House Reports

Given the specific challenge of pandemic life, the HMs were asked to write about their House bearing these three questions in mind.

– What were you hoping that your house might achieve this year? – What were you most proud of – including individual and collective success stories? – What was the most unexpected moment – and biggest challenge?

Despite the inevitable similarities of each report, what stands out is not only the unique nature of each house, but also the importance that each house places on the College values of Kindness, Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Gratitude and Courage – and the part those values have played in helping this current generation of Wellingtonians navigate their way through these difficult times.

ANGLESEY

The Anglesey HM had so many plans for this year – more house socials, more parent socials, and of course this was the year that we were definitely going to win the House Ssinging competition!!

Unfortunately, the pandemic put paid to most of these ideas; however, the year has not been without its highlights. In September we welcomed 23 new girls into the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Lower Sixth Forms. They have all been brilliant additions to the House and it has been fabulous to see every single one of them embrace Wellington life.

We were all absolutely thrilled when we found out that our very own Tash Murrin (L6) had been selected to be the Cadet RSM 2021/22 for the Wellington College CCF Contingent. This is a huge honour, and she faced some seriously tough competition to secure the position. Tash is a superb ambassador for the Anglesey, and the school, and we know that she will be utterly outstanding in this role. Scarlett Creasey (L6) was selected to play for the Surrey Storm U19 netball team and was invited to attend trials for England; Sophie Skoczylas (4) was awarded a Coldwell Exhibition, and Yi-Ann Yeung (4) won the Junior Montgomery competition, with Gabriella King (4) taking the runner up spot.

I could not be more proud of the way that the Anglesey have coped with the demands of the last year. They have embraced the concept of social distancing (mostly!), and they wore their masks with good grace (apart from the Anglesey ones the HM purchased for them), and they kept smiling throughout (at least they told me they were smiling beneath their masks). I think that the Third Form deserve a particular mention, as they spent the Michaelmas Term on a constant carousel of high temperatures and isolations, followed by long waits for test results. Meanwhile the Anglesey staff faced the challenge of almost daily COVID paperwork, as well as providing an efficient ‘meals on wheels’ service for the various year groups.

There have also been some unexpected upsides to this year though: the daily Advent raffle leading to the socially distanced Christmas party, Miss Barrett’s lockdown challenge, my virtual cuppas with each year group during our term of remote learning, online parent-quiz nights, and the return of Maniacs have been particular highlights.

I can’t say that we will be particularly sorry to see the back of this academic year; however, we are sorry to see our leavers depart, and we all wish them the very best of luck on the next part of their own adventure.

Rachel Loaring Housemistress July 2021

APSLEY

My deepest hope for September 2020 was for the girls to enjoy uninterrupted and stress-free schooling in the classroom, reconnect and build their friendships and find a safe haven from the tumultuous times this pandemic has whipped up. Compassion for each other was going to be important during life in times of a pandemic, and I knew the girls had this quality in abundance. We had restrictions, bubbles, hand-sanitising, and face coverings. No matter how cumbersome, the girls made it work: we had no positive cases in the House, and not a single year group had to isolate. From my perspective, this was all because of compassion: Apsley girls cultivate compassion organically anyway, and despite the extraordinary times, they were unselfish in their giving and support of each other; there was a spontaneous connection with the arrival of the new girls in the Third and Lower Sixth, and the connection between the girls already here grew more profound and more meaningful. During stressful times, the girls’ kindness and warm-heartedness became a source of happiness and support for each other, especially when the second lockdown came and was more demanding than the first. And because of this compassion for each other, all sense of fear and suspicion dissipated because they knew each other so well and supported each other through the challenging and stressful times of uncertainty, social distancing and testing. The girls were calm and untroubled and could make proper use of their mind’s ability to think clearly, to study and work together, and have fun together.

The tutors, Matron, housekeeper, and I are immensely proud of the girls for creating this climate of kindness, and for how they all responded to the challenging times. And where there was kindness, every other girl reacted positively to this; yes, there were countless individual success stories in drama, dance, music, sport, and academia, but the biggest, heartening, warmest, and most potent success was the collective success of a safe, happy, healthy, forwardthinking House, underpinned by unfailing backing and understanding from parents whose support was humbling as much as it was, and is, enabling.

Nevertheless, a boarding house is not a boarding house unless there is an unexpected challenge for all. By this, I do not mean an ant infestation, not enough Pinot Grigio to go around during the Sixth Form socials, Wagamama deliveries not being weekly occurrences and having to use a lanyard to gain entry into the House. Instead, everyone at some stage faced a genuine challenge: public exams not going ahead and the colossal readjustment required after years of preparing; not seeing loved ones who live abroad; well-earned holidays cut short; omnipresent testing, cancelled driving lessons and tests; the inability to gather in large groups and celebrate a birthday; and the occasional slight melancholy which befell on most, borne of the social restrictions – all of these were and are just some of the challenges. Yet the Apsley spirit was unyielding, girls adjusted and adapted fluidly because they are strong, kind and compassionate people who, in years to come, will look back and see the magnificent people they became and the surpassing feats they achieved despite it all.

Alexis Christodoulou Housemaster July 2021

BENSON

The Benson may have had plans for the year 20/21, but then life intervened. What has become clear is that a house is defined by its relationships and its character and not by its circumstances. This year we have learned to live with outdoor call overs and indoor masks; the boys have had ‘exams cancelled’, only to do ‘assessments’ for their grades; bedrooms have echoed to ‘you’re on mute’ and ‘turn the camera on’. The year has seen a new House Master, AHM Tanya Bateson on her maternity leave (Leo Raphael was born at Easter and is looking cute in his Benson onesie), and other absences.

But throughout all this, the boys have worked hard and laughed a lot and supported each other. When at school, we’ve managed to hold the Christmas curry and sketches, and in the Summer Term we have made the most of the garden with BBQs, football and parents’ drinks. During the Lent Term lockdown, the international spread of the House was reflected in the different ways the boys found of racking up kilometres – both the normal (running, cycling, rowing) and the unusual (skipping on a roof in Bangkok, ski-touring in Chamonix, skating on a moat).

As I took over in the House, I told the boys that my hope was to continue the culture of the House which doesn’t try to mould any ‘one type’ of Benson boy. I hope that all will find their passions, give their all, and find the joy that comes, with whole-hearted commitment. This breadth of talent, interest and commitment is manifest in the achievements of the year. Charlie Edwards wrote and directed us to victory in the ‘House Drance’ competition (Drama + Dance) with a compelling short film with exceptional production values. Seb Batchelor, Francis Frankopan, Benedict King and Josh Hogan won the ‘House Music’ competition with a performance and video of their cover of ‘One Day Like This’ by Elbow. The House has won sport competitions among all year groups in Rugby, Football and Cricket and established a name as a sporting force.

The Upper Sixth have been excellent leaders, remaining positive in the face of many challenges, with HoH Jake Graham setting a fine example. It would take too long to list all the colours achieved for Sport, Arts, Academics, Leadership, and Global Citizenship, or to mention all those who represented the College in first teams. Perhaps their greatest achievement is still to come, as this is a year of outstanding academic talent and tenacity, and I fully expect them to achieve top A Level/IB results. Particular congratulations go to Tom Munns for being offered a place at Oxford (Pembroke) to read Economics & Management, an exceptional achievement. The Lower Sixth are already continuing this culture of celebrating and cultivating a diverse array of talents. Charlie Crosby continues to receive international shooting team call-ups; Josh Hogan, as well as appearing regularly on the Wellington stage and microphone, has been filming for ‘Cobra’ on Sky One; Alan Xu has reached the national level of the Maths Olympiad; Benedict King has been composing for a new ‘Sue Ryder’ (charity) promotional film.

The junior years show the same breadth of interest and depth of talent, and it has been wonderful to see the new Third Form throwing themselves into Wellington life and winning the ‘extra-curricular engagement’ competition.

But often the biggest triumphs go relatively unseen, and many individuals have overcome fears, achieved personal goals, engrained positive habits and shown kindness to others. St Paul once wrote that ‘suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope’, and I hope that this will be true for the boys this year.

Simon Allcock Housemaster July 2021

BERESFORD

With all the disruption and uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the hopes and aspirations for the Beresford had to change somewhat over the course of the year. Given that our aim is usually to welcome the new intake by integrating them with the other year groups and to encourage all forms of inter-year group activity and social opportunity, it felt strange to have to enforce the direct opposite. The main target became trying to retain the House spirit that the Beresford is known for, without the traditional methods of active leadership and role modelling by the older boys, and without the ‘blue riband’ events that showcase House solidarity, such as House Singing, Dance, and Drama. We also hoped to be able to give the Upper Sixth a memorable final year which would allow them to benefit from the developmental opportunities associated with being student leaders, as well as simply enjoying each other’s company after such a long lay-off.

Given these challenges and the fact that many, quite rightly, viewed life as having become a little ‘beige’, I was immensely proud of the approach taken by the boys. I did not hear one moan or gripe about lost opportunities or, ‘if only things were different’. To a man they focused on the positives and sought to make the most of an unfortunate situation. The passion and spirit on display in Interhouse sporting events were as inspiring as always, and it was also wonderful to be able to celebrate success and endeavour across a broad spectrum of disciplines: music, singing, drama, leadership, global citizenship, charitable pursuits, sports, and academia. Many of the boys have made great strides this year, despite the constraints, and all will have learned from the experience in one way or another.

The Spirit of Beresford awards continued with a number of boys achieving Bronze and Silver awards; many by using the changes enforced by lockdowns to focus on new pursuits and to reflect on their experiences. As I’d hoped from such a quality year group, the Upper Sixth led by example, applying themselves with rigour to their academic studies while committing wholeheartedly to sporting and other co-curricular commitments when the opportunities arose. We wish them well for the next phase of their journey, and thank them for being true Beresfordians, and for leaving the House in fine fettle.

With the departure of HM, AHM and Matron this Summer, I know that Mr Bilclough and his new team are inheriting a fantastic group of boys who are looking forward to next year with hope and optimism.

Keith Reesby Housemaster July 2021

BLÜCHER

We came into this year feeling hugely positive about what the boys had achieved over the last few years. There have been successes across the whole gamut of house competitions and through the Blücher service projects and entrepreneurial initiatives every boy has had a chance to get involved and serve. The key area where Stan Munro (HOH) and the boys wanted to get even better was cross-year relationships, so COVID, and its accompanying bubbling policies posed a serious challenge to say the least.

The challenge was exacerbated by the architecture of the House – with 28 students on the top corridor, any COVID symptom (whether real or an ironic mimicry) led to numerous lockdowns, and in some cases more than six weeks of isolation in one term.

That said we were determined not to give up without a fight, and amidst the wreckage of cancelled events, found a way to organise activities safely. For us this centred around Rodel, our Housekeeper, the stove, and some dedicated prefects – particularly Will Petschek and Ollie Knight. Between them they launched Food for Thought, and we enjoyed a huge variety of speakers including boys, staff, and virtual visitors. Talks have included ‘Existentialism and nihilism’ (Max Hollingdale); ‘Heroin Addiction’; ‘Fraud in the US elections’ (David Petschek); Culture Clash: The Philippines and Pakistan to Wellington (Rodel and Mr Sayed); ‘Life at Tiger Kloof’; ‘Turning Pro in Thailand’ (Mr Edmunds); ‘Translating the Bible into Nadëb’; ‘400m from the top of Everest’ (Mr Reesby); and ‘The Blücher in the 90s’ (Mr Dewes). Every year group has cooked.

During the first lockdown, Rodel launched House cooking sessions, where he taught different dishes. With mental health and isolation at the front of our mind in the Lent lockdown, we decided to go further, and gave the boys the challenge to teach their year group. As a result, we had 23 cooking sessions, with an estimated 200+ meals cooked, as well as a lot of fun. Such was the success that this term the boys took it on themselves to produce a commemorative cookbook (led by Will Pope), whose proceeds will go to our charity. Alongside this I am very grateful to Costi Miller who gave talks to each year on positive mental health and relationships. Similarly, Marcus Nye and Freddie Evans overcame the challenge of limited sport and gym time by creating Blücher Fitness, which was so popular that even students from other houses started attending. Marcus also drove the 2021 challenge, and Joseph Pym received colours for his sterling effort. Our charity Skype sessions were unaffected, and Alfie Munro even turned COVID to our advantage with his house-masks charity initiative. Alongside the collective endeavours, there have been some stellar individual achievements – Jasper Smith-Gordon won a scholarship to Berkeley University; and Arthur Grigg won the National debating competition. Equally, I am proud of those who aimed high this year but didn’t quite make it – Stan Munro and Max Hollingdale narrowly missing out on Oxford, and Danny Wessely unlucky yet again in the Montgomery final.

Ad astra per aspera.

Sam Owen Housemaster July 2021

COMBERMERE

It was with trepidation that I faced the Combermere girls on the first day of the Michaelmas Term in September 2021. It was to be a school year like no other, and I was unsure of how the House would react to the long list of restrictions and rules which were to affect every area of their school life. Our new Third Form and Lower Sixth were on my mind as well, and it felt so odd that we were not able to invite their parents into the house on their first day. I braced myself for this new reality and hoped that things would steadily get easier as Christmas approached.

With the House neatly separated into year group bubbles, I decided that this was the ideal opportunity to reinforce the importance of loyalty, friendship, and support within the year groups. The house tables at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with spending more time in-house as the weather grew darker and colder, fostered a quiet, knowing closeness which I sincerely hope will remain long after restrictions lift. I also did not want the renowned Combermere enthusiasm and energy to diminish and give way to a mask-wearing, social-distancing fatigue; thankfully this certainly was not evident in the slightest – quite the contrary even! The Third Form did not seem fazed one bit, and were only slightly subdued when hit with some tough periods of self-isolation early on. They have thrown themselves into everything Wellington has to offer, and still had energy left at the end of the day to shriek and laugh as they got ready for bed. The Fifth Form and Upper Sixth deserve a special mention – they dealt with another full lockdown at a pivotal time in their exam preparation and still managed to hold their nerve, work their socks off and keep their eyes on the end goal. I know I am lucky to have such an admirable work ethic in the House but remarkably the uncertain and ever-changing situation made them double down their efforts. I am so proud of the Combermere girls for how they have navigated this year. None of us were expecting the cancellation of public exams and closure of College for the second time. However, it gave the girls a chance to think creatively and make the most of the situation in front of them. Some special moments include: the Lower Sixth efforts to keep the House in touch during lockdown by organising House baking competitions; the Fourth Form House Drill video; the collective enthusiasm and support for David Lofthouse completing the Kingsleys; House socials and the ‘unclosed’ closed weekend. The girls also set up and organised a pen pal arrangement with the residents of St Brendan’s Care Home, collected Christmas shoeboxes for Care4Calais, and showed huge support for the Period Poverty campaign – all of which we will continue to support next year. It certainly has been a year like no other, but one in which the girls have shown resilience, kindness and importantly, a fantastic sense of humour and plenty of resourcefulness.

Sarah MacKenzie Housemistress July 2021

HARDINGE

The Hardinge is about developing a friendly and homely house that is based on trust and respect, where everyone can learn and develop at their own pace. In a boarding school, privacy is not always easy to find, but mutual respect and empathy makes this more possible. Each and every one is responsible for being considerate and tolerant, for raising to challenges and for persevering come what may.

The Hardinge students are expected to learn to develop independent thinking, decision making and problem solving – particularly when it comes to studies, school life involvement, friendship and well-being. The challenge of boarding is to learn to integrate into a community whilst remaining true to your own values and flourishing personally in the House and the wider school environment. The Hardinge is placed at the heart of the College, and it is no coincidence therefore and a source of pride, that Hardinge students are a core part of the wider Wellington life. The House is a hub of international minds, working together in an inclusive environment. From Hong Kong to Italy, Kenya to Shropshire, many cultures from around the globe share this privilege of Wellington College. As a new wave of Sixth Formers arrives each September, this year was not much different, albeit much more challenging under the COVID restrictions. A slightly daunting year that did not deter any of them! This success is not down to individual endeavour but rather the House as a collective. This mature dynamic creates an atmosphere that promotes not only intellectual discourse and curiosity, but also courage, responsibility and independence.

It is with such qualities that the Hardinge girls approached the unpredicted challenge of the discriminatory and misogynistic attitudes to girls and young women exposed and brought into the spotlight by the “Everyone’s Invited” website and the murder of Sarah Everard. In response to this, and in recognizing the maturity and worldliness of the young women in the Hardinge, I want to challenge them to lead the debate and promote positive change around these topics within the College and beyond.

Sophie Jobson Housemistress July 2021

HILL

As we started this year in September, our incredible prefects were keen to ensure the Hill reconnected after 2020’s virtual Summer Term and maintain the wonderful and unique Hill culture. As a group they highlighted the importance of respect, family, courage, and honesty as their key values and were committed to ensuring these shone through at all times! These values have ensured that the House has remained a warm and welcoming place to live for all members. The boys continue to foster strong relationships, and while this year has been uniquely challenging, the Hill and the boys continue to go from strength to strength. All members of the Hill have benefitted from having an outstanding house and tutor team, who continue to challenge them to achieve the best possible outcomes, while ensuring their behaviour reflects what is expected within the House and the College. The Upper Sixth require a special mention: their leadership, good humour and energy has ensured the Hill has come through a turbulent year successfully and with all of our boys feeling settled and supported. We have been incredibly proud of how the boys have reacted to the changes to their living environment and the respect they have shown the house staff; there was an increased level of appreciation having returned to the Hill following a term of online learning. As always, we continued to compete strongly in the House sport competitions, and went into the Christmas break as the top ranked House across junior and seniors for house sport. Notable performances were in House Football, Swimming and Rugby, with all teams placing in the top 3. Our Upper Sixth students successfully defended their title in Monday Night Football, with a fantastic win in extra time against the Stanley. These House events play a huge part of life in the Hill, and the boys throw everything into all competitions.

As the year comes to an end, and we reflect on the successes the boys have achieved, we feel incredibly proud of the way they have conducted themselves during difficult and challenging situations and the kindness and respect they show to one another is a key reason why the Hill is such a great House to live in. There is a connectedness between the year groups, which we look forward to strengthening further in September. The Hill boys have been superb ambassadors for their house and the College this year. Well done boys.

Phil Mann Housemaster July 2021

HOPETOUN

On Monday 31 August 2020, we threw open the doors of the Hopetoun and welcomed back the girls after five months of absence. We’d been looking forward to seeing them but hadn’t anticipated quite how great it would feel to have the building pulsing to 100-decibel shrieks again. As one of the Upper Sixth said to me on that first afternoon as she waited for the rest of her year group to arrive, ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to see people in the whole of my life.’ What were we hoping for? The same as everyone else – an easing of the pandemic and a return to normal life. We lasted two days before one of the Fifth Formers started to cough. Fully masked, we stood at an anxious distance and passed her the thermometer. Temperature was normal. It turned out she’d just sprayed her room with Febreze to mask a nasty smell and it had irritated her throat.

We’ve been immensely proud of the Hopetoun girls’ spirit and resilience in difficult times. Yes, Hopetounians have celebrated significant personal achievements this year – in particular we congratulate Catherine Abela on winning the Montgomery Recital Competition; Elodie Sinclair for her selection to represent GB at triathlon; Giulia Lombardo, who was selected for a second time for the Italian national golf team; Chung Sze Kwok, who won both Wellington’s inaugural humanities essay competition and the University of Oxford’s French Flash Fiction competition; and of course Rosie Wrigglesworth in her role as Head of College. Beyond individual achievements though, we look back with terrific pride on the way the House came together and found ways to stay cheerful despite the ever-changing landscape the virus threw at us.

We were governed by bubbles and social distancing, yet the girls came up with great idea after great idea to keep the house united. Take the ‘Bake-off’ style gingerbread-house competition the Third Form dreamt up before Christmas. The Third Form’s own house fell down at the moment of judging but, with two House tutors standing in for Prue and Paul, the Upper Sixth won with their ‘Scandinavianinspired’ bake, with snowy windows and a path of sweets. We hadn’t had so much noise in the atrium for, well, it must have been eight and a half months. Then in January, we faced a second season of school closures, and again the girls excelled. Margaux set up a OneNote to share film, book, shopping and work-out ideas. The Lower Sixth set up a Fridayafternoon slot in lieu of the prefects’ assembly – there was Poppy’s pub quiz, DIY with Giulia, and yoga and meditation with Elodie. Lots of the girls joined ‘Dawn’s Supper Club’ in which our Matron taught them to cook dinner for their families via Microsoft Teams. The first week featured salmon fillets with roasted new potatoes, green beans and sugar snap peas – plus two small fires and one melted phone. Catherine Abela masterminded our house ensemble, virtually of course, and with technical wizardry blended the remote contributions to create a rendition of Britney Spears’ ‘Oops I did it Again’. Our House ‘Drance’ film was a triumph thanks to Allegra and Honor and, as lockdown ended, Eliza and Iona organised a ‘Spring Soirée’. Again, online – bring your own drinks and nibbles – this was our House entertainment evening gone virtual, through which we raised £3,100 for our House charity Allegra’s Ambition.

Talking of fundraising, we have Murray Lindo to blame for his idea that the HMs should get involved in Welly Giving Week in November. We were to make three pledges to parents, which we’d make good on should sufficient numbers donate. Our top prize was an offer to swim across Swan Lake in December (no wetsuits allowed). We thought we were safe. 50% of parents would have to contribute before we’d need to go anywhere near the icy pond, and we didn’t think Murray stood a chance. In the end, we achieved a highly suspect 150% participation (did they cheat and donate twice?) – and yes, we swam!

Sam Gutteridge Housemistress July 2021

LYNEDOCH

This year more than ever, we welcomed the pupils back in September with little idea of how the coming weeks would pan out. Was it a touch too optimistic to hope that we could make it through to half term as a House and as a School without any further disruptions? The boys however took to the new regime like the proverbial ducks to water and the new academic year got underway in a flurry of excitement, peppered with a few cautious nerves. With sporting fixtures on the back burner, pupils were given the opportunity to broaden their sporting horizons for the first time. As house-based entertainment was the order of the day, the common room became the social hub, replacing the usual outings to Turf and the V&A. In its own way though, this made the year groups stronger than ever as COVID regulations dictated their social calendars. The restrictions however carved out great opportunities for some, with academic study taking a front seat. Work, and talking about work, became the new (and extremely refreshing) social norm in-house and steadily the academic bar for the House was raised. The fantastic Upper Sixth led by example and Dhaneal and Richard were rewarded with offers from Cambridge after Christmas. Chess boards, both physical and digital, were popping up all around the House, with Richie organising (and winning) the first Lynedoch House chess tournament.

The Summer Term gave us glimpses of Lynedoch and Wellington at its best: Sunshine, Maniacs, Sports fixtures, the Kingsley’s and the Pink Pav Dash. Sadly, it also reminded us that we were not out of the woods yet, as the restrictions tightened once again, preventing the Fifth Form from returning for their last two weeks after their extended half term holiday. It would be an understatement to say that this year has been like no other. It has however been as successful as it has unique, as rewarding as it has been challenging.

I have been in awe of the boys this year. It would have been all too easy to complain about what they were missing out on. Instead, they have focused on what they were able to do and to use these opportunities to make the very best of what is on offer. Their resilience has been admirable, and I have new-found confidence that whatever future challenges this magnificent group of boys face, they will rise to the occasion, and face any challenges head on and never once back down. Ever.

Mike Cawdron Housemaster July 2021

MURRAY

It would be tempting to say that at the start of the year my hopes for the Murray were astronomically aspirational: win every House competition, convince the Works Department that we should have a full refurbishment, complete with gold leaf, and ensure every boy achieved top grades in every subject in every report. Perhaps my goals for the House might have been as lofty as that, though after last Summer Term spent online interacting with the House via Microsoft Teams, I think my biggest hope was simply that the Murray would all be together physically in September 2020: happy, healthy, and not self-isolating. Beyond that, I simply wanted very much for the House to resume where it left off, as a diverse, welcoming and often humble community of 72 boys.

Despite those fairly prosaic aspirations, the reality is that the House has had an extremely successful year, both as a unit and in terms of individual successess. Though there have been some triumphs and podium finishes in House competitions, such as Interhouse Water Polo and House Drill, as well as individual highlights such as Ishan Kapur receiving the Diana Award (a prestigious international award), I think what I have been most proud of as Housemaster is the remarkable resilience that the boys have shown this year, and the support that they have afforded each other. With young men in the House whose families are in countries all across the world, with the current limitations on international travel, this year more than ever the Murray has necessarily become a home away from home. Not just in the bricks and mortar sense, but also through the selfless manner in which the boys have looked out for each other and been sensitive to each other’s needs, worries and tribulations over the last twelve months (and always maintaining a delightful sense of levity and laughter throughout). This is what, in my opinion, makes the Murray such a wonderful place to live and work.

In short, the biggest challenge of 2021 has been… 2021, as the House tutors moved from being teachers to becoming lateral flow testers, public health enforcers, and meals on wheels delivery men and women to self-isolating pupils. This seems like an opportune moment to thank them, then, as well as Brenda our fantastic Matron and Kelly our equally brilliant Housekeeper, for all they have done for the Murray this year. In terms of the biggest surprise – perhaps simply because it is fresh in my mind – but after their end-of-term curry, the normally fairly boisterous Lower Sixth putting on the Mamma Mia soundtrack and dancing gracefully round the kitchen was certainly not an expected sight! Though that may seem like a slightly trite example, the tutors and I who were there all commented that it was exactly the sort of curveball and utterly bizarre moment that reminds us all why working in a boarding House – and in particularly in the Murray – is one of the most varied and rewarding jobs in education. Roll on 2022…

Oliver Peat Housemaster July 2021

ORANGE

Where to begin? The achievements of this year have been considerable and historic. Despite (because of?) the syncopations enforced on the rhythm of the school year by the pandemic, the Orange has learned to dance to a new beat – and successfully so. We kept a lockdown house spirit flaring with life, through regular online meetings, whether it was with Jana and her kitchen drop-ins, tutors stirring the pot, whole House sessions led by the HM in his orange T-shirt , or the girl-edited weekly Slice of Orange. They all helped during those long weeks of isolation. It also meant that when we were able to regather for the duration of Michaelmas and the final three weeks of the Lent Term – as well as all of the Summer Term – the energy has been palpable, despite the unfamiliarity of signage, timings, and a host of proscriptions on which parts of the House you can visit and when. The unintended benefits have been striking: the kitchen is now self-regulating and the days of swipes are, possibly, never going to return. Year groups have been more tightly bundled, and realised with real tangibility the importance of belonging within a house. For the Third Form, it has helped in reducing Wellington to a much more manageable scale in its initial stages – although they are going to be thrilled when they return next term to what we hope will be a fully liberated College. Although House competitions have been scaled back dramatically, there have been so many individual and collective successes. From a strong showing in Swimming, through to a fine Music Ensemble performance, the Orange continues to treat competitions as exercises in collective endeavour more than neurotic point scoring. When the GWA reopened, Orange girls were everywhere to be seen – on stage and appearing on our screens for showcases like the Montgomery final and a whole host of master classes. The Upper Sixth led the House as much through manner as by direction with Woozie Pearson-Miles serenely steering the ship through still and rough waters at all times. Some brilliant academic achievements saw Mafalda Groos gaining entry to Brown University and Madeleine Power winning a place at Trinity College, Cambridge, to read Art History.

The challenges, although many, have been offset by the unexpected moments of adolescent wonder – usually unplanned – that make the Orange such a fantastic place to learn and live. Year group supper nights, which have seen a whole range of experimental cookery, have been a particular highlight, along with a new-found fondness for movie evenings, and the Lower Sixth delivering a range of superb lectures to younger girls on everything from Marine Biology via high-street fashion to the virtues of crash courses in Journalism. We even managed a madcap Christmas party complete with the usual array of fancy dress costumes and utterly bizarre dance routines. Tying it all together has been the endless goodwill, kindness, and humour of the girls. We were fortunate to go into this pandemic with such a resolute and energetic house spirit and this has certainly seen us through in such good shape. Tribute must, therefore, be paid to all the previous years of girls who have helped lay this foundation. There is some catching up to do with photos from years gone by and some spaces to fill on Honours Boards, but the future is now looking much healthier and, despite the diversions of the past year, all the stronger.

Tom Wayman Housemaster July 2021

PICTON

As a ‘newbie’ HM, I had hoped to build on the stable foundations which has made the Picton an incredibly kind, supportive, and joyful place to be. In many ways the immense complexity of the academic year, with new ways of queuing, calling over and eating all made the house focus and objectives for the year that bit more distilled and obvious. The main plan was to get through it unscathed – with more positive memories than negative – and hopefully feeling like our wonderful House had been a joyful and happy sanctuary. I hope the smiles on the boys faces across the year and the brilliant times that were spent together (when we could) are testament to the fact we have achieved that.

The ‘spirit of the Kingsley’s and what David Lofthouse, the CPT team and the whole of the House achieved on that balmy day in May will live long in the annals of Wellington and House history. The 5km cross country route was conquered in under 10 hours, and over £100k was raised for the House charity. The collective effort, the will, and the determination of everyone, especially David, to complete this gargantuan challenge was spine tingling for all those who got to see it up close and personal. Who will ever forget the quieting of the crowd as David walked unaided across the finish line to be greeted by the most rapturous and euphoric applause? That feeling of pride will stay with all those boys for a long time ahead. As David said at the end “Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something”. Some much-desired silverware was also won with the Fourth Form coming first in House Drill and the Third Form winning House football and tennis. A whole host of new societies including Academic, Star Wars and Marvel have piqued interest and discussion and the supper clubs, Big Green Egg and Pizzas have kept stomachs full and morale high.

The most unexpected moment, beyond COVID, was perhaps how wonderful our virtual entertainment evening ended up being. Even with Zoom fatigue very present, the virtual wine tasting run by Mr. Peat, the parent break-out rooms, the boys’ ‘one shot’ music video of ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’, and the Teams call catching up with Old Pictonians were stellar events at a time in early 2021 when we all needed a boost. Full credit to Oskar (U6) for organising it all, a fantastic achievement. The biggest challenge for a house where the lobby area is the beating heart and hub of all conversation and interaction has been sticking to maximum occupancies and trying to ensure year groups are not mingling too much! How wonderful to think that come September we will have inter-year socials and interactions back on the agenda as we ‘rediscover the heart of the Picton’.

Jack Murray Housemaster July 2021

RAGLAN

At the start of the academic year, I think we all knew that things were not going to be straightforward, but I don’t believe anyone could have guessed what a roller-coaster ride it would eventually turn out to be. My deepest hope was for the boys to be able to return to a school environment that would still allow them to flourish as far as possible in all areas of college life, build on existing friendships, and cultivate new ones whilst welcoming a talented and diverse new group of Third Form students. This was always going to come with its challenges, but to the boys’ credit they took mask wearing, bubbling, hand sanitising, year group isolations and every other COVID regulation in their stride. Everyone was just happy to be back in physical school, to have some sense of House community again (even if it was limited to year group bubbles), and to make the most of face-to-face teaching.

The tutors, Matron, house staff, and I are incredibly proud of the way the boys adjusted to the challenges the pandemic presented. The boys were always supportive of change and after the previous term’s online education, all seemed to have a new-found love for physical school which was incredibly humbling to see, and reinforced why Wellington is such a special environment. Being the largest House in College and living under COVID regulations was no walk in the park, and the empathy, kindness, and compassion that the boys demonstrated to each other on a daily basis made all involved in the House extremely proud.

It would be wrong for me not to mention the impact that the pandemic has had in particular on this year’s leavers. It has robbed the boys of numerous opportunities to create memories outside of the classroom, on sporting fields and at various social events, which is a great shame. As a year group, they have set the bar extremely high in all aspects of College life and now leave having given so much to the Raglan and wider Wellington community. Academically, they have been nothing short of outstanding, with three boys receiving offers to study at Oxford and numerous others going on to top universities around the country. Guy has been an outstanding Head of College, and the first day boy to have been granted that responsibility. The boys are a very tight-knit group of young men that show compassion and empathy to those around them, and have been a constant joy to look after in house, and will sorely be missed as they move on to the next chapter of their lives.

In time we will look back on the pandemic which without doubt will change so much of our future, but I firmly believe it has made every current pupil of the Raglan so much more appreciative of the fantastic school they attend.

Gareth Carr Housemaster July 2021

STANLEY

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Stanley Upper Sixth 2021 for everything they have done for the House and the College over the last five years. They have been an outstanding year group and their collective leadership has enabled the Stanley to flourish in the most unique and challenging of years. Their courage and camaraderie has been remarkable, but more importantly, their supportive, kind and approachable manner has given all the boys great confidence. They have added the word Pride to our House motto this year, and it has been wonderful to see everyone embracing it. Baxter Westby has been a brilliant Head of House, very well supported by our deputies, Angus Leech and Cosmo Smith, and all the Upper Sixth boys have left an incredible legacy for others to follow.

There has been much to celebrate this year, both individually and collectively. The Senior boys won House Football and reached the final of the MNF competition. The Fourth and Fifth Form reached the finals of their House Rugby competitions, both losing narrowly. Max Ivey and Louis Hine won the Junior Tennis competition, and a big highlight was the whole House effort in winning the Kingsley’s. Special individual sporting mentions must go to: William Alexander for his continued athletic successes and qualifying for the National English Schools Association Finals; Ned and Louis Hine for playing the highest level of International Polo they can possibly play, and winning the Prince of Wales Competition; Mark Dickin for being awarded Golfer of the Year at the Thames Valley Junior Golf League; and Will Hobson and Soli Arbuthnot-Whittaker for representing Harlequins and London Irish Academy, respectively. Other notable House achievements included 5th place in the Ensemble competition with three Third Formers, Harry Miners, Reuben Kirby and Miles Bell putting together a fantastic rendition of Wonderwall. Reaching the House Drance (virtual drama and dance combined) finals, and it was phenomenal to see such a team effort and especially Luca Judge’s awesome dancing, under the impressive direction of Baxter Westby. Maniacs was great fun and it was excellent to see so many boys being awarded their mini-mars bar for their commitment. We have enjoyed a lot of House socials and the in-house Kabir’s Christmas Curry was great fun! However, in my seven years of house mastering, I have never seen so much pizza consumed, and in the recent summer months, the boys have enjoyed Mr Craig’s culinary BBQ skills. All these socials are so important to allow the boys to relax and enjoy each other’s company. We have also had several table tennis, cage footy and golf tournaments, as well as Frank Pugh’s superb effort in the Mental Health competition this year.

Outside the usual house competitions and socials, it has been superb seeing the boys give up their time to Service and Charity. The Carwarden link continued in COVID times, albeit virtually, and the Fifth Form put together, alongside the Orange, a rather amusing 12 Days of Christmas Video. Public benefit will be an area the Stanley will continue to develop next year. A big shout out to Cosmo Smith and Sam Hind for their monumental charity cycle ride from England to Switzerland raising over £6,000 for Autistica. The Third and Fourth Form Stanley Curriculum sessions have continued to thrive under Mr Craig’s leadership and intellect. It has included a range of topical issues in society and after three years, it is now safely embedded into the Stanley culture.

To finish, I must pay tribute to the whole Stanley community, parents, boys, and staff for all their unwavering support and kindness. The Stanley is a special place and that is because of the 63 boys that live in it. The boys have been magnificent, and I thank them for everything they have achieved this year, in spite of the challenges they have had to face in the ever-changing landscape of our society. I feel very privileged to be serving this community, and I am incredibly grateful to the boys, staff, and parents for their loyalty. The Stanley team, alongside the Lower Sixth and parent reps, look forward to maintaining and driving a caring, happy, and fulfilling environment in which all the boys can flourish and develop into respectful, kind, and gracious individuals, inspired to contribute to our community and beyond.

Charlie Sutton Housemaster July 2021

TALBOT

What a year! However, amongst all the uncertainty the Talbot has still managed to thrive. It shows great resilience from the boys and staff alike to weather the storm and all that was thrown at us. This year, the House hoped to build on last year’s fine performances in the Interhouse competitions once again and to give Mr White a decent send off after 10 years as HM. Despite much of the social side of things being curtailed due to bubbling and social distancing, but the boys still managed to enjoy all that was on offer along with more than a few burgers and sausages on the Piazza del Talbot!

The year kicked off with House Drance (Drama and Dance combined) and House Art, where sustainability took a major focus and the boys got stuck in. It is great to see the boys really engage with the outside world so much and have such strong views on sustainability and climate change. Our resident thespian Freddie led the charge in House Drance, producing a brilliant production, but the boys were denied a place in the Final due to a rules technicality! Swimming was next on the agenda, a competition the Talbot has done very well in the last few years. The boys put together some strong teams and managed to reach the podium once again, finishing third. With much of College Sport cancelled, the Wellington rugby calendar was restricted to interhouse touch-rugby. This, however, proved to be a much better format than full-on contact and involved many more non-rugby players, producing a fantastic competition. The Lower Sixth ended up as unlucky finalists but the Fifth Form were brilliant and claimed top spot – a great way to end a difficult term.

Lent Term was back online again which presented its own problems but the boys knuckled down and it actually suited some pupils academically without the distraction of everyday Wellington life. The physical side of school was led by “The 2021 Challenge”. Run, row, cycle, walk, swim and clock up the Kms. Charlie G not only led the House, but also led the school, amassing a ridiculous number of kilometeres each day, winning the overall competition, an amazing feat. The rest of the House decided to cook rather than exercise. Rahul and Teo led the cook-a-long extravaganzas, chivvied along by our own unflappable Matron, Pat.

Thankfully the boys returned to school for the last three weeks of the Lent term and the whole of the Summer. Exams took most of the focus with mocks, mini assessments and final assessments but the boys still managed to fill their time with the “normal” Wellington activities. Cricket, Tennis, and the rearranged Kingsleys, which is and always has been, a brilliant event. This year saw an elite group race, followed by House bubbles against the clock. In the Seniors, the big T gained 3rd, 4th, and 5th places with Samm, Josh, and Freddie leading the way. In the Juniors, Quentin came 2nd. However, not to take the gloss of any of those excellent efforts, the elite race was absorbing. Charlie and Ollie W led the pack, both intermediate runners, and it was neck and neck as they ran up towards North Front. In the end Charlie came 1st and Ollie 2nd, leading the whole school!! Finally, the last day of term and the last competition dawned, Lower Sixth Water Polo! Having won the inaugural competition back in 2019, we went into the pool unbeaten for 2 years. The boys were brilliant and teamwork won the day. The icing on the cake was when they said ‘This one is for you Sir… last day, last house comp, last win… unbeaten now for 3 years!’

To conclude, I would like to thank all 66 boys in the House this year. They have been excellent Talbotians and have shown the true character of Wellingtonians even when the going has been tough. For me it has been an amazing ride over the last 10 years, and I would like to take my hat off to all of them. Go well Gentlemen, and thank you.

Jonathan White Housemaster July 2021

WELLESLEY

This has been a year like no othe,r and I could not be prouder to call myself Housemistress of the Wellesley. This year our aim was to maintain the inter-year relationships, even when we were having to work remotely. Our prefect team have worked extremely hard to achieve this, organising bi-weekly Teams meetings with their year groups, holding weekly Teams House meetings, and ensuring they were available whenever the girls in the House needed them. They have been a prefect team like no other, adapting to the often unexpected challenges as they came, and leading with positivity and enthusiasm.

We have had many successes this year but there are a few stand-out moments that cannot go unmentioned. This year we had the first Interhouse virtual challenge, the Wellington 2021km challenge. The Wellesley girls made a mammoth effort for this with much of the House taking part. It was neck and neck for many weeks between the Wellesley and the Hill, but the girls all came together completing 5681 kms and winning overall. Most notably every week Amelia Hutton’s efforts were in the top 10 of the school. As we approached the end of the year it was a shame not to have the usual Speech Day ceremony as we would have seen so many Wellesley girls receiving Speech Day Prizes, this, combined with the girls’ fantastic efforts in their academics this year led to us winning the Toye Challenge Trophy, a prestigious trophy awarded for GCSE and A level results. Finally, it is an extremely proud moment for the House that Aleena Islam has been awarded The Duke of Wellington’s Prize: this is extremely well deserved, for Aleena has had a fantastic five years at Wellington, setting a perfect example to the Wellesley girls as to what can be achieved if you take on all that Wellington has to offer.

The biggest challenge this year has been for our Third Form: they have joined the school unable to socialise as we all would have wanted due to COVID, but this has not stopped them from trying their best and giving their all this year. They have taken everything in their stride, always giving their best efforts. An example of this is their prize for their efforts in the Co-Curricular challenge. As we finish the year many of the girls have received scholarships, which is fantastic to see and very well deserved.

I really am looking forward to building on all these successes with our new prefects next year – and let’s hope that when we return in September it is a more normal year! Kate Larkin Housemistress July 2021