president of both the British Veterinary Association (BVA) in 2002-03 and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in 2010-11, receiving an OBE in 2004. He was the independent chair of the government’s Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) from 2012-22 and served as one of the first lay members on the House of Commons Standards Committee (2012-2017). He was an Arbitrator, and a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society.

He was Chair of Trustees of the Addington Fund, a farming charity, and had been Chair of the Farmers Club in 2018. In 2019 he was granted the Freedom of the City of London.

Peter had been a Parish Councillor since 1992, and an Independent Councillor on Hereford Council since 2017. He did not believe that there was a place for party politics in local government and was an advisor to the leader of the Council for four years, earning cross-party respect for his integrity, and evidence-based advice.

He died on 25th May 2023, and leaves a wife Gill, daughters Charlotte and Phillippa, son Henry, and three grandchildren.

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OLD WARWICKIANS he remained a committed listener to Radios 3 and 4 to the very end.

Until the floods of 1997 David also kept an allotment not far from his flat, and he kept physically active by walking with friends each week, something he still managed to do into his nineties. He had acquired a good understanding of IT, at times proofreading for a local publishing company and star-spotting online. It was always a joy to visit him or to receive him at our home and to offer him cake, trifle or a nice bottle of wine – always certain to share a varied and relaxed conversation.

It was a genuine pleasure to know him.

DAVID JONES

Eric Hadley, WS staff 1990-2023

WS Staff 1987-92 David, who died in Myton Hospice in January 2023, aged 92, may not have spent that long at Warwick, but he did have one of the most interesting back stories of recent decades. From Cambridge, where he read French and Russian, David embarked on a first career as a foreign correspondent with Reuter’s news agency, working primarily in Germany and Russia.

One story he told concerns a scoop he provided in the 1950s for the Manchester Guardian (as it was then) as he alone was able to translate a statement by President Tito of Yugoslavia. His passion for and ability in languages subsequently took him to Canada where he was Assistant Professor of Russian at McMaster University and later worked on field projects studying Inuit and Ojibwe languages.

On his return to England in the 1970s, he became Head of Sixth Form at Campion School in Leamington Spa, teaching French and German. He thought he had retired when the call came from Warwick where a staffing gap had opened up, and the school was very fortunate to be able to retain his services for the following five years, during the latter two of which I got to know him well, a friendship which was to last some 32 more years. David was a gentlemanly and good-humoured figure whose kindness and helpfulness enabled him to forge excellent working relationships with pupils and colleagues. In his quiet way he ensured that his exam classes fulfilled their potential, and he often went the extra mile when staffing needs called for it.

Apart from a wide range of reading interests, David’s main extra-curricular commitment was to choral singing, pursued in school during his time on the staff and in the local community in various choirs. His popularity led them to organise a surprise 60th birthday party not long before his final retirement. He would regularly go to concerts both locally and in London. Only declining eyesight in the last few years of his life curtailed his music-making though

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MICHAEL RICHARD JONES WS 1975-82

Michael might be best remembered as the lead guitarist of the group SIGMA and his mad antics with his guitar. His nickname was Rabbit.

He went to Leicester University but left after two years to take up mental health nursing, specialising in substance misuse. He eventually became the service development officer at the National Assembly for Wales.

He wrote papers on substance misuse, which he was invited to present at Utrecht.

He resigned his post for personal reasons but continued to work with mental health charities in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Michael was greatly admired and respected by all who worked with him. His death has been a dreadful shock to all, and he is so sadly missed by his mother and extended family. Michael was the best of men.

Pearl Jones, mother

MICHAEL LAFLIN WS 1956-65

Mike Laflin led a highly imaginative life in which most of what he envisaged, he achieved, and he even provided his own soundtrack. He played by ear from an early age, being proficient on piano, guitar, piano-accordion, trumpet and violin.

He had a peripatetic childhood due to his father’s work for the Ministry of Agriculture.

He met Hugh Atkins at Warwick School –

a kindred spirit who shared his enthusiasm for Beyond the Fringe, That Was the Week that Was and the cartoons of Timothy Birdsall. Their 63-year friendship was forged in the mutual awareness that most of their lessons were far-removed from the rapidly changing world in which they were living. It was their mission to bring a dash of levity to proceedings. Mike’s musical and artistic talents were obvious, but his academic leanings were perhaps best typified by the physics class in which he “misunderstood” the instructions and an experiment involving weights and a spring resulted in an impressive hole in the classroom ceiling.

Mike’s early career as a teacher took him from England to Kenya, where he segued into the writing of television jingles. After a spell in Kuwait as Head of an Audio-Visual Department he returned to the University of Reading for a Master’s in Distance Learning. From the UK, Mike moved to the US, where he joined the Institute for International Research (IIR), taking charge of a project called the Liberian Rural Communications Network. His love for Africa and for radio deepened.

Mike was a formidable proposal writer.

His breakthrough moment came in the mid-eighties when he wrote a proposal to win the contract for a new phase of USAID’s Clearinghouse on Development Communication. From there, Mike moved to Education Development Center (EDC) and headed up the Washington office. He tasked the team with reinvigorating the Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) model that was blooming under Learn Tech.

Projects followed in many countries and EDC’s international reputation grew. Mike became Senior Vice President at EDC but, through it all, he never lost sight of the soul of international development work and the people it served.

Throughout his career, Mike kept his sense of mischief and the absurd. Before he left for the US, he co-founded DRAM, a company that created improvised productions. His performance as an aging would-be roue in ‘Near but not Close’ will long be remembered by those who saw it.

His love of music was also shared with his family.

As retirement approached, Mike became increasingly interested in sculpture.

He built a workshop on his property in Northern California and devoted himself full-time to increasingly sophisticated works in wood and metal. He showed and sold his work in various galleries and hosted art shows in his workshop and garden, developing a significant local following before his untimely passing.

OLD WARWICKIANS STAFF NEWS

JOHN REES MORGAN WS 1966-74

Born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, John Rees Morgan attended Warwick School from 1966 to 1974. He was an enthusiastic member of the school CCF. Later, he was a keen member of the Royal Naval Reserve.

Upon leaving Warwick School, John Rees went on to study Maths and Computer Science at Cardiff University, followed by obtaining a Post Graduate Certificate of Education.

Nick had been my friend for 54 years, from our first days at Feldon School. We were rarely out of contact over the years and spent a lot of time together more recently.

He is sorely missed.

Nicholas Rabson was a kind and generous soul and his nature is, perhaps, best encapsulated by a fellow “Canalsider”, whose kind words at his funeral included the description of him as the essence of gentleness. (Apart, perhaps, when England were losing at cricket.)

Ashley O’Dell, WS 1972-83

In 1983, he emigrated to Perth, Australia, where he remained for the rest of his life.

George was an independent soul. He owned several motorbikes and cars but was a regular user of trains and buses. He had a great affinity with the South Coast, often holidaying in Dawlish and Torquay (perhaps something to do with ice cream, as this was George’s favourite food!).

NICHOLAS (NICK) RABSON WS 1973-83

Nick died on 23 June 2023 at the age of 58, from an epileptic seizure. He was at home alone.

Nick joined Warwick Junior School in September 1973. He had previously been at school in Turin, Italy, where his father was working, in collaboration with FIAT. As a consequence, Nick loved all things Italian, was fluent in the language and found the Junior Boarding House something of a shock. He did not let being away from his parents in those formative years put him off, however and proceeded to pursue an illustrious career at Warwick, ultimately gaining a place at Worcester College Oxford to read law.

Despite being a talented academic, Nick’s real desire was to be an artist. Ultimately, however, like many gifted artists, he was unable to pursue it as a career, but his passion never left him and he remained a prolific drawer, producing many works. He certainly always looked the part in his beret.

Nick lived and worked in London in the late 1980s, but was called back to Radford Semele as a consequence of his father’s ill health in the early 1990s. An increasing commitment to his parents as they got older, together with his own health issues, both physical and mental, meant that Nick never settled into work, but, alongside his art, he devoted himself to various causes, volunteering for a number of local charitable organisations. He was also a popular member of a number of local groups, including Canalside Community Food, a local agricultural scheme.

the ground maintenance, ran the touch line, refereed, looked after the jerseys, taxied players without cars to matches, sat on committees and never missed the Annual Dinner. He also spent the best part of 25 to 30 years as OW Cricket Club groundsman, treasurer and scorer. He was always reliable, uncomplaining and accurate. In the Cricket World Trophy he would travel far afield for OW matches at places like Sedbergh, Taunton, Old Rutlishians, Weybridge, Bedford and Finchley. When OWs didn’t make the Cricket World Trophy final one year (coming second to Old Bedfordians) he even turned up and scored for OBs in the final. They were immensely grateful and referred to him affectionately as ‘the legendary George’.

GEORGE T WATSON WS 1944-46

George was born on 31st August 1928. His father was a professor of Mathematics at Birmingham University and he passed on his love of maths and trains to George.

During the war, George was evacuated to Canada for four years. He returned to England to start at Warwick School in 1944, where he spent two happy years.

He scored for Warwick Ramblers for many years until it folded. A chance meeting in the White Horse Pub led to a long association with Hunningham Cricket Club. George spent some twenty years as scorer for the Club and a further twenty years as part of the Thursday Night Pub Club. He would be at Hunningham Cricket Club every Saturday during this period, and he enjoyed going on several cricket tours. George would happily score all day, enjoy his cricket tea and always stay for a sociable couple of pints before he went home.

Fiercely independent, George tried to stay in his flat for as long as possible in his later years. It is testament to him, as it was with HM the Queen, that his death certificate stated that he died of old age.

George, that was a fine innings, and you will be missed. God bless you.

He completed his national service and would recall struggling with guard duty as he always liked his sleep. He gained a degree in Mathematics and worked in Statistics at AP Leamington and GEC. At one point he was working on the statistics of guided missiles (which he would refer to as unguided missiles).

George was always proud to be an Old Warwickian and gave years of service and support to the OWA, the OWRFC and the OW Cricket Club. He loved both rugby and cricket. He refereed over 200 games of rugby union and was a massive and tireless supporter of OWRFC for over fifty years. In that time, he did most of

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OLD WARWICKIANS

TERENCE M WEST WS 1941-47

Terence (Terry) West died on 12th December 2021. He was born at home in Erdington, Birmingham on 1st December 1929, the elder son to Harold and Elizabeth West.

Living about a mile from the Spitfire factory at Castle Bromwich during World War II, he spent many nights in the air raid shelter built in the garden by his father and a neighbour, and early mornings before school were often spent going round the garden collecting shrapnel. It was a result of being sent to cycle home from school during a German daytime air raid, a fact that did not impress his parents, that he was sent as a boarder to Warwick. He very much enjoyed his time at the school and made a number of lifetime friends. He was not academically inclined, although he did win the form prize in his last year and achieve satisfactory School Certificates, but he loved his sport and played rugby for the 1st XV in 1946 and 1947. Later, he also played hockey for Scottish Command during his National Service and, subsequently, rugby for Lichfield RUFC. It was intended that he would join the family firm of non-ferrous metal manufacturers in Birmingham and when he left school he attended the Technical College there to study metallurgy.

However, after a year or so he found that all his friends were doing their National Service, so he ceased his studies and started his period of service. He was drafted into the Royal Engineers and sent to Findhorn, near Inverness, to train. After his initial training Terry was recommended for a commission and sent to Mons OCTU in Shropshire where the senior NCO in charge of training was Sergeant Major Brittain of the Guards who was reputed to have the loudest voice in the British Army. Terry said he had heard it in his ear many times. He wanted to join an infantry regiment, but eyesight problems prevented this and he was commissioned into the RASC. After a few interesting months at Maryhill Barracks by The Gorbals in Glasgow he was posted to Edinburgh Castle for the last year or so of his service.

He much enjoyed the Army and his time in Scotland and was offered a long service commission. However, his father was anxious for him to join the family firm and, after much persuasion, Terry left the Army in 1951 to do so. He did however join the AER (Army Emergency Reserve) in which he served, finishing with the substantive rank of captain. He often said the most alarming thing he had to do then was learning to parachute out of planes.

Terry worked for the family firm for several years and found that he was a natural salesman. He married his first

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wife, Wendy, in 1956, by whom he had a son and a daughter. She was sadly killed in a car accident in 1960 and Terry later met and married Barbara, a marriage which lasted 56 years until she died of leukaemia in 2018.

After some ups and downs in business following the takeover of the family firm and the unexpected death of his father, Terry went to work for Aramco in 1971 in the Company town of Dhahran in Saudi Arabia. He and Barbara had bought a flat in Stratford-upon-Avon near where his mother was living and to which he returned when on leave. Barbara went to stay with him a number of times in Saudi and the combination of her cooking and his gregarious nature made them many friends in the British and American community there. His prowess as a squash player was recognised by both, especially the American students in their twenties, visiting their parents and who were invariably the loser.

Terry retired in 1991 and returned to Stratford. After a short time, he and Barbara bought a cottage near Kingsbridge in Devon where they enjoyed long walks along the Coast Path and in the countryside, reading, gardening, and entertaining friends and relations especially their children and grandchildren. He was also, with a friend and neighbour, a keen supporter of the local rugby club.

Unfortunately Terry developed spinal problems which increasingly affected his walking and other movement. After his wife died he had to move into care, firstly locally in Devon and then in London near his daughter, where he was visited by his Old Warwickian friends and where, at his daughter’s home, he celebrated in some style his 90th birthday surrounded by his family. In 2020 he developed late onset Alzheimer’s Disease from which he died twelve days after his 92nd birthday.

Chris West, WS 1945-55, brother

PAUL R WITHERS WS 1979-88

Paul Withers passed away peacefully after a short illness on 18th July 2022, with his family by his side. Paul was very proud to have attended Warwick School between 1979 and 1988 and followed in the footsteps of his father Roderick. He packed a great deal into his 50 years and felt his education paved the way for him to go on to live his life to its fullest. He certainly carried the ethos of ‘Altiora Peto’ in everything he put his hand to.

Paul played rugby at the highest level at Warwick School and went on to represent Stratford RFC for many years until shortly before his untimely passing. Paul also spent several years in Sydney, Australia, where he held a number of senior roles at global digital marketing agencies. He came home to raise his family, including sons Oliver and Joseph, and daughter Emily, all of whom now attend Warwick School. He was also an active member of Old Leamingtonians RFC, where he enjoyed coaching children the sport that he lived for.

Paul’s family is hugely grateful to the staff and parents at Warwick School for the care, compassion and kindness that they have shown in supporting them through these challenging times.

Paul is deeply missed by his family and friends, but his legacy lives on through his three children whom he adored, and they will no doubt go on to achieve great things at Warwick School in honour of their beloved Dad.

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BrandonBrandon Fong Fong University University College College London London Civil Engineering Civil Engineering with Finance with Finance Class 1 Class 1 Piesen (Robbie) Piesen (Robbie) Lin Lin Joseph Robbins University University College College London London Joseph Robbins University University of Exeterof Exeter Kieran Brooker Kieran Brooker Computer Computer Science Science Geography Geography University University of Cambridge of Cambridge Lawrence Lawrence Gartshore Gartshore Class 1 Class 1 Class 2:1Class 2:1 Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Norse Celtic & Celtic Durham Durham University University Class 1 Class 1 Theology Theology Marco Lin Marco Lin Class 2:1Class 2:1 Eben Shadbolt Eben Shadbolt University University of Bath of Bath Durham Durham University University Architecture Architecture Ben Burrows Ben Burrows History History Class 1 Class 1 University University of Birmingham of Birmingham Henry Giudici Henry Giudici Class 1 Class 1 Computer Computer Science Science University University of Bristolof Bristol Class 1 Class 1 MEng Engineering MEng Engineering Design with Design with Alexandre Alexandre MacKayMacKay Study in Study Industry in Industry Gurdev Gurdev Singh Singh Université Université Libre deLibre Bruxelles de Bruxelles University Class 1 Class 1 University College College London London Mathematics Mathematics with Physics with Physics John Chesney John Chesney MedicineMedicine Distinction Distinction University University of Liverpool of Liverpool BusinessBusiness Management Management with with Tommy Green Tommy Green Alec Steeley Alec Steeley Year in Industry Year in Industry University University of Bath of Bath Max Manley Max Manley University University of Warwick of Warwick Class 1 Class 1 Accounting Accounting and Finance and Finance University University of Leicester of Leicester Economics Economics Class 2:1Class 2:1 Physics with Physics Space withScience Space Science Class 1 Class 1 Class 1 Class 1 Bryan Chow Bryan Chow University University of Nottingham of Nottingham Josh Haigh Josh Haigh Morgan Morgan Webb Webb Mechanical Mechanical Engineering Engineering Loughborough Loughborough University University Daniel May Daniel May Lancaster Lancaster University University Class 2:1Class 2:1 Mechanical Mechanical Engineering Engineering Nottingham Nottingham Trent University Trent University BusinessBusiness Management Management Class notClass yet known not yet known PropertyProperty Finance Finance & Investment & InvestmentClass 2:1Class 2:1 Class notClass yet known not yet known Edward Edward Commander Commander University University of Birmingham of Birmingham James Harvey James Harvey MichaelMichael Wen Wen Ben McAdam Ben McAdam MEng Chemical MEng Chemical Engineering Engineering University University of Bath of Bath University University College College London London Loughborough University University with Industrial with Industrial Study Study MEng Aerospace MEng Aerospace Engineering EngineeringLoughborough MEng Mechanical MEng Mechanical History History Class 1 Class 1 Class 1 Class 1 Engineering Engineering Class 2:1Class 2:1 Class 1 Class 1 Leo Da Cruz Leo Da Cruz Aidan Hickey Aidan Hickey University University of Birmingham of Birmingham King’s College King’s College London London Biomedical Biomedical Science Science with yearwith yearWar Studies War Studies in Computer in Computer Science Science Class 2:1Class 2:1 Class 2:1Class 2:1 George George Eames Matthews Eames Matthews University University of Exeterof Exeter History History Class 2:1Class 2:1 Max Eddy Max Eddy King’s College King’s College London London War Studies War Studies Class 2:1Class 2:1

Zakary Milstein Zakary Milstein University University of Oxford of Oxford MPhys Physics MPhys Physics Class 1 Class 1

Harry Woodhead Harry Woodhead Nottingham Nottingham Trent University Trent University Games Production Games Production Class 1 Class 1

George George HoldingHolding University University of Oxford of Oxford Chemistry Chemistry Class 1 Class 1

Guy Mullan Guy Mullan University University of Birmingham of Birmingham History History Class 1 Class 1

Dave Yates Dave Yates Magdalene Magdalene College,College, Cambridge Cambridge ClassicsClassics Class 1 (2022) Class 1 (2022)

David Holroyd David Holroyd HertfordHertford College,College, Oxford Oxford Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics and Politics and Economics Economics Class 1 Class 1

Tom Park Tom Park Durham Durham University University Robert Yates Robert Yates Liberal Arts Liberal (History Arts and (History Politics) and Politics) University University of Birmingham of Birmingham with Placement with Placement Year Year English Language English Language Class 2:1Class 2:1 Class 2:1Class 2:1

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