House Reports

Anglesey

At the end of this extraordinary academic year, I find that as I look back at all our achievements and successes, it is the conduct of the girls over the last few months that has given me the most reason to feel proud. From the kindness they have shown each other as they struggle to make sense of the abrupt end of physical school, to their enthusiasm and commitment for their virtual classrooms; what each girl has shown, is that the Anglesey is a family, we embrace the new, and above all, we look after each other.

The Michaelmas Term saw the arrival of our new Third Form and Lower Sixth students, all of whom have added so much to the House. Our ‘thirdies’ were superb in the year group talent competition, and we were delighted when they were judged to be the winners with their synchronised swimming routine.

Once again, the strength of the friendship between the various year groups was demonstrated at our Christmas party, during which the Upper Sixth continued the tradition of decorating a bauble with their name and hanging it on the tree in the atrium. The evening ended with our now traditional Atrium Rave!

The Lent Term was crammed full of interhouse events, and we kicked 2020 off with the House Singing competition. The theme this year was ‘Glastonbury Headliners’, and this was only the second time that this event has taken place in the GWA with a live band. The Anglesey threw everything at their performance of David Bowie’s Changes, looking and sounding superb. We were delighted with our runner-up position.

We have a long history of success in basketball, so it was great to see our younger girls getting stuck in with the girls’ junior basketball competition and being crowned ‘Junior Basketball Champions’.

We also took the top spot in the interhouse badminton competition, which was particularly impressive as neither Milly Crosby or Emily Leeson opts for badminton as their sport.

The Lent Term also saw the extravaganza that we know as Supper Theatre. It was another fantastic night, with good food, good company, and some outstanding talent from the girls. The proceeds of the evening went to our House charity for the year — ‘Helping Uganda Educate’.

The Lent Term ended with the school musical, and it was great to see several Anglesey girls involved. This was a ’West End’ quality production, and the standard of singing, dancing, and acting was way beyond anything that could be expected from such a young cast. Everyone involved showed utter professionalism and in particular, Iris Taylor, Nell Hickson, and Anna Wayman were fantastic on stage, and Gabriella King and Yi-Ann Yeung enjoyed the experience of being part of the band in the pit.

The Summer Term saw a very different Wellington - virtual lessons, virtual tutorials, virtual competitions, and regular virtual cuppas with the HM! As a House, we did our very best to remain connected, and it was lovely to see the number of online events that the girls organised.

Service became a focus for many, and I know that the hardworking people at the fire station were very grateful to sisters Maya and Liv Fennell for delivering sausage and bacon baps. Tash Murrin was also keen to help in the crisis, volunteering for a local action group and helping to collect food and deliver it to vulnerable people, who were unable to leave their homes to buy food themselves.

‘Virtual Speech day’ was a huge success with the Big Top video, HM video (including bloopers), and Upper Sixth drinks. I was delighted to hear that the Anglesey had won the Wellington Trophy for the second year running, and this year’s winners of the House cups were announced as: Gracie Butler — Watson Cup; and Kaia Kaemmerlen — Hutchinson cup.

As we say goodbye to the current Upper Sixth, we wish them the best of luck with university and gap years. They have led the House so well by showing the younger girls what it means to be part of a team, instilling an ethos in the House of ‘inclusivity and acceptance’. Their enthusiasm and passion for everything has been evident throughout their time here, and I am truly sorry that they didn’t get the end to their Wellington journey that they were expecting or deserved.

Apsley

To experience the competitive spirit of the Apsley, come and witness the interhouse quiz: the girls are formidable, and their enthusiasm is not for the faint-hearted. I am, of course, particularly proud the girls will not relent, even in the seemingly minor points of boarding life.

The Apsley girls are as unrelenting as they are passionate, outspoken, and broad-minded, always pushing barriers and expanding their understanding. The Upper Sixth were instrumental in setting a tone of community and service. Their legacy is outstanding, and my heartfelt thanks go to all House prefects, who led and innovated admirably, especially the Head of House Tilly Rawding.

For House Singing, Girls and Boys by Blur was ingrained during rehearsals, and the chorus continued to echo in the hallways long after. The girls’ proudest moment during the performance was being described as a ‘boys’ House’ in their choice to prioritise the power of choice, House spirit, and energy over pitchappropriateness and gender stereotypes.

The House and its routines ran like clockwork, even the early morning call overs. The kitchen was the heart of the Apsley more than ever this year. Despite the looming fear of tight swipes rules and unforgiving consequences, it has seen waves of mug mess and absent forks, crowds around Venetia’s unbaked cookie batter — the baked dream scent weekly permeated even the darkest corridors of the House. The kitchen was a place of conversation throughout different year groups sharing or overhearing gossip, celebration, and consolation and above all the building of friendships which make the Apsley so special. Girls have worked for charities during their summer break; taught Latin in local comprehensives; organised collections for the local food bank; worked with Afghan refugees in Oxford on a skills exchange programme; volunteered at homes for adults with specific learning needs; worked with local children in nurseries; spent time with older people in day-care centres; and during their Christmas break, they have worked with children with autism.

The Apsley girls completely understand the climate crisis, global migration, polarisation, extremism, inequality, natural resource depletion, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. They want to passionately play a role in today’s and tomorrow’s world. In March, they demonstrated ample courage, resilience, and creativity to negotiate this changing landscape, and despite the challenges of the last few months, they have ownership of their way forward.

It is the girls themselves, and their friendships, which create a transformational experience in the Apsley, alongside a passion to engage with their humanity, and the humanity of others, in a way that is bold, forward-looking, and unrestrained.

I am incredibly impressed how all the Apsley girls, from the amazing Third Form to the departing Upper Sixth, have created an environment where they become the best versions of themselves, with the knowledge, friendship, empathy, and humility that will carry them far.

From virtuoso performances in music, astonishing feats in dance and acrobatics, all the way to team and individual sporting pursuits, the Apsley girls in 2020 remain an engaged and impactful House. There is relevance in the manner in which they flourish here as bright, capable, and compassionate leaders.

Without stating the blindingly obvious, we are likely to remember 2020, primarily, for one unprecedented sequence of events. Despite the school year being cut short, at least in its physical form, the House managed to find ample opportunity to demonstrate its spirit, camaraderie, passion, and sense of fun. The Beresford winning both the MacMillan Cancer Research Baking competition and the inaugural Senior and Junior Welly Wanging competitions really was as remarkable as it was unexpected. The diversity of talents and the list of achievements this year are as impressive as any I can remember, and are a testament to the boys’ ever-increasing desire to challenge themselves inside and outside the classroom. A boarding house is so much more than a list of accolades, but in this case, it does paint a picture of the spread of interests, the engagement, and ambition of the House as a whole.

This year, the House had 20 sets of College Colours awarded in disciplines as diverse as Leadership, Skiing, Shooting, Rugby, Global Citizenship, Hockey, Academics, Cricket, Squash, Football, the Arts, Rackets, and Real Tennis; we’ve had representatives at 1st team level in Rugby, Hockey, Cricket, Tennis, Squash, Real Tennis, Rackets, Football, Skiing, and Shooting, with many others demonstrating skill, passion, and team spirit week in, week out, throughout the year. Interhouse competitions were enthusiastically contested across the full spectrum of activities, although with the loss of the cricket season, the Juniors were robbed of the chance to complete the ‘Interhouse Grand Slam’ for the first time in living memory, having already won the Rugby, Football and Hockey competitions. There were international sporting honours and Ivy League and Oxbridge places; spirited performances in House Dance, Singing, and Drama, and a never to be forgotten rendition of One Day More by the ‘Valjean Society’ at our annual entertainment evening. And who couldn’t help but be entertained by the House ensemble cover of Kelly Clarkson’s Since you’ve been gone, in the virtual Eve of Speech Day Concert?!

In October, four members of the Upper Sixth organised a charity event and silent auction for the parents, which in addition to the money raised as a consequence of the entrepreneurial drive and vision of another of the Upper Sixth, raised over £10,000 for our House charity, Tushinde.

But this year has been so much more than a ‘highlights reel’ of achievements. In a year which has challenged all in different ways, the boys have shown commendable kindness, resilience, and resolve in supporting each other to overcome the various obstacles and to seek opportunities even when faced with disappointment and frustration. Before Covid-19, the Beresford were known for their tight-knit community, ‘esprit de corps’, and sense of humour, and these attributes have been just as evident during lockdown.

Though this year’s “Year in brief” sums up a year rather briefer than usual, it has still been a busy year for the boys of the Benson, who have thrown themselves into every aspect of College life with tremendous enthusiasm and commitment, as always. The House juggled academic, sporting, artistic, and charitable spheres with great dexterity, and there is certainly still much to reflect upon. September saw the arrival of not just ten new Third Formers, but a new Third Form Tutor and AHM, Mrs Bateson. All eleven have made a real impact in House this year, with the boys rapidly integrating into the House, forming strong relationships across year groups and getting stuck into both academic and cocurricular work. The Prince Consort’s Library continues to serve as the work hub for the Third Formers, and — perhaps inspired by the weight of knowledge on the shelves — two went on this year to gain distinctions in their Malim projects.

The Fourth and Fifth Forms have been equally engaged in Wellington life this year, and have distinguished themselves in a number of artistic and academic achievements. No fewer than six of them gained distinctions and merits in LAMDA qualifications in the first term alone, alongside taking a range of roles throughout the year in Medea The Musical, Our Country’s Good, I Am David and, of course, in Sweeney Todd.

Our artistic endeavours have perhaps been most recognisable not in year-group activities, however, but in interhouse events. House Dance this year featured an extraordinary medley from Moulin Rouge! with the boys excelling both in the presentation of tender pas de deux and of hi-octane high-kicking burlesque in both the Can-Can and the unforgettable Lady Marmalade. And ‘unforgettable’ is exactly it — the image of the troupe of nine boys in skirts and fishnets will stay with us all for years to come. As if that weren’t enough, the boys went one stage further with a tremendous performance of Beyonce’s Single Ladies for House Singing, picking up the award for Best Harmony. Strangely, there was no prize for their costume of leopard-print leotards, though we are certain that the costumes were appreciated by the judges.

None of the House-wide achievements would have been possible without the Sixth Form – especially the Upper Sixth. Both year groups have demonstrated tremendous leadership throughout this year, and have given a huge amount in service both to the House and to the school. The Lower Sixth — a large year group of fifteen — will have big shoes to fill when replacing our nine Upper Sixth students, who have executed their duties as prefects with skill and determination, led by DHoH Alfie Harding and HoH Oscar Fuentes. We were sorry not to be able to say farewell to them in the usual way and look forward to welcoming them back for a proper send-off.

Blücher

Courage comes in unlikely guises. The Blücher’s heroism in the sports arena is uncontested, but our collective confidence on the stage has occasionally floundered. This was the year the boys cast off the shackles of insecurity and embraced every aspect Wellington has to offer, taking a giant step towards being a House where anyone, whatever their interests or background, can be accepted, flourish, and lead. House Singing and Dance have erstwhile left us feeling like we might be competing in the wrong league, but this year our efforts betrayed a genuine belief we could win (so close). Lucas Hooper led the House Song with aplomb, spurring the boys into believing not only in their own volume (never a problem), but also engaging with Lixy Andrews’ superb choreography, ably assisted by Robbie Offord, Stan Munro, and Costi Miller, and proving a veritable trove of musical ability. Hal Millard and Rodel tugged at the heartstrings with their professional voices and pathos, Will Hooper and Harry Skinner had rock-star cameos as Danny Wessely’s trumpet ensured the whole show was a blast. Lucas’ full art colours were a fitting tribute.

Max Hollingdale’s men (Arthur Grigg, Joseph Pym, Guy Millard, David Petschek) were again undefeated in the House Quiz. The Blücher team have not lost in three years — arguably securing a hat-trick, even if the final round couldn’t be completed this time. The all-round confidence was on show in their charity efforts. The boys that came to Tiger Kloof threw themselves into unfamiliar tasks, proving independent and servant hearted. Most of the House was involved in the DeliverBlu waffle service — exemplifying the beauty of the Blücher’s renowned energy when combined with altruism. I love that these initiatives aren’t simply about persuading others to donate, but are entrepreneurial efforts also to do something fun for the community. Head of House Joseph Willcock led by example as he, Will Petschek, Jim Baring, Tom Beardmore, Josh Burke, Max Hollingdale, Costi Miller, Robbie Offord, Wil Pope, and Kit Bloor were awarded service colours. They have managed to make ‘do-gooding’ cool.

The band (Lucas Hooper, Danny Wessely, Jack Knight, Willem Hooper, Ed Cottrell, and Joseph Pym) embodied this sense of House cohesion, serving at House events and starring at Welly Rocks.

Academically, last year’s results were stellar; Blücher was the top boys’ House at both GCSE and A Level. Arthur Grigg was in the final of most debating competitions, and he, Ed Cottrell, Orlando Getty, and Bertie Pughe-Morgan won academic prizes. That said, the Blücher remains synonymous with sport. Again, the boys reached the latter stages of hockey, rugby, and football at both senior and junior levels, as well as MNF; Jasper SmithGordon continues to thrive in international gymnastics; Francesco Attili came second in the Lombardy competition; and Jasper, Marcus Nye, Arvind Sangha, and Robbie Offord won OW sports prizes. Jack Knight, Cam Ellis, Lucas Hooper, Lixy Andrews, Artem Naydenov, Joseph Willcock, Max Heeschen, and Marcus Nye won full sports colours.

So, a year of courage. Part of the tyranny of an obsession with ‘cool’ is that it can bring fear of ridicule, being different, or trying and failing. However, at their best this year, the Blücher boys have made things like dance, music, charity, effort, and kindness ‘cool’.

Combermere

The Combermere has truly flourished in all senses of the word this year, and it remains a remarkable place to live and work. The Upper Sixth were steadfast in their aim of improving inter-year relationships, splitting the House into small mixed-year groups, known as Prides, which has helped everyone take more time to get to know each other better. Interhouse competitions have been incredibly successful this year for the Combermere — not least because of the pure effort and enthusiasm that all year groups have shown for the various events. Reaching the final for House Dance and winning House Singing have been huge highlights for everyone. House Hockey and Netball also saw the girls coming 1st and 2nd, respectively. Despite the Fourth Form’s lack of confidence in their CCF capabilities, they won a very well-deserved 2nd place! What we lacked in skill, we more than made up for in sheer tenacity, and there was no better proof of this than the House Orienteering competition, where a search party was needed but our Junior Team still managed to finish the course — albeit cold and hungry when they eventually got back to House!

Mrs Johnston returned to the Combermere this year and joined as our Assistant Housemistress. To our good fortune, she has brought with her a wealth of musical talent and enthusiasm. The new piano in the downstairs common room, a plentiful supply of crisps and dip, and lots of willing musicians, have led to the creation of ‘Combermusic’ each Thursday evening, and the fact that it continued throughout the Summer Term via Microsoft Teams is a real sign of strong House spirit.

The Third Form made a noticeably strong start to their Wellington life with a seamless integration to House life and a willingness to get involved from the start. Talented across the board in academics, sport, and the arts, they have collectively achieved a great deal in a short space of time. The Fourth Form continue to be excellent company and their sense of humour is unwavering. They have wasted no time this year in committing themselves to their GCSE courses and, equally, their efforts in the wide range of sport, drama productions, and music have been hugely impressive.

Despite being under heavy academic pressure from the start, the Fifth Form remained their lovable, excited, and diligent selves even throughout the challenges of exam cancellations and a very different Summer Term to that which they were expecting. Their positivity and resilience will make them superb role models to the younger girls in House as they enter the Sixth Form. The Lower Sixth have been absolute stalwarts in their approach to their IB and A Level courses, end of year examinations, and UCAS preparation. On top of having to do all this online via Teams, they have been superb in their efforts at keeping the House together during lockdown.

The departing Upper Sixth will be sorely missed. Their vibrancy, and their sense of community and belonging, have had such an impact on the rest of the Combermere. Collectively as a year group, they have excelled in their academic studies, sport, charity work, and the Arts: drama, music, and dance. They have all had different passions and they have brought these into the House, sharing and inspiring the other girls around them. Alice Nicoli and Ella Redfern have been outstanding in their respective roles as HoH and DHoH, and we are all grateful for their outstanding leadership of the House and their tireless kindness and care for all the girls in it. The Combermere class of 2020 will certainly make a success of anything they turn their hand to, and we wish them all the very best for the future.

Finally, we say thank you and goodbye to Mr McGarey, who has been a tutor in the Combermere for five years. We are hugely grateful for all his contributions to the House and wish him the best of luck for his new job and adventure in the USA.

Hardinge

The Hardinge is a House like no other. With most pupils joining at the start of Lower Sixth having never boarded before, it was wonderful to see friendships forming within weeks, which I am sure will last a lifetime. In the House, we have so many different talents, cultures, languages, and endeavours and that is what truly makes Hardinge such a diverse and exciting House to be a part of. I am sure none of us would swap it for the world. Perhaps the concept of boarding was slightly daunting to the many arriving in the Lower Sixth; however, the kindness and warmth of the House made the experience so much easier.

The Upper Sixth have enjoyed a stellar year, with many striving for top grades and two achieving an Oxbridge place. A huge congratulations to them, and particularly the prefect team for leading the House so admirably this year. They created an atmosphere that promotes intellectual discourse, curiosity, and most importantly, fun. The Upper Sixth have been great role models, and it will be no mean feat for the Lower Sixth to follow in their footsteps next year.

As a new wave of Sixth Formers arrives each September, a breath of fresh air is brought into the House. The Lower Sixth acclimatised so well to the bustling Wellington life, and have thrown themselves into so many opportunities: House Drama, the choir, 1st team sports, academics, and much, much more. The Lower Sixth also achieved notable academic awards and prizes, as well as colours in sport and global citizenship, of which they should be incredibly proud.

The nature of Hardinge is that it is a coeducational House, with Lower Sixth girls and Upper Sixth boys. This has provided the House with such a balanced and healthy outlook, which will be sorely missed next year when we become an all-girls’ House.

The Hardinge would not be the Hardinge without our wonderful Housemistress Madame Jobson and our House Matrons June and Jo. They really do provide the foundation for the House, and without their kindness and generosity, I am sure we would be lost as a House.

Although this year was sadly cut short, the House has adapted so well to the new challenges faced. With regular Facetimes, Zoom calls, and Teams meetings, the Hardinge energy and positivity still lives on. The House also collated a video of some memories and achievements of the year for our virtual Speech Day. This reflection upon the year has brought us all to the realisation of how incredible and life-changing it has been. We are all so proud to be a part of Hardinge!

Hill

This year, the Hill prefects have highlighted the importance of respect, family, being the best, responsibility, and fun as their key focus areas! These values have ensured that the House has remained a warm and welcoming place to live for all members, with the boys continuing to foster a special culture within the House. While the second half of this year has been uniquely challenging, the Hill and the boys continue to go from strength to strength across academic, arts and sporting spheres. The boys continue to benefit from having an outstanding House and tutor team, who challenge them to achieve the best possible outcomes, while ensuring their attitudes and behaviour are kept at the highest of standards.

The Upper Sixth have been incredible leaders, working hard to ensure the Hill remains an inclusive House which celebrates all members’ individual differences and successes. The ‘Hill Man’ continues to remain a cornerstone for all members, and there is a strong ‘House First’ approach to daily life, which has resulted in the Hill being revered by all Houses and enabled us to compete across all House competitions. While our rendition of Coldplay’s Viva la Vida did not achieve an award, the collective effort and approach once again highlighted the boys’ commitment to representing their House! Major honours have been achieved this year in the following areas: House Dance, Monday Night Football, House Relays, House Rugby, and House Art. Student commitment to virtual competitions during the Summer Term has been particularly outstanding, and once again reflects the value the Hill members place on representing their House, helping to keep the House connected during an uncertain time. A key focus this year was developing our House Charity connections, and through the leadership of our Prefect team we have launched a number of projects focused on raising money for our charity, the Seb’s Foundation. Movember was our flagship event, with our eleven Upper Sixth members attempting to grow a moustache with varying degrees of success! Thankfully, their fundraising efforts exceeded their facial hair growth, and we were able to donate a significant amount to this wonderful charity. It is safe to say the boys and House team make the Hill a unique place, and while there is a wide variety of characters within the Hill, all members are committed to making the Hill the best place to live at Wellington. Our Prefects have been incredible servants to the House and College this year; they have led from the front and have been impressive role models to all; they have been approachable and supportive of the boys and will be missed by all within the Hill! A special mention needs to be given to our Head of House, Nicholas Teague, and our Head of College, Charlie Bradbury, who have been the ultimate servants in their roles within both House and College.

Hopetoun

The Hopetoun girls might think that the greatest highlight of this year was the demise of the 7.30 am bell! For the HMs, who get up much earlier than that, top moments included the Hopetoun’s brilliantly slick and witty House Dance entry, a take on Singin’ in the Rain, and the House Singing competition in which 69 Hopetounians bedecked in pink gave their all with You’ve got the Love by Florence and the Machine. We were greatly impressed not just by the performance itself, but by the strong and compassionate leadership shown by the Upper Sixth in rehearsals. The Upper Sixth leadership also shone through in interhouse sport, in which the Hopetoun swept the board by taking first place in both the senior and junior categories. This success was not, we think, because the girls were any better at sport this year. Rather, it was due to the House spirit that has been high all year long, with so many girls keen to get stuck in. Yes, we’re delighted at the incredible talents and drive of our girls (let’s not forget the 20 Speech Day prizes this year), but even more so at their get-up-and-go, their willingness to volunteer to help out, and to help others.

The girls’ generous spirit was never more apparent than when the tough times hit following the closure of the physical school at the end of March due to Covid-19. The life and laughter went out of the Hopetoun atrium for five full months, and Wellington went virtual overnight. Yet the House spirit carried on. The House prefect team arranged baking, drawing, and other competitions in which the girls could connect with each other from home. House tennis and athletics were cancelled, so instead we entered the ‘Pet Agility Competition’ and won both junior and senior sections thanks to the highly athletic dogs of Izzy Webb, Aoife Bowen, and Iona Ross-Skinner. No Pink Pav dash? No worries: twelve girls ran the requisite kilometre at home instead, and we came in second, with Elodie Sinclair taking 1st place for the inters category and Caitlyn O’Leary coming 3rd for the senior. As for the Boughey Run on Waterloo Day, it was remote again, and Hopetoun third former Lucy Perkins smashed it and came in 1st. Our House ensemble entry — in which the contributions of eleven girls singing and playing separately were brought together though Catherine Abela’s technological wizardry — was both funny and fun: with a wry wink to lockdown, they performed Abba’s Our Last Summer.

Throughout the physical and virtual school year, the Hopetoun girls have shown tremendous determination, grit, and flexibility. As HMs, we are deeply proud of the way the girls have kept our community strong and supportive through not just the good, but also the most challenging of times.

Lynedoch

As I have said before; the Lynedoch is a unique House. With fewer than 50 boys, we are the smallest House in College. What we lack in numbers, however, we more than make up for in spirit. The boys throw themselves into every aspect of College life; whether it be academics, sport, music, drama, service, or any other extracurricular activities. It is vital that Wellingtonians take advantage of the huge number of opportunities and privilege that being part of the Wellington community gives us.

This year has been another huge success for the Lynedoch. Every boy in the House has undoubtedly thrown themselves into College and House life in true Lynedoch style. The boys have embraced their challenges, and in doing so have created a House spirit that I strongly believe is second to none.

Due to uneven numbers in the Sixth Form, we welcomed in only eight new members of the Lynedoch family in September. The boys arrived full of potential, and I look forward to seeing them fulfil it in the years to come. The Fourth Form remain a strong and supportive group of young men. Bright, talented, and extremely enthusiastic to help each other get the most out of their Wellington experience. They share a huge amount of pride, confidence, and passion. Without doubt, these boys will go as far as they want to go in life.

As the Fifth Form moved towards their GCSEs, their maturity became apparent. The character of these boys was extremely impressive, and it was such a shame that they were robbed of the opportunity of sitting their summer exams after such sterling success in their mocks. As they head on to the Lower Sixth next term, I am confident that they will continue to build relationships through the House and help drive the ethos we look to foster in the Lynedoch.

The Lower Sixth matured extremely well over the course of the year and it is clear that next year they will become extremely impressive leaders in the House. With Monty and Louis as Head and Deputy Head of House next year, I couldn’t have asked for two finer young men to lead the House. They will, I am sure, be ably supported by a hugely ambitious and talented team of House prefects.

The Upper Sixth have quite simply been an outstanding group of young men. They have been instrumental in the House’s obvious transformation over the last few years. The energy, positivity, and inclusivity that they have brought to the House will ensure they leave a lasting legacy. It is therefore such a shame that their time together was cut short due to Covid-19.

There have been many successes to celebrate this year; however, for me, the true highlights were the boys’ performances in House Dance and House Singing, as well as the fabulous talent evening in the Old Gym, where every member of the House contributed in some way – a sign of being a true Lynedochian.

Murray

At the very end of last summer, with a new Housemaster poised to take over and after a successful three terms, the Murray boys, parents, and staff had been, to quote last year’s Yearbook entry, ‘looking forward to what the Murray can do next year’. None of us would have predicted that in eight months’ time the House would be emptied, the school and indeed most of the world lockeddown, and that the planet would be in the midst of a pandemic... Fortunately, the Murray had done great things during Michaelmas and Lent, before moving to its virtual incarnation and — for the benefit of future generations of reader — these catastrophic global events were not the new Housemaster’s fault...

The highlight, and indeed the common thread among all of the interhouse events this year, has been the Murray’s indefatigable commitment to spirited participation and, notably, hearty support from the side-lines, the stalls and, in the Summer Term, the servers in Microsoft HQ. From the Mansergh to Bigside to Derby, the House flag has been flown with pride as the boys in purple have given their all to the whole gamut of events. As well as this consistent display of spirit, there have been material successes too. The year started auspiciously with a third-place finish in the Junior J races; we were House Dance finalists and plate finalists in Senior Interhouse football to boot. Polished performances in House Drama and singing were commendable and garnered positive comments, if not any silverware this year.

The Third Form arrived in September, and immediately established themselves as a stellar year group who have slotted into College and House life with aplomb. It is often said that the first year at Wellington is the moment to try as much as possible of what is on offer, and from shooting, to science society, from Master’s lectures to music making, this diverse group of twelve young men has, as a whole, absolutely befitted from the full range of extra-curricular activities. It has been equally pleasing to see the Fourth Form bond and gel as a year group, making a conscientious start to their GCSE courses and increasingly contributing to the House at large.

Of course, the Fifth Form have been deprived of the chance to sit their own GCSE exams in the summer but had been working with outstanding determination to secure an excellent set of grades before having to process the disappointment of that cancellation. Aside from their diligent work, this remarkably cohesive and supportive group of individuals has added a huge amount of character and humour to the House and can be proud of an extremely successful — if unorthodox — denouement to their Middle School careers.

In September, we also welcomed thirteen new Lower Sixth entrants in addition to the usual 13+ intake. That they have been so naturally and seamlessly assimilated into the House is testament both to their own strength of character, and to the kindness of the ‘old’ Lower Sixth who welcomed them with open arms, determined that they should be an example of strength in numbers. As they become Prefects, they inherit a House left in excellent shape by the Upper Sixth and our outgoing Head of House, Raghuv Kanwar. There is a distinct atmosphere of kindness, inclusivity, and tolerance in the Murray, and this has been typified by this year’s leavers. Their range of interests and backgrounds, unfailing respect for each other, commitment to the House, and support of the younger years has meant that their tenure as student leaders has been an exemplary one, and we are hugely grateful for the positive impact that they have had on the Murray this year.

Orange

It is Michaelmas Term, 2019. Fourteen new third formers arrive in dangerously smart uniforms to be greeted by their prefects and Head of House. That evening, they will bake, decorate, and celebrate the start of their five-year journey here topped off with marshmallows round a firepit. Soon after there is a House photo, a whole-College photo, hockey trials, and Orange girls swarm all over the College Carnival. Jessica will entrance the House with her guzheng playing; one of the first ever Orange girls, Amelia ChristieMiller will pop in, but not before we’ve all run 5K for the Jimmy Higham Bursary fund. The Upper Sixth are treated to supper at the Master’s Lodge, and one of their group, Hayley, will soon put on her incredible creation: Medea The Musical. Mrs Ma will arrange a dim sum evening for the Fourth Form, while Miss Candappa brings a beautiful baby Otis into the world. Harriet leads the choir at Guilford Cathedral, and the Fifth Form host our friends from Carwarden school every Wednesday, devising all manner of indoor and outdoor learning activities. Penny has had enough of the butter disappearing from the kitchen, so writes firm instructions on Post-it notes which will stay there all year and be obeyed. The Macmillan Coffee Morning cake competition reveals Emily as a world class baker — but she forgets to take the cake over to the V&A, so we all enjoy eating it in House instead. 18th birthdays seem to be happening every two days; wine and cheese is a regular feature for the senior girls, while the Lower Sixth have a three-course meal cooked for them as part of a fundraiser. The Fifth Form decide to treat the Third Form to an evening of chicken nuggets and chips — the Garden Room is a sea of yellow food. Celeste and Delilah win the Small-Group Dance Competition, while the College football 1st team is made up of 25% Orange girls. The international boarders all congregate on a Saturday night in the kitchen, where Chinese feasts and baking take place, while Bea will lead the U14As to first place in the Berkshire regionals. 24 partridges make their annual appearance for the closed weekend, and Don Beni’s is taken over by the House for an evening — which will be followed by the Orange being crowned as the Junior Welly-Wanging winners. Six of the Upper Sixth will head off to work with Care4Calais over a bitterly cold November weekend; when they get back, we will all go to Hampton Court for ice skating. Jana’s Thursday pancakes keep everyone sane and warm, while our musicians fill the air at the Gala and End-of-Term concerts. House Singing rehearsals begin, stopping only for a trip to Kabir’s. There is the Christmas party with its inter-year dance competition, quiz, and emergence of scary Santa. Domino’s make yet another delivery, before everyone collapses in front of the General Election on the big-screen TV.

It is Lent Term. Everything is focused on House Singing: different parts of the Orange resonate with close harmony and melodic swirls. University offers tumble in; birthday cakes are delivered and demolished. We are robbed in House Singing. Again. Driving tests are passed and failed and retaken. Girls set about raising money for Mityana Charity and Sebastian’s Action Trust — from busking, to tutoring, to selling old clothes. They raise over £12,000. House Drill is ferociously executed while, on stage, Orange girls take leading roles in I Am David, Sweeney Todd, and Our Country’s Good. V&A Acoustic Sessions are monthly highlights, and Georgiana runs the fastest lap in the College Relays. Honor puts on a charity Valentine’s Day Ball, and House Drama sees Big Ted take a starring role. The House Entertainment Evening showcases the diversity of creativity across all year groups — including some bizarre magic tricks by the Third Form — while in House Netball, the girls dominate in the face-painting department. Then, on the 18th of March, we have a hastily arranged, mini-Graduation Ceremony for the Upper Sixth, complete with Terry’s Chocolate Oranges. And on what should have been the date for the House Drama final, the Orange and College are emptied of pupils. We regather, online and surreally, the following Monday, and reconnect through virtual lessons and tutorials, House assemblies, and year group meetings.

It is Summer Term, and the Orange is held together through a shared spirit of connectivity as the country tiptoes around. Minds start to turn to September and the hope that we will, once again, be welcoming fourteen new girls — and everyone else — in their dangerously smart uniforms.

Picton

No one would have believed in the last days of 2019, that this world was being silently invaded by a virus that would swarm invisibly and multiply under our noses. With infinite complacency, Pictonians went to and fro about Wellington, serene in their assurance of their empire over academic and sporting pursuits. No one had heard of an ‘R-rate’, and few understood the difference between being ‘guided by the science’ and ‘informed by the science’. It is curious to recall the Picton life of those departed days...

Academically, it has been a good year for the House, with our stellar Head of House, Lucas Evans, receiving an offer to study Geography at Brasenose College, Oxford. The Third Form have made a great start, and we were proud to see Sebastian Kerr’s hard work and commitment to academic extension rewarded in the form of an academic scholarship. Inspire dinners welcomed Jimmy Mulville (Have I Got News for You) and David Hitchcock, who regaled fellow diners with tales of misspent youth and later successes. These dinners, the brainchild of HM-elect Mr Jack Murray, have become renowned for their conviviality, inspiring stories, and outstanding cuisine courtesy of Hadrian Lau and his team of sous-chefs, whose ability to create fine food is only equalled by their skill in using every available kitchen utensil.

The House continues to be a standard-bearer for drama, with Oskar Puntmann, Alex Weatherall-Green, Digby Venables, Alistair Lee, Toby Hancock, Jasper Kirkby, and Lucas Evans excelling in productions such as I am David, Our Country’s Good, and Sweeney Todd. We were hotly tipped to finally bring home the House Drama, but lost out cruelly on a technicality (the school moving online as a result of Covid-19 in March). Our outstanding musicians James Dundas and Gabriele Suvini went head-to-head in the Montgomery final, with violin narrowly triumphing over bassoon. In sport, two major trophies came home to the Picton. Having ‘set out their stall early-doors’ not to concede a goal, the senior football team implemented a series of draconian ‘lockdown’ measures designed to stop the other Houses from scoring; preempting Government policy, Lucas Evans, Hugo Swift, Joe Baker, Tommy Offer, Humphrey Perrins, Sander Caouki, and Mikey Evans shielded the perennially ‘vulnerable’ (and increasingly eccentric) Alex Stannard in goal, thus ensuring the Picton penalty box and the back of Stannard’s net recorded very low levels of infection. At the other end of the pitch, our strikers were, very responsibly, socially distant from the opposition goal and did not touch the ball. Despite these paralysing restrictions placed on creativity, and thanks to nerves of steel and mud and blood flowing through every vein and artery, the boys brought home the House Football cup following a series of nerve-jangling penalty shoot outs. The boys also brought home the distinction of winning a tournament without scoring a goal in normal time. Tommy Offer reinforced this sporting success in the inaugural interhouse dog agility cup, which vies with Captain Tom’s 100-miler as the highpoint of the postlockdown sporting landscape.

David Lofthouse and his team (Jasper Kirkby, George Evans, Tom Taylor, and Ralph Hawker) have been inspirational in launching the Cerebral Palsy Trust, and we look forward to seeing David complete his 10km odyssey once life at Wellington returns to normal.

That three of these boys were nominated for the Pupil Medal is testament to the quality of people we have in the Picton, which is, without rival, the best House in College. We wish Mr Edwards well as he departs for the green, green grass of home after five years as HM, and welcome the legend that is Mr Murray, who will surely ensure that everything that is wonderful about the Picton remains so.

Raglan

This academic year will be one that is revisited repeatedly when we look back at the College’s history in years to come. Many of the recent events that we have experienced will be taught to those that are privileged enough to attend this fine academic establishment, and I am certain when the young men of the Raglan recount stories of their time at school to their children, the events and effects of Covid-19 will certainly feature. Our thoughts go to all those that have experienced hardship and loss over the course of the year, as we look back on what has been a truly testing time in all our lives.

All this said the 2019/20 academic year has been a successful one for the boys, and one that has had many highs and exceptional performances from individuals as well as the collective group. The sense of community within the House and across the year groups has flourished, and the boys enjoy each other’s company, and are increasingly becoming supportive of the vast array of talent in the House. Being the largest House in the College with eighty-one boys, we have been able to celebrate success on many levels.

Once again, the House Singing competition was a great success, and really is an event that shows the House at its best. Individual success in the arts was also achieved with Hugo Williamson winning the Montgomery Singing competition, with Sebastian Carroll and Oscar Farrell also among the finalists on the evening. Our Upper Sixth jazz quartet consisting of Delan Aribigbola, Oscar Farrell, Ben Symons, and Daniel Bennett were outstanding and ran away with victory in the House Ensemble competition.

A highlight that showed the character and togetherness of the House was the virtual Pink Pavilion Dash, where pupils were asked to register a time remotely and submit evidence to support the time. By far and away the Raglan had the highest number of entries, coming out 50 points clear of the other boys’ House, which given the climate at the time of the race was impressive. There was also House success in the Junior House Relays, and a special mention must go to A. Dias who was part of that team, but also becomes the first Third Form boy in the College’s history to win the Boughey Run, as well as finishing an incredible 2nd in the Kingsley’s.

The academic performance across the year groups has been fantastic, and so many of the pupils have excelled both inside and outside of the classroom. The following boys were awarded academic colours following their outstanding GCSE results: Max Small, Alex Crosby, Guy Zilberman, Niam Patel, Hugo Williamson, and William Martin. A further three boys in Oscar Fry, Sunay Patel, and Joshua Xu were awarded the top academic scholarships at the end of the Third Form.

The balance in the House, and abundance of talent across all areas of school life, is inspiring, and the boys are a pleasure to lead. A huge thank you must go to the departing Upper Sixth, who have given so much during their time at Wellington. Fin LivingstoneLearmonth has led the House exceptionally well and has had a dramatic impact as a leader, which must be recognised. We are also exceptionally proud of Guy Zilberman, who has been announced as Head of College for the coming academic year. An exceptional young man who will no doubt lead the College brilliantly during these unsettling times.

Stanley

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to every member of the Stanley community for their efforts and continued support over the past year, especially during the Summer Term. For the boys, this has meant adapting to new routines and ways of working, which are strange and unfamiliar. The adaptability, commitment, and resilience they have shown has been remarkable, and they all should be very proud of themselves. The same, of course, is true of the wonderful House staff, who have moved from being physical classroom practitioners to online tutorial deliverers, with barely any time to plan yet with tremendous success. They have endeavoured to give the best possible virtual education, academically and pastorally, to the boys, and I cannot thank them enough for all their kindness, dedication, and commitment. To the parents, I am immensely grateful for all the kind emails of support, and it has been a great source of comfort and reassurance, thank you. A special mention must also go to our brilliant parent reps this year; Felicity Hindley, Sacha Cooper, Gerry Britz, Carrie Neilson, Gillian Almanza, Jayne Tomlinson, and Nicola Sinfield. Despite these unprecedented times, there has still been much to celebrate this year. The senior boys won their House Sport competition; winning House Rugby and coming runners-up in House Hockey were certainly amongst the highlights. The juniors also had successes, winning House Basketball, finishing 3rd in House Hockey, and 2nd in the House Relays. Both the seniors and juniors also enjoyed reaching their respective MNF finals. Away from sport, the boys had other excellent achievements, which just shows the wonderful diversity of talent amongst them; we won the House Art competition for a second consecutive year; we reached the Drama and House Quiz finals, before they were cut short due to Covid-19; we achieved 2nd place in House Drill, and were runners up of the small House Group Dance. We were all immensely proud of the House Ensemble group for picking up a runner-up spot for their creative and original performance, Pan-demic! Finally, the wonderful news of Emilia Jayne Craig coming into the world brought so much happiness and joy to the House at a time when it was most needed.

The Stanley curriculum has been extended and developed under the outstanding leadership of Mr Craig (AHM). It has continued to provide Lower School boys with the opportunity to develop a wider understanding of the world and an interest in extra-curricular topics. It was great fun to welcome the Fourth Form Orange girls for a session, and to see even more Sixth Form leadership. Both curriculums ended the year with a parliamentary style debate, albeit in written form, but not before receiving some excellent advice from our in-house debating experts, Ramarni Wilfred and Atticus Christie-Miller. We have continued to make refurbishments to the House, most notably the development of the Games Room. This is now a fully functional workspace with a Harkness table, projector, whiteboard, surround sound, and comfy sofas.

The continuation of the Carwarden project, supporting pupils with learning needs, and the Frimley Park Hospital partnership have ensured that service remains a key feature of the Stanley. At the Stanley Entertainment Night, over £6,000 was raised for ‘Autistica’, a charity that researches and supports those with autism. The Stanley Newsletter ‘Stanley Matters’ has been another new initiative, with all the articles being written by the boys. We have also continued to enjoy several socials (parents and pupils) with the Christmas Curry at Kabir’s and the Upper Sixth Teachers’ Supper being the usual highlights! We have also introduced a Mothers’ Brunch and The Stanley Supper Club, where the boys get to invite a guest of their choice for a three-course meal in the Dining Room, followed by an after-dinner speech, usually given by a member of the Common Room.

Whilst there have been so many successes that the boys can be immensely proud of, it is with great sadness that we say goodbye to some stalwarts of the Stanley community. Firstly, the Upper Sixth. They have been an outstanding year group, and we are so appreciative of their good company, role modelling, and leadership. It has been an honour to watch them mature into fine young men, and individually there is so much talent across their year group. Collectively, they have ensured that they have left an incredible legacy for others to follow. They have embodied our values of respect, kindness, and inclusivity (#RKI), whilst also creating such a fun and positive atmosphere. Their leadership has enabled the Stanley to go to new levels, and their supportive and approachable manner has given all the boys great confidence. Max Hindley (HoH) has been one of a kind; he is so inspiring and caring and shows kindness in abundance. His leadership of the House and his year group has been nothing short of phenomenal. All the Upper Sixth will be remembered for many years to come, and a year group that I know future leaders of this House will aspire to be like. No one wanted their year to end the way it did. It was so unbelievably sad and, whilst tough on everyone, it was especially more so for this group for boys. However, the resilience, courage, and camaraderie they have shown has been outstanding, and we could not be prouder of them. We will all miss them dearly.

We also say farewell to two wonderful Fifth Form boys, Alex Dancer and Liam Thurlow. Both these boys have given everything to the House and College, achieving so much. We wish them every success and happiness in the future. Finally, we say goodbye to our utterly amazing matron, Colleen Smith, who has been the heart of the House for the past four years. She has very much made this House her own and epitomises everything that is brilliant about it. She deeply cares about all the boys and will do anything for them. Her energy, passion for life, sense of adventure, fantastic sense of humour, and kindness are simply astonishing. She is one remarkable and talented lady. Her smile lights up any room, and it will be an incredibly strange feeling when September comes. Her resilience and can-do attitude are so inspirational. I have worked with few people in my career for whom I have more respect. Colleen, like all our departing students, has made the Stanley the special place that it is, and everyone, past and present, will always remember her.

It only leaves me to say that it is such a privilege to be Housemaster of such an amazing House. The boys are brilliant, and I could not be prouder of them. I feel like the luckiest man in the world to be serving and leading this outstanding Stanley community, and I am truly excited about what the future holds.

Talbot

From Maniacs Champions 2019 to no Maniacs at all for the first time since the mad ‘fun’ competition began ..... probably sums up the strange, fun, difficult, amazing, surreal, and typically very busy year in the Talbot. Interhouse competitions always take centre stage in the annual round up and review, but this year a few other anomalies took centre stage.

The sudden announcement back in early October that the House was changing to a co-ed and then a girls’ House, starting in September 2021, was a huge shock to all, and there was obvious disapproval and disappointment from the boys and I at the time. The announcement was very much out of the blue, but as time went on, discussions were had, life in the House settled down, and the pros and cons were deliberated. Obviously, the right thing to do for the College, but still disappointing for the Talbot, which has stood at the north edge of the College on its current site since 1934. However, the pupils may change but the Talbot will remain as strong as ever, and I know the boys will pass on their legacy when the girls are fully ensconced in September 2025.

‘Hungry but humble’ has always been treated with a little snigger over the last few years since I adopted the phrase, but as with all ethos, they take time to bed in, and this year I really feel the House took this on board and lived up to its true meaning. The boys have been hungry to improve, to achieve, to succeed, but also humble in defeat, or in ‘perceived’ failure. We are a kind House, and the camaraderie and bond within the House is there for all to see. Whether it is on the sports field or on the stage, when the House pulls together it is great to see, and the rewards are shared across all the year groups. This year the charge has been very much led by the Upper Sixth (which has not always been the case), and in particular the HoH and DHoH, Will Mayer and Ben Murrin. They are both strong characters, and have led the House with skill and empathy, building on the emphasis of teamwork over the past few years.

The year got off to a great start on the first weekend with the Welling10K, with the Talbot collecting the first House points of the term: 2nd overall. This was swiftly followed by an empathic win in the swimming and another second place in House Dance. A solid 6th in senior House Rugby, and a very hard-fought 2nd in the Junior competition, rounded off the first half of term in style. After all the talk, Badminton was not quite our game this year, but Basketball was another chance for some good points. The juniors were strong contenders for the title, but got undone by the eventual winners, while the senior team were just pipped to first place by the Murray, but another 2nd place showed the fighting spirt within the House. Climbing concluded the term and took the juniors into Christmas in 3rd place and the seniors in 1st!

The Lent Term saw House Quiz, the Relays, Singing, Football, House Drill, Orienteering, and Hockey all with varying degrees of success before the term was brought to a grinding halt due to Covid-19. However, points were accumulated, and some notable successes in the House Singing and Hockey were achieved. One of those was as the runners-up in the Singing competition, winning the best soloist category, but the House was bitterly disappointed not to win overall! Hockey has been strong for a few years now, and the boys went into the competition as one of the favourites. After a few close calls, the senior team managed to see off the Beresford in the semi-finals and eventually the Stanley in the final, to win for the second year in a row.

Very sadly, not only did the school move online at the end of the Lent term, but the College and the House was devastated to lose one of our House mates. Oli Strode was a very special young man, and I have many fond memories of him in and around the House. Oli managed to make everyone smile and laugh doing the daftest things, and all with his booming grin. He managed to connect with many people in different ways, he was an incredible young man: clever, sporty, and talented and I am so very sad that he was unable to see the bright future that he had ahead of him. Oli, rest in peace and please keep us all in check.

The Summer Term was difficult for the whole House with online school, but especially on the back of Oli’s passing. However, the strength shone through, and I cannot thank the boys enough for the support they showed each other and myself in dealing with this difficult time. 2020 will be remembered for many things, but the Talbot will remain strong, and the boys will carry that strength forward for many years to come.

Oli Strode 22/5/02–19/03/20 Clever, sporty, talented and all with a booming grin.

Wellesley

The Wellesley has once again had another outstanding year. The girls have thrived in all areas of College life; from the arts to sport and academics, it has been amazing to see such success in all our endeavours. I am especially proud of the girls’ vibrancy and enthusiasm in the last term as we turned into a virtual school. The House spirit remained as the girls all stayed connected, showing what a lovely comradeship the House has. With regular House meetings, House weekly challenges, and Wellesley workouts, it has certainly been a lot of fun, and I think that Poppy’s poem from Speech Day gives the best sense of what it means to be in the Wellesley.

I’d firstly like to reiterate The Wellesley staff are truly great We really cannot thank you enough For putting up with the chaos and all the other stuff.

This year the Wellesley has had such success We are number one and nothing less Except apparently in House Singing and House Dance The judges were ‘dayist’ and robbed us of our chance.

House Netball and Art saw victories though In every event we put on a good show There were many individual achievements too We are a fantastic House, now that is true.

We even had our first House Cluedo With everyone involved running to and fro Although the amount of scheming was quite stunning I’d never seen any girls quite so cunning. Our work with Cowshed has all gone swell Thanks to your donations, we’ve done so well The Curry Quiz Night was so much fun Thanks to Asya for all the work that she’s done.

From singing and dancing in Sweeney Todd To just studying in a library pod The girls work hard in all they do How they do it all I have no clue.

In every House event you all played a role So a big thank you to the House as a whole Even though sometimes we did have to scream Most of the time you were an absolute dream.

Mums and dads, I now speak to you A quick thanks for all that you do I know it must be hard to hear you’re no longer cool But we do appreciate you driving us to school.

A little note for the year below Your last year will be anything but slow Even though you will have your exams to do Stick together, I promise you’ll get through Remember, Fairy Liquid in a dishwasher is a definite no But hot chocolates with Kathy a definite go!

I wish Annie and Nancy good luck for next year I can promise everyone you have nothing to fear: They are fun and kind and seriously bright A House led by them will be a delight.