Archive for the ‘Newsletters’ Category
Monday, February 1st, 2010
Dear Old Sulian,
Those of you who remember the winter of 1963 will probably be wondering why so much fuss is being made about a few days of snow on the city! The Headmaster’s diary entries for the winter of 1963 suggest that boys were sent out to clear paths and to bring in milk bottles to stop them freezing on the steps of the school. I can imagine how that would go down today …. Back to the term which has just passed. The achievements of boys and girls were recognised at the Presentation Evening at the Assembly Rooms in November, a splendid occasion which saw us host the Glastonbury Festival organiser, Michael Eavis. He was able to hear about the wonderful examination successes achieved by our pupils and students, again putting Beechen Cliff at “the top of the class” in terms of boys’ achievement in the county and further afield.
The Carol Service took place in the last week of term and yet again we saw (and heard) the talented youngsters and staff who make the school such an exciting place to be. Many friends of the school were in attendance and I am sure that, if you are able to attend, it will remain in the memory for some time.
Success on the rugby and football pitches have been achieved by the U15 and 1st XI respectively. You might have followed the success of our teams in the Wednesday Letters (on the website) and the disappointment for our rugby boys, being knocked out on the ‘home side’ rule following a 3-3 draw with Exeter School, was particularly difficult for the boys and staff. This ‘exit’ came at the Quarter Final stage of the Daily Mail Vase, the national competition for schools. In football terms the 1st XI are still in the national cup, having made it to the last 32. This is an exceptional achievement and is testament to the strength of Beechen Cliff teams – contrasting often with the highly skilled individuals we regularly see them competing against. We wish our boys every success in the next round. Our Sixth Form girls are also proving to be a very successful ‘outfit’ as a Netball squad. They are playing very well and we can expect a potential county champion squad to be in place by next year.
The sporting potential of the school should be enhanced by the fact that the Glasshouse playing fields are now being managed by the Glasshouse Trust, an organisation which includes Beechen Cliff, Culverhay, Combe Down Rugby, Combe Down Cricket and Bath Hospitals Cricket Club. It should mean that our teams are able to use more pitches for ‘home’ matches than our current fields can provide, together with some new changing facilities. A new cricket square will be laid down in the spring, ready for first use in summer 2011. The new cricket square at Beechen Cliff will come into service in May of this year – although only for the Under 12 and Under 13 teams. I would fear for the windows in my study if the Under 14 boys were to use it!
February 5th sees the launch of the Music Centre fund, hopefully allowing us to make up the £400,000 shortfall in our funding for the £1.6 million project. Alex Wood will hopefully represent the Old Sulians at this occasion, continuing an interest in music and the heritage of the school.
The second capital project of the moment is the ‘astroturf’ pitch which will be placed on the current redgra. This will be in place by September (planning permission willing!) and we hope to be able to make a massive difference for our boys and the wider community.
We have a very busy term ahead, school plays and concerts being a significant feature of the Spring. I hope you will be able to join us for some of these and support the efforts of the pupils and staff.
Thank you for your interest and support of your school. We hope to keep working to give our pupils the best experiences possible and maintain the reputation of this wonderful place.
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Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
All of the September 2009 newsletter parts in all their glory in PDF format.
Sulian Newsletter Sept 2009
Headmasters Letter Sept 2009
Annual Dinner chit 2009
Book e-flyer Sept 2009
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Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
Annual Association Dinner,17th October (Saturday)
7.00 pm for 8.00 pm at The Bath Cricket Club, North Parade, Bath.
Black Tie or lounge suit, both will be in evidence and you will not feel under-dressed.
The changes last year seemed popular so are maintained.. An early start from 7 pm to allow you to recover from an arduous day before dinner at 8. Long-time Sulian, Tony Comer, will propose the toast to The Association, Rich Wood, the President will reply, and the Headmaster will say a few words along with the Old Su’s RFC. Contributions are requested to be around 5 mins. The ticket price is still £35 but if paid by Tuesday the 6th October it’s held at the recession busting price of £30. For those of you coming from afar, the Su’s 1st XV are at home to Wells on the Saturday. Bath Rugby are playing Stade Francais on the Rec on the Sunday. As usual a convenient ‘Chitty’ is enclosed.
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Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
The Editorial Team expect ‘The Book’ to be available at the Annual Dinner at Bath Cricket Club on the 17th October. The price depends on the current negotiations with the printers, but we hope it will be about £10 per copy
If all goes according to plan, you can buy your copy or copies as Christmas presents to give to your children and grandchildren. This publication of over 100 pages has black & white and colour photographs with profiles of 38 Old Sulians’, supplemented with pages of those who lost their lives in armed conflicts, past Head masters, past Head Boys & Girls and a brief history of the parent schools from their foundation in 1896. This will surely remind you of your days at School regardless of whether you were there during the CBBS or Beechen Cliff era. The Editorial Committee have been amazed at the diversity of the professions of former pupils who attended the School whatever its name and wherever located You will recognise old school colleagues who have served in the Armed Forces or the Church, or found success in sport, medicine, music, business, politics or science.
If you are unable to attend the Annual Dinner then reserve your copy by phone, e-mail or return the chit below. We will contact you in due course to confirm the price and post and packing. We will also update the web-site. We look forward to seeing or hearing from you.
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Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
NEWS!
The Book
Terry Light reports that the Team are still hoping to launch our literary venture ‘Basements to Beechen Cliff’ at the Annual Dinner. Hopefully you will find enclosed, a ‘flyer’ for the book with all the relevant details.
NHSOB Golf June 2, 2009
Mike Wood reports:
We brought home the trophy from Newport with a 3-2 win! The Team consisted of: John (Tom) Dowding, John Larcombe, Alan Blake, Dave Larcombe, Mick Moore (Captain), Tony Comer, Steve Ford, Roy Aust, Mike Wood and Robert Hill.
Su’s Golf Day – Fri June 19th 2009
Mike Wood again reports:
I wasn’t there (and I’ve not been allowed to forget it by Mick Moore!!) and Tony Comer handled things on the day helped by Steve Ford. The weather was good if not a little windy. The winners were:
Medal (cup) – Ollie Dicks
Old Tossers Tankard – Steve Ford
Stableford (Rosebowl) – Barry Marsh
Tony Bowrey Trophy – Roy Aust
Nearest the pin – Barry Marsh
Longest drive – Ollie Dicks ( Ed’s Note: Ollie is young!)
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Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
Dear Old Sulian,
Another year ends and with it the promise of long, hot summer days …. The reality, of course, will be different but hopefully the positive work undertaken over the year can act as the means to brighten our collective days in weeks to come.
A particular highlight for me was the wonderful performance of ‘Children of Empire’ during the Spring. To see drama and music departments coming together to entertain an appreciative audience was magnificent. Next year Ms Baker has promised another production to give the pupils and students another opportunity to ‘shine’ under the guidance of her team of staff.
Mr Cruickshank, in addition to being a great advocate and supporter of the Model United Nations (in which Beechen Cliff again participated with distinction), put his exceptional mind to bear on the task of creating the first ‘year book’ since the “Sulian”, a publication which ran from 1932 to 1968. The production of the ‘Gryphon’ was a monumental undertaking, requiring significant editorial and general organisational skills. The finished result is, I am sure you will agree, a wonderful record of the School over 2008/9 and a splendid ‘vehicle’ for allowing many of our pupils’ and students’ achievements to be recognised in ‘published’ form. I am hoping that all Old Sulians will have purchased a copy!
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