PDF Newsletters – September 2011
Saturday, September 3rd, 2011Sulian Newsletter – September 2011
Headmasters Letter – September 2011
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Annual Dinner 2011
Saturday, September 3rd, 201115th October 2011 Annual Dinner
Bath Cricket Club, North Parade.
7 o’clock for 8pm. Black tie or Lounge suit. You should find a chitty enclosed. Just follow the instructions, put it in an envelope with a cheque made out to ‘Old Sulians’ Association for £30 per person and post it straight away. (After the 6th October it is £35 per person)
Our friends at Bath Cricket Club have held their prices for yet another year, so have we. In these austere times I hope this will encourage you to come. Graham Knight’s young friends get their bus passes this year and have promised to use them to save parking their zimmer frames.
The toast to the Association will be proposed by Tony Comer; Rich Wood, the President will reply; Andrew Davies, the Headmaster will update us on events and achievements at School and the Rugby Club will have the last word. Hopefully each will take ‘Just 5 Minutes’ without hesitation, repetition or deviation from the subject. If I felt it would do any good I would bring a buzzer!
I always read out a few messages from those who are unable to attend so if you would like to be remembered or get me to collect any white fivers you are owed, just drop me a line or e-mail.
And below is a picture of the results of our presentation to the Head last year of a cheque from the proceeds of ‘The Book’. (Still just a handful of copies left which will be with me on the night if you are in need!).
Old Sulians’ Association Annual Dinner 2011
I enclose a cheque payable to ‘Old Sulians’ Association’ for £35 per person, (£30 if paid before the 5th October)
for this year’s dinner on Saturday 15th October. 7.00pm for 8.00pm. Black tie or dark lounge suit. The Bath Cricket Club, North Parade.
Name(s):
Address:
Please return to: Roger Wood, 101 Hansford Square, Bath, BA2 5LL Queries phone: 01225 832207 or e-mail: roger.wood3 (AT) virgin.net
BY THE 5th OCTOBER
Tick here for the vegetarian option ……………
If possible seat me near…………………………
Newsletter – September 2011
Saturday, September 3rd, 2011OLD SULIANS’ ASSOCIATION
Newsletter
September 2011
www.oldsulians.org.uk
As I write this in the middle of another ‘English Summer’ it is cold and drizzling (I put this in so that our antipodean members can gloat!). The Annual Dinner is the next big event. Attendances at the golf and treasure hunt have been low and next year will be a make or break time. It is very dispiriting for the organisers and the events must be at risk if not supported. Hopefully the Annual Dinner will fare better and recent years have been very encouraging. Full details are found elsewhere so please book early.
On 14th July, 13 members of the 5th Form of the old City of Bath Boys’ School who took their School Certificate in 1949 gathered at The George at Bathampton for a reunion lunch. Organised by Mike Hucker, they tried desperately to remember old times and old friends.
The photo can be found by downloading the pdf copy on our website and shows l – r: P Dyer, P Powell, B Thomas, D Francis, M Hucker, C Bush, A Blake, T Light, C Windsor, M Moore, C Shackell, M Challenor, and C Hallett.
NEWS
Raymond Leppard
The distinguished former pupil visited School in May to sign copies of his autobiography “Music Made Me”, the UK proceeds of which will go to the School’s Music Centre project. A goodly number of us met and chatted with him, were entertained by the School Big Band with some members coming straight from exams, and then had an external tour of the new music block. Paul Calvert, the Head of music, was busy measuring up for curtains for his new penthouse suite!
And talking of music, a reminder that if you have any musical instruments stashed away in the loft/garage/box-room that you no-longer play or use, then a good home could be found for them in this new project, the Head’s own ‘El sistema’.
EVENTS PAST
9th June Association v NHSOB. Alan Blake reports: The weather was excellent and due to the absence of a couple of Sulians. we fielded a team which comprised two guest players. An excellent lunch, ploughmans of course, preceded what turned out to be a good round of golf for 5 teams of 4. The course was in particularly good fettle as the Newport Golf Club was about to host it’s Open Championship, so we were very lucky. The afternoons golf was enjoyed by all concerned and resulted in a win for the visitors. {We tend to gloss over the actual scoreline]. After a good shower to ease away the aches collected during the afternoon, we sat down to a superb dinner. All in all a good day for Mick Moore‘s team. .
17th June Association Golf Day. Mike Wood reports:
Sulian golfers took to the fairways of Bath Golf Club in testing, wet conditions on Friday June 17th to continue their annual battle for the trophies and prizes. It’s not known if Roy Aust has any ‘Irish blood’ but he emulated Rory McIllroy’s feat in the US Open by taking all before him and winning the Tony Bowrey Trophy for a best gross 75, The Association Cup with a best Net 68, the ‘Longest Drive’ and the ‘Nearest the Pin’. If protocol had permitted, he would have also won the Old Tossers Tankard but that went to Robert Hill and on count back, Roy lost out to Barry Marsh who won the Rose Bowl with 39 stableford points. As usual, the prizes were spread around and shared by those who followed closely (or not so closely!) in Roy’s wake. With the Club Championships being played the following day, the course was in splendid condition and the fare served up by House Manager Richard Lennon and his staff matched their normal high standards. Our thanks go to Bath Golf Club for their continued support and hospitality. Numbers unfortunately continue to dwindle! If anyone likes to plan their year early and to pre-empt anyone suggesting they didn’t have enough notice, get Friday June 15th 2012 in the diary now!
6th July Approach Golf. Rich Wood reports:
Five players braved the rain and wind. Two completed all 18 holes, the other three retiring after the first 9 due to worsening weather conditions. The result, scored over the first 9 holes, was: 1st Rich Wood, 2nd Peter Beach, and 3rd Alan Blake. The Approach Golf tournament, which has been running since 1953, will run for a further two years making a nice round 60 years, at which point we’ll also have run out of room for names on the cup.
Treasure Hunt or ‘Robert’s Ramble’. Rich Wood reports:
Four teams headed out on a treasure hunt organised by Robert Hill around some of the lesser-known parts of Bath. Fortunately the rain held off for the evening. Unfortunately there was a rather poor turnout, partly due to clashing with the 49ers gathering held the same day. The results were:
1st Peter Beach, =2nd Peter Powell, =2nd Rich Wood, 4th Alex Wood.
£11 was raised, to be donated to a charity of the Presidents choosing.
Trip to Imperial War Museum, Lambeth.
23rd October. Tony Buss has arranged a group booking on a coach trip to Lambeth. Further trips are being mooted. If you have any thoughts please give Tony a ring on 01225 404625 or e-mail: bussstop@sky.com
Informal Lunches
Have proved fairly popular so we are carrying on for the Autumn. The schedule is:
September 14th at The Mill at Rode,
October 12th at The Globe at Newton St Loe,
November 9th at The Boathouse at Bathwick
Contact Peter Powell for any directions. Make your own arrangements, pay your own bills. Meet from 12 noon, and give yourselves a treat and enjoy lunch with friends.
Membership
Whilst attending the reunion mentioned on the front, Peter Dyer, Chris Shackell and Cecil Hallett were painlessly relieved of a Life Members sub by our silver tongued Secretary. All ‘49’ers obviously!
Old Sulians’ Rugby Club
Celebrating 50 years on Lansdown and the start of another season. We wish them well and you are assured of a welcome up on the hill. I understand that Brian French will be up from down under and is hoping to be there on the 10th September. What better excuse for those of you who remember him or owe him a pint!
Headmaster’s Newsletter
I am very grateful to the Headmaster for his comprehensive end-of-term report that you should find enclosed. I also note from The Chron that this year’s crop of exam results look to be very promising, particularly the ‘A’ levels.
And finally - the next newsletter will be out for February 2012 if we are spared! If you have any news you would like to share please get in touch. My thanks to my current correspondents and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the Annual Dinner.
Hon. Secretary: Peter Powell
11 Kennet Park, Bathampton, Bath BA2 6SS 01225 466608
Hon. Treasurer: Richard Wood
63 Caledonian Road, East Twerton, Bath, BA2 3RD 01225 422210
Hon. Correspondent: Roger Wood.
101 Hansford Square, Combe Down, Bath, BA2 5LL 01225 832207
Headmasters Letter – September 2011
Saturday, September 3rd, 2011July 2011
Dear Old Sulian,
Another year draws to a close and we prepare to release the boys into the care of their very enthusiastic parents for five weeaks of sun….
Much has been achieved over the last few months, allowing the School to move closer to its goal of providing the very best ‘rounded education’ for boys. The Governing Body of Beechen Cliff have re-iterated the intention to create depth and range in the provision offered; both in terms of the curriculum and extra-curricular life. In addition, there is a significant aspiration to develop stronger links with those in the community who are associated with the school, utilising their talents to provide ‘services’ to the school for short projects. This support may well include the support to additional rugby, football and cricket teams or even helping the school with professional issues to help complete a project required. It will be interesting to see how this particular area develops over the next year.
The summer has been busy – the School became an Academy over the Easter break and we have headed off into the “Independent School” world full of hope for the immediate future. The start of the era has seen a number of building projects being developed; the Music Centre will be ready for occupation in September and will provide some much needed inspirational accommodation for our musicians. We anticipate an official opening some point in September – hopefully supported by a musician who will be known to the boys. I had not heard of any of the names put forward – so they must be perfect.
During the same month we will open the new ‘astro turf’ and 3G surfaces. These will be exceptionally popular facilities and allow us to alleviate the wear on the upper field pitches. They really are magnificent to behold and I extend a general invitation to you to wander up and have a look during August – I’m sure they will look at their best prior to the boys being ‘unleashed’ upon them!
We anticipate a further build project being undertaken over the next few months, allowing us to remove the RS Centre ( a very dilapidated hut) and to replace it with a building housing six new classrooms. The old rugby pitch will be transformed. You will be heartened to know that we have no intention to update any element of the Main School building; rather the opposite, in fact, as we start to try and ‘strip back’ the horrors of 1960s additions to move towards a look which is slightly more faithful to the 1930s building. I was disappointed to be over-ruled on the subject of wooden floors on both corridors – teachers complained that it would be too noisy when one thousand boys walked along them. For my part I really couldn’t see the problem ….
Future aspirations include a large pavilion to replace the temporary building which greets you as you enter the site, and a large changing area/clubhouse near the old redgra site. If you know anyone with three quarters of a million pounds to spare, please feel free to point them in my direction. You can rest assured that all the changes we make are always planned around ensuring we can maintain the ethos and sense of tradition which is fundamental to the success of your school. I very much doubt we would ever be seen as one of the soulless glass and aluminium ‘palaces’ which have been erected to alleviate the ills of modern education.
The Chef continues to inspire our young charges, his foray into animal husbandry having provided eggs for the masses and pork for the hungry schoolboy diner. Our first two pigs departed in early July and returned to us a week later. They were very well received. When Ofsted came to visit in February they were very taken with the quality of Tim Fletcher’s work, particularly his ability to inspire the boys, many of whom have decided they would like to pursue a career in food. In October Tim will be running a ‘game week’, allowing the pupils to sample the joys of pheasant, partridge, pigeon, venison, duck and rabbit. The week is sponsored by BASCL and a generous parent, determined to give children a chance to find out what is available beyond the ‘everyday’ fare.
A long summer of sport has seen our cricketers achieve success in a range of matches. The Under 12A team made it to the semi final of the Bristol and Bath Cup, falling to a very strong Bristol Grammar School team. On a tour of South Devon the boys won two matches but were defeated by Exeter School and a strong Under 13 Paignton Cricket Club team. The Under 13, 14, 15 and 16 teams all had mixed fortunes although the Under 14A team won all but one match – unfortunately the defeat was to Kingswood in the third round of the cup. The 1st XI defeated the MCC and the Forty Club, showing their usual high level of sportsmanship, gathering further admirers of the school. Tom Weaver of our Lower Sixth received a special MCC award as an outstanding young cricketer. Tom’s batting and wicketkeeping contribution has been quite exceptional. It is clear that the young talent coming through the school will continue to form wonderful sportsmen – hopefully able to become the team members of local adult clubs, brining on youngsters of their own and aware of the work that Beechen Cliff undertook in making them the men they became.
We have seen success in local athletics meetings, the Under 15 boys winning the Somerset competition in June. Michael Gardner, 15, is undoubtedly a significant talent at high jump and will be a name to look out for in the future. Given the ditch and puddle-covered fields on which they train, it is remarkable that the boys achieve at the level they do.
Visits to Barbados (supposedly for cricket ….), Moscow Space Centre, Normandy, Spain and Morocco (Duke of Edinburgh) are significant features of the summer enrichment programme and have been very much enjoyed by all those pupils participating. A serious of arduous challenges have now passed – most particularly Ten Tors, sixteen boys acting as wonderful ambassadors for us in the rugged wilds of Devonshire. Some of these boys then put themselves forward amongst the fifty-three who volunteered for the Centurion Challenge. The one hundred miles were completed, in the allotted time scale, by thirty-one of our boys. Footsore, mentally shattered and not wanting to see a canal footpath again, they pushed themselves to the absolute limit.
Beechen Cliff continues to send the boys out to challenge themselves to be more than they first thought possible – something which clearly was a feature of City of Bath Boys’ School. Let us hope it will continue to be an area which thrives and develops. “Dives in Omnia” might mean more than we first imagined!
The Annual Arts Exhibition gave our young artists an opportunity to show off the fruits of their labours and this year was no exception to the rule of excellent annual outcomes. If you were able to visit, you will, I am sure, agree with me that the output is very impressive.
Visits from Old Boys of the school continue to be a feature of life in the summer term. Very often we find gentlemen, generally accompanied by a grandchild, wandering around reception and requesting the ‘freedom of the building’. We are happy to oblige, although, unlike the visit of Raymond Leppard, the visitor is not taken out for dinner after the tour of the site.
The general situation in the Bath secondary schools continues to be one of ‘flux’. The new administration appears to have decided upon maintaining Culverhay School, reversing the decision from the consultation which took place over the last five years. My assumption is that there will have to be another school earmarked for closure as there clearly are not enough children in the city to fill the schools in existence. At post-16 level the same problem is being engineered. The proposed new Sixth Form at St Gregory’s, together with the provision of other Bath schools and within the City of Bath College will mean that we will probably have half-empty Sixth Forms in the next five years. Possibly I am wrong and will be happy to stand corrected if the decisions being made at a local level will really lead to better overall provision. I have my doubts.
You will have had enough of this newsletter by this time, understandably, so I will draw to a close. May I thank you for your long-standing support of our school and wish you a very positive summer.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Davies
Headmaster
Newsletter May 2011
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011Newsletter May 2011
NEWS
Annual General Meeting
The AGM passed off without drama. The dozen present saw everyone re-elected. Rich Wood is in for another stint as President as we were unable to find a volunteer for this year. However we have a putative replacement for the future. We will also look at the rules to see whether a President Elect might help avoid this situation..
Coach Trip to St Pauls Cathedral
Alan Blake reports: Transport arranged by Tony Buss, guides organised by Terry Lee, seems like a pretty good do and so it turned out. Leaving Bath at 0830hrs., a brief stop to pick up a foursome in Corsham, and 19 souls were on their way to London to visit Wren’s Masterpiece. It didn’t take long; with a comfort break on the M4 we arrived in good time for lunch. By prior arrangement, a brief phone call informed of our imminent arrival and resulted in a barrier chain being lifted and our coach being ushered into the Cathedral Square, privileged or what? After lunch we set out on a wonderful tour guided by 2 men very well qualified to do so as they are part of the team charged with looking after the fabric of this wonderful building. The general public are allowed to visit many parts of the cathedral, but we privileged few were shown through doors which had to be unlocked to gain access; in many instances passing along corridors between the inner and outer walls of this edifice, in some places in spaces above the chancel and other parts of the church and some up to 30 metres above ground level. Many steps to climb, some in very narrow passageways. In no particular order, we saw the bell tower, the clock [manufactured by the same company which made the clock for Big Ben] the original Wooden Model of the cathedral, made for Wren to show the King what he was proposing to build on Ludgate Hill, the Library with its many very old editions of our bible, the Whispering Gallery, the Stone Gallery [Outside of course] with wonderful views of London’s changing skyline. Not for the faint hearted or week limbed, our tour was quite tiring but very interesting. Our driver had asked us to be ready at 4pm, which of course we were. So we set off home trying to beat the rush hour. Through London we were largely successful but as soon as we joined the motorway we were informed that due to an ‘incident’ long delays were expected and it took us about an hour to reach the Reading off ramp before we were clear of traffic. What a trip, what a day, many memories and a slight feeling of ‘smugness’ for having experienced something special. Thank you Terry and thank you Tony.
Membership
We welcome John Weeks (1952) as a new Life Member. After the Royal College of Music and National Service, he spent 10 years at Dauntsey’s School and then 25 years at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. If you remember John, a clarinettist, and would like to get in touch, let me know.
EVENTS
Informal Lunches
May 11th at The Stag, Hinton Charterhouse
June 15th at The George, Bathampton and
July 13th at Riverside, Saltford.
Contact Peter Powell for any directions. Make your own arrangements, pay your own bills. Meet from 12 noon, have a treat and enjoy lunch with friends in the English countryside. (Well, almost!)
Golf
9th June Association v NHSOB. This year is away in Newport – Mick Moore will be handling the selection as usual and you will receive The Call if selected.
6th July Approach Golf At Victoria Park. Meet 6 pm as usual
17th June Association Golf Day At Bath Golf Club, Sham Castle on the Friday. Meet at 12.30, dinner at 7pm (ish) Note that this year it is one round in the afternoon only.
Please let Mike Wood know you’re coming : mike(AT)systemagic.co.uk or 01225 742184
Open to all Sulian golfers, please endeavour to give your support to keep this event alive.
Treasure Hunt or ‘Robert’s Ramble’
July 14th Start from opposite the Pump Room by Bath Abbey from 6 pm.
After many successful events Sue Trude is standing down but has found a willing successor in Robert Hill. He will be aiming to stress you all on what we hope, will be a balmy summer evening. Teams of not more than 4. Modest entry fee. See parts of Bath that you didn’t know existed. Argue, chat with the tourists and try to fit in a pint on the way.
Annual Dinner
15th October 2011 The usual Saturday at the Bath Cricket Club, North Parade. This year Graham Knight’s young friends will be getting their bus passes so Graham has already got 14 lined up to celebrate at The Dinner with hopes of reaching 20! Full details and chitty in September but make a note of the date, I’m hoping for a record turnout.
Trip to Imperial War Museum, Lambeth.
23rd October. Flushed with the success of St Paul’s, Tony Buss is arranging a group booking on a coach trip to Lambeth, leaving from Bath about 8.30 am. Tickets are £15.50 each and you need to book and pay Tony before the end of June. Pick–up points can be arranged with Tony. Phone 01225 404625 or e-mail: bussstop(AT) sky.com
Reunions
As in the last news, I understand that Mike Hucker is co-ordinating another ‘49ers meet this summer for those that did School Cert in 1949. Contact me to be put in touch.
And a last call for anyone wanting a visit to School at the end of the summer term. If you are interested let me know now! I will see what can be done.
School Events
The Annual Concert was a great success and again demonstrated the resurgence of music in School and the diversity of instruments played. An Orchestra performed for the first time for years, and although lacking in some areas gave a good account. Choral and instrumental ensembles were very varied, and the drums were loud!
You can catch up on other School news on their website at: www.beechencliff.org.uk
And for those of you living away from Bath, the School achieved Academy status in April, and also received an Ofsted inspection, which raised their ‘score’ to ‘Outstanding’!
Old Sulians’ Rugby Club
The 1st XV finished in mid-table in Somerset 1 having had a much better season than last year. Terry Lee represented the Association at the annual Sponsors lunch, and reported a very good time was had by all. The Annual Dinner is on Friday, 13thMay at the Clubhouse, 7 pm for 7:30pm. Tickets (£20) from Terry Haines, limited numbers. Three-course meal, after dinner speeches and awards. Suits and ties to be worn. See the Club website: www.oldsuliansrfc.co.uk
And finally on the Rugby Scene, this August the Su’s will celebrate 50 years on Lansdown! On Saturday August 27th there will a ‘do’. Watch for the details but several of those present at the last Committee meeting, names withheld to protect the innocent, recalled the first occasion when the late Jimmy Wood, no relation, whilst working for Whitbread, provided a tanker full of beer which the assembled Su’s drank dry. Pebble and Blakey still remember the hangover!
And incidentally, Peter ‘Pebble’ Beach, as the current President of the Bath Combination, recently had the great pleasure of hosting Sir Ian McGeechan at their Annual Dinner.
Pat’s UK Coastal Walk
You may recall that Honorary Life Member and former Master Pat Colbourne is attempting to walk the coastline of Britain. He started from Dover Castle on 6th April 2010 and in fits and starts, reached Polperro by the end of August. Then his knee gave out! I saw him at the School Concert and was told that he returned home for a rest and later had surgery on his knee but was then told his other hip also needed replacing! He is hoping that his increasingly bionic body will be ‘fit’ to resume around February 2012. His website is at: www.patsukcoastwalk.co.uk
Music Block
As mentioned elsewhere, work is in hand on the new music block at School. Donations towards kitting it out are very welcome but in addition two local Sulians have provided a Yamaha Clavinova electric piano and a Technics Organ, which got me to thinking. Have you any musical instruments stashed away in the loft/garage/box-room that could do with a good home? I’ve had a chat with young Paul Calvert, the Head of Music, and instruments for beginners are always in short supply. When I was at School, (what a memory!), there were instruments to try before commitment, so please have a delve. I can arrange collection or delivery, or put you in touch with Paul. Bagpipes, drums, guitars and everything musical welcome.
Hon. Secretary: Peter Powell
11 Kennet Park, Bathampton, Bath BA2 6SS 01225 466608
Hon. Treasurer: Richard Wood
63 Caledonian Road, East Twerton, Bath, BA2 3RD 01225 422210
Hon. Correspondent: Roger Wood.
101 Hansford Square, Combe Down, Bath, BA2 5LL 01225 832207
or: committe(AT)oldsulians.org.uk