hardly say that it has been another extraordinary year. Just as we began to emerge from the shadow of COVID, we have been buffeted by some further ill winds. Political turmoil at home, the appalling brutality of war in Ukraine, and worldwide economic gloom have all brought fresh anxiety and uncertainty. These things remind us, as did the pandemic, of the fragility of the way of life that we all too easily take for granted. They also serve to reinforce the vital importance of preparing our boys to be thoughtful, wise, empathetic young men who live lives of integrity and deploy their talents to the benefit of others.
In that sense, the boys’ accomplishments, of which there have been many this year, are only half the story. What matters just as much are their attitudes, values and sense of their place in the world.
One other recent development prompted great sadness and reflection. The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was met at Sherborne, as throughout the world, with an outpouring of both gratitude and grief. Few of us had ever known what it was to be ruled over by anyone other than The Queen. An unwavering and seemingly constant presence in our lives, she afforded us leadership, stability, reassurance and hope at times of national crisis, difficulty and uncertainty. Few if any others have served this country for so long and with such diligence, forbearance and care. And, as we gathered in specially convened chapel services and assemblies, we reflected upon a life of exceptional service and unstinting selflessness, giving thanks for Her Late Majesty’s incalculable contribution to our nation, her subjects and the wider world. May she rest in peace.
As you will see in the pages that follow, our School year has been one of outstanding achievement. Academically, the boys triumphed against the adversity that, in the form of pandemic restrictions, beset them throughout the two years of their GCSE and A level courses. In the first undisrupted public examinations since 2019, they achieved exceptional grades with a whopping 30% of A level grades at A* and 63% at A* and A. More than 40% of the cohort achieved straight A* and A grades. Meanwhile, the BTEC results were our best so far, with 89% Distinction*/Distinction (equivalent to A*/A at A level). Armed with these terrific results, over twothirds of the cohort secured places at Russell Group universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Imperial, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Bath and Bristol to study courses ranging from Veterinary Science, Medicine and Mathematics to English, History and
Theology. Meanwhile, our GCSE candidates also did extremely well. Eighteen boys (15% of the cohort) achieved ten or more grades 9 to 7 and Bertie Tillyard (5m) deserves very special congratulations for being one of only a small handful of candidates out of over 600,000 who took GCSEs this year to secure straight 9s in his twelve GCSEs. What an outstanding achievement!
In addition to academic success, the boys excelled in many other endeavours. The 1st XV led the way in sport, reaching the semifinal of the National Schools Cup, emulating the success of the XV of 2020 and making us very proud in the process. Meanwhile, as you will see as you read on, there was much success in other sporting disciplines ranging from cricket and cross country to football, fives and sailing.
There was drama aplenty, one highlight being the wonderful joint schools’ production of Grease, featuring many of our finest actors and musicians alongside equally accomplished performers from Sherborne Girls. And, just
as drama returned to the stage after a year and more of radio plays, so our musicians were finally freed of pandemic restrictions allowing them to resume live performances. We once more enjoyed weekly Friday lunchtime concerts, regular organ recitals and larger concerts by the Wind Band, Joint Schools’ Junior Orchestra, Joint Schools’ Symphony Orchestra and Swing Band together with sublime choral performances in the Abbey, Chapel and as guests of Salisbury Cathedral. Meanwhile, CourtsFest provided a wonderful showcase for many of our bands and DJs.
Outdoors, more boys than ever signed up for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the CCF had an outstanding year, including third place for our Royal Marines section in the Pringle Trophy Competition. A particular delight was to see new areas of collaboration with Sherborne Girls in the CCF, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Ten Tors competition, adding to our ever-growing list of joint schools’ activities.
Alongside these collective endeavours were myriad achievements. More than twenty boys gained representative Rugby honours, playing for Bath, Harlequins and London Irish. Arthur Green (U6g) and Will Parry (U6b) secured professional contracts, with Arthur also earning caps for England under-18s. In music, there were many Grade 8 distinctions and Angus Williams (L6c) gained a distinction in his ATCL clarinet performance diploma. Distinctions were also the order of the day in this year’s LAMDA examinations. Ten boys completed the coveted Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Will Waters (L6b) was appointed a First Sea Lord’s cadet, the first Shirburnian to earn an accolade that marks him out as one of the country’s leading Royal Navy cadets.
A particularly special moment came in August when Mack Rutherford (L6b) touched his microlight aircraft down in Sophia from where he had started a 30,000 mile round-the-world flight five months earlier. He thereby claimed the Guinness World Records for both the youngest person to fly solo around the world and the youngest to do so in a microlight aircraft. We could not be more proud of him and his picture on the front cover of this year’s Shirburnian is fitting tribute to his skill, commitment, resilience and courage.
Whilst all this was going on, we were also investing in our estate. The dining hall was completely refurbished and refitted, and Harper House had a much-needed renovation. The most significant project to be started, however, was the major redevelopment and extension of our Sports Centre. The first phase is now complete and the project will be finished next summer, giving the boys, staff and local community a first-rate facility worthy of a school with Sherborne’s proud sporting pedigree.
All of these things are important and betoken a school that, having weathered the pandemic storm, has emerged full of vigour, vitality and ambition. But, as I said at the start, our achievements are of limited worth if not accompanied by strong values. That is why I am particularly pleased that the past year has once more shown our boys to be kind, thoughtful and empathetic young people. Whether volunteering in the community, working to support Ukrainian refugees or undertaking small acts of kindness to the benefit of those around them, I am much reassured that their values are as strong and deep-rooted as their talents.
Looking to the future, we have also just completed our new five-year Development Plan which seeks to combine the best of the past with a truly forwardlooking educational experience. By adapting our approach to teaching and learning, we will prepare boys to meet the changing demands of a fastdeveloping world. Meanwhile, we will continue to focus upon the development of character, making boys aware of their good fortune and attentive to the needs of the wider world and of those to whom life has been less kind. That, however, is for another day. What you are about to read is a celebration of the year that has passed and a school that continues to flourish and thrive. I hope you enjoy it and share with me a sense of gratitude to all those who made it so positive, productive and successful.
Dr Dominic Luckett Headmaster and Chief Executive
The annual Inter-House croquet match took place on 12 September, with a suitable array of tweed on display. Harper House triumphed in the final against School House, retaining the trophy for the third year. A great afternoon was had by all.
21 Upper Sixth Form boys took part in the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition. They set off in groups from Conwy YHA in Wales, with each group completing a route of 15km.
Our golf team won the first round of the ISGA Singles Matchplay Tournament at Sherborne Golf Club.
The Sherborne Community pulled together to make a wonderful donation to Sherborne’s Food Bank. Antony Edwards, Trustee of the Foodbank, commented: “May I say on behalf of the Trustees of Sherborne Food Bank, how grateful we are to the boys and staff of Sherborne School for their generosity in once again donating this year’s harvest gifts to this very worthwhile local cause.”
Fifth Form boys went on a Geography field trip to Southampton.
The Third Form enjoyed a day of languages enrichment to celebrate European Day of Languages. It was wonderful to see the boys trying out new languages, tasting new food and using their language skills to decipher a treasure trail.
For this year’s Black History Month, boys and staff worked in conjunction with the School’s Equality and Diversity Action Group, putting a spotlight on black excellence across a wide range of creative and academic fields.
Sherborne School’s top ski racers showed incredible talent in Switzerland, working on their giant slalom skills with Precise Racing.
October half term saw the launch of Open Sherborne. Our Archivist, Rachel Hassall, and Custodian, James Perry, led inspirational tours for the public, of the School as well as Shell House. The tours provided a welcome opportunity for the local community to view the Alan Turing bust and hear more about his influence and legacy.
The boys from Abbeylands put on a spectacular performance of Arthur Miller’s Incident at Vichy: a superb and polished production.
The combined Sherborne and Sherborne Girls’ sailing team had a successful weekend at Farmoor Reservoir, coming seventh out of a 24-team field that included schools and clubs from across the UK.
Our CCF (Royal Navy), visited 845 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton. It was a wonderful opportunity for our boys and cadets from Sherborne Girls. As Lieutenant Patrick Richardson said: “We really enjoyed showing the cadets around and it was awesome to have such good questions and interest in what we do.”
Will Fahie (U6b) presented his EPQ Terraforming Mars, adapted for a dozen Year 7/8 Scholars at Sherborne Prep School. Will’s delivery and interaction with the pupils was excellent: they were intellectually challenged and fully engaged.
The inclusion of Sherborne Girls in the CCF has now enabled Ten Tors training to become a joint-school activity. The first training day, on 7 November, involved 38 boys and girls from the Fourth Form completing a 13-mile walk from Sherborne School to Cadbury Castle.
Sherborne School and Sherborne Girls came together with The Gryphon School for the Joint Schools’ Concert. The audience enjoyed an incredible performance by our talented musicians in the wonderful Merritt Centre.
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we remembered all those who gave their lives in service to their country. Members of Sherborne’s CCF marked the occasion by creating a poppy formation in the Courts at Sherborne.
Sherborne attended the Independent Schools Show in Battersea, alongside Sherborne Girls. Our Headmaster, Dr Luckett, gave an inspirational talk on the benefits of single-sex education.
Our Lower Sixth Further mathematicians enjoyed a lecture delivered by Maths Inspiration, titled How maths can save the planet They were fascinated to hear about the different careers that mathematicians are working in to help combat climate change. Our All-Stars Dinner and Jazz evening was a huge success. The Sherborne School Swing Band provided entertainment, performing music by Charlie Parker, Dizzie Gillespie, Glenn Miller and Charles Mingus.
Our Third and Fourth Form, in collaboration with the same year groups from Sherborne Girls, were involved in a Wellbeing Event. The pupils had a great time getting to know each other and discussing important topics based around equality and diversity.
The Wallace House boys entertained audiences by performing Willis Hall’s They Don’t All Marry Pop Stars, in the Powell Theatre.
We warmly welcomed several local Prep Schools to the IAPS Under-11 Rugby Festival.
During Maths Week England we saw 100 boys participating in the Senior Mathematics Challenge.
The CCF took part in the “urban combat” course at Longmoor, performing extremely well in freezing conditions.
Our First XV went through to the semi-final of the U18 Schools Cup for the second year running.
Life in Illustration, an exhibition by the talented Elizabeth Watson, took place in the Oliver Holt Gallery. The exhibition was open to both guests and members of the public with a percentage of sales going to the charity Winston’s Wish.
We were delighted to hold Sherborne’s last music recital before the end of term. The performance featured Sherborne School’s Chamber Orchestra and Brass Band, the Fifth Form Wind Quartet and Fifth Form String Quartet, and the Fifth Form Brass Quintet and Clarinet Trio. We held a beautiful candlelit carol service in the Abbey just before the end of term. The Sherborne School Chamber Choir also performed a stunning Music and Readings for Christmas in the School Chapel. The programme included music by Holst, Poston, Howells and Stanford.
The Drama Department’s LAMDA cohort achieved a magnificent set of results in their December examinations. Eight boys submitted, and all gained Distinctions.
The cross-country competition saw a fantastic start to the season with Robbie Foster (L6a) taking gold in the senior boys’ race. His brother Tom (4a) was equally impressive, taking gold in the intermediate boys, with Joseph Page (5b) in third place.
Robbie Foster was selected for the Dorset Cross Country squad at the South West Championships. Sherborne hosted the West of England Fives Championships.
The Fifth Form Careers event took place, with pupils working in House groups to heighten their awareness and develop a “skills-and interests-led” approach to exploring their career aspirations.
We were delighted to receive news that two 2014 leavers, Will Homer (m 14) and Ed Coulson (m 14), were awarded full-time sevens contracts by the RFU.
Our new mental health initiative with School Management Plus was launched. The boys themselves created the initiative to offer each other peer support, with volunteers training to become Pupil Listeners.
Will Jonas (U6d), Jack Pyman (U6e), Finn Grammaticas (U6f) and Will Fahie (U6b) were all offered conditional places at Oxbridge. These results represent a huge amount of hard work by the boys but also the tremendous support that they were afforded by their teachers and those who delivered the programmes that supported their applications and interview preparations.
The Chamber Choir Evensong was held at Salisbury Cathedral. The boys sang beautifully, and it was a glorious occasion.
The Mini Colts hockey squad won the Dorset County Championships. The First XI also won on penalty flicks against King’s Taunton to progress in the National Cup.
The Colts A football team went through to the second round of the Dorset Cup.
The year of the Tiger began on Tuesday, 1 February. The whole School celebrated with a Chinese-themed lunch, with a banquet lunch and entertainment for Chinese pupils and their guests held the following weekend.
Children’s Mental Health Week began on Monday, 7 February. Housemasters held assemblies that focussed on the impact of “growth” on mental health. Additionally, a wonderful cake sale raised £196 for the Rendezvous charity.
Tuesday, 15 February was a focus for LGBTQ+ History Month. The LGBTQ+ History Month emblem was embedded on teaching resources, and the Pride flag flew proudly above the Courts and at the Inter-House Cross Country. Throughout the month, the Macnaghten Library showed a wonderful board display, plus a brilliant collection of LGBTQ+ related books.
The Joint Schools’ Production of Grease was an exceptional piece of work. Pupils from both schools worked incredibly hard and were rewarded with the adulation of a packed theatre.
Boys from The Digby performed brilliantly in Rabbit: a one-act play by David Foxton. William Waters (L6b) was appointed as one of the First Sea Lord’s Cadets for this year. This is a prestigious appointment and the first in Sherborne’s history.
Robbie Foster (L6a) finished 12th in the South West Cross-Country Championships, thus qualifying for the English Schools National Championships in Kent.
The Drama Department welcomed the wonderful theatre makers Paper Birds. They are recognised as UK leaders in verbatim theatre and their vision is to provoke political or social change through the theatre they create.
The Sherborne Schools’ Choral Society performed a concert in the glorious setting of Sherborne Abbey. Featuring some 170 singers from Sherborne and Sherborne Girls, the annual event is a highlight in the town’s musical calendar.
The boys took on a veteran team of helms from the Solent whose boats were crewed by three pupils from Sherborne Girls. Sherborne’s team won four races to zero.
The annual Halliday Music Cup Competition took place at the end of half term in the Tindall Recital Hall. Huge congratulations to Angus Williams (L6c), who was the overall winner (piano, organ, and singing).
Lower Sixth Former, Mack Rutherford (L6b) set off on a world record attempt: at just 16, he hoped to become the youngest person to fly solo around the world. Mack set off from Sofia, Bulgaria, in his Microlight, which proudly carries the Sherborne penny.
The Fifth and Sixth Form Inter-House Balloon Debate was a huge success, with 40 boys taking part - and all in fancy dress!
The Lower School Production of Nick Dear’s adaptation of Mary’ Shelley’s Frankenstein starred Freddie Fineman (4e) as the Creature and Siegfred Johnsen (4a) as Victor Frankenstein. The performance was a triumph, with the cast working brilliantly together.
A candlelit vigil was held on the green outside Sherborne Abbey in solidarity with the people affected by the Ukraine conflict. The Sherborne community also donated items to help support Ukrainian refugees. Two of our CCF vehicles were filled with supplies and travelled to the Polish border to deliver essential aid. Later in the month, the boys (and staff) of Abbey House took part in a Sleepout to raise money for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
We held the annual parents-versus-pupils sailing match for both Sherborne School and Sherborne Girls at Sutton Bingham on 19 March. Conditions included glorious sunshine, but strong winds. The pupils won convincingly, taking the top seven places out of 17.
OS Lorcan McLoughlin (g 20) scored for Ireland U20s in the Six Nations game versus Italy.
As part of our “Meet the Professional” lunch series, Fourth and Fifth Form boys had the opportunity to share lunch with John Mewett, CEO of Screwfix.
The Royal Marine Cadet team, consisting of pupils from Sherborne and Sherborne Girls, came third
overall in the Pringle Trophy and were the firstplaced mixed team.
The First XV travelled to Sixways Stadium in Worcester for the semi-final of the National Schools’ Cup competition. After a hard-fought fixture in which they played with huge spirit, our injurydepleted team lost to a strong Trinity Croydon side.
The Computer Science Department introduced the Sherborne Programming Certificate. The boys worked towards Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum certificates, differentiated across the ability groups.
The Joint Schools’ Junior Orchestra performed a short concert in the Gransden Hall at Sherborne Girls, and the Joint Schools’ Symphony Orchestra gave an excellent performance in the Town Hall in Oxford.
Our hockey squads enjoyed a closely contested block of fixtures against Canford, including a victory for the JCAs and draws for the JCBs, Seconds and Thirds.
A mixed Sherborne Polo squad defeated Millfield 63, with Jake Bamford (3b) named most valuable player. Meanwhile, our golfers were at The Berkshire Golf Club against a talented OS team who won four matches to nil.
The IAPS Small Schools Sevens Festival took place on The Upper, with 11 teams, 130 players and even more parents in attendance.
The CCF Biennial Inspection took place in The Courts. We were pleased to welcome Old Shirburnian, Vice Admiral Andrew Burns CB OBE (e 88), Fleet Commander of the Royal Navy, to carry out the inspection.
The annual Dinner and Jazz Night took place in March. The black-tie event featured foot-tapping numbers by the Swing Band, with dancing, plenty of applause and a delicious four-course dinner!
The Sunday Times rated our beautiful market town of Sherborne as one of the best places to live in 2022.
Sherborne School came Highly Commended in the 2022 Muddy Stilettos Best Schools Awards Empowering Young Entrepreneurs category. This recognised the success of the Surf2U business launched in 2020 by our talented young entrepreneurs Rory Parnell (U6g), Max Coltart (U6g) and James Sandars (U6f).
Our Sixth Form boys, together with Sherborne Girls, had an incredible time at the inaugural CourtsFest, held in the Courts. The Courts looked stunning, the music was fantastic and the boys and girls partied and danced the night away.
Archie Burton (U6a) achieved his ATCL clarinet performance diploma.
Various ensembles performed during the Sherborne Abbey Festival (29 April to 6 May). Our Swing Band performed brilliantly in the Big School Room, with a programme that featured nostalgic numbers from Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Count Basie.
The Third and Fourth Forms took part in a Sleepout in the Courts as a mark of solidarity with the people of Ukraine. So far, the School has raised £5,000 for the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine appeal.
The cricket block against Millfield finished with honours even, with five wins for each school. Our Seconds, Thirds, Fourths, JCBs and JCCs all won, and the First XI and JCAs gave encouraging performances.
The Green’s House Play, Dealer’s Choice, drew praise from across the Sherborne community. The cast was brilliant, delivering an outstanding experience for a large audience.
Sherborne School was named by Spears Magazine as one of the 12 best private schools in the UK, with the most notable alumni.
Our Ten Tors teams, including two from Sherborne School, a team from Sherborne Girls and a mixed team of Lower Sixth pupils, demonstrated incredible grit and determination in a tough event.
Our CCF parachute display team with Sherborne Girls took their first jump.
The Old Shirburnian Society was delighted to welcome over 130 Westcottians to the Westcott House Dinner. On a beautiful May evening, guests gathered on The Upper to reminisce about Westcott House, renew old friendships and enjoy a delicious meal. Old Shirburnian Day, also held in May, provided another joyful spring occasion.
The Patterson Recitation Prize made history in 2022. On 19 May, boys from the Third and Fourth Forms delivered a wide range of poems from memory, with real poise and a sense of occasion, to compete for the Junior Patterson Cup. The newish tradition of the Senior Competition continues.
Angus Bushby (U6m) was accorded the title of Iron Cadet, marking him out as the fittest cadet in the CCF.
In athletics, the Lutra Shield went very well with an excellent performance by Harry Whigham’s (U6c) team. This included standout efforts from Thomas Langley (4e) and Tom Foster (4a), who coped admirably against boys three years older.
Another successful gala was held at Sherborne Girls. Our boys won the senior age group, with notable efforts from Luca Malikov (U6f), Will Frost (L6b) and Alex Phillips (U6f).
Tennis fixtures against Bryanston were hugely successful, with our teams dominating all but one age group. The First VI fell to defeat against a very strong Pilgrims side – the experience yielding good experience ahead of their summer fixture schedule.
Cricket with Wellington School went very much in our favour, with several impressive team and individual performances. The First XI defeated the Pilgrims on The Upper, with Toby TalbotWilliams (U6a) and Max Dowling (U6c) registering half centuries.
The Third Form undertook their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s qualifying expedition.
We were delighted to see Sherborne featured in The London Magazine as “One of 10 beautiful country schools”.
The Sherborne community came together to celebrate Her Late Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. In honour of Queen Elizabeth’s dedication to the Commonwealth, the Macnaghten Library displayed books by Commonwealth authors.
The Art Department hosted a CPD workshop for Prep School Heads of Art. Teachers from several feeder schools welcomed the opportunity to take time out and further their skills in Sherborne’s wonderful art studios.
We were delighted and extremely proud to hear the news of award-winning Old Shirburnian and artist Jamie Coreth (b 07), who was commissioned to paint a portrait of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The Macnaghten Library held an exhibition showcasing the Third Form’s Renaissance projects, with staff and pupils invited to vote for their favourite.
The School celebrated Schools Diversity Week with several initiatives. The Pride flag once again flew above The Courts throughout the week.
Athletes were in Exeter for the South West Schools Championships where Harry Whigham (U6c) came fifth and Charlie Wilson (3m) seventh in their respective 100m finals. Meanwhile, Henry Kingsbury (L6f) came fourth in the discus and Denys Tiasko (U6e)
impressed with a Personal Best in the shot put. Sherborne’s polo squad competed at the SUPA Championships at Cirencester Park, where they defeated Radley, drew with Wellington College, and lost in the last minute to Marlborough.
The Patrick Shelley Music Competition for Advanced Instrumentalists took place. It was judged by acclaimed composer and conductor Jonathan Willcocks, who said “it was great to see so much vibrant music-making going on in a school.”
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver expedition (Black Mountains) and Gold expedition (Snowdonia) took place. The boys did exceptionally well, with the Gold groups sharing the experience with pupils from Sherborne Girls.
Our Third Form and the Lower Sixth historians went on an exciting trip to attend the Chalke Valley History Festival in Broad Chalke, Salisbury.
The School held its inaugural Giving Day on Friday, 24 June. Boys completed a series of challenges throughout the day – including 1,500km of cycling, rowing and running – to encourage donations from parents, OS and the wider Sherborne community. Around £150,000 was raised or pledged on the day from more than 300 donors.
To celebrate Commem week at the end of term, the Music School hosted Jazz for a Summer’s Evening.
Sports Day was a huge success, with pupils taking part in several field and track competitions.
Our Commemoration Day took place. After two years without any in-person celebrations, staff, boys and parents were able to attend in person once again. The day ended with a wonderful ball hosted at Sherborne Girls.
Sherborne School was selected a finalist in two categories for the 2022 Independent Schools of the Year Awards: Independent Boys’ School of the Year and the Development Award for Outstanding Fundraising Achievement. Winners will be announced in October.
The Sherborne School Swing Band left for its Barbados Tour. A great first concert was held at the Hilton Hotels & Resorts, featuring music by Charlie Parker and Glenn Miller.
The Sherborne CCF with Sherborne Girls enjoyed an exhilarating trip to Norway. The pupils took part in many activities that offered challenge, camaraderie and teamwork.
Our boys achieved exceptional grades with 30% of A level grades at A* and 63% at A* and A. More than 40% of the cohort achieved straight A* and A grades. Meanwhile, the BTEC results achieved 89% Distinction*/Distinction (equivalent to A*/A at A level).
Our GCSE candidates also did extremely well. Eighteen boys (15% of the cohort) achieved ten or more grades 9 to 7.
Lower Sixth Former Mack Rutherford broke the Guinness World Records for both the youngest person to fly solo around the world and the youngest to do so in a microlight aircraft.
Described by Tatler as the awards that ‘round up the finest prep and public schools in the country’, we were delighted that Sherborne was announced as one of five nominees for the ‘Best Public School’ in the 2023 Tatler Schools Awards.
Jack Pyman (U6e) and Finn Grammaticas (U6f) have been truly outstanding Heads of School. Each has made his own distinct contribution to the life and work of the School but both have exemplified the spirit of kindness and compassion that sits at the heart of Sherborne’s ethos. They have led from the front and, together with the wider Prefect team, have served as wonderful role models for the whole School community.
Jack has now moved on to study Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge whilst Finn takes up his place to read History at Oxford. The new Head of School for the first half of the 2022-23 School year is William Waters (L6b) who has already achieved the rare accolade of being appointed a First Sea Lord’s Cadet. I am sure he will follow Jack and Finn’s footsteps and lead with empathy, thoughtfulness and care.
Dr Dominic Luckett Headmaster and Chief Executive
At 17, Mack Rutherford (L6b) has become the youngest person to fly solo around the world. He tells us what inspired his challenge, and what he learnt from the experience
Some are born great, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
For Mack Rutherford, the journey to becoming a Guinness World Record holder involved a bit of both.
The son of pilots, he may well have been destined to complete an epic aviation feat. But the decision to tackle a solo round-the-world flight at the age of just 17 shows an inner resolve that few can muster.
“I wanted to do something significant that would inspire other young people,” he reflects. “I wanted to show that there’s plenty you can do even at the age of 17, and an aviation challenge felt like the obvious choice.”
As anyone who’s undertaken a challenge of these proportions knows, a solo pilot is rarely alone. In addition to practical support from Zara, Mack had help from his mother and father, a commercial pilot who oversaw flight operations, a safety advisor, and a PR team. Funding came courtesy of his sponsor, ICDSoft.
This message has been at the heart of Mack’s work with young people during his five-month journey. He’s visited schools and other organisations around the world, sharing his story, reflecting on the challenges he’s overcome, and offering inspiration for the next generation.
Mack’s desire wasn’t formed in a vacuum. His sister Zara completed her own solo circumnavigation at the age of 19, becoming the youngest woman to do so and starting a Rutherford family tradition.
“I was inspired by Zara to take on my own challenge,” Mack says. “Because of the time of year that I left, I followed a different route from Zara’s, starting in Sofia, Bulgaria, and travelling south then north to cover the two antipodal points required for a complete circumnavigation.”
“It was always going to be a major undertaking to put a project like this together,” says Mack. “I’ve been so grateful for all the help I received, including from Sherborne School, who agreed to release me from classes from March 2022. When people believe in you, and you believe in yourself, you can achieve anything.”
Mack says his best memory is of the ninehour flight from Japan to the uninhabited island of Attu in the USA: the longest single leg he completed during the trip. “We had to install additional fuel tanks on the aircraft to ensure I could cover the distance,” he says. “That affected its handling and made taking off more challenging. But completing the flight over the Pacific Ocean felt like a massive achievement.”
My best moments have often come straight after my worst moments,” he says. “For example, we were stuck in Dubai for a month and a half because we couldn’t negotiate airspace for the next leg. That was hugely frustrating, but made it doubly fulfilling when we eventually secured the necessary permissions and I was able to continue on my journey.
After such an experience, how does Mack feel about the return to School? “It’s busy!” he remarks. “I have a great deal of catching up to do for my A levels next summer. I’m working extremely hard to cover the ground and do as well as possible in my exams, while building on the momentum from my world record.”
After School, Mack intends to follow in the family tradition and pursue an aviation career.
“I haven’t yet decided precisely what to do, but I know I want to fly,” he says. “The last five months have taught me that I can achieve anything if I put my mind to it. That’s what I’ll take with me into the next stage of my life.”
Find out more about Mack’s journey:
One of the most exciting aspects of the 2021/22 academic year has been the return of “live” music. Gone are the perspex screens between singers and instrumentalists, and gone are the restrictions on numbers in choirs and instrumental ensembles. Exams with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and Trinity restarted almost as if without interruption, with many Grade 8 results and two ATCL Performance Diplomas notched up during the year. These were, of course, all in between some superb music-making in the regular Friday Lunchtime Recitals in Cheap Street Church, which started on Friday 17 September and finished on Friday 10 June, with one every week in between, and highlights far too many to mention individually. Each department — woodwind, brass, pianists, and strings — contributed four recitals, and then there were many themed recitals like jazz and chamber music in between.
JAMES HENDERSON DIRECTOR OF MUSIC SHERBORNE SCHOOL AND SHERBORNE ABBEY
It seems to be the case that small ensemble work is growing in popularity and number, rather than shrinking, in this post-pandemic era. There were many chamber music performances, and had Covid amongst individual members of the chamber music ensembles not intervened, the School would have entered the national Pro Corda Music Competition with a Brass Quintet (Henry Cannon Exh.Mus (5c), Charlie Burtt Sch.Mus (5c), Archie Beardsell Sch.Mus (5f), Karl Ng (5b) and Bamber Mauleverer Exh.Mus (5b)), a Wind Quartet (Joseph Page Sch.Mus (5b), Hector Kennerley Sch.Mus (5g), James Coleman Exh.Mus (5a) and Thomas Arbon Valderrama Sch.Mus (5e)), and a String Quartet (James Herbert Sch.Mus (5a), Orlando Tavener Sch.Mus (5b), Jay Chan ATCL Sch.Mus (5b), and Gareth Kwong Exh.Mus (5e)) in repertoire by Grieg, Langford and Jacob, but fortuitously all
performances were video-recorded and are available for viewing on the School’s ever-increasing YouTube musical presence.
The Joint Schools’ Orchestras came back from Covid with a vengeance, and the Symphony Orchestra (Sherborne School, Sherborne Girls and The Gryphon) enjoyed a return visit to Oxford, where they stayed in St Hilda’s College, attended Choral Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral, but most importantly rehearsed extensively in Oxford Town Hall in readiness for their Sunday afternoon concert. Strong performances of Rimsky-Korsadov’s Capriccio-Espagnol, Holst’s Mars, the Bringer of War, and Debussy’s Clair de Lune, under the
direction of James Henderson, Director of Music, and Benjamin Davey, Head of Academic Music and Keyboard Studies. Previously the Joint Schools’ Junior Orchestras — Sinfonia and Sinfonietta — gave performances of Copeland’s Rodeo, the Toreador Song from Bizet’s Carmen, and Florence Price’s Juba Dance in the Merritt Centre at Sherborne Girls.
RocSoc thrived under the leadership of Luca Bryant (U6m). Exposition, the band featuring Lucas Gardner (U6c), Luca Bryant, Hugo Blanchard (U6), Tiff Austen (U6d) and Sam Berry (U6a), kept the Sherborne Coldplay flame alive with Adventure Of A Lifetime featuring fairly regularly during the year and in CourtsFest. The Hounds, featuring Lucas, Tiff and Hugo with Charlie Collinge (U6f) saw the Upper Sixth being inspirational to future generations and Mr Lehnert has confirmed that there are several bands ready to flourish in September. A band involving Kit Slim Exh.Mus (L6m), Nico Beeny Sch.Mus (L6c), Charlie Wallis (L6m), Jaego Cable (L6m) and hugely talented drummer Alex O’Sullivan Exh.Mus (4d) will no doubt be shaping next year’s CourtsFest. Meanwhile DJSoc performers Luca Bryant, Theo Jarratt (U6b) and Josh Campbell (U6g) entertained for many evenings of the year, with Charlie Cogan (5g) one to watch for next year.
The Choir, Barbershop/Close Harmony group and the Chamber Choir have continued to be immensely popular. So it is perhaps unsurprising that, whilst singing at Sherborne continues to appear to be “cool”, the membership of the large Chapel Choir peaked at 111 singers and settled at 106 for most of the year, and Chamber Choir stuck at 37 unwaveringly. The wellestablished pattern of services in the Abbey — Wednesday evenings at 6.00pm and Sunday evenings at 8.15pm — did not resume in full until the end of the Lent Term, but meanwhile opportunities for singing choral music ranging from the
16th century to the present day were afforded in the three Carol Services (Advent, Christmas and Epiphany) and in the Commem Service, with some exciting performances in between. The rich sonority of the Sherborne School Choir, akin to that of the best Welsh male voice choir tradition, has become something of a Sherborne trademark since 2010 when the link that had seen Lower Fifth girls from Sherborne Girls singing every week with the boys took a long break. At the time it seemed almost impossible to continue the great tradition of choral singing at Sherborne, but history has told a different story and singing has become
evermore popular with the choir a great source of pride.
Opportunities to sing with the girls came in the shape of the return of Choral Society in the Abbey on Wednesday 16 February, with performances of Fauré’s Requiem and Haydn’s Paukenmesse, and some 170 singers under the baton of John Jenkins for the final time just before he retired from being Director of Music at Sherborne Girls in July.
Three all-day Sunday competitions took place this year, as part of the return to “live” music after Covid. A fourth had been scheduled for Brass, but sadly this fell foul of Covid when the adjudicator caught it the day before — and restrictions were still in place as far as visitors to the School were concerned. The first competition was that of Woodwind on Sunday 28 November, and was adjudicated by Celia Birkinshaw — a renowned bassoonist, and former member of the Royal Covent Garden Orchestra. Run very much along the lines of a masterclass, with slight competitive spirit, rather than an outright
competition, the Woodwind Day saw some twenty-seven performances gently steered by Celia Birkinshaw to enhanced musical interpretation, and “winning performances” from James Murray (5m) in the Intermediate Class, and jointly by Joseph Page Exh.Mus (5b) and Angus Williams ATCL Sch.Mus (L6c) in the Senior Class.
The Halliday Cup Competition, dedicated to the memory of Charles Graham Rivers Halliday (g 1914), is held annually for pianists, singers and organists to compete to an external adjudicator. This year the adjudicator was Clare Toomer, Head of Academic Music
at Marlborough College and a former pupil of Sherborne Girls, who was struck by the quality of musicians and gave prizes to Fabian Mercer Sch.Mus (U6b), Freddie Thomas (U6m), Byron Yang Sch.Mus (5d), Hector Kennerley Sch.Mus (5g), Freddie Senior Sch.Mus (4g), Jack Pyman Sch.Mus (U6e), William Miao Sch.Mus (L6f), Sam Berry Exh.Mus (U6a), Jack Arnold Sch.Mus (4e), Reuben Hobbs Exh.Mus (4c), Thomas Wood (4f) and Oscar Boswall Sch.Mus (4f), with the overall winner being Angus Williams Sch.Mus (L6c).
On the last weekend of the Trinity Term, the much coveted Patrick
Shelley Cup was also awarded to Angus Williams, with other winning performances from Jay Chan ATCL Sch.Mus (5b) in Strings, Max Lewis Exh.Mus (L6a) on the saxophone in Woodwind, Karl Ng (5b) in Brass, Angus Williams in both Piano and Organ, Alex O’Sullivan Exh.Mus (4d) and Ranco Liu ATCL Sch.Mus (U6e) in Percussion, and Sam Berry Sch.Mus (U6a) in Singing.On this occasion the external adjudicator was Jonathan Willcocks, composer and conductor and son of the late Sir David Willcocks of Cambridge and Christmas Carol fame. Competition aside,
Jonathan Willcocks was impressed with the variety and range of high-quality performances given by the many Shirburnians involved in the day, in noting that much of the repertoire was Grade 8 or Diploma standard.
The Clarinet Trio (Archie Burton Sch.Mus (U6a), Angus Williams and Ricky Xu Sch.Mus (L6a)) took part in the National Pro Corda Chamber Music Competition and were rewarded with high-quality adjudication, and high praise, from the Pro Corda team.
The Two Moors Festival saw, amongst other items, Jay Chan performing Romance by Amy Beach, Ricky Xu performing Horowitz Sonatina. The adjudicator, Emily Sun, herself a violinist of international acclaim, praised the Sherborne musicians who were competing against some of the highest musical talent across the South. The winners were from the Purcell School — a specialist music school.
The end of year celebrations, culminating with the Leavers’ Ball on the Saturday night of Commem, afford an opportunity for musicmaking through concerts that reflect the hard work and closely monitored practising and rehearsing that has been taking place throughout the School year. They also provide a focus for ensemble rehearsals in a term which is otherwise dominated by public exams, and give purpose and direction to the daily rehearsal meetings in “Q Time” after lunch each day.
Tuesday 28 June heralded the start of Commem music with Battle of the Organs in the School Chapel. This event hadn’t taken place since 2019, for all of the usual Covid reasons, but was given a new dimension this year with the addition of the Chamber Choir performing both a cappella and accompanied repertoire. The effect on the size of the audience was notable, too, with parents of the 37-strong choir giving support to the concert, in addition to a surprisingly big following from the local community — as was in fact the case with all of the 2022 Commem concerts.
Battle of the Organs, as its name suggests, is an amusing “take” on repertoire written to be played by one organist, but which can be divided between two organists on different instruments for the audience to enjoy the antiphonal effect created by having an organ at each end of the Chapel. There is also the option to assess the power and majesty of the organs — instruments referred to by J S Bach as the “King of Instruments”. It was the late Carlo Curley who came up with the idea of pitching his own transportable electronic Touring Organ against cathedral, abbey and greater parish church organs with the
myth that his instrument could “part hair at 30 yards”. Appearing regularly in Alexandra Palace for amazing Gala Concerts, Carlo encouraged 300 people to stamp their feet to a fugue!
In our Chapel the organs were played by the two current organ pupils, Angus Williams ATCL Sch.Mus (L6c) and Freddie Senior Sch.Mus (4g) with Organ Scholar Daniel Blaze and the Director of Music, James Henderson, on one or other of the organs from time to time. Organ music by William Mathias (Processional) and CV Stanford
(Preludes on hymn melodies and
Music by Orlando Gibbons), Eugène Gigout (Grand Choeur dialogue), which particularly featured antiphonal effects as this was the intention of the original composition, JS Bach (Prelude in E minor BWV548), Sigfrid KargElert’s ubiquitous Nun danket alle Gott and Jeremiah Clarke’s Trumpet Voluntaryi, were punctuated by choral items. Having enjoyed eighteen months of fine treble singing in the School, and therefore a very good SATB Chamber Choir, treble voices disappeared over the Easter break as they became tenors and basses, and so the Chamber Choir’s music in Battle of the Organs was entirely TTBB. Nonetheless, especially tweaked arrangements of Stanford’s Te
deum laudamus in B flat major, Bairstow’s mighty Blessed City, heavenly Salem, Charles Wood’s Magnificat No. 2 in E flat major, Tallis’s If ye love me, Hadley’s My beloved spake and Parry’s excitable I was Glad filled the Chapel with a rich sonority and saw the Hereford-Hauptwerk organ displaying its fine accompanying qualities with a large colour palette available to the organist. Fine solos were sung by Jack Pyman Sch.Mus (U6e), Fabian Mercer Sch.Mus (U6b), Sam Berry Exh.Mus (U6a) and Hector Kennerley Sch.Mus (5g).
Organ Recitals attract varying sizes of audiences, though it has to be said that both the Autumn and Winter Organ Recitals in the
School Chapel attracted reasonably well-sized audiences from the local community, and it seems that at least some of the attraction is the provided opportunity for members of the public to see inside the School Chapel. Both organs, too, have their own following — particularly the 1985 Blank organ for its crisp and clear sound for baroque music.
On the Wednesday evening, 29 June, the Swing Band and the Dixieland Jazz Band entertained the masses in Jazz for a Summer’s Evening. The odds were stacked against this being a successful evening when, having set up the Bridge Amphitheatre in the Music School garden, it became clear
that rainfall was to be solid throughout the evening. In moving the event into the Music School atrium, members of the public were initially dismayed to discover that they would be standing throughout the event. A quick last-minute decision, therefore, saw every chair in the Music School finding its way to the atrium and the audience sat in a single row that covered the length of the building, with both bands performing on the upper walkways and, eventually, space for dancing below. The Swing Band was giving its last public
performance before the Barbados Tour, whereas the Dixieland Jazz Band was giving its second ever performance after having been reformed in September 2021.
With Bamber Mauleverer Exh.Mus (5b) on the sousaphone — a distinctive, almost landmark sight for the Dixieland Group — and some excitingly original trumpet playing from Henry Cannon Exh.Mus (5c), this group has huge potential for the future. Under the direction of Mr Davies, the Head of Brass, the ensemble has developed exactly the right playing style for this period
(1930s) with Tom Ewart Smith’s (U6d) trombone playing adding sparkle. James Whiteley Exh.Mus (3b) made his debut on the drum kit in this ensemble, showing playing which has fine potential for the future alongside the orchestral playing he is also contributing. Byron Yang Sch.Mus (5d) added colourful saxophone playing and, even if a more authentic “take” on this music might involve the clarinet, the style and enthusiasm of this band makes it one to watch.
This year’s Leavers’ Concert, on Thursday 30 June, in the Tindall Recital Hall, was one of the longer evenings that we have enjoyed for a while — not least because it was not an evening just for the award-holders, but instead one which involved lots of leaving musicians. It was also organised by the pupils themselves. Jack Pyman Sch.Mus (U6e) set the tone for the evening with a strong performance of Mozart’s Sonata in C K296, 1st movement, and just before the interval Toby Foulger (U6d) gave a moving performance of Andy Scott’s And everything is still. In between, Finn Grammaticas (U6f) gave his final performance on the flute with Fauré’s Sicilienne, Charlie Gatti (U6b) was accompanied on the piano by Theo Jarratt (U6b) in a performance of Take Five; Archie Burton ATCL Sch.Mus (U6a) performed both on the saxophone (Paul Creston’s Op. 19 Sonata, 2nd movement) and the clarinet (Mozart’s Rondo from the Clarinet Concerto); Fabian Mercer Sch.Mus (U6b) sang Vaughan Williams’ Silent Noon, and Ranco Liu ATCL Sch.Mus (U6e) gave an energetic performance of Chopin’s Ballade No. 1. After the interval Ranco returned on the full-sized marimba with a spellbinding performance of Sammut’s Libertango, Tom Ewart Smith had some of the audience teary-eyed with Arlen’s Over the rainbow on the trombone; Matt Findlay (U6a) performed for the last time on the euphonium with Wagner’s Walther’s Prize Song (from Die Miestersinger); Toby Talbot-Williams (U6a) performed Lusher’s Walking Blues whilst Lucas Gardner AR (U6c) improvised on Gershwin’s Summertime in his inimitable style that will be much missed. Sam Berry Exh.Mus (U6a) sang Ireland’s Sea Fever which was a perfect segue to the especially formed Close Harmony Group which also included all four gap-year Choral Scholars.
The tour de force of the year’s music-making is always the Gala Concert and, after the mobile phone recording-pastiche of 2020, and the video recordings between perspex screens of 2021, it was wonderful to return to “live” performances in the BSR — and a sizeable audience — even if the concert did go over the two hour mark! The programme displays the number of musicians involved in the concert, as also does the wide range of repertoire being tackled by the School’s larger ensembles.
Alto
Trumpet:
There has been something of a tradition for the Swing Band to tour the Caribbean for some years now, and specifically Barbados since 2012. Operating on an everyother-year basis, the band has enjoyed a strong reputation on the island such that they are invited to play at various resorts on the basis of reputation from previous visits. Known as “the boys in blue”, because of their distinctive blue polo shirts with current School branding, the concert highlight of their trip is always the performance in the Frank Collymore Hall. Calling the tour “The 10th Anniversary” tour of Barbados as the usual pattern of touring had been interrupted only by Covid, audience numbers were sadly still down in Barbados, and it was clear that many of the resorts were only at 40% capacity in these rather troubled times. Nonetheless, those who did turn up to support were favourably impressed by the swing and jazz — and in some cases felt moved to write back to base with enthusiasm and praise.
Starting at the Barbados Hilton, and with vocalist Nico Beeny Sch.Mus (L6c) very much on top of his game, the band increased its repertoire by almost doubling it since the slow-down associated with Covid. Each day began with a three-hour rehearsal, after which
there was plenty of leisure time ahead of the evening concerts. There followed concerts in the Crystal Cove resort, the Water Courtyard of the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre, the Turtle Beach resort (the band’s home for the ten day tour, and indeed every
tour since 2012), the extraordinary and lavishly luxurious Sandy Lane Hotel, the Cobblers Cove, the Frank Collymore Hall, and the Beach House Restaurant (which has a Sherborne connection
through the owners’ sons Bryn (g 98) and Rhys Palmer (g 01)). The Swing Band has always been strong, but the effect of such an intensive rehearsal and performance schedule — albeit in the sunny and relaxing surroundings of the Caribbean —
should not be underestimated: the numbers by Glenn Miller, Charlie Mingus, Nelson Riddle (Frank Sinatra’s arranger), Charlie Parker and Dizzie Gillespie are demanding, but settled well after such hard work. Many of the band’s performances are available
on YouTube and the School website for longer-term viewing, and there is a plan afoot to release the “live” Collymore Hall recording on Spotify and even vinyl.
His forehead consists of two eyes, which have grown to double the size of that of a natural human. He has deep pockets of flesh which flap out from the legs, which are themselves built like stalks, barely able to carry the hands and head which sit upon a squat, misshapen lump we know as a chest. The hands have huge palms, which stretch out on bony, wiry arms. The fingers are curled permanently, even though they have little to hold. The pockets never contain any real substance. He walks around the town, using everything he has, be it monetary or physical, to get whatever latest possession or experience.Whatever others have he will go to great lengths to acquire it, even though it is of little real value. He collects his possessions in his domain, a small shack filled with anything, from canopic jars to computers. Silently and serpent-like he crawls through the streets, and his eyes perceive, but his heart does not feel for those whose houses he enters, and whose houses he leaves, once no-one breathes. He takes all he can.
Inigo Russell (3g)Some city walls pierced only by deceit. Both adamant to halt what ill there is, And nurture good that has yet come to pass. What moment of fulfilment is aroused
From gifts of shallow, brazen clarity, Is doomed to fall before the night concludes. For as the darkness shrouds the thought’s content, So bitter infiltration runs it’s course, In hours where no action will delay The rampant, heinous soldiers spread decay. The notion will remain bound to the soul By grief, and yet our sore intelligence, Uncensored might eternally be stained.
Tom Foster (4a)Nailed to the door, The notice stands. Fresh ink still wet, dripping. Keratin string holding on.
Mouth of the message wide open. Rotting teeth, Dead, Fly-ridden eyes. Degraded flesh. Message taken.
Fabian Mercer (U6b)
There’s a dark veil over us. I can feel it.
It’s funny isn’t it, What we choose to hide
From others.
Not that they care Because they don’t.
Their veil’s darker than ours. They can’t see through it. Pull it off I dare you.
It’s odd isn’t it, What they choose to hide From us.
Not that we care Because we don’t.
Too wrapped up In twisted brains To notice the world As it turns around and around.
Doesn’t the spinning make you sick?
You’re confused?
Yes.
You’re confused. We all are really, We just don’t know why yet.
There’s a dark veil over us. Feel it.
Freddie Fineman (4e)
Fingers numb, Scarf ‘round neck, The wind was a menace to my gaping eyes, Lashes frozen like snow glazed pines, It was cold out.
The roofs were matt phantoms, Joining the sky at their confluence, Layering the dull paint with thick swipes that covered the sky, For the tendons of the light could only stretch so far, And their fingers could strain their frozen joints so much, That the determined blackness that flourished at night, From dark white to a black changed - bright, With those solemn stars that so cursed their isolation, And their excommunication.
Cursed by grim-faced tiles and saudade stones, Blushed with yellow dust and etches, Screaming for help through gauche gargoyles, Yet their prayers would go without answer, And their hands, helpless to history.
Leaves blown a’wind, Without purpose, drifting, falling, Smitten by anger of imperial foot, And the fiery coals of the heavens above, Their lengthy solace ending in the grooves of a shoe, Engraved by cobbler’s decree.
Autumn mud was lacking, Rather wafers of red and brown clouded the sky, And divided like tannin seas of glory, Opening to the harsh mouth of the wind, For Lo, the howling voice was resounding and adjuring, Even the liberated leaves could not resist, But to part and fly.
Like blazing veils of discontent, The clouds stormed the sky by force, Transforming day to night, Erewhile failing to stoop to empathy, And join the mist, For pride of noble and greater view, Of their own cloaked fief.
The central orb did not shine, Its beams of purity and lunar endeavour, Were bid stay from the ever-shining peaks of the land below, By some higher power, or locked door, Some unexploited opportunity, ripe for picking, Yet condemned in nature.
6 am:
The early birds flock to the doors
The doctors, the nurses, the lawyers and more.
Their eyes never float hither or there.
They’re always focused on what’s over there.
7am:
The onslaught comes,
Their faces in their phones twiddling their thumbs.
Ready to go for their nine to five.
Pretty bored, but at least they’re alive.
8am:
Here come the youth of today.
Dreading another school day.
The old ones walking with a drip, The young, biting their lips.
9am-3pm:
Nothing really happens for a while.
You get the occasional runner off for a mile.
At 12 there is lunch coming through, Apart from that there’s nothing else to do.
3.30pm:
Time for the kids to come home. Some of them joyful, others moan.
They all travel together.
Their mouths blether.
5pm:
The second wave of traffic arrives, Most of them looking for something interesting in their lives.
The football’s on tonight!
They all gather round, their faces glowing in the TV’s light.
6pm-10pm:
Whilst the early birds head for the door. Everyone heads for the bar, the rich and the poor. The night shifters flock in. The eldest son puts out the bin...
11pm:
The gangs emerge from their lair, looking for victims.
They walk along, arrogantly swaying their limbs.
Stab here, stab there, the drunk collapses. Slowly they creep away to find more sadistic fun. 12am-5am:
The police, the medics, the public, find the pool of red.
The body lies there, dead.
The ambulance crews are in a fury.
This wasn’t their promised glory!
6am:
The early birds flock to the doors
The doctors, the nurses, the lawyers and more.
Their eyes never float hither or there.
They’re always focused on what’s over there...
Not what happened just here.
Inspired by news stories about the death of the pregnant Grace Brown, 1906
Thud…Thud, Thud. And then a sinking nothing. My eyes yawn trying to adjust to this abyss of nothing. Something. Everything?
The lady upstairs is home!
I pick up her faint, fair footsteps trudging along the space above me. She’s been shopping. I can almost smell her bagged goods. She unknowingly feeds me day by day, not yet noticing she gave me the key. Soon. Soon she’ll skip her way over to waste herself on some man; whilst I tiptoe into a food filled dream.
I’m yanked back into reality by an uncomfortable argument outside. “They’ll disown me, my life sswiped from beneath me.” Unnerved but nosey, I peer out to see the lady upstairs broken, crying on the wet grass.
A man walks away from her, purposefully striding out of reach from her grief.
I’m rocked into a slumber, but that man’s face is there. I hate that man. I don’t know him. But why is there something about him? Something familiarly horrid to him. He hurt my Lady upstairs. Me too? The Lady who unwillingly feeds me. He’s like a b-bboulder, crushing people accidentally on purpose. Is he the image of the world I’m sheltered from?
Trying to force my eyes to open. He’s there. From within I hear some sort of shouting. Splash. The lady upstairs starts to fall in slow motion. Softly into some liquid death trap. Unconscious. She drifts, dragging me down unapologetically from within. Through this strange, thick, liquid air, some man’s voice distantly rumbles with triumph. My Lady. My source for existence; ceases to exist. Together, we plummet into nothing. Something. Everything.
Alfie Stevens (5m)
A rhythmic sound strokes me softly on the back of my head, its calming touch slowly soothing me into relaxation. I can hear children playing, their laughter echoing against the chalk cliffs. Happiness, peace, tranquility, and joy fill my ears. These are the sounds of the sea.
Artwork: sculptures and paintings make up these views. The sky is a watercolour, blue like Chinese pottery or the eyes of an explorer, blending my concerns away. Seagulls swimming in the sky, making ripples of clouds, watching for when they can swoop and steal some food. The depth of the water, like a treasure chest filled with gold, containing secrets of the sea. The sun-coloured sand melting into the pale cobalt glass, so fragile, so smooth you could spread it on toast. An oil painting by the greats, thick stokes of colour brushed across the sky, nature the canvas and life it’s paint.
Birds of air swooping through the sky, blowing hair in front of my eyes. Streaks of sunlight reaching in, warming my heart, warming my skin. The sand so soft, it leaves marks behind me as it sinks beneath my feet, mapping my path, guiding me home.
Temporary.
This is what I love about the sea, the sand, embedded with my print, gets sucked away like food or drink. As I stand watching, new layers of paint are applied to this canvas. The water laps beneath me and I know it will not remember tomorrow, or what has happened today. Salt dries my lips, making them chapped like the cliffs. I lick them, and a rollercoaster of memories floods my brain: fish and chips, family barbeques, old school reunions. I taste the salty air and breathe in the waters of the sky.
I sit on the shingle, a textured carpet, soft like wool. History shattered behind, trapped in stone. I touch the cliffs who have seen so much, their memories stolen away by the sea. The sea which steals memories; leaves you with peace.
Beauty that so many wish to see, a perfectly selected palette with colours so vibrant they taste like bliss. Scents fresh like they were just picked from the ground. It feels right, this place that some call home: the fish in the ocean avoiding the enticing lure of the angler on the shore, the birds in the sky, spectators of life down below, visitors who so often come to be a part of this moment, trapped in time.
Ed Brooke (5b)Day took place on Saturday, 2 July 2022
Despite inclement weather, it turned out to be just as spectacular as any other such occasion in Sherborne’s history.
Indeed, after two years without any in-person celebrations, staff, boys and parents took particular delight in coming together for a busy programme of activities.
A beautiful service was held in Sherborne Abbey, followed by prizes and speeches. Congratulations go to all the boys who were recognised for their hard work, talent and commitment.
The most coveted accolade that the School bestows is the Bow Award. It recognises the boy who is considered to have shown the greatest care and concern for other pupils. Many boys were nominated by other pupils and staff: great to see, but making it harder than ever to reach the final decision.
In the end, the 2022 Bow Award was presented to two boys who have shown conspicuous kindness, consideration and concern for younger pupils: Billy Stephens (U6d) and Matthew Findlay (U6a).
Following prizegiving and speeches, a delicious lunch was served in the grounds of the Boarding Houses. The Leavers’ Service was held in the School Chapel, all before a wonderful ball hosted at Sherborne Girls in the evening.
It was a great joy to see so many members of the Sherborne community – boys, staff, parents, Governors and friends – gathered to celebrate the achievements of the past year.
years is a long time. I hadn’t quite appreciated how long until I dipped into the iSAMS exam module and found I couldn’t remember how it worked, it’s been twenty-four months since we needed an exam timetable, and, with our minds preoccupied by CAGs, TAGs, remote learning and OneNote, the machinations of clash matrices have rather fallen fallow. Still, for such things user handbooks were invented (although, like the boys, I rather prefer a good YouTube guide these days) so it all came back, cobwebs and all.
I’m sharing this with you not so much to admit my own fallibility but more because the experience illustrates the problem young people are facing this year: they’ve never sat a public exam before. The point is most starkly emphasised by the Upper Sixth. With AS exams falling by the wayside, and, with GCSEs cancelled in 2020 and 2021, most boys in the Upper Sixth have not had the chance to complete a ‘real’ exam. With COVID as it was, exams just haven’t happened. It’s the same story for the Fifth Form, though here you have to go back four years to the end of Year 8 and Common Entrance before you find an exam the boys would say ‘that counts’. It’s a grim picture. So, if I, an adult, struggled to recall my iSAMS training, what hope do youngsters have with their exams? How do we help them?
Of course, there have been Trials and mocks, block tests and quizzes and other in-class assessments, but none of these really replicate the strain a public exam engenders, particularly when a UCAS offer is hanging on it. Given that, it’s sadly unsurprising that 2022 has seen a surge in the number of cases of exam stress, with a recent ASCL study reporting higher than ever levels of stress-related absence. Equally, 2022 has also seen the highest number of anxiety-related access arrangements, with more candidates than ever requiring rest breaks, separate invigilation or other types of intervention. Not a happy picture overall.
DR TIM FILTNESS DEPUTY HEAD (ACADEMIC)But it isn’t all bad news. Whilst we’ve seen our fair share of anxious boys, the Upper Sixth have also coped admirably with this challenge, pulling together and helping each other throughout. As I write, I can see a group of boys trooping off to the Library to work together in a House-based revision group, which emphasises the power of peer support and the success of initiatives like the pupil listener scheme. Helping them, we’ve also put in place additional levels of support: clinics and revision sessions have run for weeks and, this year, they’ve been accompanied by workshops on positive mindset and coping strategies. We’ve also offered on-going help with revision (something the boys are also new to
on this scale), and there have been sessions on effective learning strategies and tips for boosting recall. Talks and tutorials have also gone on in departments, complementing guidance available in tutorials and other dropin sessions. Some subjects have also run weekend activities (e.g. a revision field trip in Geography), allowing boys to get the help and support they need to produce the goods on paper. I won’t pretend that any of this has been easy, not for boys weathering the storm nor for their teachers giving up their lunch breaks to assist. However, it does emphasise again just how much is possible when everyone pulls together and I’m humbled by the lengths that people have gone to help this year.
Perhaps one of the most difficult balances to strike in teaching English is the interplay between old and new. English remains one of only a few subjects where boys study texts that are hundreds of years old alongside works on their respective maiden voyages. Arriving at Sherborne, I wondered how far this was a marriage of interest for boys –what do they value when studying English? Are older texts still relevant, in their eyes? When I broached the subject with my Fourth Form, the set seemed torn: half cited the way older texts teach us moral values and allow us to honour tradition; the other half were sceptical, questioning what bearing texts that showcase a less forwardthinking world might have on their daily lives. A tentative conclusion seemed to be that despite learning from the past that boys felt they must be able to question the way older texts mean something to them.
Media intelligence surveys have suggested that 75% of stories about young people take a negative outlook. Often vilifying youth, media can cite a disrespect for culture and history – making young people out to be
preoccupied only with the new. The most troubling statistic is that only 11% of such articles quote young people at all. Conceivably, we may be speaking for and about our young people, when they should be allowed to speak for themselves. This idea of voice also seems critical to the way we teach boys about literature. Why should students only read, write about and revere the works of previous generations? Surely, they will learn the most from responding to these texts, reforming and reworking them for their own cultural moment, in their own creative voice. Ezra Pound’s rallying cry of “make it new” springs to mind.
This is the principle with which the Fifth Form embarked on a newly re-written creative writing unit this year. Over six weeks, boys read and responded in creative ways to a variety of different texts, both fiction (Donnelly’s A Gathering Light, Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby) and film (Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige). They were tasked with taking inspiration from the writers and directors, trying out techniques that capitalise on
theme, narrative structure, imagery and editing, and reforming the original texts into their own creative pieces.
Perhaps the most obvious iteration of this approach is seen in the Sixth Form’s recreative coursework. This year boys’ work has ranged from introducing new scenes to Crimp’s 2022 Cyrano de Bergerac or Wade’s Posh, to the Upper Sixth producing some particularly beautiful additions to War Music by Christopher Logue. In mimicking the style of a particular writer, boys both understood the scope of the original text, and brought their own voice to a much-loved work.
Coupled with a piece of critical writing, exploring how their piece forms an interplay with the original, chemistry between old and new seems very much alive and kicking at Sherborne.
Having so vehemently stated that we need to listen to the thoughts of our young people, here I am, talking far too much. So, I leave you with a creative piece, on the following page, a poem written in a reformation of the traditional sonnet form, by Robbie Foster (L6a).
Bryony Watts
Deputy Head of English
THE TRACK IS PUNCTUATED BY A SIGN, IT READS “THREE HUNDRED MILES TO VIENNA”. SLITS IN THE RIPE FOLIAGE BLEED SUNSHINE, THAT STAINS THE SHADE, WHERE THE MUD BREATHS LIKE TAR AND SMOTHERS THE NASCENT GRASS, WHICH MUST SUCCUMB BENEATH HIS ACHING BOOTS TO PANTING STONES, THAT STRIP HIM OF FEELING, LEAVING HIM NUMB TO THE RHYTHM THEY BEAT AGAINST HIS BONES; HE STRUGGLES WITH HIS DULLED WITS TO RECALL WHY HE’S WALKING BENEATH A WILTING MOON? WHY ONE FOOT LANDS, SO ANOTHER MIGHT FALL? PERHAPS IT IS SO THAT HE MIGHT REST SOON. THERE’S A SIGN; SURELY THE END CAN’T BE FAR; IT READS “THREE HUNDRED MILES TO VIENNA”
Robbie Foster (L6a)Eachterm boys in the Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth Forms present at the Chemistry Symposium. They choose their own topics and, as one can imagine the areas examined vary widely. In the Lent Term Richard Xu (L6b) and Ben Smith-Bingham (L6d) looked at the Chemistry of Colour. Below are some of their thoughts.
We have always been aware of colours, from the vibrant tones in flowers to the dull white and grey walls in classrooms, which stimulates the question: what is colour and how do different chemicals make colours?
First you need to understand what colours are. If one looks at the visible light spectrum one will see it contains all the colours that the human eye can see. When all the wavelengths on this spectrum converge they form white light, but white light can still be separated back into these colours thus creating coloured light and objects.
Inorganic pigments can come from complex ions. A complex ion is an ion which contains a positive transition metal ion which forms a dative covalent bond with the ligands surrounding it; ligands are either neutral or negatively charged molecules or ions. An
example of this is hexaaminecobalt (III) chloride which would turn from blue to yellow in the presence of ammonia; this is due to the complex ions absorbing some wavelengths of the visible spectrum. The ligands datively bond to the transition metal, the electrons within the d-orbital in the metal, split into two different energy levels, one higher than the d-orbital baseline level and one below. As white light is shone upon the complex ion the electrons on the lower levels will absorb a certain wavelength of the light and move up to the top level, reflecting the remaining colours which we then see.
Inorganic pigments molecules often have repeating rings and chains of carbon, and these repeating double single double bonds, known as conjugated double bonds, are responsible for colours in organic molecules. To understand this you need to know some molecular orbital theory: when unpaired atomic S orbitals combine, they form a s molecular orbital (MO) into which electrons may be placed. If the electrons in the s MO absorb enough energy, they can be promoted to the antibonding MO in this case known as s*. However, as the energy difference (ΔE) between the bonding and anti-bonding levels
of the MO is large, and as ΔE is inversely proportional to the wavelength, this molecule absorbs outside of the visible spectrum, so no reflected light is observed; the molecule has no colour. P electrons can inhabit p MOs and can be promoted to the antibonding p* level of the molecular orbital. As the chains of conjugation become longer ΔE decreases and thus the molecules will start absorbing some of the visible frequencies and reflecting the rest, thus producing colours from the reflected wavelengths of visible light. Some examples of these colours can be seen from lycopene in tomatoes and crocetin from saffron.
Although colours can be a good thing, sometimes they can end up in the wrong places. For example, a stain on a new white shirt; this is where bleach comes in handy. These chemicals are strong oxidisers, the most common bleach being sodium hypochlorite. These chemicals break the double bonds and reduce the length of conjugation within a molecule causing it to no longer be able to absorb wavelengths in the visible spectrum so causing it to be invisible to the human eye.
Organic pigments can also be used to detect changes in pH as in phenolphthalein. Phenolphthalein
s
changes colours as the pH of the solution it is in changes. This is seen firstly when the pH is below 0 it has a red colour as the whole molecule is conjugated; as the pH increases the centre part of the molecule changes its structure and is thus no longer as conjugated causing the wavelength it absorbs to be outside the visible spectrum and so it becomes colourless. As the pH continues to increase, so conjugation again increases, the p and p* MOs become closer in energy and a pink colour returns. From indicators to vibrant skittles, chemical pigments have shaped every aspect of our lives and with more and more pigments made every day it is important to understand how they are used, how important they are in life and how they work and are made chemically.
William Buckley Head of Chemistry
As you may be aware the Third Form Scholars attend Agora each week – an academic session which is driven by the boys, for the boys. It is designed to allow gifted boys to explore matters beyond the confines of the curriculum and examination specification.
For Biology in Trinity Term, I was delighted to receive an email from Caio Waters (3b), asking if I could order him a sheep’s heart for the up and coming session that he was leading. Of course, I obliged and arranged for a nice plump heart to be waiting for him at the next Agora session.
I asked another member of the group, Toby Ridgway (3a) to write his experience of the session.
On the day, Caio spoke to the assembled about the advances in recent surgical procedures, starting with the shift away from a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) towards the use of Angioplasty, which, as he explained was more minimally invasive. He spoke eruditely about the materials involved in creating the stent and how it is guided along the radial or femoral artery
to the heart. He seamlessly moved onto the benefits of laparoscopic surgery, particularly for the treatment of hernias, before sensitively discussing heart failure treatment using Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs). These, as he elaborated, function by circulating the blood using a motor from the ventricle to the appropriate artery, thus enabling effective circulation even when the heart is failing.
It then became apparent that our remote method of working, instigated by the pandemic, extended to the medical profession too. He introduced us to The Da Vinci surgical robot, a device designed to carry out tremor free keyhole surgery, with the surgeon able to control the “arms” using a remote console.
And finally came the hands-on element. He asked his peers to join him around the laboratory desk as he outlined the history of sterile sutures, starting with their invention by Joseph Lister in 1860, up to the current day where various sizes and materials are available e.g. Catgut or Nylon. However, as he explained, in 1908 Victor Fischer and Hümér Hültl invented the surgical stapler which
could have been the demise of the technique. But, despite this, Caio appeared relieved that suturing has seemingly remained the most popular form of wound closure among surgeons. In fact, as he clarified, whilst simultaneously making an incision in the heart in front of him, the company Johnson & Johnson went on to build the Ethicon laboratories to produce sutures and other surgical materials like gauze swabs. He then expertly illustrated three different suturing techniques to us, having been practising over the weekend on pig’s trotters!
I believe this account from Toby illustrates that Caio’s efforts were well received. Indeed, it was an absolute pleasure to witness a Third Form boy speak so passionately and knowledgably about a topic which obviously was of fervent interest to him. This, allied to the practical demonstration of suturing captured his audience brilliantly, including myself! I now know the difference between a vertical mattress and a continuous running suture!
Jon-Paul Manning Head of BiologyThis time of year always brings challenges for the boys, but with the first real exams since 2019 our exam groups are under particular pressure. Without the experience of previous exams this is a leap into the unknown for Fifth and Sixth Form. They may not have had direct experience themselves, but they are able to gain insights from those who have gone before them. This position of dealing with an unknown situation, and applying lessons from the past, is one of the corner stones of scientific development.
It was less that one hundred years ago (1924) that Edwin Hubble discovered that the Milky Way is just one of many different galaxies and the universe is made up of vast numbers of galaxies. Before this, galaxies were just bright blurry extended objects in the sky with no notion that these were separate islands of stars. But in order to achieve this he needed to apply the technique that Hipparchos developed in the 2nd Century BC in order to measure the sizes of and distances to the Moon and Sun. He also needed to make use of Johannes Kepler’s concept of the inverse square
law of light from 1604. The inverse square law for light states that if you double the distance to a light source then you will quarter its brightness. Very distant stars, or indeed Supernova in Hubble’s case, are then “standard candles” that can be calibrated by Hipparchos’ technique and their distance determined by how bright they appear.
It was nearly 480 years ago (1543) that Nicolaus Copernicus put the sun at the centre of the universe, rather than the Earth. This is nothing when compared to the Ancient Greeks proposing
that the Earth was a sphere nearly seven thousand years ago. There is now incontrovertible proof that this is the correct model of the solar system, but new concepts can take a long time to take hold. All of these great names discovered something new that we now take for granted but it was done, in the words of Isaac Newton, “… by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”
The Fifth and Upper Sixth Formers don’t have hundreds, or indeed thousands of years to develop their understanding, but they do have the support of those who have gone beforehand. They should also feel solace in the fact that everyone taking these exams will be in the same position. They will be able to take the lessons learned here and apply them next time, whether that is in their A levels, degrees or in the workplace. Maybe they will even be the next giants who will aid future generations in their pursuit of knowledge.
Richard Brown Head of Science & Physics‘Africa can be a rich mosaic, it can be everything or anything’ said Dipo Faloyin. Made up of 54 countries, with 2000 languages being spoken and home to 1.4 billion people the African Continent’s cultural diversity is in part due to the events that unfolded after the Berlin Conference in 1884. 14 European Nations gathered to decide how best to invade and carve up both the continent and its produce. There was no justification for war, so the 14 nations decided instead to liberate the Continent despite some 80% of the 30.3 million square kilometers of mainland Africa being free at the time of the Berlin Conference.
I have recently watched a fascinating and informative lecture from the Geographical Association on The Stereotypes of the African Continent by Dip Faloyin, based on his book ‘Africa is Not a Country.’ The reason Africa is so important, and interesting to a Geographer, is how and why different cultures rose to prominence through chaotic circumstances, border disputes and difficult circumstances relating to geopolitics to become a major contributing continent to the global economy. In order that current and future generations avoid history repeating itself it is important to understand the context behind Africa, the quest for power and the seizing of resources.
An example of what ‘liberation’ looked like can be seen by events in the country now known as The Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC fell into the hands of the Belgian King, King Leopold II in the early 20th Century but running a country was an expensive business and with the Belgian Government unhappy with the associated costs, the solution was to put the native and local people of the DRC to work as slaves in the rubber tree plantations supplying the increasing demand of rubber for vehicle tyres. Congolese people were stripped of their identity and their sense of patriotism, while providing an economic benefit to Belgium.
An explorer of the time stated that ‘where there is land to cultivate, ore to be mined, commerce to be developed, sport to enjoy, curiosity to be satisfied, the inflow of the white race cannot be stopped’. This recitation shows the ignorance of the invading nations towards the native people and the land that they inhabited. Invading forces decided borders without consideration for language, religion, topography of the land, the integration of different ethnic groups or the history of a region. This is demonstrated by the fact that 30% of the borders of the Continent of Africa are straight vertical and horizontal lines.
Ollie Nash (L6g)As Head of Department this has been a significant year for me as, for the first time since I took up post, we have prepared boys for public examinations. The commitment and resilience of the boys in what, to them, was an entirely new experience, was immensely gratifying and it was good to see them head off for their papers well prepared and to enjoy seeing their smiles as they walked out of the exam hall knowing they have done their best. For us staff it was an exercise in recall, as we packed away our newly acquired TAG gathering skills and unpacked and dusted down our exam revision ones! Thankfully, all seemed to go well and as we look ahead, we know that in almost all cases the boys did their utmost to do themselves justice.
Things have also started to return to normal on other fronts, meaning that the History Department has been able to open up a range of enrichment and extension activities. These range from the History Society booking external speakers to give well attended lectures on a range of subjects, to the revival of the Third Form and Lower Sixth trip to
the Chalke Valley History Festival. This was great fun for all concerned; in addition to lectures and displays, the boys were able to take part in various interactive sessions, mostly involving some sort of warfare! Further afield, the Berlin trip has gathered pace and after a delay from the original proposed trip of October 2020, we are very excited to be taking over 60 boys from Fourth Form to Lower Sixth Form to explore the history of this fascinating city in October 2022. We also hope to offer a Third Form trip to Ypres in the Trinity Term of 2023 and plans are underway for this.
The Department were delighted to celebrate with Finn Grammaticas (U6f) his offer to read History at Wadham College, Oxford and wish him every success in his endeavours. Finn has been a leading light of the Department for several years now, regularly attending History Extension Group in Fifth and Lower Sixth Form, despite periods of remote learning, and impressing us all with his wide reading and innate curiosity about the past. Finn started this academic year by hearing that he was a finalist in the John Locke Essay Competition,
writing an essay on “Has the ‘construct of gender’ been more beneficial or more harmful to humanity throughout history?”.
He was invited up to Oxford to take part in a two-day finalists’ event where he learned a lot and performed exceptionally well.
It was no surprise to his teachers that his application test was successful and he was invited for interview. After intense preparations and practice, Finn greatly enjoyed his interviews and
I will remember for a long time the moment he called me on Teams to let me know he had received an offer. An offer to read HSPS at Cambridge was received by Will Jonas (U6d), and although he didn’t opt for History, Will was also a stalwart of the History Extension Group, along with several others from this Upper Sixth, who have been a wonderful year group with some really outstanding ability in History. We are so pleased that a number of them have decided to read History at University and we look forward to hearing about their future success.
We end this academic year with both a high and a low note. The high is the resounding success of the Third Form Renaissance
Exhibition, which is in its second year and included many more artefact projects that demonstrated the technological skill and creativity of the boys. That being said, some of the essays produced were excellent and are a sign of great things to come for many of the boys who have opted to take History next year. On a sadder note, as this year draws to a close, we say goodbye to Alex Pearson,
who is leaving the School after five years in the Department and as Housemaster of The Green. Alex is an outstanding and dedicated History teacher and since joining the Department five years ago, she has had a massive impact as a well-loved teacher and as a respected and supportive colleague. We will feel her loss keenly next year, but wish her well for the future.
Charlotte Allen Head of History
If you felt that, having endured Brexit and war in Europe, languages would take a back seat, then you would have been very much mistaken. Arriving in the Third Form, boys have the option to sign up for the Triple Languages group who learn French, German and Spanish, potentially to IGCSE and beyond. But would that not just confuse them?
Far from it, it would appear. “I feel more enriched by gaining more knowledge and understanding of the culture”, comments Gerald Asafo-Adjei (3e). “I am planning to do all three languages for GCSE and have no regrets about it”. Tom Moesel (3c) agrees: “It has given me a far greater understanding of modern European culture and has enriched my perception of how languages and words are developed”. “Post-Brexit, I think three languages can be very useful and I would recommend Triple Languages”, agrees James Whiteley (3b). And how will these boys be able to benefit in the future from their work? “Learning languages gives us a tool to connect and empathise with different and inspirational cultures that can enrich our lives”, suggests Johnny Moesel (3c). “I would like to use my knowledge to immerse myself in
different cultures and benefit as an individual”. Ultimately, “beyond school I would really love to be fluent in a language”, contributes Charlie Armsby (3f).
Along the way there is much to learn and students today deal with the four language skills (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing) through a range of media and by using techniques which were unheard of a generation ago. “I enjoyed one particular lesson, where we created a town on the board and gave all the places names”, notes Inigo Russell (3g).
These young men are setting off on the life journey which encompasses understanding people from a range of backgrounds. “It sets you up for the future and gives you the roots of understanding language and culture”, comes the persuasive voice of Benjamin Brady (3d). And it need not bring stress with it, as Guillaume Sagnes (3e) admits, “I enjoy the journey that happens when you do multiple languages”.
“Learning five languages is an excellent thing, giving me a wider understanding of the culture and languages of Europe
and indeed the wider world. It has been, and still is, a brilliant experience for me”, notes Cameron Campbell-Steele (3a), “I will use languages a lot, as I wish to work abroad or teach others these beautiful languages”.
According to Sam Rippon (3e), “Triple Languages is an experience that has enriched interest in European cultures and languages. The importance of having knowledge of other languages is also very important in the modern-day world”. To which Tom Moesel adds: “As I have enjoyed Triple Languages, I would not feel intimidated about learning another language – on the contrary I would embrace the opportunity to thrive”.
“Learning Triple Languages is the key that unlocks the door to a new world”, concludes Elio Mortarotti (3e). “It is an amazing lesson that I look forward to, where my knowledge gets enriched and my mental capacity larger. It’s a challenge that I enjoy a lot”.
Stephen Byrne Modern Foreign Languages TeacherThere are many benefits to the study of Classics. One of these, for me, is the excitement of exploring the ancient world and understanding its influence upon such important aspects of our everyday life as its language, its architecture, its democracy and political structure. The study of Classics is a gateway to another world and through its study we become time travellers. The intellectual challenges of the study of Classics are well known, but my priority as a teacher has also always been to open up the ancient world to those I teach, to enthuse them and to inspire them not only to learn about the classical world, but to imagine it and recreate it in their minds. The greatest and most enjoyable instrument in a time traveller’s tool bag is the organisation of trips, both at home and abroad.
Most recently, over the Easter holidays this year, the Classics Department visited Hadrian’s Wall, a World Heritage site and the largest surviving monument to the Roman army, stretching for 80 Roman miles from the Tyne to the Cumbrian coast. Based at the wonderful Once Brewed YHA, we explored the remains and reconstructions of forts, houses and barrack blocks. The highlights of the week include the walk along the wall from Steel Rigg to Housesteads, with its stunning views over the surrounding countryside, the live excavations at the Stanegate fort of Vindolanda, the nostalgic return to Corstopitum and the outstandingly interactive Roman Army Museum, which included life-size models and a firing replica of a longbow that was understandably popular with the boys. Awealth of fascinating evidenceenabled us to examine in context everyday life on this far outpost of the Roman world. Perhaps most importantly, it was great fun and the sun shone.
One of the highlights of my teaching year is the Classics trip to Greece, an opportunity I give to the boys to immerse themselves in the history and mythology of the
Greek world and my philosophy has always been to balance education and enjoyment. We start with a full day tour of the classical sites and museums of Athens, the Parthenon, the Erechtheum, the Acropolis and the Acropolis museum. To see another, more relaxed view of ancient Greece, the second day includes a boat trip past the island of Salamis, site of the key sea battle of the Persian Wars, to the island of Aegina, home to the beautiful temple of Aphaea, with its 360° panorama of the sea, and time to relax on the beach below. We visit Delphi, a place of extraordinary natural beauty, a series of terraces on which are located the temple of Apollo, site of the famous oracle, the theatre and, at the very top, a stadium, home to the Pythian games, all overlooked by the cliffs of Mt. Parnassus, with birds of prey soaring above. Looking down over the forests and sea below it is not hard to see why the Greeks had founded such an important sanctuary here. We visit the ancient site of Olympia, home to the great Temple of Zeus and the Olympic stadium, with its staggering capacity of 45,000. All military conflicts ceased for the duration and huge rewards were
conferred on the winners by their home cities, whilst penalties for cheating included the erection of the Zanes, statues inscribed with the offenders’ names. Based for the final few days in the modern beach resort of Tolo, we visit Mycenae, the three thousand year old city of King Agamemnon, with its imposing citadel and magnificent Lion Gate, and Epidaurus, birthplace of Asclepios, the god of healing, whose sanctuary was the centre of medicine in the classical world, and home to the best preserved theatre in all Greece. In October half-term 2022, we will return again to Greece, a fantastic opportunity for anyone studying Greek and Latin, but particularly Classical Civilisation, as many of the sites we visit are on the GCSE and A level syllabuses.
This year we are redesigning the Third Form Classical Civilisation course, basing it on a study of Pompeii and drawing it closer to the background stories of the Cambridge Latin Course, which Third Form Latinists follow, so that both Latin and Classical Civilisation students are following a similar route, albeit one more linguistic than the other. A trip to Aquae Sulis, Roman Bath, in
January offers all boys the chance to explore the archaeological site and experience the healing properties of the waters, to see first-hand the lead curses thrown into the waters or the place where Modestus and Strythio exchange blows with Gutta, but the course culminates in a trip to Pompeii at the beginning of the Easter holidays, which includes a full day tour of the sprawling archaeological site of Pompeii, the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not only will we walk over the paved streets of the Via dell’Abbondanza from the amphitheatre to the forum, exploring private homes alongside shops, thermopolia, brothels and temples, gaining a unique insight into how Pompeii’s residents lived and worked, but there are also lots of smaller details, such as the graffiti, the mosaics and the frescoes, which help bring the town to life, as well as the less-trodden back streets. We will also visit the more haunting remains of Herculaneum, evidencing the sudden and violent destruction that befell this town, as well as the National Archaeological Museum at Naples, before climbing Mount Vesuvius itself and looking down into its active crater. If there is time, there will also be a boat trip
from Positano along the Amalfi coast and perhaps also the opportunity to explore the Greek site of Paestum.
Whether wondering at the temples of the Acropolis in Athens, looking down from the awe-inspiring ancient site of Delphi, stumbling along the cobbled streets of Pompeii, or marvelling at the magnitude of the Colosseum, visiting ancient sites allows us to make connections between the ancient civilisations and our own contemporary culture – and is a brilliant way to breathe life into the classroom. Above all it helps our students, as time travellers, walk amongst heroes and dreams, and gain a deeper perception, understanding and appreciation of the culture and literature of the ancient world by seeing first-hand what they have only seen in books. Seeing the ancient world enlivens the stories and myths of the ancient world, something which is truly beneficial, and perhaps allows us, to misquote H.G. Wells, to reflect on “the riddles of our own time and solve its wearisome problems”.
His grey eyes shone and twinkled, and his usually pale face was flushed and animated.
H.G. Wells. The Time Machine
Stephen Heath Head of Classics
“ “
Chris O’Donnell, Head of Business and Economics, discusses how unprecedented technological change is transforming the way Shirburnians learn.
It wasn’t that long ago that a typical Shirburnian would be seen hoisting a large day bag full of bulky folders from classroom to classroom. Teachers would spend hours of their week queuing for a photocopier. The reprographics room rivalled Bow House for a place to catch up on the latest gossip. Boys’ dormitories were full of paper –and as exams approached –A4 lever files coated in dust would be taken off shelves with the comment ‘err ... what did I learn last year?’
Well, Covid disrupted many things –the reprographics room has been refurbished into a classroom, and boys now carry sleek laptops into lessons. Classrooms, devoid of paper, look unusually tidy in their appearance –and teachers have had to learn a new set of jargon: TEAMS, OneNote, Anki. No longer do boys claim to have left their Hall in House –now the excuse runs “I’ve uploaded it –it can’t have synched yet”. No longer are boys instructed to stop staring at their screens –now they are told ‘mobiles away and laptops on.’
There has long been a debate in Economics about the role of technology and innovation in driving change. It is not hard to think of an industry that has experienced dramatic technologydriven disruption; Woolworths, HMV, Blockbusters –The High Street? Yet, education has been comparatively immune: OK, I agree, blackboards turned white, and a Sherborne School app replaced the written journal, but –teaching and learning have remained relatively static –until now.
The unprecedented pace of change provides a once-in-ageneration opportunity to transform learning and education –for the better. I agree, many teenagers spend an unhealthy amount of time in front of screens –but how can we use technology to improve learning and feedback? How can we encourage students to use their mobile phones as a productivity tool –instead of as an endless distraction?
In the Business and Economics Department, we’ve found the new technology to dramatically impact the way students share information, revise and receive feedback. Seen a good article in The Economist? –share it on our ‘Yammer’ page. Not sure how to revise for your exams? –Use our digital revision cue cards on your mobile phone – honestly, paper cards are so pre-Covid! Need feedback on your Hall assignment? –Watch the video uploaded onto your TEAMS page by your teacher.
Teaching and learning have changed dramatically since COVID, and I suspect, the longterm benefits (and costs) have yet to be realised. There will, of course, be those who will argue to maintain a more traditional approach to teaching –a return to textbooks and good oldfashioned chalk ‘n’ talk. The lesson from Economics is clear –as the former fans of Blockbusters will attest –those who do not embrace change, tend to get left behind.
Undoubtedly the highlight of the year has been the flourishing of the Sixth Form Philosophy Society. For the first time we have held joint meetings with Sherborne Girls and the manner in which they have taken off has surprised even me. Right from the first meeting there was a buzz in the OSR as around thirty students met to discuss all manner of things including Plato and Aristotle, what makes an ethical Christmas and (as we are coming out of Covid restrictions) Albert Camus’ The Plague
There’s an old saying that philosophy is not a noun, it’s a verb and just the activity of talking about the ethics of Christmas trees helped all the attendees to develop their thinking muscles. More formally we also had a remote session on Immanuel Kant, delivered by a lecturer from the Institute of Education, Jeremy Heyward.
It makes such a difference when we can release academic subjects from the classroom and give them the added enticement of crossschool socialising. As the lockdown becomes more of a memory we are looking to build on this next year with more joint meetings and a trip to New York in the autumn. Hopefully among the pastrami sandwiches and hotdogs, there will also be food for thought.
The Computer Science Department has had a busy year with a packed academic and co-curricular offering. The Third Form have been learning the art of computational thinking and have been learning how to code using both programmable flow-charts and the coding language Python. They have also learned the mathematics of binary and hexadecimal computation. Boys have engaged with 40 problem-solving tasks – gaining bronze, silver, gold and platinum certificates along the way. The majority of the year group received their Bronze Certificate.
Cameron Groves (3c) was the only student in the Third Form to complete all 40 challenges, receiving his Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Certificate.
Charlie Miller (3d) received his Bronze, Silver, and Gold Certificate. He almost achieved his Platinum, but instead decided to create a fully functional class register using HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. He also self-taught these languages.
The following boys received their Bronze, Silver and Gold certification: Forest Purvis (3b), Ryan Lai (3e), Winston So (3f) Gabriel Cheng (3e) and Freddie Facer (3a) received their Bronze and Silver Certificates.
In the end-of-year exams, the following boys showed their consistent efforts and abilities with some fabulous exam results. Charlie Miller and Guillaume Sagnes (3e) achieved the best results of the year group.
The Fourth Form Computer Scientists were engaged with the programming elements of the course and completed the Silver, Gold and Platinum certificates. They have also been learning the Product Development Lifecycle and have started working on a larger project that brings together all of the programming skills that they have learned during the
year.In the end-of-year exams, Thomas O’Sullivan (4b), Algy Lindsay-Fynn (4b) and Ryan Lee (4a) all had exceptional results whilst Joonsang Hyun (4f) was top of the tree, averaging 95% in both of his exam papers.
At the time of writing this, the Fifth Form have completed their examinations and the Department staff wish the boys all the very best for their results.
The Lower Sixth have been getting to grips with the rigours of more complex programming using Object-Oriented techniques whilst incorporating advanced data structure and algorithms. Some stand-
out performances in the end-of-year exams come from Cerys Heard (who is studying Computer Science and attends Sherborne Girls), Kohki Hatori (L6e), and Alex Grabski (L6e) had high results but Ogi Soldatovic (L6a) achieved the highest marks. All of these students have, more importantly, demonstrated a great desire to write code in their spare time and have a true enjoyment of the subject.
The Upper Sixth have their final exam paper in the afternoon, so Dr Wild in the Department writes nervously but in the knowledge that the boys have worked hard throughout the year. An
important component of their A level qualification is in the writing of a substantial piece of work for their projects. Two boys have stood out from the crowd in this respect. William Fahie (U6b) not only produced the most incredible piece of work entitled “Solving Handwritten Expressions Using Machine Learning” but has also consistently gotten the highest marks in tests and internal examinations. For this, he is awarded the prize of “Best Computer Science Student”.
Samuel Berry (U6a) produced the highest mark in the project for his incredible mobile
app “COMMUTR –Route Finding Mobile App”. William’s work is a tour-de-force of investigation and implementation of his own algorithms to use Artificial Intelligence to allow users to handwrite mathematical expressions and have them recognised and consequently evaluated. Sam’s App detects recently visited places by using the geolocation information on a phone, cleverly clusters points in detecting frequently visited places and consequently provides users with a fully interactive map showing the most efficient way to commute – hence the name COMMUTR. Both boys start a tradition of
the best works at the end of the year to be thesis-bound and a copy being placed in the School Archives.
The Turing VR Club continued throughout the year and some progress has been made in getting a few more boys introduced to the delights of the Blender application (3D modelling) and Unity programming (for creating programs that represent Virtual Reality). Upper Sixth Leavers who have been project managing and leading the efforts will leave a legacy of code and assets for more progress to be made by their younger peers.
Dr David Wild ofThis year was a big one for the EPQ as we moved out of the “lockdown” iteration of the course and began to consider strategically the future of the EPQ at Sherborne. The decision to create a compulsory Enrichment programme with an EPQ option embedded with it was a big change and I was delighted with the large numbers of boys who chose to begin an EPQ project. Beginning the EPQ in January allowed the boys to really consider their choice and get a taster before starting, and this has proved really successful, not only in terms of numbers but in the success of the projects as the vast majority are working steadily toward completion. The hard work and dedication of a large number of supervisors is crucial to this success and once again the teaching staff at Sherborne have come up trumps for the boys in this regard, offering guidance and support on projects ranging from DNA to cryptocurrency to metaphysics. Under their supervision, this cohort looks set to produce some outstanding EPQ results.
Whilst most of the boys will be presenting their projects next term, two impressive young men managed to complete their EPQ in two terms and presented in June. Freddie Folkes (L6a) and Hugh Deery (L6a) gave stand out performances in a hot and packed-out classroom before the last Exeat, giving very different but oddly cohesive presentations on Napoleon and the Good Friday Agreement respectively. Not only did the boys speak with authority and confidence on their subjects, giving well crafted, pacy and professional looking presentations, but
they both responded to some really tough questioning with calm capability.
As I hand over to Classics Teacher Nicholas Hall as the new EPQ Co-ordinator from September, I will indulge myself a little to say how much I have enjoyed running the EPQ at Sherborne. Not because of the success of increasing the numbers and results, or because of the triumph of delivering an EPQ to a whole year group in the 2020 lockdown, but because of the positive impact I have seen it have on the boys. It really is quite special to watch boys shine as they follow a passion, whether that be to produce a music album, look for solutions to climate change or endangered species, analyse aspects of their favourite sport or delve into historical and philosophical arguments. Of particular significance, to me, is seeing those boys who have not always flourished academically develop real confidence and develop intellectually in a way that sometimes surprises them and those around them. This year really has been the culmination of crafting an EPQ course that works for Sherborne, and I am confident that under Nick’s guidance it will continue to go from strength to strength.
Charlotte Allen Head of History and EPQ Co-ordinatorThe past year has proven to be both fast-paced and hectic as the Department pushed the boys to make good progress whilst we were all still in school, just in case we found ourselves in another lockdown!
With the GCSE pupils being asked to explore factors relating to the decline of town centre shopping, how products can support more neurodiverse ways of learning or exploring the needs of visitors to holiday or theme parks, there was a great deal of research for them to do across the summer. This year’s winner of the Wingfield-Digby junior prize for D&T was Alfie Hunter-Inglis (5a). Alfie who was awarded a D&T Scholarship whilst he was at Sherborne Prep School, had picked up on the media coverage surrounding the issue of drink spiking. He chose to explore product solutions which could help combat or limit this threat, without designing something disposable which would contribute to another of society’s concerns. Whilst Alfie found it easier and quicker to initially communicate his design thinking through sketching, as his idea emerged he swiftly moved into computer-aided design (CAD) as his solution could only work if he could deliver the accuracy and detail needed to
make the solution easy to attach to drinks glasses. As each iteration of his design thinking solved a series of identified problems the department’s new 3D printer worked across the night producing precise prototyping for testing in the next lesson. The final design was beautifully engineered to clicklock to the rim of the glass and utilised commercially available stainless steel straws, held in a ball joint, to provide a seal.
At A level the boys worked for clients outside of the School, consulting to understand their needs. Boys such as Han Han Pu (U6f) had faced the challenge of the first year of his A level being in an extended period of lockdown abroad and for Han Han, the School’s investment in technology could not have come sooner and his design development was discussed with clients and teachers over Zoom calls and Teams meetings. Remaining a part of the group and being able to access lessons helped Han Han to maintain the
momentum in his work; momentum which enabled him to swiftly pick up the design prototype manufacture in the Upper Sixth Form. This year’s A level work was exceptional ranging, from creative solutions to technically proficient solutions. They have worked well.
Ms Bacon, who is a jeweller, has been taking the boys up to Sherborne Girls to run a jewellery club for both schools, making the most of their specialised facilities and her knowledge, proficiency and skill. With one of our A level pupils working on a family jewellery piece for their client, it provided the Department with the excuse to experiment with cuttlefish casting, sand casting, silver soldering and fine polishing.
Perhaps the best show of confidence that we are returning to what we remember as normal came when we committed our GCSE boys to visit the Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) during May, in London with 34
Fourth Form pupils. The CDW has firmly established itself as the UK’s leading independent design festival and as such it provides the boys with the opportunity to experience a high density of exciting, contemporary design thinking, but also those who have developed these ideas for the boys to engage with and talk to. Contained within a tight neighbourhood of Central London this ‘fresh-faced’ festival helps to define the zeitgeist for the pupils, right at a time when they are about to set their design challenges for their assessed coursework. This year, the boys found out that since our last visit in 2019 product sustainability has moved from a desirable characteristic to a standard that
consumers now expect when considering design decisions. In this aspect, the commercial work on show aligned closely with the values the boys are developing in D&T as part of their studies.
The Department now says goodbye to Ms Huerga-Duke (Ms Duke), our talented D&T technician and CAD specialist. Ms Duke leaves the Department to train to become a D&T teacher. The Department and the boys have benefitted from her knowledge and her “can do” approach to problem-solving and we are delighted that she has taken this step as Ms Duke will undoubtedly become a superb teacher.
Peter Chillingworth
Head of Design and Technology
Kerim Smajilagic (5f) GCSE Memphis bench
Hubert Johnsen (5a) GCSE Adjustable pon-pon builder support
Angus Geddes (5m) GCSE Adjustable tinted reader device
Mike Song (5e) GCSE Desktop cycling station
As Rob Marston, Sherborne’s outgoing Assistant Head (Sixth Form), observes: “For these pupils, A levels have been their first experience of public examinations in senior school. Their GCSE exams were cancelled, so they’ve shown amazing resilience to step up and respond in impressive style.”
Rob is quick to applaud the effort of Sherborne’s teaching and support staff in preparing pupils for this one-of-a-kind event.
“In normal times, you can refer pupils to their previous experience of taking exams in order to build their confidence and develop technique,” he says. “This cohort had no such reference point, so staff have done an astonishing job of helping them feel ready for their A levels.”
Not only that, but he says the boys have shown characteristic spirit during the past year, and in the preceding years. “It takes considerable focus to sit A levels even without the disruptions since 2020. These boys have taken it all in their stride. I commend them for the maturity, resilience and composure they’ve shown.”
While the easing of Covid restrictions has created an opportunity for the Upper Sixth to sit their A levels in the usual way, it has also enabled the whole Sixth Form to make the most of life in Sherborne.
The School has returned to a normal calendar of sports fixtures and social events. The latter enables Sixth Formers to mix with pupils from Sherborne Girls and enjoy the distinctive benefits of Sherborne’s “separate yet together” ethos – something that Rob believes to be important preparation for their next steps.
“As boys leave Sherborne, their social circles widen, perhaps at university or in their first job, or during a gap year,” he says. “To have enjoyed a rich social life during their final year at School stands every one of them in good stead for whatever comes next. It’s been a relief and a joy to see that aspect of our provision return.”
Talking of the future, Rob is heartened to see the success of boys in university applications and degree apprenticeship programmes.
“Four pupils have secured places at Oxbridge to read History, Physics, Veterinary Science, and HSPS (Human, Social, and Political Sciences),” he reports. “The same number have been offered places on PWC’s Flying Start degree programme. This involves working and studying for a degree at the same time, enabling candidates to garner real-world experience, earn a living, and burnish their CVs. It’s an important development in the options available to school leavers.”
Couple these achievements with the boys’ success in securing offers from Russell Group universities and overseas higher education providers and the impact of Sherborne’s Higher Education and Careers department is plain to see.
“The whole team plays a crucial role in helping boys prepare for whatever comes after Sherborne,” he says. “I pay tribute to them, and to the Old Shirburnian network, which does so much to connect pupils past and present and help build the future.”
Alongside their academic achievements, Rob is particularly proud of the Upper Sixth for establishing Sherborne’s Pupil Voice initiative and serving as exceptional role models to the rest of the School.
“This year, we appointed Pupil Voice committee leads in six areas: co-curricular, teaching and learning, equality and diversity, environment, mental health and wellbeing, and community outreach,” he says. “Each person has been a strong advocate for their area and played a vital role in helping the rest of the School community shape our ethos. The influence of this team, working closely with the Heads of School and Heads of Houses, cannot be underestimated.”
Rob is also quick to acknowledge the less formal ways in which the Upper Sixth have contributed to School life during their final year.
“They are an impressive group of young men, leading by example and setting a high standard for their successors to follow,” he concludes. “Given all that they’ve had to contend with, these boys deserve huge credit.”
This year has seen a return to business as usual in the Art Department, with the exception that external examinations were cancelled for both GCSE and A level Art and, as such, the focus has been solely on the boys’ Personal Portfolios. To suggest that this protracted process has removed a sense of urgency from the pace at which the boys work would be a little unfair, but equally not entirely untrue.
After rather testing times over the course of the last two years these boys have experienced interrupted schooling and a trying learning environment. Art was extremely challenging to deliver remotely because of its practical and visual nature, access to media, materials and processes meaning that pupils (nationally) were somewhat behind the curve as they began their Personal Portfolios. Nonetheless our boys have worked diligently on their coursework and I am proud to say that 2022 has produced some exciting, interesting and diverse portfolios.
One of the frustrations with teaching Art, which has certainly been exacerbated this year through the drawn-out process is that “making art” takes time and the resulting final pieces of artwork stem from a lengthy process of refining and developing an individual’s ideas. The culmination of this process (final pieces) usually happen within the last few weeks of the year, and as if by magic an impressive End of Year show is produced to be enjoyed by all. This glut of highquality artwork unveiled to the
public through the end of year hurrah, both in person and in the pages of this publication, is delivered as one large visual “hit” rather than in other departments such as Music, Drama or Sport, which see a steady trickle throughout the year. Try as I may to think of a way to drip feed the School community work throughout the year, Art doesn’t work like this. Good art takes time. Making “good” art is a process which frequently sees a creative journey consisting of pieces which are unfinished, interrupted or abandoned failing to make an impact on a personal or public level, but, nevertheless, these pieces form an important part of the refining process of the artist realising their intention and ultimately creating the work found in these pages or in our Commem
Exhibition. This unseen and interrupted work rarely conveys the artist’s endeavour, but merely alludes to what could have been, but is equally crucial to the creative process in allowing our artists to realise personal and meaningful responses to their Personal Portfolios.
To this end, I would like to encourage you to drop into the Art Department from time to time throughout the year to take the time to leaf through a student’s A level or GCSE portfolio and to discover this interrupted art. By doing this you will hopefully witness the creative endeavour put in by our boys to deliver the wonderful pieces of artwork we see at the end of each academic year.
• William Wolseley Brinton - U6g
• Seiko Yonemata - U6m
THIS YEAR OUR BOYS, AND THE GIRLS FROM SHERBORNE GIRLS, HAVE BEEN CULTIVATING THEIR FILM-MAKING CRAFT BY PLANNING AND PRODUCING THEIR ORIGINAL SHORT FILM PRODUCTIONS. DURING THESE PRODUCTIONS, THERE IS A LOVELY ATMOSPHERE OF LEARNING AND TEAMWORK WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS WORKING ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER ON THEIR FILMS, CREATING AND CRAFTING ORIGINAL NARRATIVES FROM SCRATCH. ALONGSIDE THIS, THEY HAVE ALSO PRODUCED A MUSIC VIDEO, DEVELOPED HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL EDITING TECHNIQUES, DEVELOPED HIGHLY ADVANCED PRE-PRODUCTION SKILLS, AND LEARNT THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FILM AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION.
The Upper Sixth boys have also undertaken the monumental challenge of producing all the assets for the School’s digital prospectus. Not only did this enhance their factual production portfolios, but has given the School a fabulous online presence that future boys, and their parents, can have customised, to make their virtual experience completely bespoke.
Excitingly, the new television studio will be online and up and running for the new academic year. Housed in the Oliver Holt Gallery, the media production pupils will have access to professional grade studio equipment, allowing them to hone their live production skills. This will complete their production portfolios, allowing all the pupils to go off into the world of the broadcast media with a full complement of production skills. Indeed, one of the current Upper Sixth has achieved a place at the prestigious New York Film Academy and will land in the USA with a portfolio of outstanding production work. This is a fine achievement, demonstrating just where a media production qualification can take you.
Oliver Senneck Teacher of BTEC Creative Digital Media
Almost incredibly, with paralysing reverberations of Covid still in the air, the History of Art boys (and their teacher) managed to go on a trip to Spain at the end of March during the Easter break. The trip was organised by Sherborne Girls, and included their History of Art, Art, and Spanish Departments. We began the trip by meeting at 3am at Gatwick on Monday morning (surely still Sunday), and, miraculously, everyone turned up eventually.
What followed was an intense few days of art appreciation, carefully tailored to the A level curriculum. The first day and a half were spent in Bilbao, the capital of the northern Basque country. Its National Museum was a mixture of treasures including works by Goya, El Greco, the Surrealist painters, and medieval Catalan masters. Most of our time was spent in the Guggenheim, a rippling monument to Deconstructivism (and other
things) by Frank Gehry. It was fun deconstructing Deconstructivism, but seeing vast tableaux by Kiefer and Rauschenberg, and a carefully picked temporary exhibition on Surrealism provided ample opportunity for 2D visual analysis, too.
We then took a coach to Madrid, a spectacular journey from the rugged mountains of the north, past the clifftop monastic palace of Lerma, to the relatively fertile plains down to Madrid. After a much-needed good night’s sleep (even if my window did open directly onto the hotel power generator), another action-packed day followed, with the morning spent in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the afternoon in the Reina Sofia. Carmen ThyssenBornemisza’s landscape collection has much improved since I last visited, and, wonderfully, we discovered a stunning American Sublime painting by Jasper Francis Cropsey, depicting Sherburne in Chenango County, New York, a tranquil scene much
like its grandsire (out of term time). Guernica, in the Reina Sofia, was understandably the key work of the day, and the boys were genuinely impressed by its stark, vast complexity.
The final day was spent in the cavernous Prado Museum, where the Goya and Canova sections took precedence. But the boys also had time to expand their visual knowledge by studying the Prado’s unrivalled holdings including works by Rubens, Velazquez, Titian, and Bosch (or El Bosco, as they call him in Spain).
Along the way, we sampled Spanish food and culture, including a walking tour around Madrid and a fantastic evening Flamenco performance. The only un-Spanish element was the weather, at a consistently rainy 11 degrees. All in all, an unforgettable trip.
Miroslav Pomichalwas fully rejuvenated in the Michaelmas Term, with two wonderful House plays, including Mr Robinson’s wonderfully directed production of Arthur Miller’s incomparable Incident At Vichy. This really is a very well-written play which has stood the test of time in almost all of its aspects, and sadly is still as relevant today as it was when it was first written. Not to be outdone by Abbeylands, the boys in Wallace House also produced They Don’t All Marry Pop Stars Do They?, which was performed end-on with a beautifully-realised set. Congratulations go to Mr Donnelly and all of the boys involved. Another highlight of the term saw Lamda examinations achieve eight Distinctions, plus many Merits.
Lent Term saw one more House play Rabbit by David Foxton involving 17 boys from The Digby, who performed and worked as technical support. Plus, the electrifying Joint Schools Musical, Grease, involving 15 boys working as performers and in technical support, alongside Sherborne Girls, was performed in the BSR.
Frankenstein was a huge success, with some brilliant performance work from the younger Drama Scholars, alongside some stupendous costume and set from Mr Denvir. To complete an incredible term for the Drama Department, Paper Birds came to do a brilliant workshop in verbatim theatre and performed live in the Powell, in front of the combined strength of Fourth and Fifth Form.
In the Trinity Term, The Green performed the superlative Dealer’s Choice by Patrick Marber in the Powell Theatre, which was brilliantly funny and beautifully performed. Combined with fantastic technical work by the boys themselves, this was a truly great House play, and one which the boys themselves enjoyed hugely as an audience.
Other highlights include three boys being awarded Drama Half Colours for the participation in extracurricular Drama throughout their time at Sherborne School. The Drama Department also played host to a superlative Brecht workshop courtesy of KatMary productions for the Third and Fourth Form boys, to better prepare them for their GCSEs.
Ian Reade Head of Drama
Emerging from the disruption of COVID, this year the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) has shown incredible resilience by having one of its most action-packed and successful years, whilst also growing in popularity. Last year’s addition of Sherborne Girls has seen the CCF grow to a hefty size of around 250 cadets, with a third coming from Sherborne Girls. We have girls appointed into major leadership roles for the forthcoming academic year, demonstrating just how much of a valuable contribution they have made, and the wealth of talent they bring to the CCF.
My time in the CCF has been a true highlight of my school career. Having joined the Royal Marine section in 2018, I was immediately presented with the challenge of balancing my time as a cadet with my academics and other co-curricular activities such as my music, drama and academy rugby. Having loved getting stuck into absolutely everything, this was a challenge I was keen to take head on, especially with the CCF being the highlight of my week.
The CCF has helped me grow and become better not only as a cadet, but as a pupil, and as a person. During my time as a Royal Marine Cadet, I have learned about the Commando Mindset, Values, and Spirit. One aspect of The Commando Spirit is “cheerfulness in the face of adversity”; this is something I truly understood the meaning of when I was in the Fifth Form cracking jokes and smiles amongst a cold and drenched Pringle Team who had just completed the cadet version of the infamous Endurance Course, one of the toughest tests a Commando embarks on during training.
The CCF has also given me the opportunity to spend time away on various courses such as a camp with the Royal Marine Commandos at their training centre in Lympstone. This included performing beach assaults using their landing craft, raiding forts with pyrotechnics and firing endless supplies of blank ammunition. These are all experiences I shall never forget.
This past year has been one for the record books with the now larger, joint CCF combining to have one of its most successful years to date. A standout achievement has to go to Sherborne’s first mixed Royal Marine Pringle Trophy team, who placed 3rd overall and 1st as a mixed team.
Termly field trips have allowed cadets to fully experience the CCF for what it is and all the opportunities it enables. Our Royal Navy Section have been all over, from RNAS Yeovilton to see 846 NAS, to HMS Raleigh where they all came away with Level 1 Power Boat qualification. The Army and Royal Marine Sections had the opportunity to train at Scraesdon Fort in Plymouth, with access to the fort’s underground tunnel system, and on Salisbury Plain where cadets learned valuable field craft and night navigation skills while also taking part in ambushes and stalks. We have also enjoyed visits to 40 Commando Royal Marines, The Kings Royal Hussar’s, and the Coldstream Guards. Other highlights included parachute jumps, the CCF adventure training trip to Norway, and the Summer Camp to St Martins Plain, Folkestone.
Our Biennial Inspection saw Old Shirburnian, Vice Admiral Andrew Burns CB OBE (e 88), the Fleet Commander of the Royal Navy, inspect us. He is among the most senior officers to inspect the School cadets since Field Marshall Montgomery in 1959. While there was some questionable drill within some ranks and some errant words of command on my part, the inspection was an unrivalled success, and the Vice Admiral was full of praise both for the parade, and of the quality of the fieldcraft demonstrations he visited afterwards. The day culminated with a CCF Sixth Form and staff dinner night which gave the opportunity to thank all those who contribute to the successful running of the CCF.
My personal thanks must go to our School Staff Instructor, Paul Wilson, and all the CCF staff for all their hard work in ensuring the smooth running of a memorable year in the CCF. The future is bright for Sherborne CCF, and I look forward to hearing of its continued development over the coming years.
Freddie Cole (U6g)
Congratulations to William Waters (L6b) who has been appointed as one of the First Sea Lord’s Cadets for this year. This is a prestigious appointment and the first in Sherborne’s rich history of running the Combined Cadet Force at the School.
William joined the Royal Navy section of the CCF when he was in Year 10 and he was instantly hooked. With aspirations to join the Navy, having the opportunity to join the CCF at Sherborne enabled William to improve all of those things that would prepare him for if and when he became an officer in the Royal Navy. William commented: ‘’The amazing support from the staff and instructors at Sherborne led to me rising through the ranks and when the opportunity for me to apply to be a First Sea Lord’s Cadet for 2022 was raised I took it and with the full support of Lieutenant Campbell (Lieutenant and Section Commander of the Navy CCF at Sherborne) I managed to get it!’
On 10 February, William visited Portsmouth where he was invested with the badge of office by the First Sea Lord himself (Admiral Ben Key – former parent of the School) in the Great Cabin on board HMS Victory, before proceeding for a tour of the dockyard, a visit on board one of the Type 45 Destroyers, ahead of lunch in the wonderful HMS Nelson Wardroom. William said, “The Vesting day was a day unmatched by any other in my life. Being presented with my badge of office in the great cabin of HMS Victory by the First Sea Lord was an amazing experience and I will cherish my memory of the day for the rest of my life. I must, however, thank all the staff and my fellow pupils at Sherborne and in the CCF who have supported me and helped me to get this amazing opportunity.”
Lieutenant Campbell and the entire CCF at Sherborne School are incredibly proud of William’s achievement. As stated by Lieutenant Campbell: “This was a truly magnificent day, certainly among the best of my career. To see William, whom I have the great pleasure of teaching, in Nelson’s Great Cabin, meeting Sir Ben Key and being invested with the insignia of a First Sea Lord’s Cadet was truly memorable and for me a cause for enormous pride that one of our own had been recognised in this way.’’
As life returns to normal and with the School co-curricular programme back in full swing, we have been able to once again make the most of what The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has to offer the boys at Sherborne. With expeditions going out as normal for the different levels, Gold, Silver and Bronze, this year has seen successful efforts from participants, allowing them to achieve across all sections of the award. With 66 awards given this year and 11 of them being Gold, numbers are soaring even higher than in prepandemic years, and we look forward to many more awards being achieved in the next couple of years.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award continues to be an important part of the co-curricular programme at the School, allowing boys to broaden their ventures, not only in an outdoor setting with the expeditions but also in all aspects as they pick up new hobbies and skills, keep active and fit in their sporting codes, and give back to their communities with various volunteering activities. Between clubs and musical ventures, Sherborne Abbey and all the sport available at Sherborne, the boys are spoilt for choice when deciding what to do for the four sections of the award: Skills,
Volunteering, Physical and Expedition (Gold participants do a fifth section consisting of a residential activity).
Designed to encourage and facilitate a well-rounded lifestyle, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is only awarded on completion of all sections and pupils have until their 25th birthday to complete the award. Each section requires a commitment to an activity for between 3-18 months depending on the award level and are assessed by an appointed assessor of the participant’s choosing who oversees their activity. Being pupil-led, most planning of sections is done by the boys, who make use of the eDofE app to keep a log of their
activities. Expedition routes and meal plans are also planned by the boys in their expedition groups teaching them many vital skills.
In the last year we’ve seen a rise in the number of sign-ups for the three award levels with over 80 Third Form boys signing up for Bronze this year. As they continue through their Duke of Edinburgh journey at the School, hopefully achieving their Gold award by their Upper Sixth year, they will embark on many expeditions in some of the United Kingdom’s most beautiful locations, learning new skills, and making new friends and lifelong memories along the way.
For the first time, the Gold practice and qualifying expeditions were joined by the Sherborne Girls’ Gold participants, and successful four-day expeditions were had in Snowdonia, Wales, with mixed boy and girl groups. We hope to continue to partner with Sherborne Girls in future expeditions with the next joint venture being the Canoeing Expedition in Scotland this summer for Gold participants.
The Silver participants enjoyed a tough practice and training expedition in Exmoor over Easter, learning many vital walking and camping skills that allowed for a successful three-day qualifying expedition to the Brecon Beacons National Park in June.
The Bronze participants were put through their paces, surviving a very rainy two-day expedition in Dorset that, despite the miserable conditions, brought out the resilience and strong characters of
many of the boys. Great teamwork and camaraderie were seen that will stand them in good stead for future expeditions.
Well done to all participants that completed expeditions this year, as well as the who completed their award. Congratulations to Henry Biddulph (U6d), Harry Wood (U6f), Gus Whitehead (g 21), Giles Blythman-Rowe (U6c), Oscar Maclay (U6c), Oscar Welchman (U6b), Tom Ewart Smith (U6d), Fergus Macdonald (U6a), Freddie
Cole (U6g) and James Miles (U6e) who now having completed Gold, have the privilege of receiving their award at Buckingham Palace.
Thank you to all the staff and parents whose efforts in facilitating activities, writing assessor’s reports and encouraging the boys through the process, help make Sherborne School’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award the success that it continues to be.
After a two-year hiatus, Ten Tors finally returned to celebrate its 60th anniversary. Many of the boys competing in the Lower Sixth had trained for the event in the Fourth Form - only to have it cancelled by - you know what. However, Ten Tors 2022 will not only live in the memory for being a post-COVID event - it was historic for other reasons - for the first time in our history, Ten Tors became a joint school event.
The phrase “separate yet together” has a new resonance in outdoor education - combining CCF, DofE, and Ten Tors has provided a fantastic opportunity to see Shirburnians develop friendships with Sherborne Girls. Unprecedented demand allowed us to enter a record number of teams - three completed the thirty-five-mile challenge (two from Sherborne School and one from Sherborne Girls)and one mixed team entered the forty-five-mile challenge.
The result of mixed school training was fascinating; the boys maintained the traditional Sherborne approach to navigation: take a bearing to the next Tor - walk as quickly as you can - in a straight line - ignore everything else. The girls adopted a more measured approach: take a bearing to the next Tor - avoid the marshland - find the footpath around the hill instead of walking over it. The results were predictable and often hilarious: observing boys struggling through kneedeep bogs - whilst the girls took the slightly longer and far less arduous route. On arrival at the checkpoint, the boys, caked in mud and reeds, would ask ‘Are we the first ones to make it?’ to which I would reply, ‘Ten Tors is not a raceand no -you’re not.’
The boys soon realised that the squiggly brown and blue lines on the map were there for a reason - and through Storm Eunice, high winds, fog, Covidinduced staff absences and the odd touch of snow - the Teams’ navigation steadily improved. The event itself provided an unexpected challenge for our boys and girls to adapt to - sunshine! At no point during the training had we come across glorious blue skies - how would they react? Would they apply enough suncream?
Well, I’m delighted to say that all the Teams finished without incident - everyone completed in good time, and no one dropped out. And, who came first? - I told youit’s not a race!
Sherborne School rightly celebrates the outstanding successes of it co-curricular programme, its sporting and music successes, its gripping drama productions and popular and energetic CCF and outdoor education programmes. But not everyone can be the 1st XV Captain, the next Hugh Bonneville, the Lord Lieutenant Cadet, or the Principal First Violinist. Nestled between the end of lessons and before heading off to supper is a vibrant and diverse Clubs and Activities programme which is growing in popularity, driven by pupils and supported by staff.
The Clubs and Activities offered at Sherborne School are bespoke and tailored to the boys’ interests. They exist as an addition to the normal academic enrichment opportunities at the School and whilst parents and tutors are encouraged to discuss the offer with the boys, and promote involvement, all participation is voluntary. The fact that around 50 clubs, activities and societies happen every week is testament to the offer and the interest that is developing in the boys. Clubs such as Campanology, Sherborne Radio and Calligraphy for example are all popular and have a small but dedicated following.
It is therefore important that all pupils feel seen and heard. They should feel their efforts are valued, and that these more niche areas of our provision are equally resourced and celebrated. They run primarily in small groups of boys that have a passion for something in what are largely non-competitive activities, although this cannot always be said of chess, poker and eSports clubs. It is these bespoke areas of interest that allow the boys to explore, develop and advance their skills and support their passions. To ensure the success of any particular club it is important the boys are regularly consulted on what they would like to see on the offer, and it is for this reason that fly fishing, kick boxing,
gardening and Warhammer are all thriving.
Will Mackenzie-Green who oversees the programme, is clear that these hour-long activities each week can be the thing they look forward to most. He commented that “from personal experience, having played in numerous competitive teams and been a part of the CCF whilst at school, it was in fact the 45 minutes of climbing each week that was the central focus.” Clubs and Activities are an integral part of the School’s offer and one that will continue to evolve and develop in the future.
Tim Bennett Deputy Head (Co-curricular)After eight years, Radio Sherborne is woven into the fabric of School life, with a show to suit every taste
Question: Where do Sherborne’s pupils and staff go for a mix of current affairs, sport, music, informed chat, and comedy?
Answer: Sherborne Radio, which broadcasts every Wednesday evening in term time from 7.30pm.
For two hours, listeners to the School’s very own radio station can hear contributions from the 20 or more boys who make up its team. They share their enthusiasms about a variety of topics, moving between the particular of Sherborne’s life and the more general issues of the day.
“Like any local radio station, Radio Sherborne picks up on the topics that are most important to listeners,” says Head of Philosophy and Theology James Crawford, a former BBC radio producer who has overseen the station since its launch in 2014. “The boys address local themes at the same time as exploring a wider perspective. That’s one of the most important skills working on Radio Sherborne helps impart.”
Another crucial skill is writing for speech, which is a different discipline from writing an essay. “For many people new to radio, this is the hardest challenge,” says James. “The boys working on Radio Sherborne have plenty of opportunity to develop scripts that sound natural when delivered, but are carefully structured to cover the ground.” For James, sharing the insights acquired in his previous
profession has proved energising. “When I retrained as a teacher, I quickly grasped that many of my previous skills would be of value to pupils,” he says. “Working on radio, you learn how to order your thoughts, expressing them with economy and precision.”
Tune into Radio Sherborne and you’ll soon hear that the boys present with aplomb. The programmes are sharp, well put together and often witty. They include a politics show, a sports show, a DJ set, a Third Form magazine show, and a programme looking at less mainstream musical tastes entitled “Not on Tik Tok”. “We also broadcast programmes on special themes, such as Black Lives Matter or LGBTQ+ issues,” reports James. “They contribute to the wider culture of inclusion in the School, helping shape the boys’ attitudes in a positive way.”
The proof of this comes in the comments James and his team receive from listeners. “A Fourth Former came to me recently to say how much he’d appreciated a particular programme we aired,” says James. “Moments like that make you realise the wider benefits of Radio Sherborne to School life.”
They also help the team retain enthusiasm for the mammoth task of mounting a weekly two-hour broadcast.
“A full-boarding school is a busy place, where staff and pupils have
lots of demands on their time,” reflects James. “But once we get in the studio on a Wednesday evening, it’s a different pace. We throw ourselves into the task of creating great live radio and always end feeling buoyed by our achievement.”
In a further gain, James says that involvement in Radio Sherborne burnishes boys’ CVs: “We know that employers are looking for people with exemplary skills in communication and critical thinking. Involvement in a project like this helps pupils develop in these areas.
“It’s also the case that most big companies now have their own podcast channels, and need staff to broadcast on them. With Radio Sherborne behind them, our boys have the right expertise to get involved.”
More than that, Radio Sherborne provides listening pleasure for the whole School community, shaping perceptions and building a legacy for the future.
“We’re creating a repository of living history for the School,” James concludes. “This is a unique opportunity for future generations to hear what life was like during the early 2000s – and, I hope, over many years to come.”
CourtsFest was one of the main highlights of the year, not just for the performers but also for the Sixth Form. It is a time when pupils from Sherborne School and Sherborne Girls come together to enjoy a variety of music from School Bands and DJs in the Big School Room and streamed into the Courts, as well as a variety of food, drink, and fete stalls in the Courts.
Pre-Covid, I worked with Mr Bennett and Mrs Fallon to produce different ideas for this annually hosted event. Due to the pandemic, however, our ideas were not brought to reality in the summer term of 2020, but after a long two years, we were able to welcome back “CourtsFest” to Sherborne School in the summer of 2022. It was a privilege to work with Mr Donnelly on the tech side of the concert, who puts a lot of time and effort into making sure the set and visual arts were professional! We also had two external teams come in who provided us with high quality sound as well as an LED screen in the courts which showed the live feed of the acts from inside the BSR, allowing pupils to watch the acts from both outside and in. As well as that, the Bands and DJs spent endless hours making sure that their sets were as good as they could possibly be…and they were really good!
Being in lockdown for nearly two years has meant that there was a halt on all social gatherings, - it had been a long time since our Bands and DJs were able to perform in front of their peers. Personally, even with the nerves, being on stage is one of the greatest feelings and I really would encourage anyone who wants to do these sorts of things to get involved with the Rock/DJ Societies run by Mr Lehnert.
Throughout my time here at Sherborne I have had multiple opportunities to perform at various events which has given me more confidence when
performing in front of a crowd. There is little doubt this will prove very beneficial as I start my studies in Music in October 2022.
Overall, I want to say a massive thank you to Mrs Fallon, Mr Bennett, Mr Donnelly, and Mr Lehnert for their hard work and vision in ensuring that CourtsFest remains one of the most anticipated events of the School year. It will be an experience I’ll never forget. With signs of interest from younger boys, such as Yu Heng Choo (L6e), Sam Baring (5d) and Alex Biddulph (4d) who have helped with the tech side across many school productions and concerts, I’m positive that CourtsFest will continue to be popular and significant event in the School calendar.
If you ask any Old Shirburnian or Sherborne Old Girl from the last 30 years which their favourite school event was, they will probably look at you, think for a few seconds, and if the don’t say the Leavers’ Ball, they will undoubtedly say “Concert in The Courts”. However, after losing the 2019 concert at the last minute on safety grounds due to high winds and then the 2020 and 2021 events to COVID-19, we decided 2022 was time for a change. We needed to weatherproof the event and address the issues of unruly behaviour which had latterly become a problem.
In one of our weekly Events Meetings with Mr Bennett, Deputy Head Co-Curricular, we started throwing around ideas such as: What if the bands played in the BSR so they wouldn’t be affected by bad weather again? Why don’t we give The Courts more of a festival feel? What if we got different food trucks in and streamed the concert onto a big screen in The Courts? And in that moment, the idea of CourtsFest was born.
But then the reality set in... what we produced needed to live up to the preconceived hype. However, before too long we had a big LED screen with sound system booked, engineers to produce the concert inside the BSR and to stream it onto the big screen, coloured lights to illuminate the outside of the BSR and the Cloisters when it got dark. We had some old-style fun fair games, after all, who doesn’t love Splat The Rat,Hook a Duck, Cross Bow Challenge and High Striker?
As a Sixth-Form-only ticketed event, everyone had to book a ticket through the dedicated website and with the aid of mobile phones, the staff on the gate scanned everyone in. As in previous years, the 1st XI Cricket Team were late back, but they all rocked up in their whites to enjoy as much of the evening as was remaining.
Chartwells played their part in supplying the food and drink, there was a pizza van, which was undoubtedly the most popular food of the night, stands serving paella and lamb wraps, and a chocolate fountain with fresh fruit and marshmallows. Well, there should have been a chocolate fountain, but on the night, the company supplying it somehow ended up in Chertsey in Surrey! Thankfully, Chartwells improvised and whipped up a hot chocolate sauce to serve over the fruit and marshmallows. I think we got away with it! Everybody who was permitted to enjoy an alcoholic tipple was wrist banded before leaving their Boarding House and had to surrender the band in exchange for a can of lager, or a compostable (not plastic) glass of wine from The Stick bar.
The behaviour was impeccable, the security and medical teams had a quiet night, but best of all, everyone had a great evening. We were genuinely overwhelmed to receive so many thanks on the night as everyone left through the arch, but also to receive cards and letters afterwards. We can’t wait to start organising CourtsFest 2023.
Anyone who visits Sherborne will tell you of the intimate connection between the town and its schools. Each contributes to the other, creating the unique community that is loved and appreciated by so many.
Recognising that connection, Sherborne’s boys have established a new framework for the School’s charitable activities. The intention is to focus outreach activity locally, ensuring an even closer bond with the town’s residents.
At the heart of the strategy, which emerged from the Pupil Voice initiative, is the idea that each House will have a designated local charity that it supports.
“Crucially, this isn’t just about giving or raising money,” explains Head of Community and Outreach, Will Mackenzie-Green. “We want pupils to think about giving their time as well. That’s a crucial habit to form for life beyond School.”
So it is, for example, that the residents of Lyon House now regularly visit St John’s Almshouse to spend time with residents. Likewise, boys in The Green are building a relationship with the Yeatman Hospital, which involves fundraising, an annual tea party, and regular visiting.
“It’s lovely to get behind a charity and organise an event that makes it some money,” says Will. “That’s still very much a feature of School life. But the notion of giving time as well helps cultivate an understanding that will stay with boys forever.”
“For most of our alumni, there will be both expectation and opportunity to contribute to civic life in one way or another,” he continues. “It may be that the company they work for encourages volunteering, or that they’re asked to join a charity’s or public organisation’s committee in their free time.”
“By gaining experience of giving their time in this way at School, the boys become accustomed to it. It’s just something they expect to do.”
A good example of giving time is in the election of two boys to sit on Sherborne’s Town Council as “Youth Advisers”, mirroring an initiative started at Sherborne Girls. “This gives them valuable experience of committee work,” Will says, “as well as deepening our connection with the wider Sherborne community.”
As well as these outreach activities, Sherborne continues to organise significant charity events throughout the year. A shining example is the Ukraine Appeal that the School spearheaded in February 2022.
“Thanks to the boys’ efforts, and the support of the parent community, we filled a classroom with kit to send out to Ukraine,” reports Will. “There was bedding, clothing – all sorts. It went out with a convoy from the town, once again showing the contribution we make to community life in Sherborne and beyond.”
It has, of course, become easier to build these connections with the easing of Covid restrictions. That’s why Will believes it is an opportune time for the School to expand its outreach activities.
“Not only is it now easier to interact with local groups and residents,” he explains,
“It also feels as if the need has never been greater. There’s so much loneliness and isolation, especially among vulnerable groups. It’s our hope that, led by our pupils, Sherborne can make a difference to the lives of our friends and neighbours.”
It’s often said that it takes a village to raise a child. This speaks of the sense in which growth and formation is a community endeavour – something that can only be done collegially, alongside others who share a similar ethos.
Sherborne is one such “village”. It’s a close-knit community united by a common bond. And, thanks to the efforts of staff and pupils alike, the investment in mutual growth and wellbeing has never been stronger.
“It is striking and inspiring to see how the boys have taken responsibility for each other’s wellbeing in the period since Covid,” says Nurse Manager and Mental Health Lead, Marie Hutchings.
“Sherborne pupils have always been good at looking out for each other through both informal and formal mechanisms. But that’s accelerated over the last couple of years.”
For example, the boys have helped establish a Pupil Listening Service through which they offer peer-to-peer support. Several senior boys stepped up to receive training in active listening and have been providing
counsel and care to contemporaries throughout the School.
“The boys are given a role in shaping our wellbeing activity, including through the Mental Health and Wellbeing Prefect – a position held by Will Jonas (U6d) this year,” says Marie. “If there is something they say they want, they are encouraged to help us make it happen.”
Allied to the professional counselling and mental wellbeing support available at School –including from School Counsellor Paul Wiggall – the result is a strong spirit of care and compassion.
Knowing that they have the power and influence to shape School activities is a source of comfort in itself for the boys, says Marie. She has just finished interviewing for next year’s Mental Health Prefect, and the candidates have expressed a desire to broaden the listening skills training so that younger boys can receive it, too.
“The scheme focused on older boys in its first cycle, but we understand some of the younger pupils may feel more comfortable speaking to people closer to their age,” she explains. “By offering ageappropriate training, we ensure there is
always someone to talk to when things get tough.”
Not only that, adds Head of Pupil Wellbeing Nikki Bowerman, but establishing the listening service shows the importance of being open about mental health in the general case.
“We don’t want people to speak about mental health only when they’re struggling,” she says. “If we can have honest exchanges about how we’re feeling as part our daily routines, it makes for a far healthier community in which to live.”
Nikki goes on to explain the other factors that go into building Sherborne’s healthy community. One of these is identifying role models: boys whom everyone in School can look up to and learn from.
“We’ve had a really strong advocate for mental wellbeing and equality, diversity and inclusion in our Equality and Diversity Prefect, Finn Grammaticas (U6f),” she says. “As Head of School, Finn is already a prominent figure. By speaking honestly he’s symbolised our culture of openness and mutual respect at Sherborne.”
Among Finn’s most impactful activities this year have been his assemblies, in which he’s offered personal accounts of his experience at School and beyond.
“The boys learn such a lot not only from the content of talks like Finn’s, but also from his willingness to share,” says Nikki. “That inspires them to make a difference to the whole-School culture.”
Another component of this culture are the “Focus Days” in which pupils consider topics such as racism, LGBTQ+ rights, and neurodiversity. They not only raise awareness of occasionally difficult topics in pupils’ minds. They also foster a spirit of open enquiry that subtly changes the School’s ethos.
“A visible example is the Pride flag that we fly, and the Pride badges worn by many pupils,” says Nikki. “They show that Sherborne is a community open to everyone, in which everyone is supported to be themselves.”
“There is always room for improvement, of course,” adds Marie.
“But Nikki and I are passionate about our work and thrilled to see the difference being made by the new Prefect system.
“We’re building a culture that is genuinely open and inclusive, with wellbeing at its heart,” she concludes. “The boys can be very proud of their role in helping to make that a reality.”
Joining Robert Harris in his study at School House, it is hard to believe he is just completing his first year in post. He seems so settled that you may think he’s been there much longer. But he is quick to point out that, while it’s an honour and privilege to be Housemaster, there is no room for complacency.
“It has been a busy 12 months, which has helped me settle in quickly,” he says. “At the start of the year, our challenge was to re-establish House and School routines after the disruption of Covid. It was lovely to see how much the boys appreciated the sense of returning to ‘normal’. They took pleasure in apparently small things like weekend trips, pizza nights, and Abbey services, while relishing the more highprofile events that punctuate the School year.”
One such event was the House Concert, held in the Old School Room and serving as a welcome reminder of the talent within the House.
“House concerts fell off the map after Covid and it was fitting for a House with such a rich musical tradition to put on its own concert,” says Robert. “Key to this was in-house jazz pianist/Tutor, Mr Marks, who really helped bring the OSR to life. The whole event typified the atmosphere of School House.
Talking of that atmosphere, Robert says the boys have thrown themselves back into House life with gusto: “They’ve
organised inter-year football, poker nights and table-tennis tournaments. They have relished their newfound sense of freedom and made a real effort to build relationships.”
Robert praises the Sixth Form for their part in building the community. “They’re an impressive group, and the Upper Sixth have been fantastic role models.”
The younger boys have stepped up, too. “One of my favourite moments was the Third Form’s 5k run, which raised £400 for the Ruth Strauss Foundation and which I was heartened to see boys from the Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth take part in too,” says Robert.
“Afterwards, we received a personal video message from Sir Andrew Strauss himself.”
Robert was also pleased by the boys’ compassion in the wake of the Ukraine conflict. “We contributed to the collection of items to send to Ukraine,” he says. “Since then, the boys have taken part in a variety of events, including the Big Sleep Out in the Courts that raised money for the Disasters Emergency Committee.
They’ve shown real empathy and awareness about the sufferings of others.”
Among such activity, School House has achieved notable sporting success. It won the Senior House Squash, making it through a closely contested semi-final that hung on the very last game of the
match before an easier victory in the final. “We had good success in the House Cross Country, too,” says Robert.
“Though the less said about Robbie Foster (L6a) and Harry PleydellBouverie’s (L6a) victory celebration the better!”
With other high points of the year including School House’s participation in the Junior Production of Frankenstein (“Brilliant and unsettling,” was the verdict) and individual accomplishments in music (ATCL Diplomas aren’t just handed out) and drama, it is no wonder that Robert feels very proud of the boys. He pays tribute to the House team, expressing particular thanks to Lisa Breddy, who stepped up as Matron in September.
Mindful of the shoulders he stands on, Robert was glad to welcome his predecessor, Kester Jackson and wife Clare, to return for the Leavers’ Dinner, along with Mrs Cant, the former Matron.
“These three played an important role in the success of School House now,” he concludes. “It was great to acknowledge that with the Upper Sixth and send everyone off in style.”
As Abbey’s Housemaster Hugh Tatham surveys the year, he says it is difficult to isolate individual highlights. For him and his team, the story of 2021-22 was about the return to normality that meant the boys could enjoy activities such as trips out, Inter-House sport, and regular performances in music concerts.
“I had a distinct feeling at the start of the year that we were unfurling as a School community,” he remarks. “The boys were beginning to enjoy some of their old freedoms, and the bustle of life in Sherborne was gradually returning.”
With a few blips, that trajectory has continued throughout the year. In consequence, Abbey House has enjoyed many memorable moments, blending individual and shared successes that live long in the memory.
“From a sporting perspective, our biggest achievement was victory in the Inter-House Water Polo,” Hugh reports. “It was a fantastic effort from the team and the whole House really got behind them.”
This speaks of the corporate ethos that is writ large in Abbey House. “We’re a close community with strong bonds between year groups,” says Hugh. “That creates a wonderful atmosphere in House.”
It meant for some great adventures beyond the walls of Abbey House, too.
Regular trips for activities such as gokarting, paintballing and bubble football were a large part of this. But there were more serious moments, as well.
Take the Big Sleep Out in March, for example, where the boys joined others from School for a night in the Courts to raise money and awareness of the plight of Ukrainians.
“The overall amount raised by this event was nearly £8,000,” reports Hugh, who joined in the experience. “But it wasn’t just about the money. By participating in the event, the boys had the merest glimpse of the hardships being suffered by those caught up in the war. It was a profound moment for us all.”
Talking of profundity, Hugh has been pleased to see a return to regular Abbey services, commenting that the boys sang even more lustily when whole-School worship was reinstated in September. This reflects the strong musical traditions of Abbey House, which boys continue to honour through individual achievements and shared endeavours.
“We have 20 boys in the Chamber Choir,” Hugh says. “That’s almost a quarter of our House, showing the extent to which music is woven into our fabric.”
Abbey’s musical prowess is also seen in more informal events. “This year’s House Christmas song competition
was a wonderful occasion. The Sixth Formers took the prize with their beautifully choreographed rendition of ‘Santa Baby’. It really added to our seasonal celebrations.”
CourtsFest provided another opportunity for the boys to showcase their talents, bringing pupils from Sherborne and Sherborne Girls together for a festival experience.
“The return of shared socials has been welcome,” says Hugh. “It’s an important part of the boys’ development that they interact with girls of their own age.”
Personal development happens in all sorts of ways, including activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and CCF. These instill a spirit of adventure in many boys – something that Mack Rutherford (L6b) evinces in impressive fashion. “After becoming the youngest person in the world to gain a pilot’s licence, Mack decided to fly solo around the world,” says Hugh. “He left in March and the whole House has loved tracking his progress across the globe. He’s been an inspiration to us all.”
Whatever the accomplishment, Hugh has, as ever, been impressed by the boys’ willingness to celebrate and support each other. “That’s the essence of our House culture,” he says. “Abbey House is all about acknowledging everyone’s gifts and giving them the encouragement to be themselves.”
When Alex Pearson took over as Housemaster of The Green, she had a clear vision. She wanted to build on the success of her predecessors by sustaining a community of character and care, where inter-year mixing was the norm and pupils felt empowered to share their views.
After two years, it is fair to say Alex has delivered on her vision. The Green is a place of vibrancy and other regard, with the boys taking an active role in shaping their activities programme and participating fully in every aspect of House life.
“I’ve been so encouraged by the way the boys have stepped up to the challenges set before them,” she says. “They’ve been given the freedom to shape the culture and ethos of the House, and they’ve made it a wonderful place where everyone feels at home. I’m proud of them.”
One of the innovations Alex introduced is giving the boys a big say in how they spend their free time. As a result, they’ve had a busy programme of activities, including go-karting, paintballing and bubble football. But it’s not just about the trips out, because Alex says the real measure of The Green’s community is in the informal socialising that happens day by day.
“As a staff team, we’ve been keen to encourage inter-year mixing among the boys, especially as they get used to life without Covid restrictions. So we’ve been pleased to see regular football matches, rounders competitions and volleyball tournaments playing out in The Green’s lovely garden. We’ve fuelled these with hot dogs and snacks as the weather’s brightened, and the boys have loved spending time together.”
There has been some strategic input to encourage the renewal of yeargroup blending. For example, the Fourth Form and Upper Sixth were moved to adjacent dorms, meaning the older boys could serve more effectively as role models for their younger contemporaries. “That has been especially valuable this year,” says Alex, “as it’s the Fourth Form’s first experience of ‘normal’ boarding at Sherborne.”
By involving boys in decisions about their free time, Alex and her team have built their confidence and agency. It is no surprise, therefore, that The Green’s residents have participated fully in every facet of School life. “We’ve had good representation on sports teams, committees and societies,” she says. “The Green has a real impact on Sherborne’s wider life.”
With that in mind, Alex has been pleased to see the House commit to strengthening its connection with the Yeatman Hospital, which is located immediately opposite. “We’ve adopted the Yeatman as our House charity and the boys are looking forward to building on that relationship,” she says. “The plan is that they will visit inpatients, and we hope to hold a summer tea party and other events throughout the year. This is a great way of the boys deepening their understanding of the wider community.”
Other highlights of the year include the House Play – a memorable production of Patrick Marber’s Dealer’s Choice that the boys selected for themselves – and the Leavers’ Dinner. “After all the disruptions of Covid, it was great to gather people together for these moments,” says Alex. “The House Play was a triumph, and the Leavers’ Dinner was every bit as emotional as you’d expect.”
Such emotion was heightened by the knowledge that Alex was leaving. She will be succeeded by William Mackenzie-Green, but says she is pleased to be staying local. “I hope to see the boys at joint socials and will be delighted to hear of their progress. The Green has been a special community to be a part of. The boys have been fantastic.”
“The theme of the past year has been rebuilding, both literally and figuratively,” says Harper’s Housemaster, Nick Scorer. “We’re having extensive work done on the fabric of the House, and we’ve worked hard to foster a sense of community and cohesion among the boys after the disruptions of COVID.”
The adjustments to Harper’s physical environment are intended to make life even better for its residents. They include remodelling and updating some of the sleeping quarters, moving bathrooms so they are closer to the boys’ rooms, and relocated staircases to enhance fire safety.
“These updates will bring a big improvement to Harper’s appearance,” says Nick. “But as I often say to parents who are looking around Harper, the House’s true spirit is not found in bricks and mortar. It’s found in the connections between the boys –and these are what we’ve been working on deepening in the last year.”
For example, Nick and his team have been pleased to reinvigorate the buddying and mentoring system that pairs younger boys with their older contemporaries to help them settle in at School.
“The Fourth Form have done a fantastic job of buddying the new
Third Form,” he says, “especially given that their own first year at School was so affected by Covid restrictions. And the Upper Sixth have stepped up as mentors, serving as great role models in their behaviour and attitude.”
Alongside such formal structures, Nick has been encouraged by the extent to which informal relationships have renewed across year groups.
“During Covid, zoning meant that the only interactions between different year groups were when it was good enough weather to get out in the garden. This year, we’ve been able to do a lot more together, including regular House barbecues, joint socials with Sherborne Girls, and frequent weekend trips such as go-karting, a visit to Dorset Adventure Park, and paintballing.”
The fruits of such connections can be seen in the pastoral care boys offer each other. “I am always heartened when pupils show a concern for others, taking time to offer support and encouragement to their Housemates,” reflects Nick. “It shows that Harper House is participating in Sherborne’s wider ethos of kindness and compassion.”
A spirit of togetherness translates to success in other ways, too. Consider Harper’s achievements in a variety of Inter-House competitions as a case in point. Its boys were once again victorious in the Literary Quiz, as well
as winning Inter-House Golf, triumphing in the croquet competition, and reaching the semi-finals of the water polo. Allied to extensive individual representation in School sports teams (“55 of our 72 boys have represented the School in sport,” reports Nick), it shows the House’s impact on Sherborne’s sporting life.
With the war in Ukraine reminding many of the plight of people way beyond our shores, Nick was also heartened to see the Harper boys get involved in wider School initiatives, such as the Big Sleep Out and a collection of items to send to refugees.
“I’m always pleased to see Harper House playing a role in the wider School, and beyond,” he continues. “We have a strong sense of community but want to be a full part of Sherborne’s culture. For example, I’m delighted when I hear boys from Harper on Sherborne Radio, broadcasting their wit and wisdom across the School.”
This all speaks of a varied and busy life for Harper’s residents. “It has certainly been a full year,” Nick concludes. “We’ve emerged from Covid and come back together as a vibrant community. It’s been a joy to be a part of that process.”
As a keen sports enthusiast, Wallace Housemaster, Andy Nurton has been pleased to see his final year in post punctuated by some outstanding sporting success.
“The Third Form put in a particularly good show, winning the Inter-House Hockey and Rugby competitions,” he reports. “This was especially impressive because they were so new to Sherborne. It reflects the deep sense of togetherness they formed very soon after arriving.”
Andy is quick to pay tribute to the House staff team and senior boys in enshrining such a sense of community. “After a disrupted few years, the boys pulled together at the start of this academic year. They relished a newfound sense of freedom and resolved to make the best of their time at School.”
Other sporting achievements included victory in Inter-House Fives and a semi-final appearance in futsal. But, for Andy, the trophies are only one half of the story. The other is the enthusiasm with which boys threw themselves into impromptu kickabouts and astro sessions throughout the year.
“I think it’s clear that the residents of Wallace House enjoy spending time in each other’s company,” he says. “They grab any chance to build their comradeship, and it’s been
heartening to see this happen across year groups. That’s how a House identity is formed. The boys seem to have grasped that intuitively.”
Witness, therefore, the success of the House Play, They Don’t All Marry Pop Stars, by Willis Hall. This was directed by the boys themselves and proved an outstanding performance that attracted a large and appreciative audience – something everyone had missed since Covid.
Other activities the boys have missed include their regular trips out at weekends. In consequence, Andy and his team were quick to make up for lost time. Among the most successful activities were bubble football, paintball, a scavenger hunt, and a return to regular joint socials with Sherborne Girls.
“A great source of pride for me this year has been the increased involvement in the Ten Tors and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award,” says Andy. “Led by Lower Sixth boys Tommy Guy (L6e) and Aneurin Denham (L6e), we’ve seen a surge in engagement, which I hope the boys will continue as they progress through School.”
With Wallace’s vibrant community spirit, it is no wonder that House events like the Christmas supper and Leavers’ Dinner proved so successful. “Both occasions were
marked by the boys’ exemplary behaviour,” says Andy. “I was impressed and proud in equal measure.”
For Andy, of course, additional poignancy came from the knowledge that these would be his last such experiences in Wallace House. He is succeeded by James Hull, who has been Resident Tutor in the House since 2020. “Wallace is in good hands with James at the helm,” Andy says. “He knows the House from the inside out.”
Stand by, therefore, for yet more sporting success and cheery camaraderie in the years ahead. As Andy reports: “You can see the boys’ competitive instincts in their thorough engagement with the annual fixtures list. We always have good representation on School teams. They are proud to be Wallace House, and prouder still to wear the Sherborne colours.”
Such representation extends beyond sporting endeavour, as Freddie Fineman’s (4e) leading role in the Junior Production of Frankenstein evinces. “Freddie was an impressive monster, and drew the acclaim of the whole House community,” says Andy, by way of summing up. “That shows our strength as a community: we’re behind each other, in every pursuit.”
When the curtain fell on the Abbeylands House Play – a bravura performance of Arthur Miller’s Incident at Vichy – there was a tangible sense that life in Sherborne had returned to normal.
The theatre was full, the cast large and energetic, the backstage crew busy, and the audience enjoyed every minute. It provided what regular theatregoers would know as “a moment” – symbolising the House’s emergence from the disruptions of Covid.
“It has certainly been a case of recovering business as usual this year,” reflects Housemaster Rhidian McGuire, now in his third year in post. “While there were occasional restrictions and even an outbreak of Covid that affected a large proportion of the House, we’ve relished getting stuck into the rhythms that characterise Boarding House life at Sherborne.”
Such rhythms include a busy social calendar, featuring plenty of trips out and regular get-togethers with pupils from Sherborne Girls. “This has been a significant part of the boys’ lives over the last year,” Rhidian says. “It’s been great to see their social activities broaden and their friendship groups expand, both within and beyond the School.”
A return to a full fixture list has also played a part in helping Abbeylands recover its usual sense of bustle and
purpose. The House performed well in the Inter-House Cross Country competition, and boys have represented the School with considerable success in events such as the National Schools Sailing Championships, the RFU National Schools Cup, and the Royal Marines’ Pringle Trophy.
“We were proud that Luca Malikov (U6f) captained our team in the Pringle Trophy and led the School to our best ever finish,” says Rhidian. “Abbeylands has enjoyed a strong showing in the CCF this year, with the Head of the Navy, Harry Wood (U6f), and the Head of the Marines, Luca Malikov, coming from our number.”
“With Finn Grammaticas (U6f) serving as Head of School, and several boys sitting on Pupil Voice committees, we’ve certainly shaped the wider Sherborne community,” he continues. “It’s great to see our culture of encouraging the boys to get stuck into School life paying dividends.”
Alongside big events like the House Play and sporting triumphs, Rhidian points to the day-to-day routines that make Abbeylands a happy and nurturing environment for boys.
“The whole House team worked really hard to build links across year groups once Covid zoning ended,” he reports. “That sort of mixing has long been a feature of life in
Abbeylands, and we’ve been keen to reinstate it.”
There are a variety of ways to facilitate this bonding, from barbecues and post-chapel hot chocolate to football kickabouts and weekend activities like paintballing or 10-pin bowling. “These are all things that we’ve enjoyed getting back into this year. The boys have relished their rediscovered sense of freedom.”
Of course, for some, it has been their first real experience of life in a senior boarding school, and Rhidian has been impressed by the effort made by older boys to help them settle in.
“The Upper Sixth have been really impressive this year,” he says. “They’ve played a significant role in building our sense of shared identity. It was great to send them off with a proper Leavers’ Dinner, where we could celebrate their accomplishments alongside their parents.”
Rhidian looks forward to many more such moments in the years ahead. “Abbeylands recently celebrated its 150th anniversary,” he says, by way of conclusion. “It rather passed beneath the radar thanks to Covid. But it reminds us of our long history, giving us perspective on recent years and assuring us of our longevity and purpose.”
That’s the question Lyon Housemaster Ben Sunderland asked himself at the start of the 2021-22 academic year.
“After the disruptions of Covid, including year-group segregation and a significant diminution in the usual bustle of School life, it was a moment to consider our core purpose,” he says. “Upon reflection with the House team and our boys, we concluded that we knew exactly what we were about: creating the conditions in which our residents can thrive during their time at Sherborne. So, as ever, we set about doing just that.”
The results have been impressive, yielding a return to the energy that has always characterised Lyon House.
“The biggest achievements have been in the simple, every day things,” Ben states. “While bigticket events like Leavers’ Dinners live long in the memory, I’ve been most encouraged by how quickly we’ve recovered our House rhythms and routines.”
Foremost among these is the interyear mixing that has long been an important feature of Lyon House. “We’re a big House set slightly away from the main School campus,” says Ben. “That gives us a distinctive sense of community, with year
groups mixing well and looking out for each other.”
Ben is quick to commend the Upper Sixth for their role in supporting this culture. “This cohort has been through a lot since 2020,” he reflects. “But they’ve thrown themselves into their final year at Sherborne, embracing every opportunity to make the younger boys feel welcome and serving as brilliant role models.”
A good snapshot of the past year in Lyon House is “Friday Night Football.” The name, says Ben, is a misnomer, since the activity can take place on pretty much any evening. “The crucial thing is that it brings boys together to let off steam and build friendships. It’s an important part of our community bonding.”
The fruits of that bonding go beyond the House – beyond even the School. Ben draws attention to the burgeoning relationship with St John’s Almshouse, which has involved Lyon House boys visiting residents and building relationships over time.
“Our community outreach policy in School is very much about giving time as well as money,” Ben says. “Our relationship with the almshouse is a good example of this, helping boys value the difference their company can make to elderly people who may feel isolated or lonely.”
“It’s not all one way, though,” he continues. “The boys have grown enormously from building these friendships. It’s broadened their perspective and given them a renewed appreciation of the good things in life.”
Such good things include House barbecues on the expansive Lyon lawn, and success in competitions like Inter-House Cross Country, Hockey and Junior Football. “We came second in the Inter-House Literary Quiz,” Ben adds, “which shows that we’re good all-rounders here in Lyon House.”
It also shows the spirit of camaraderie that exists among the Lyon residents, meaning the community celebrates individual achievements, too. “For example, the whole House was chuffed at Arthur Green (U6g) being called up for the England Rugby U18s,” says Ben. “We revel in these personal successes, because we know they’re aided by the House ethos.”
Seeing that ethos come to life again this year has been a source of great encouragement for Ben. Now entering his final year as Housemaster of Lyon, he concludes with a simple rumination: “It’s a very special place to live and work. For boys and staff alike, it’s a privilege to be a part of this community.”
“Why do we do what we do?”
“If there is a theme for this year, it is of coming together and relishing each other’s company. That has been the outstanding feature of 2021-22 for me.”
So says The Digby’s Housemaster, Rob Le Poidevin, reflecting on the sense of excitement he and his team have felt at seeing the usual bustle return to School life.
“The Digby Garden Party was great, and well supported by parents,” he reports. “As I looked around and saw the boys with their families and friends in our beautiful grounds, I felt a profound appreciation of all that we have. It felt like our community was back to its vibrant best.”
On a more every-day level, Rob says that vibrancy has been generated by the dedication of the boys in his charge, along with the enthusiasm of his House team.
“I want to pay particular tribute to Senior Tutor, Matt Bone, and Resident Tutor, David Murray, who are the most wonderful support for me,” he says. “But the boys also deserve credit. This year’s Upper Sixth, for example, have been amazing leaders. They’ve raised their game and served as fantastic role models for their younger Housemates.”
With such a strong sense of community, it is no wonder The Digby has enjoyed success in a variety of Inter-House activities, such as rugby and football.
Other notable accomplishments include the House Play, Rabbit, which Rob says was a triumph despite some last-minute setbacks caused by a COVIDoutbreak. “I was really encouraged to see families of boys who weren’t in the play coming and supporting their sons’ friends and the House,” he remarks. “That speaks of the strong sense of community among our parents, who take pride in The Digby as a whole.”
Rob has also been encouraged by the boys’ enthusiasm for their partnership with Sherborne Community Kitchen, which provides affordable meals to the elderly and vulnerable around town.
“It’s great to team up with a local charity, with the boys giving their time to support its work. This broadens their perspective, giving them an insight into the challenges people face right on their doorstep.”
A wider perspective also comes from the plethora of co-curricular activities in which The Digby’s residents participate. Rob is proud to have so much House representation in Sherborne’s sporting endeavours, for example, with both the First XI hockey
and football captains coming from their number.
“Everyone takes great pride in these personal achievements from among our number,” he says. “As with the impressive turnout for the CCF Biennial Inspection and the beautiful Confirmation service in the Abbey, they serve as a visible outworking of the School’s character, showing the community in its best possible light.”
Rob is quick to celebrate the other activities that go into forming the House’s culture. “We’ve had some brilliant trips for activities such as gokarting, bubble football and the obligatory paintballing,” he says. “This is where the boys build a sense of comradeship and community. It’s where the work is really done.”
Judging by the spirit of togetherness in the House, it’s clear that the efforts to form bonds between boys are successful. As Rob concludes, returning to his theme: “We’ve appreciated our community more than ever this year. It’s been a delight to witness.”
When James Hull takes over as Housemaster of Wallace House in September, he won’t have to move far. He’s been Resident Tutor there for two years so is already familiar with its ethos and workings.
Even so, the move to his new role brings a significant change. Not only will James and his family – wife Hannah, daughter Katy, and son Joshua – move into the Housemaster’s accommodation. From September, James will assume overall responsibility for setting the tone of Wallace, building the pupil and parent community, and ensuring it participates fully in the wider life of the School.
“I’m excited to get stuck into my new job,” he says. “I was a Houseparent in my previous job at Kingswood Prep School in Bath. Allied to my experience as a Resident Tutor here, I feel ready to take on the responsibility of Housemaster. It’s such a lovely role. I am privileged to have been appointed.”
Strong foundations James is quick to note, too, that he is building on strong foundations. “Andy Nurton has done great work at Wallace during his tenure,” he says. “It’s been brilliant to work closely with him over the last couple of years, even though they’ve been disrupted by Covid. I see my task very much as building on his legacy.” Of primary focus for James will be developing an in-House committee structure that mirrors the Pupil Voice initiative in the whole School.
“I want us to have House reps for each of the main committee areas so that they can feed into the wider deliberations across Sherborne,” he says. “This will give Wallace House a role in shaping whole-School strategies, as well as giving our boys valuable experience of working with committees.”
Go outdoors
Outdoor education is another area that James is keen to develop at Wallace House. His current role in School is as Duke of Edinburgh and Educational Visits Coordinator, and he was involved in outdoor education prior to joining Sherborne. He hopes to draw on that expertise in establishing some shared rhythms of life for Wallace residents.
“We have a great outdoor space at the very heart of the House,” he says. “I’m looking forward to gathering with the boys around the fire bowl and enjoying simple pleasures. These are the ways in which you build a sense of community.”
This expresses James’s ethos when it comes to Wallace House. He wants to see the boys mixing across year groups, offering mutual support and building community among all ages.
“Pupils are just learning how to make the most of life in a Boarding House following the Covid zoning of recent years,” he says. “I hope very much that we can build on this momentum in the 2022-23 academic year.”
To achieve his goal, James will empower pupils to shape the House social and events calendar.
“They can tell us what they will find life-giving and we’ll do our utmost to make it happen,” he says. “That way, they think and act as a cohesive unit. It also helps the House staff team and me understand even better what makes them tick.”
Ultimately, he concludes, this expresses the key task and privilege of life as a Housemaster.
“You get to know the boys – and their parents –really well. I’m looking forward to developing these bonds, and walking with the boys during their journey through Sherborne.”
“I love being on the shop floor of a House. You really do get in among the boys on a day-today basis, living their highs and lows and helping them navigate their way through their years at School.”
That’s the view of Will Mackenzie-Green, who takes on his new duties as Housemaster of The Green in September 2022. It’s a role to which he’s by no means unaccustomed, having served as a Housemaster at King’s College, Taunton, prior to joining Sherborne in September 2020. He always hoped to assume such a responsibility after his move to Dorset, and is delighted to be taking over the reins of The Green.
“Alex Pearson has done a fantastic job of leading the House, so there’s a great legacy I can build on,” says Will. “We have wonderful facilities thanks to recent investment and a strong ethos of kindness, compassion and fairness. The Green is in great shape!”
Nurturing community Will sees his job very much as nurturing the community that is at the heart of his new House. He’s moving in with his wife Bronwen and three children, aged between three and eight.
“It’s great that the family can be involved in my working life,” he says. “During term time, the role of Housemaster is pretty much 24/7. But by blending the two aspects of home and School life, we create a welcoming environment for the boys and ensure our family continues to thrive.”
In many ways, Will sees The Green’s residents as an extension of his own family. “I want the House to be a place where every boy knows they are cared for, that they have someone to talk to,” he says.
“Like all Housemasters, I’ll work closely with the House staff team and the Upper Sixth Prefects to build the culture and set the tone. But I also want the younger boys to be leading on
pastoral care and wellbeing. I want everyone to look out for their Housemates, to be kind and compassionate in their interactions.”
In this way, Will says The Green is a microcosm of Sherborne as a whole. “I came here because I absolutely get the School’s ethos. I see the purpose of a full-boarding education as helping the boys grow into ‘good blokes’. That means something different for each person, of course, so the trick is to give them space to flourish, getting them ready for whatever the future holds.”
To achieve this, Will recognises the importance of building relationships not only with the boys, but with their parents, too. “A huge amount of trust is put in you as a Housemaster,” he says.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know the parent community, working alongside them to give their boys every opportunity to succeed.”
A further feature of House life that Will is keen to develop stems from another role he currently holds at Sherborne, as Head of Community and Outreach.
“The Green has a strong track record of fundraising and charity work,” he says. “The most recent achievement was to support the Turi Children’s Project in Kenya, which was a particular enthusiasm of former Housemaster Stephen Byrne. That shows our commitment to helping others, and I’m eager to build on this in the months ahead.”
A good first step is strengthening The Green’s relationship with the Yeatman Hospital, which is located just opposite the House. As well as raising money to support the hospital’s “Friends” and hosting an annual tea party in the House garden, Will is encouraging boys to visit inpatients.
“The benefits of building relationships with elderly people cut both ways,” he says. “They enhance the boys’ life experience and, of course, offer company to people who may feel lonely or frightened during their hospital stay.”
This is just one of the ways in which The Green’s new Housemaster sees its spirit embodied. As Will concludes: “If we get the ethos inside the House right, it’ll spill over to the whole School and beyond. I can’t wait to get started!”
“I want the House to be a place where every boy knows they are cared for, that they have someone to talk to.”
as you have walked around Sherborne recently, you may have noticed a proliferation of very smart leather belts in House colours on display? The vibrant yellow of The Green, the deeper verdant hues from The Digby, the contrasting red and blue from Wallace and the distinctive pale Harper blue, amidst a rainbow of colours, have all sparkled in the sunshine from the tiny beads that make up the new House belts, which have been worn with so much pride. These distinctive belts are positive in so many ways – keeping Shirburnians smart, whilst reflecting on how Sherborne is helping the wider community.
Several years ago, the mother of a former Head Boy of the School set up a small community investment initiative called Bushbells, based in Watamu on the Kenyan coast. Being third-generation East African, she was keen to give back to this coastal community where she and her family have spent so many idyllic holidays. They employed a four-man team of tailors, alongside Enoch, a bead-worker. Profits from their goods have, over 12 years, built the infrastructure of two schools in Watamu, giving children a secure and much-needed education.
The pandemic played havoc with local employment and schools were shut for several months. Strict curfews and lockdowns were enforced and tourism dried up. Unemployment levels were high and there were no furlough schemes. Bushbells’ tailors were kept employed and the head tailor Sammy introduced many initiatives, such as supplying communities with essential masks from the off-cuts of materials. Bluebells School (the second of the Achool Team Bushbells built) became a “safe haven” for several young girls and Mwana, the Principal, had
them in the School on an unofficial basis, to enjoy the library or play games in a secure environment, whilst parents were out looking for work. Spirits were high when schools reopened, and pupils were eager to make up for lost time.
Impressed by their work and amazed at the coincidence of knowing the same Enoch, who I had met in Kenya a decade ago, I was keen to help support them. Our Christmas Carol concert in December 2021 raised £1,368.64 for Bushbells and this was spent in January on installing two solar panels and paying half the costs of a subsequent classroom. Team Bushbells pays for a daily breakfast club for the children and also for twelve bursaries for children at the School.
By mid-June, having requested belts in House colours, we have delivered orders of 300 belts and the work has given a boost to the local economy, profits being ploughed back into the School in Watamu. Another classroom is needed, and
additional bursaries will support Bluebells School. It is refreshing and heartening to know that, in this current age of uncertainty, boys and parents at Sherborne are so generous with their support, and to know that something tangible is being done to support a fragile community on the Kenyan coast.
Should you feel the urge to buy a belt for a pupil, an Old Shirburnian, a future student or anyone else, they are now available in a variety of sizes and in all House colours from the School Shop. Your support for this venture is enormously appreciated both here in Dorset and also on the Kenyan coast, where the warm breeze sweeps in across the Indian Ocean, and laps at the shores of the sandy white beaches of Watamu. And not far away, in the ‘bundu’ (bush) is a small community of children who can continue in their education, because of your purchasing power of a unique, colourful, hand-sewn and crafted belt. Asante sana and know that your belt does benefit others.
Stephen Byrne, Modern Foreign Languages Teacher and Jax Comyn, founder of BushbellsWith Phase One of the new Sherborne Sports Centre reaching completion in autumn 2022, it’s a good time to take stock of the astonishing fundraising effort that has supported the project so far.
Since launching in 2019 to celebrate the Sherborne Foundation’s 20th anniversary, the Sherborne 360 campaign has provided a focus for all the School’s fundraising activity. When it comes to supporting the Sports Centre development, it’s enabled just short of £4 million to be raised – leaving the campaign about £300,000 shy of its target.
As Head of the Sherborne Foundation Adrian Ballard explains, one final push will help get the project over the line and support the second phase of the build.
“Phase One involved construction of a new Sports Hall that’s about a third bigger than the old one,” Adrian explains. “This creates enough room for a full-size basketball court, seven-a-side indoor hockey, and full-length cricket nets.
“But that’s only half of the story. Phase Two of the project started in the summer of 2022, involving a refurbishment of the old Sports Hall, construction of two new squash courts, and new offices for the Sports staff. To make sure this all comes to fruition, we need to secure the final sum of money that enables us to deliver the project in full.”
To support the Sherborne Foundation, please contact foundation@sherborne.org
A variety of initiatives took place over the summer to edge towards the final total. These included a sports challenge that involved each year group rowing, cycling and running 500km over a single day. Their efforts were more than matched by the Headmaster, Dr Dominic Luckett, who rowed 360km on his indoor machine during the summer vacation.
“Overall, these challenges raised about £150,000, including some brilliant fundraising activities by parents and OS,” says Adrian. “This money was supplemented by an auction of the old teams Honours Boards from the Upper Pavilion, which raised £35,000.”
The recent Sports Dinner was first postponed by the train strike and then impacted by more important issues and therefore the live auction items will be auctioned online, alongside a prize draw which it is hoped will raise another £40,000.
“One of the items up for grabs at the initially postponed dinner was VIP tickets for Coldplay’s concert in London,” says Adrian. “These had to be offered before the rescheduled dinner and went for £10,000. Generous donations like this make all the difference in the quest for our target.” Coldplay have kindly offered a similar package for the online auction for their Cardiff concert in 2023.
Indeed, Adrian acknowledges the significant contribution made by several individual donors, who have given anything from £1,000 to £300,000. “It’s amazing to see so many people support the School in this way,” he says. “It speaks of the profound sense of community that Sherborne engenders.”
Even though the Sports Centre has been the focus of the Sherborne 360 campaign so far, Adrian is quick to point out that the effort doesn’t stop once the £4 million target is attained. Adrian also explained that they are overjoyed to be finalists for the Independent School of the Year Awards for their campaign and engagement of alumni and parents.
“We’ve already used the campaign to raise money for a hardship fund that supported parents financially affected by Covid with meeting School fees,” he says. “This shows the wider impact of our fundraising activities, ensuring Sherborne’s educational reach is as broad as possible.”
So it is that Adrian expects Sherborne 360 to work with new priorities once the Sports Centre is up and running. “The campaign coordinates all our fundraising activities and helps Sherborne go on delivering a first-rate all-round education. I’m looking forward to working with the Trustees in discerning our new focus.”
Whatever shape this takes, Adrian is sure of one thing: “The Sherborne community – pupils, parents, staff, OS and our wider friends – always pulls together to achieve our goals. As the Sports Centre project demonstrates, we can achieve hugely ambitious targets by working together for the good of our School. I’m grateful for all the support we’ve received so far and hope we’ll have the final donations in place to get over the line in the months ahead.”
This year has certainly been the start of a brave new world for Sherborne Sport. As the world emerged from the shackles of lockdown and the necessary restrictions on daily life, we kicked off the new academic year with what was almost a “normal” programme of sport.
September saw a return to contact rugby with full block fixtures against our traditional opponents. Gradually, we became reaccustomed to the excitement of Saturday afternoons and everything that is involved from travelling on a coach to Radley with your mates to mingling with parents in after-match tea. Playing the game may be the focus but the other bits add up to what for many boys is the highlight of their week. In all our major games plus the other sports, we have seen high rates of participation and no shortage of achievement.
We also returned to School for the Michaelmas Term to see a big hole by the CCF hut that is gradually being transformed into what will be a fantastic new Sports Centre. Thanks to the hard work of Adrian Ballard and the Sherborne Foundation, and with
the generosity of multiple donors, Sherborne will, by the end of Trinity 2023, have a facility that is fit for purpose, able to meet the needs of the boys in the 21st Century.
Not only will we have extra facilities for our boys to participate in the wide variety of sports on offer, but there will be extra provision for our performance athletes. This will maximise the support we give to help them achieve their full potential. Perhaps equally important, the Health and Fitness facilities will be enhanced to provide opportunities for all boys to exercise and improve their health and wellbeing.
Sport continues to provide huge benefits to the boys at Sherborne. The mental, physical and social benefits are widely known and
there is a growing argument surrounding the significant cognitive advantages to leading a healthy and active lifestyle. This is of particular importance at a time in their young lives when examinations add pressure and anxiety.
While retaining many of the traditions of the past, we are also looking forward and constantly reviewing and replanning the purpose of our programmes and provision. Our broad range of options seems to meet the needs of our boys and this is reflected in their enthusiasm and commitment to the games programme and in competition. But, as we enter an exciting period with significant change on the horizon we are keen to embrace new opportunities and strive to keep moving forwards.
After an early loss to Radley College, the First XV found their winning touch with a decisive 3417 victory over King Edward’s, Bath, at the end of September. Back-to-back defeats at home to Millfield and away to Abingdon made for a disappointing run in the Daily Mail Trophy, but the team did well in the National Cup. They enjoyed a tight 7-3 win over Harrow School in the quarter final, eventually falling 12-29 to a strong team from Trinity School, Croydon, in the semis.
Nonetheless, it was a good return to the pitch for this impressive group of young men.
With a 32-0 away victory over Radley College to start their season, hopes were high for the Second XV in the autumn of 2021. This made the subsequent threeloss run hard to swallow, though awful weather played a part in the 3-28 loss to Millfield. The team returned to winning ways at home to Marlborough College (20-10) and rounded off the year with a 29-17 victory over Canford School. A mixed season, therefore, but one characterised by diligent defence, brave attacking, and immense character.
The Third XV had a topsy-turvy start to the season. A 0-36 defeat away to Radley College rocked the team’s confidence at the start of the season, but they bounced back with a 31-28 win at home to The Gryphon School just five days later. Three defeats followed –Millfield (17-19), Abingdon (5-15) and Clifton College (0-39) – but the boys dug deep to close out the season with a brace of wins. The 30-10 victory over Cheltenham College was a particular high point, with many boys putting in their strongest showing of the year.
A struggle for points made for some disappointing results at the start of the season. The team fell 14-55 to Radley College, then 1466 to Millfield the following week. Even so, they kept their spirits high. Despite a run of cancelled fixtures, they built composure to record a 12-12 draw away to Clifton College in November. This result was notable because of the sheer bulk and physicality of the Clifton side. The response was a typically gutsy performance from the Shirburnians.
A pre-season warm-up triangular tournament at Canford instilled confidence as the boys faced competitive rugby for the first time in two years. Their first fixture was a bruising affair, resulting in a 0-46 defeat at home to Radley College. The team was tested further by a 7-24 loss to Millfield the following week, but came back with a strong 19-5 win in the reverse fixture. This proved the high point of the season for sheer grit and determination, though a 49-10 win over Gillingham School in the National Cup also gave them something to celebrate. The season ended with an appearance in the County Cup Final, in which the team lost 0-20 to an impressive and well-organised Canford School.
It was a tough start to the season for the Colts B XV, with a run of four defeats to Radley College (a dispiriting 0-48), The Gryphon School (0-14), Millfield (0-48) and Abingdon School (21-29). The last fixture on that list saw the boys slowly finding their rhythm, and it was no surprise when the team achieved a 19-14 win over Clifton College to record their first victory. Their confidence continued to grow in the weeks ahead, and a memorable 40-5 victory in snowy conditions away to Cheltenham College was a fitting reward for their courage and determination. It proved the high point of their season, showing just what the team can do with the right organisation and self-belief.
Defeat on the rugby pitch can be dealt with in two different ways. Boys can let their heads hang low and feel overwhelmed by the scale of their loss. Or they can build on the experience to come back stronger. That was the laudable approach taken by the Colts C XV after a heavy 0-60 loss at home to Radley College at the start of their first season of competitive rugby since 2019. The match was an intense learning experience and the boys did well to learn from it. A subsequent 19-29 defeat away to Marlborough was much tighter than the score line suggests. Be in no doubt: this team has grit by the bucketload.
In a busy season, the Junior Colts A XV were pleased to get plenty of rugby under their belts. They struggled for form in the early weeks, notching up a string of defeats to the likes of Radley College (0-39) and Millfield (0-7, and 5-12 in the reverse fixture). But a win, when it came, was of high quality and well worth the wait: 17-0 over Bryanston School in the National Cup. There followed a couple of defeats, including by the narrowest of margins away to Marlborough, before the boys continued their cup run with a 10-6 victory over Millfield. They lost in the next round against a well-organised College XV, but saw the season out with a confidence-building 43-5 win over Canford.
What a season for this young team to make a mark on interschool rugby. They recorded just one defeat – a narrow 14-19 loss to Abingdon School – but this was the only blot on an otherwise sunny horizon. Perhaps the most memorable victory for sheer dominance of the game was 52-0 against Clifton College, though the 51-10 win over local rivals The Gryphon School comes close. A couple of tighter matches against Marlborough (19-8) and Cheltenham College (15-7) gave the boys food for thought, but they closed the season with another impressive margin of victory (45-0) over Canford School. The ability of this team to prevent opponents from scoring is a real sign of its character and skill.
After two chastening defeats at the start of the season (0-30 to Radley College and 0-52 to Abingdon School), the Junior Colts C XV bounced back with a resounding 50-0 victory at home to Clifton College. This established a winning pattern for the team, with a tight 28-24 win over Marlborough College serving as eloquent witness to the boys’ grit. A big win against Canford School (49-5) closed the season, ensuring the team ended with their confidence riding high.
The Junior Colts D XV were undefeated in the 2021-22 season, recording impressive victories against Radley College (27-21), Marlborough College (36-21) and Cheltenham College (40-0). While the results were pleasing for this group of young players, far more impressive was the sportsmanship they showed throughout. At the end of the Cheltenham match, for example, the Cheltenham referee made a point of thanking them for their fair play: a powerful endorsement of this team’s character.
A heavy loss at home to a welldrilled Radley College could have rocked the confidence of these young players at the start of their first season of senior rugby. But far from being cowed by their experience, they came back stronger for a 26-10 win over Millfield. Further consolidation came in a tough 25-25 draw away to Abingdon School, and the boys built on this to deliver a strong performance in the County Cup. The 45-5 quarter-final victory over Poole Grammar School was a high point for many, showing just what this group of players is capable of when they’re on top form.
Mini Colts A XVIt can be hard to parse the fortunes of a team that moves between defeat and victory as the season unfolds. This Mini Colts B XV defies explanation, therefore: the season began with a 0-20 loss to Radley College, but this was followed by a resounding 20-10 victory over The Gryphon School and a 10-0 win against Millfield. A couple of bruising defeats followed, punctuated by a gritty draw with Marlborough College. The boys drew on every reserve to prevent a late Marlborough try and close out the match, showing a determination that characterised their whole season. Their last match was a deserved 82 win away to Canford, ensuring they ended on a high.
The season began with a determined 20-20 draw against Radley, in which the boys showed considerable strength in the tackle and no small degree of cohesion to fight off the attack of a well-drilled team. A couple of defeats followed (15-45 at home to Millfield, 5-35 away to Abingdon) and showed some of the team’s weaker areas. They worked on these and put in a strong showing to win 32-5 against Clifton College. This proved to be the boys’ strongest showing of the season, though the score lines of their subsequent defeats to Marlborough College and Cheltenham College by no means reflect the effort expended by the boys in light blue.
A 10-20 defeat at home to Millfield proved the only lowlight of an impressive season for the Mini Colts D XV. They won 40-20 against Radley College, 20-10 away to Abingdon School, and 44-5 at home to Marlborough. They rounded off the season by running 11 tries past Canford School – ensuring they finished on a high that did full justice to their bold style of play.
An early season 5-60 defeat at home to Radley College did nothing to dampen the spirit of this young and enthusiastic team. They threw themselves into training and relished the opportunity to play competitive rugby whenever possible. The high point was an 11-3 win over Marlborough, in which the boys played expansive rugby that was a joy to survey.
A 63-10 win over Rydal Penrhos School in the N7 Vase gave the Second VII hope for a good run in the March tournament. Alas, it wasn’t to be: they lost their remaining two group matches, against The Grammar School of Leeds (19-33) and New Hall School (14-51). Even so, they enjoyed a good day of comradeship in a format that makes heavy demands of players.
The Sevens team had a difficult time at the N7 Cup in March, losing all their group matches. Even so, the boys showed considerable energy and resolve, enjoying the freedom of Sevens and doing their utmost to fly the Sherborne flag. A 24-26 defeat to Bedford School reflects their determination to succeed. These boys have much to be proud of after a hard day of high-intensity rugby.
This promising team had a 50-50 win-loss rate in a season that showed real growth in the players. They lost two early matches in the West of England Sevens competition, before notching up two impressive wins (22-15 against Truro School and a closely fought 19-17 over Monkton Combe) to reach the Shield Final. Here, they lost 19-26 to Bristol Grammar School – the narrow margin of defeat reflecting how closely matched were the teams. Two wins from three tells the story of their run in the N7 Cup Colts tournament, with a 38-17 win over Stockport Grammar School serving as a particular highlight.
Victory in the Dean Close Vase Final gave the boys in this young team much to celebrate during their first season of Senior Sevens. They beat Prior Park College resoundingly to claim the trophy, bouncing back from early defeats in the group matches to show character, resilience, and strength.
The sheer scale of the First XI’s season-opening victory over Taunton School (16-0) gave an indication of the skill in this squad. That they went on to win the Wessex Independent Schools League would perhaps come as little surprise to anyone who saw the fluidity of their play. Other memorable league victories included a 7-1 win over Wells Cathedral School, and 8-0 over Millfield. But perhaps the most enjoyment came from closely contested matches such as the gritty 3-2 victory the boys dug out at home to Clayesmore. These are the moments that test the reserve of a team. Sherborne’s boys passed in impressive fashion.
A string of early season cancellations meant it was difficult for the boys to find their rhythm in January. They eventually took to the pitch for a 3-2 friendly win over King’s College, Taunton, in a match notable for the exceptional quality of all five goals. Taunton proved a happy hunting ground for Sherborne’s boys: they won 4-1 against King’s College’s neighbours, Taunton School, late in the season. These victories were punctuated by some difficult defeats to the likes of Clifton College (0-4) and Bristol Grammar School (0-4). Overall, though, the boys showed skill, energy and determination in an entertaining season.
The Third XI enjoyed some impressive victories this season. The 1-0 margin against Dauntsey’s School doesn’t reflect the dominance of Sherborne’s display. Once they had their lead, they didn’t look like relinquishing it for a second. A 6-2 win over Bristol Grammar School and 11-0 against Taunton School were more comfortable – giving the boys a chance to show off their skill and take some risks with the ball. Less assured was the 4-3 win over Clifton College: the team was 3-1 down at half time but turned it around, with the winning goal coming from a well-taken free kick by skipper Matthew Findlay (U6a).
This impressive and determined group of players recorded two memorable victories in their first season of competitive football since 2019. A 5-1 win at home to Taunton School gave the Sherborne crowd something to celebrate, but this was nothing compared to the 7-1 victory over Wellington School that closed the season. A good year of football for these boys.
It was a challenging season for the Fifth XI, who nonetheless relished every minute of their time on the pitch. Never was this more evident than in a chastening 1-11 defeat at home to Warminster. The match report states that “[Sherborne] throw-ins and clearances were cheered like goals” and “the boys put a smile on everyone’s face”. Such character was a feature of season, which included a close 3-4 defeat at home to Wellington, ensuring the team has a good standing among opponents.
While a season-opening 1-3 loss to Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital may not sound like a good start, it revealed the strength of character among these boys. They were up against a team consisting of boys a year older than them, and rose to the challenge with true determination. That set the tone for the rest of the season, in which highlights included a 2-0 win over Purbeck School and a 7-2 victory against Clifton College that included a stunning 25-yard strike from man-of-the-match Haitian Li (5g).It was a mixed season, but one in which Sherborne’s boys showed their grit, skill and sportsmanship to be fine ambassadors for the School.
The Colts B XI showed great maturity in some clinical displays. The 6-0 win against Clifton College was a highlight: the boys dominated the game and showed considerable energy throughout. Another impressive performance came against Shaftesbury: Sherborne were drawn at 2-2 at half time, but came out to score four goals in the second half and close out a 6-2 victory. They enjoyed the same score line away to Millfield, showing their potential for high-scoring victories and tight defence.
There were some challenging moments for the Colts C XI this season, including a 2-12 away defeat to Millfield and a 1-9 loss at home to Sexey’s School. Even so, the boys showed strength of character in a 2-4 defeat at home to Bryanston, tackling and defending with gusto to keep in touch with the visitors. Such grit is part of the character of the team, with every member working hard for the other boys.
It looked to be a challenging season for the Junior Colts A XI when they recorded a run of defeats to the likes of Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital (2-10), King’s College, Taunton (2-6), and Bryanston (4-7). But they dug in and gelled in impressive fashion, achieving a well-deserved 3-3 draw in a gritty friendly with Taunton School and a confidenceboosting 6-0 win over Clifton College to show their full potential.
Four wins and two defeats tell an eloquent story of the Junior Colts B XI’s season. After a defeat to Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital in their opening match, they put in a strong run to record victories against Bryanston (5-4), Millfield (5-3), and Clifton College (5-1). A loss in the local derby against The Gryphon School closed the season, but the boys were far from downhearted. They’d played some fantastic football and enjoyed every minute of their games.
The defining feature of the Junior Colts C XI’s approach to football matches is that they make the most of their time on the pitch. Victory is always celebrated, but, for these boys, there is pleasure in simply competing. Even so, they took great pride in a seasonopening 2-0 win over Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital, and were similarly buoyed by a close 5-4 win over Bryanston. The highlight for many was doing the double over Millfield, with the 2-1 home victory towards the end of the term serving as eloquent testimony to their determination.
This young group of players suffered some heavy defeats, including a 1-5 loss to Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital at the start of the season. They didn’t allow their heads to drop, however, and put in a strong showing to win 4-1 away to Bryanston. Some further losses, such as 0-6 at home to Millfield, tested their resolve. But these boys have learned from the matches in which they struggled and will return next season stronger than ever.
As with so many of Sherborne’s football teams, Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital proved an early season nemesis for the Mini Colts B XI. They fell to a confidence-bashing 0-6 defeat, but showed enormous spirit throughout. This was the story of their season: whether the results went for or against them, the team were determined, positive and daring on the pitch. Reward came in the form of a 6-1 victory over Clifton College – a fine indication of the team’s progress. Ironically, though, their finest performance was in a 4-2 defeat to Shaftesbury: a game in which Sherborne’s players revealed their true potential for free-flowing football. There is more to come from these boys next year, no doubt.
The boys struggled to make an impression against stiff competition from the likes of Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital (a 2-0 defeat), Millfield School (2-6 and 0-2 in the reverse fixture). But they took obvious pride in representing Sherborne and worked hard for every second they were on the pitch. If sport is about building spirit and determination, the Mini Colts C XI have made significant progress this year.
With strong spirit and a real sense of pride, the Mini Colts D XI made a great impression on their opponents and supporters this season. A highlight was the 4-1 away victory over Millfield, which delighted the visiting crowd and enthused the boys. Sadly, the return fixture resulted in a 2-3 loss, but this team’s sheer enjoyment of playing football will live long in the memory.
A tenuous start to the season led to a 1-3 loss away to King Edward VI School, Southampton, but the team showed resilience in bouncing back for a 4-3 win over Wellington School in their next match. A closely fought match against King’s College, Taunton, led to Sherborne going down 2-3 after they had a last-gasp goal disallowed. Such grit was a characteristic of the First XI’s season: they drew 4-4 in a return fixture with King’s, fell to 2-3 against a strong Blundell’s side, courtesy of a late goal from their opponents, and lost by a large margin to Bristol Grammar School after a second-half collapse. They showed class in a 5-1 win away to Warminster School, giving an indication of the ability that’s present in the squad.
The dominant result for the Second XI this season was a draw: they ended on level terms with Clayesmore (2-2), Canford School (2-2), and Taunton School (3-3). These results built on two early season victories, against King Edward VI School (2-1) and King’s College, Taunton (2-1), with the only defeat coming at the hands of Bristol Grammar School. An encouraging season from a team with composure and athleticism in its number.
The Third XI played out some tough matches this season, with the score lines rarely reflecting the frenetic character of the games themselves. Take the early 0-0 draw against King’s College, Taunton, as a case in point. It was end-to-end stuff, with the boys working hard to find a breakthrough against resilient opposition. A slightly different picture emerged from the 5-5 draw away to Bristol Grammar School. The boys were down by four goals with just 15 minutes left to play, but pulled together to show their class and level the match. As it happens, the best performance of the season came in defeat to Clayesmore –demonstrating that the quality of hockey played doesn’t always translate to victory.
The Colts A XI struggled for rhythm and form this season, typified in their curtain-raising 2-5 defeat to Clayesmore. While the players put in some fantastic performances, the lack of match practice showed as the team struggled to gel. Covid disruptions continued to blight the team’s progress, making for a frustrating season all round.
The Junior Colts A XI recorded just a couple of defeats in an impressive first season of competitive fixtures. These were a significant 0-10 defeat to Taunton School, in which the boys were rather overawed by the athleticism of their opponents, and a much tighter return fixture in which Sherborne’s warriors fell to a 2-4 defeat. The losses were tempered by notable victories against Clayesmore (1-0), King’s College, Taunton (1-0), and Canford (2-1).
A couple of tight 0-1 defeats in the middle of the season (King’s College, Taunton, and Clayesmore) were frustrating, because they didn’t reflect the skill being shown by these players on the pitch. Far more satisfying were the victories against King Edward VI School (3-2) and Wellington School (an impressive 5-0). Perhaps the most entertaining fixture, though, was a 1-1 draw with Canford: the very embodiment of a “midfield war of attrition.”
Stepping up to senior sport is no mean feat, and Sherborne’s youngest hockey players showed enormous resolve in a season that will be remembered for many years to come. The opening game was a 2-8 defeat against a well-drilled King Edward VI School team. This was followed by a 1-8 loss to a similarly strong team from King’s College, Taunton, before the team found their feet in the Dorset County Cup, beating Canford 1-0 and drawing 1-1 with Clayesmore to emerge as champions. A further meeting with Clayesmore resulted in a 2-1 win for Sherborne – their last of the season. They racked up several draws in the latter stages of the season, as well as a 1-4 loss away to Canford.
A season of cancellations proved frustrating for the Mini Colts B XI, who were hoping to play a full season of competitive hockey in Sherborne’s colours. They did manage one match, but this was an inauspicious 0-6 defeat at the hands of Canford. The team hopes for better things –including more opportunities to play – next season
The First VI put in three strong performances to become Dorset County Indoor Champions. In the first match of the competition, they beat Clayesmore 2-1, enjoying a similar margin of victory over Bryanston in match two. A 1-1 draw with Canford completed the unbeaten run, enabling the team to claim the title and progress into the West Regional Tournament.
It took the First XI a little while to re-establish their rhythm after a two-year hiatus in competitive cricket fixtures. Weaknesses in the field proved decisive during a 144-run defeat to Marlborough College and a 43-run loss to Millfield. But things picked up against Taunton School, when the boys won by 31 runs. A 57-run loss to Canford served as the prelude to a purple patch, in which Sherborne won against Bryanston, Sherborne Pilgrims, Clayesmore, Ryde School with Upper Chine, and twice against Canford including in the Disc 100 Final. It was a good spell, in which the team showed their character, depth and skill with bat and ball.
The season began with a narrow defeat at the hands of Marlborough College, who triumphed by four wickets after a powerful innings from their middle order. The next result was more cheering: a 32-run victory over Millfield School that arose from some spirited bowling by Sherborne’s finest. Similar quality was in evidence against Taunton School just a couple of days later, enabling the team to record a 121-run victory. They made heavier weather of the rest of the season, however, with just one more victory coming in a friendly against Bryanston.
A brace of victories near the start of the season brought cheer to Sherborne’s Third XI. They won by four wickets against Millfield School and by nine wickets away to Taunton School, whose lowerorder collapse contributed to Sherborne’s impressive win margin. A narrow defeat to Wellington School followed, before the boys came back strong against Canford to win the match by six wickets. A great deal to celebrate, then, from a team that showed tremendous spirit throughout the season.
The Fourths enjoyed a good game against Millfield School, from which they emerged victorious by a margin of five wickets. This was a contrast to the previous week’s 44-run loss to Marlborough, whose low target of 96 proved beyond the reach of a team still warming up from a twoyear layoff. They played some good cricket throughout the season. More importantly, though, the team spirit was beyond compare: the boys clearly relished representing their School around the region.
A five-wicket defeat to Marlborough College was a fair reflection of the difference between the two teams. The Fifths don’t play for glory so much as the chance to fly Sherborne’s colours. They did this with pride, grace and generosity. A credit to the light blue.
Winning a cricket match by nine wickets is sure to gladden the heart of any teenage boy. Doing it against a strong Marlborough team only serves to make the achievement sweeter. That’s why the Sixth XI had such broad smiles after racing to a strong target of 154 in their big match of the season. Captain Charlie Wallis (L6m) deserves a particular mention: his 97 not out was a major factor in the team’s success.
A five-wicket defeat away to Clifton College in the Regional Finals makes for disappointing reading, as does a three-wicket loss to Marlborough College in the second round of the National Cup. But the latter result belies the true ability of this team, who battled hard and played with verve and determination. Marlborough would have fancied their chances after Sherborne set a target of 124. But thanks to some excellent bowling and fielding, the result was by no means certain for much of the match. A spirited side, this one, with much to offer as the players continue to grow.
The Junior Colts A XI took a while to get going, with three losses on the bounce at the start of the season (to Marlborough College, Millfield School and Taunton School). But once they found their winning ways, they seemed impossible to overcome. A 93-run win at home to Clayesmore signalled the change in fortunes. It was followed by impressive victories over the likes of Bryanston, Wellington School, and Canford. Definitely a season of two halves for this young squad.
An impressive 159-run victory over Bryanston was the highlight of the season for the Junior Colts B, who played an expansive style of cricket that was entertaining to watch. They also triumphed over Millfield (11 runs) and Wellington School, but struggled to overcome King’s School Bruton in a tight 20-over match that was lost by just five runs.
A season-opening 66-run defeat at home to Marlborough College nonetheless showed the talent in this group of players. They delivered on that in their second match, enjoying a one-wicket victory over Millfield in a 20-over match that certainly didn’t want for excitement. A 26-run win over King’s School, Bruton was another fine display. These boys have promise, and a lively spirit to match.
A first season of senior cricket got underway for Sherborne’s newest arrivals with a hard-fought threewicket win away to Marlborough College. The boys soon recovered from a five-wicket defeat at home to Millfield, going on to beat Taunton School by three wickets. Subsequent victories included Bryanston, Wellington School, Clayesmore and Ryde School with Upper Chine on the Isle of Wight. The youngsters proved strong in batting, work needed to finesse their bowling performances. But they showed considerable promise, suggesting the future of cricket at Sherborne is in safe hands – an impression confirmed at Haileybury Festival.
Mini Colts B XI Millfield’s team gave Sherborne a lesson in positive batting during an early-season eight-wicket loss at home. The boys soon bounced back, however, beating Bryanston in a thrilling 20-over contest. They struggled for form, suffering defeats at the hands of Wellington School, Canford and King’s School, Bruton. But they played some entertaining cricket and are to be commended for their positivity when representing their School.
A five-wicket win against Marlborough augured very well at the start of the season, but was quickly followed by a 10-wicket defeat at home to Millfield. Far from being cowed, the boys came back stronger than ever, winning against Wellington School, Ryde School with Upper Chine, and King’s School Bruton to show their mettle.
Despite struggling to make an impression against strong opposition from Marlborough College, Sherborne’s Mini Colts D XI showed their spirit and determination. Their defeat was by a narrow margin, and there were moments of brilliance that gave hope for the future of this young team, as did their later matches.
The high point of the season was a 9-0 victory over Bryanston, which shows the resolve and determination of this group of players. They’d had a trying season, with tough matches against the likes of Ringwood School, Clifton College, Millfield School, and Dauntsey’s. But, in this match, the team looked positive and assured, showing the class that was glimpsed in other victories, such as the wins over Sherborne Tennis Club and Beechen Cliff School. Many of these players have huge promise, as evinced in the final match of the season against Marlborough College. Sherborne won 7-2, playing some of their best tennis of the year.
With just two losses through the season, Sherborne’s Seconds were a force to be reckoned with. They triumphed over Clifton College and beat Millfield 8-1. This pattern continued in subsequent matches: a narrow win (5-4 over Canford, for example) followed by a big victory (7-1 against Bryanston). Overall, they showed consistency, character, and class – putting Sherborne firmly on the map as a tough team to overcome.
The Thirds lost just one of their matches this season, going down 4-5 to a strong Canford team. Their first three matches all resulted in a 5-4 win, against Clifton College, Milton Abbey and Dauntsey’s. They then went on to beat Bryanston 8-1 in what was widely regarded as their strongest performance of the season. With the win secured early in the match, they played with freedom, ebullience, and a pleasing spirit of derring-do.
The Colts A team got their two defeats out of the way at the start of the season, with a 4-5 loss to Clifton College and a 2-7 loss against Millfield School. Thereafter, they proved unbeatable, enjoying 63 over Canford, 5-4 against a strong Millfield side, 7-2 against Clayesmore and 7-2 at home to Blundell’s. The scale of these victories speaks of the skill in the team, not only in terms of quality, but in their match-playing nous.
What can be said of a season in which this team rarely seemed troubled, let alone defeated? They kicked things off with a straightforward 8-1 victory over Clifton College, following up with a 7-2 win against Dauntsey’s that was
characterised by a strong net game among all boys. A 6-3 win at Canford rounded the season off in impressive fashion, giving the boys a fitting reward for their hard work, practice, and skill.
Junior Colts A
With a comfortable 7-2 victory over Clifton College marking the start of the season, the Junior Colts A were riding high in confidence as they welcomed Millfield. This strong team proved a real test, and Sherborne fell to a 4-5 defeat in which they showed real grit. A string of victories followed, against Bryanston (6-3), Millfield (7-2), Dauntsey’s (8-1) and Canford (9-0), before a frustrating and marginal 4-5 defeat against Marlborough to close the season.
It’s a shame that the Junior Colts B’s only loss of the season was in their last match, where they fell to an ignominious 0-9 defeat against a mighty Millfield team. Until that point, the season had been a succession of highs: 6-3 against Clifton, 5-4 against Dauntsey’s and Bryanston, 6-3 against Millfield, and 8-1 against Canford. To say the season ender was against the grain of their performances is to understate the strength of this team, which proved impressive at every turn. Definitely some strong players here, who are sure to shine in future years.
If Sherborne’s youngest tennis players were intimidated by the move to senior school sport, they didn’t show it in their encounters with some stiff opposition. They narrowly fell to a 4-5 defeat against Clifton College, drawing valuable lessons to build on in their training. The hard work paid off with a 6-3 win away to Bryanston, though this was followed by a 2-7 defeat at the hands of a strong Millfield team. Another close match ensued against Canford, with Sherborne eventually losing 4-5, but the season ended on a high: 6-3 away to Marlborough and some memorable games throughout.
When your season begins with a 9-0 defeat of Clifton College, it augurs well for the months ahead. Sherborne’s Mini Colts B built on their early momentum to win against Bryanston, but fell to a 3-6 loss against Millfield’s strong performers. They bounced back with an impressive 8-1 victory over Canford, giving a strong account of themselves and showing the depth of their talent.
Golf is a popular pursuit among Sherborne’s pupils, with talented players in every age group supported by regular coaching from the professional at Sherborne Golf Club. This was evinced by reaching the Regional Final of the HMC Foursomes, including a fine win against Canford, before a very narrow loss on the very last hole to Millfield. However, having beaten Milton Abbey in the first round of the ISGA singles competition, Canford gained their revenge in the next round, but the team put in a good showing that combined individual flair with a strong team ethos. A strong start to the season
was continued in the stunning setting of Burnham & Berrow Golf Club where the challenges of playing a championship links course were enjoyed in reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious West of England Public Schools’ competition. The team togetherness was also on display in the victory over the Old Shirburnian Golf Society. Despite lacking experience compared to their opponents, Sherborne’s team held off the challenge and secured a much-deserved victory in which they showed maturity,
skill, and enviable poise. These attributes were also in abundance as they went on to win the inaugural Western Schools’ Golf League, beating the likes of King’s College Taunton, Taunton School, Wellington School and Blundell’s, and so finishing the season on a real high. A busy fixture schedule also saw friendly matches against the Sherborne Staff and Downside School, which were great opportunities to develop some of the younger talent, of which there is much.
Few boys were unmoved by the trip to Downside at the start of the season – their first competitive interschool badminton match in more than two years against very pleasant and welcoming opponents. Sherborne may have lost the tie, though the matches were closely contested, but both sides emerged with an equal sense of achievement. It was certainly a pleasure to be back playing after the disruptions of previous years. Such enthusiasm continued with a victory against Sherborne Girls and another over King’s School, Bruton. Even when a losing streak then ensued, the boys’ enthusiasm remained undimmed. They thoroughly enjoyed playing against the likes of King’s College, Taunton, and Canford, putting in some great individual performances. Basketball Firsts
Every match Sherborne’s basketballers played was free-ranging and high-scoring. Sometimes this counted in their favour – memorable victories over Wells Cathedral School (27-19) and Downside School (47-39) being cases in point – and sometimes against. They struggled against the likes of Marlborough, Taunton School, and Bishop Wordsworth’s School. But all took obvious pleasure in being out on court in the School’s colours. After the challenges of Covid, it was a joy to be playing again in competitive matches.
Captain of Athletics, Harry Whigham (U6c), led the way at the season’s opening event, at Dauntsey’s, and after individual success set about attempting to overhaul the longstanding Senior Boys’ 4x100m record with Tom Trickey (L6g), Ben Walwyn (L6m) and Hugo Marriage (L6g). The quartet were to come within milliseconds on this and subsequent occasions but sadly ran out of events at which to guarantee their inclusion on the records board. Maybe next year is the year!
The team was in great shape at the North Dorset Trials, with twenty-one boys selected to compete at the County Championships: Freddie Palmer (U6b), Tom Foster (4a) and Rory Nell (U6b) to name a few. In the Bournemouth sunshine Harry Whigham, Denys Tiasko (U6e) and Robbie Foster (L6a) were crowned County Champions, and were selected for the Dorset squad alongside Henry Kingsbury (L6f) and Charlie Wilson (5d) for the South West Championships.
Meanwhile the junior squad had been in action at Bournemouth, Millfield and Yeovil, again both enjoying the thrill of competition and building valuable experience for the future.
This season has seen an even closer partnership than usual with Sherborne Girls, with the two squads not only attending events as one team but also training together on a weekly basis. This has been hugely positive for both camps.
The end of the year rounded off with the annual Sports Day, and fortunately the rain held off letting the boys get stuck into some great competition. From Track and Field to a Tug of War tournament, opposition was tough, but The Digby came out top with 813 points overall.
Mr Scott and the team of coaches are already looking forward to the summer of 2023.
Sherborne has a strong tradition of clay pigeon shooting, and many of our boys enjoy the chance to compete locally. The team’s best showing was in the Team Flush Competition at Marlborough College, where they were placed fourth out of 23 teams and narrowly missed out on a podium position. The team came 12th out of 23 in the Team Sporting Competition at the same event.
An invitational at Millfield yielded another strong set of results, including 10th out of 121 in the individual High Gun for Percy Tylor (L6g), 11th for the Firsts in the Sporting Team Trophy (the Seconds came 16th), and 13th for the Firsts (18th for the Seconds) in the Flush Team Trophy.
While cross country has the appearance of an individual pursuit, success is often predicated upon belonging to a strong team and having loyal support. So it is that the success of Sherborne’s boys in a variety of events reflects the strong camaraderie that exists among the School’s top runners.
Robbie Foster (L6a) took an impressive gold at the start of the season, triumphing in difficult conditions at Clayesmore. His brother Tom (4a) took gold in the intermediate boys’ category, followed by fellow Shirburnian Joseph Page (5b) in third.
Joseph’s impressive running was seen in his fifthplace finish at Milton Abbey in freezing conditions, while Tom Foster stormed to victory in the Studland Stampede in February, with Joe taking second in the intermediates and Ben Brady (3d) securing third place in the juniors. A great day out, in beautiful, but chilly, surroundings.
The season started with Sherborne hosting the West of England Schools’ Championship. Four players entered, but only Fabian Mercer (U6b) made it through to the second round, where he was defeated by the might of the second seed. The other three contested the plate, with Jack Pyman (U6e) making it to the semi-finals.
The next fixture was a team event against the Rugby Fives Association. They proved formidable opponents, the experienced players mixing up their playing style to keep Sherborne’s boys guessing. To secure a 125-118 win was no mean feat – something the team were rightly proud of achieving.
Sherborne won 259-153 against Blundell’s School, but the tables were turned when they came up against the experience of the Pilgrims. Sherborne lost emphatically (113-264), though gained greatly from playing such assured opponents.
A return fixture at Blundell’s proved more taxing than the home encounter, with the Sherborne Seniors eventually losing 102-194. This came after a defeat by the Old Whitgiftians, only slightly taking the shine off a strong season in which Sherborne’s players showed resolve, grace, and great awareness.
Sherborne’s Juniors put in a good showing in the West of England Schools’ Championship, with Charlie Money (5d) and Alex Upton (5e)making inroads into the plate competition after losing in the first round. Alex won the final to claim the plate. The next day saw the pair team up for the doubles, in which they had a brilliant run to the semi-finals –falling to a noble defeat at the hands of a strong Alleyn’s team.
The U16s played their first competitive team fixture in more than two years against a strong Winchester side, eventually losing 60-149 but with some moments of individual brilliance. The margin of defeat was much lower against Marlborough (72-79), and the team delivered a win against Blundell’s School, triumphing 106-50.
After lengthy disruption due to Covid prevention measures, polo finally got underway with matches this year. On Tuesday 15 March the more experienced polo team took on two teams from Marlborough College and one from Bishops Wordsworth’s in a mini tournament at Druids Lodge Polo Club (our home ground). The more chukkas they played the better they became, showing that more match experience is required. They came 3rd overall and it was great to see a Third Former enjoying playing on the same team as Sixth Form.
On Thursday 17 March a new team of polo players took on their first match against Marlborough College. They led convincingly from the first chukka and although Marlborough started to make a comeback, Sherborne held onto a healthy lead to win 8-5.
On a sunny Sunday 20 March under clear blue sky, a mixed team played Millfield away at Vaux Park. By the end of the first chukka the score was 2-2, but they took the lead in the second chukka and never looked back, taking the win convincingly 3-6. Jake Bamford (3b) was awarded MVP (most valuable player) for the match.
The highlight of the School polo calendar in the Trinity Term was the return of the Schools’ Polo Tournament held at Cirencester Park on Sunday 19 June. There was a buzz around the ground as schools from all over the UK, including Scotland, came together for the first time in three years. In this tournament they only get one chukka against each school in the draw which is a really tough way to play. They started strongly with Jake Bamford scoring a goal to secure a win against Radley (1-0). They went on to play Marlborough who were the strongest opposition and held them off really well until the final seconds of the chukka when Marlborough scored. Then they drew against Wellington College (0-0), although Otis Morgan (L6m) was unlucky not to score. The boys had played a challenging match against
Eton the week before, but ultimately this helped them develop their skills to play better together as a team.
Polo runs all year, but the summer term is eagerly awaited with the chance to play the game we all know on grass. We currently have players in every year group, ranging from complete beginners to1 handicap. Matches
were also planned against Millfield and Marlborough but sadly they were unable to go ahead and the main issue this year postpandemic has been finding ponies to hire for matches at a reasonable cost. However, next year is set to be back to a full fixture list with exciting Sherborne teams on the rise.
Sherborne’s success on the water continued this year, with the Firsts taking advantage of strong winds to score a famous victory against Clifton College as a mixed team with Sherborne Girls.
The positive start continued in a moderately breezy Portland Harbour, where Sherborne’s boys achieved a 4-1 win over Milton Abbey and dominated the parallel single-handed competition in Zest dinghies.
A seventh-place finish for the combined Sherborne teams in the RYA Youth and Junior Team Racing Championships involved notable wins over Clifton College, Radley College and Ryde School with Upper Chine. This was followed by victories against Winchester and at Sutton Bingham (in effect Sherborne’s “home” reservoir) against Milton Abbey.
Narrow defeat at the hands of Clifton College, despite victory in the Pico class, made it challenging to win the Sherborne/Clifton Sailing Shield away from home. Even so, the boys stepped up to claim a famous victory, securing both the trophy and considerable kudos.
It was a challenging year for Sherborne’s squash players, with only two victories in 12 matches. These were against Clayesmore, in which an emphatic display saw Sherborne ease to a 5-1 win, and, later in the season, Sherborne Girls, where a 3-2 victory came after a closely fought contest.
Tough defeats at the hands of Millfield (0-6), Canford (1-5), and Bryanston (0-7) proved invaluable learning experiences. As one match report stated: “We gained both good experience and the knowledge that we have a way to go to being one of the best teams in the area.” Even so, it went on to point out the team’s commitment to learning from such experiences and practising to become stronger.
Such practice appeared to be paying off in later matches,where the margin of defeat reduced. Stronger performances against Canford and Clayesmore augured well for the team’s development. Throughout, the boys played with enthusiasm, pride and a laudable spirit of fairness.
Marlborough College provided the venue for a much-anticipated return to competitive swimming. Sherborne put a strong team forward for the triangular event in November and took part in a swimming gala at the same venue in April. The swimmers enjoyed the atmosphere of racing and look forward to a fuller programme in the 2022-23 academic year.
Sherborne’s water polo players showed characteristic strength and spirit in a triangular competition at Marlborough. They lost both matches – 2-10 to Marlborough College and 2-11 to a strong Eton side – but definitely won hearts and minds with their fair play and generosity. The Eton match in particular showed the resolve at the heart of the team. They fought for two well-taken goals and, despite being up against a fitter, more experienced, team, kept battling to the last. School sport plays an important role in developing character, and the Sherborne water polo team has it in spades.
If you’re reading this publication, you will know full well that rugby at Sherborne has a fantastic history of success. You only need to reflect on the tenure of the late, great Mike Davis and see how his four successive winning seasons really escalated Sherborne School’s rugby reputation on the circuit.
The Sherborne rugby programme has an overarching goal to instil a lifelong love of the sport, ensuring when pupils leave School, they continue to play the game, at whatever level, in whatever capacity. However, we must also be able to provide for those boys with the drive and ability to turn rugby into a professional career.
We are fortunate enough to have a wealth of experienced and qualified coaches throughout the rugby programme with five RFU Level Three coaches and one RFU Level Four, within its ranks. Pupils have access to tailored individual development plans, one-to-one coaching, video analysis and strength and conditioning programmes, as well as nutritional guidance and physio care. We have excellent links with professional teams, such as Bath Rugby and Exeter Chiefs, enabling players to access their programmes at the junior level. Boys also have the opportunity to tour overseas to rugby powerhouses such as New Zealand, South Africa and Australia – broadening their rugby-playing experience and cohesion as players.
“My favourite rugby moment from Sherborne was the South Africa tour. More specifically when we played against SACS, the game had all different types of weather and all the boys played so well. We then went on a helicopter tour of Cape Town where we got see Table Mountain.”
Lorcan McLoughlin (g 20) Ulster, Ireland U20
Sherborne School provides a fantastic opportunity to excel in rugby at elite level, whilst gaining an excellent academic education and chance to experience a broad range of co-curricular opportunities – sporting, musical, theatrical... whilst also enjoying a busy social life. We want pupils to have as many options as possible open to them when they finish School so that they are equipped with the skills they need to achieve their goals – whatever that may be.
“The School provided me the opportunity to get involved in all fields of life, ranging from sport, to music, to drama. This is something I have come to greatly value since going to university, where one tends to specialise in a single discipline.”
Sam Reynolds (c 20) Oxford University Blue
Tom James, current professional at Northampton Saints, left school with the A levels required to study at Loughborough University. It was there that he continued to play at the highest level of University rugby, captaining their 1st XV before signing professionally with Bedford Blues, Doncaster Knights and, most recently, Premiership side Northampton Saints.
“During my time at school, I was playing with and against some of the best young rugby players in the country, week in week out. I owe a lot to Sherborne School.”
Will Homer (m 14) and Ed Coulson’s (m 14) recent inclusion and success in the England Rugby Sevens squad also highlights a slightly alternative routeway to the top. Both having left School in 2014 they went on to secure rugby contracts at Bath Rugby, Bedford Blues, Hartpury, Jersey Reds and the Scarlets.
“I feel very fortunate to have had all the help and guidance that the School and in particular my House (The Digby) had to offer me in going after my goal of being a professional rugby player. From the facilities to the quality and support of the coaches and my Housemaster, Mr Brooke.”
Will Homer (m 14) – England Sevens
Rugby success post school has accelerated in most recent years with five players awarded professional contracts in the past four years. Lorcan McLoughlin explored the Irish Qualification routeway whilst at School and Sherborne provided him with those links and opportunities to trial and play in Ireland. His success at Ireland U18 and U20 has been alongside his professional contract with Ulster and studying at Queen’s University Belfast.
Tom Carr-Smith (m 20) is another from this cohort awarded with a three-year professional contract, this time with Bath Rugby, where he trains and plays with the first team, whilst studying at Bath University. Tom was selected for England U20s in 2021 and 2022 and was part of the grand-slam winning team in 2021.
“Sherborne provided me a firm understanding of the principle of the game, with ideas like ‘play to space’ and ‘nothing through’ as the focus of coaching. There was also an encouragement to be experimental and express myself on the pitch.”
“My favourite rugby moment from the School was beating Harrow School 12-5, at home, on the Upper, with the whole school watching, in the Cup quarter-final to give us the opportunity to play at Sixways in the National semi-final. This moment was made better by having the 1st XV dinner in the evening with all the lads that we played with.”
Will Parry (U6b) Bath
Sherborne School have reached the semi-final stage of the National Cup in their last two seasons, having previously never reached this stage. The belief and ambition to achieve and create lasting memories while at school has played a huge part of the recent success. Pupils want to set the standard and challenge those who follow to do better.
Arthur Green (U6g) and Will Parry (U6b), our two most recent captains of rugby, have epitomised this during their tenure. Influencing the younger years and inspiring them to achieve something no other Shirburnian has. Both have demonstrated remarkable leadership and dedication to improve Sherborne Rugby and their own abilities. Arthur was selected for England U18 where he played a significant role in their Six Nations unbeaten campaign. Both have been rewarded with professional terms with Bath Rugby, while both hope to do this alongside studying for degrees at Durham University.
Even during the “Covid-19 season” Captain Charlie McCaig (b 21) did all he could to maximise his rugby potential. He, and others, lost their chance to play rugby in their Upper Sixth year, but Charlie still was able to secure a contract with Exeter Chiefs and Exeter University. He has recently had an opportunity to play for England U19s and has contributed to a successful Exeter University season in the Super Rugby competition.
Sherborne School will always strive to provide an environment where boys can enjoy their rugby, whilst also allowing opportunity to push this to the elite level, whilst encouraging and promoting the wider aspects of school life for the ideal, well-rounded education.
It was a real boost to run an incredibly full London programme of events in the autumn of 2021. OS whom we had not seen in person for 18 months or more reassembled at a wide variety of events, some traditional such as year group reunions for many generations, the OS Media Lunch at the Groucho Club, the Q London Lunch, for those OS who left the School more than 50 years ago and the OS Carol Service at St Olave’s in the City and some new including the initial get together of our LGBTQ+ group. The autumn is always busy with year group reunions but last year, particularly so as we tried to catch up on 18 months of missed reunions, before embarking on the 2022 round.
The early spring of 2022 saw us celebrating with two events in the Cavalry and Guards Club for those who left Sherborne 40 and 50 years ago. We always enjoy our more informal year group reunions. In September on consecutive Saturday evenings we held FiveYear Reunions for the leavers of 2015 and 2016, their first since leaving Sherborne, at the Black Dog in Vauxhall where, earlier in the week we had hosted a retirement party for long-serving School House Matron, Trish Cant. It was a pleasure to meet up with so many of the 10-year (2010 and
2011) leaving groups at Dirty Bone, Denman Street in October and the 2012 leavers at the Clarence in Dover Street in June. Whilst the main objective of the evening is to let them catch up with each other, it is also fascinating for us to hear how they are getting on in the wide diversity of professions in which they now work.
May 2022 marked a high-water point in the Old Shirburnian Society year, as, after three long years, we were once again able to welcome guests to Sherborne-based events. The dinner to mark the centenary of Westcott had suffered two earlier postponements but we were finally able to celebrate this landmark in style on the evening of Friday 13 May in a marquee on The Upper. With their usual legerdemain, the Events and Catering Teams managed to have the marquee all ready for Saturday’s OS Day in under 12 hours. With the weather showing that it was firmly on our side, it was a wonderful sight to see crowds of OS and guests streaming back across The Upper. Entertained by the Swing Band during the drinks reception, we seated some 250 guests down to an excellent lunch.
Caring for young OS is one of our principal objectives and it was with a light heart that the OSS team, in conjunction with Fiona James from
Sherborne Girls, travelled north to Edinburgh in February to reignite our round of university visits that we so sadly had to forego in 2021. These visits represent our first contact with our youngest group of OS since leaving Sherborne. We provide food and drinks whilst we hear their news and fill them in on the latest developments in Sherborne. This year we visited Edinburgh, Newcastle, Durham and Northumbria, Leeds, Cardiff and Oxford. Our objective is to cover the whole university range on a two year rotation.
It is always a delight to see how quickly young OS embrace the world outside Sherborne but it remains vital that the OSS provide the maximum amount of careers help in an ever more competitive marketplace. The first, and possibly most important, port of call should be our online platform Sherborne Connect. We have over 3,700 OS and parents of whom a great number are willing and able to provide careers advice and help in a truly wide-ranging span of professions. The OS Office is always here to help with CV improvement, provide mock interviews, if needed and assist in any way possible.
John Harden Old Shirburnian Society Secretary
OS James Raley (e 97) plans to row the Atlantic in December. We find out more about the challenge he and his crewmates face.
We all know how it goes. You head to the pub for a quiet beer and return home having agreed to row across the Atlantic Ocean. Just a standard night out in Dubai. That was certainly the experience of Old Shirburnian James Raley, who is teaming up with two friends to take on the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in December 2022. Although, as he says, it took more than a single pub trip to be persuaded of the adventure’s merits.
“My friend Toby Gregory had said for a while that he wanted to put an entry together for the Atlantic Challenge,” James says. “Of course, it’s easy to say you’ll get involved when it’s just pub talk. But then Toby went and bought the boat, and somehow I found myself on the Arabian Ocean Rowing Team.”
Don’t be fooled by James’s assumed passivity. He’s a former Guardsman whose honeymoon involved an 18-month overland trip through Africa and whose favourite pastime is deep-sea diving. So you could say that adventure runs through his veins – or, as others have been known to describe him, he’s a “man of extremes.”
James now finds himself training on his rowing machine at home for a minimum of 90 minutes a day and spending every spare moment out on the seas around Dubai. He and Toby are joined by Portuguese adventurer Raimundo Tamagnini, making up a crew of three that will rotate between rowing and sleeping during up to 50 days at sea.
“It’s a fairly big undertaking,” says James, with characteristic understatement. “We’ve yet to establish what our pattern will be, but it’s likely we’ll do watches of two hours, with the person not rowing grabbing one hour of sleep, or eating, washing or maintaining the boat.”
If that sounds like a gruelling schedule, consider this: the rowers need to consume at least 6,000 calories a day just to maintain their energy levels. Even then, they can expect to lose as much as 15kg in weight as they row from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean.
“We get the calories on board by eating Arctic Rations, which will be familiar to anyone involved in the CCF during the 1990s,” says James. “They’re not pleasant, so we’ll supplement with highenergy snacks like nuts, chocolate bars, pork scratchings and biltong. Then, as a treat every so often, we’ll pack some heavier food like tinned peaches.”
Only in the context of 3,000nautical-mile row could a tin of peaches sound like a treat. But this speaks of the hardships the team will endure while out on the water.
“Around 30 boats take part in the challenge, but you typically lose sight of each other within the first 24 hours,” James says. “After that, you are pretty much on your own. You’re too far offshore for helicopters to reach you, so if things go awry it can get nasty. That’s certainly good motivation to keep rowing!”
The team’s motivation comes from a deeper source, too. They’re using the challenge to raise awareness of the impact of plastics on the world’s oceans, partnering with the United Nations Environment Programme’s Clean Seas initiative and visiting schools and businesses throughout the Middle East to talk about their experiences.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the schools work,” says James. “It’s great to use the Atlantic Challenge as a platform to help young people understand the deterioration of our oceans. I’ve seen it first-hand while sailing and scuba diving around the world. Of course, teaming up with the UN gives us a chance to make a real impact.”
This reflects a disposition that James says was formed during his time at School. “I think Sherborne gave me a drive to make a difference. Allied with my desire for adventure, it’s perhaps inevitable that I should end up taking on challenges like this one.”
So far, the Arabian Ocean Rowing Team is self-funded, with some support from equipment suppliers. But James and the crew very much hope to secure title sponsorship for their challenge, giving a partner the chance to capitalise on their high visibility on social media and global news platforms, and join the mission for clean seas.
They also want to drive as much online engagement as possible. James encourages anyone with an interest in the challenge to follow the team on Instagram and Facebook. “It’s great to see the likes and follows coming in,” he says. “The increased awareness and support really inspire us to keep driving the project forward.
“Getting to the start line is a significant endeavour in its own right,” he continues. “But we’re putting in the hours on the boat, in our onshore training, and in the planning. It’s all good preparation for the row itself.”
Follow The Arabian Ocean Rowing Team on Facebook and Instagram: @arabianoceanrowingteam Visit the website: arabianoceanrowingteam.com
Before I ever worked at Sherborne School I had wondered about St Aldhelm and the place where I live. My home is in the countryside, seven miles from Sherborne. My gate goes onto the cross country lane from Holwell to Sherborne. I am in the middle of what was church ground. In the garden there is a monk’s barn and outside the back was a stew pond fed by the natural spring across the road. So could this mean Aldhelm stopped here on the last night before walking/riding the seven miles to Sherborne? Was this the local ecclesiastical eatery of the time on the road to Sherborne? We can all get caught in the what ifs, but to think that I am writing about this for a man that may have past my home 1317 years ago says something of this man.
Last year in the October half term we as a school had an Open Sherborne, where we opened the School and the Shell House for members of the community all around us. One had to obtain a ticket for a tour of the School or the Shell House or both. We sold out very quickly and I for my part gave the School historical tour.
Sadly, nowhere can be seen the roll call… the honoured roll call if you like, of the buildings that stood before but were expunged to be reused to create something greater, bigger and better. We must remember these buildings that stood before and the people that sat within. Their time was up and the needs to adapt, change, and create new for the boys of today and tomorrow were more important. These buildings – The Toey, Prior’s House, the Infirmary, the Guesten Hall, the silk mills and the Almonry School; for they served not only the boys and masters, but the people of this town. We have grown together, developed together, and today we as a town are proud to stand together. Opening Sherborne for everyone to come and see and to explain our joint past, has been an enjoyable experience for me and hopefully for those that have come to see and experience for themselves.
We must also remember the generosity of the Digby family. The business acumen of Reverend Harper in the
nineteenth century, the wisdom of Canon Wallace in the twentieth century. We must acknowledge the guidance of the wardens and trustees in their stewardship of the past and the governors and our Headmaster Dr Luckett of the Present. All these people have played and are still playing their part in the development of Sherborne as a town and School today.
The buildings that stand today can be seen showing their blemishes and scars, for those who stand and take time to look. John Roxburgh the first Headmaster of Stowe School, wrote the book ‘Eleutheros or The Future of The Public School’.[1]He writes in conversation ‘I was just going to tell him a moment ago, your education is what is left when you have forgotten everything you have ever been taught.’[2]
For me his words are environmental, the Courts today, remind me of this every time I walk through.
To be able to run one’s fingertips over Norman masonry, to stand in what once would have been the Garth, even the whitewash on the external north side of the Abbey wall has a tragic story to tell us.
The success and growth of school and boy can clearly be seen in the building timeline on the sides of the Courts. Even today we are not done, as still building and growing, making us
the staff – Shirburnians, parents, prospective parents and children part of this great timeline of what we today know and love as Sherborne School.
The Saxon army were ever pushing further west. These warriors and their followers were then setting up farming communities with wattle and daub, some of these dwellings at a place called Scireburn (place of the clear stream). This happened on the back of Cenwalch’s victory from the Battle of Bradford on Avon in AD 652 and the Battle of Peonnum in AD 658. This land soon needed unification, for this King Ine sent the former Abbot of Malmsbury and first Bishop of Sherborne, Aldhelm, aged around 65 to create a new and second See, a place of Worship and education in what is now Sherborne. We must not underestimate the importance of King Ine and the Benedictine Monk Aldhelm whom we now call St Aldhelm on Sherborne.
To think that the first Bishop of Sherborne had a diocese that would eventually encompass Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. Aldhelm’s task was to build a cathedral and to deal with the responsibility of all this vast new land and people around him. I shall hopefully meet you at the Conduit, for the story has only just begun as the year is AD705.
James Perry, CustodianMy time at Sherborne opened my eyes to a wider world of opportunity, growth and potential which pushed my curiosity for ‘ What can I do’. The opportunities and education Sherborne taught me have provided many professional opportunities. The rugby opportunity at Sherborne helped my sporting career and interestingly my professional career too.
There are two key people who influenced me whilst at Sherborne; Simon Lilley (PE and Rugby Teacher and Dr Ben Wild (History Teacher and my Tutor). Simon challenged me to improve every session, lesson and to believe in myself. Dr Ben Wild widened my life horizons and gave me an appreciation for a different perspective.
After leaving Sherborne, I studied BSc Sports Coaching and Performance at the University of South Wales and also travelled to New Zealand to play rugby. Since leaving the School, I have travelled to 10 countries (and counting) to play in Rugby tournaments and have also been busy developing my career. I became a Sports Teacher after University at Old Swinford Hospital School (OSH). I then changed my whole career path when moving to London and started in HR and Finance Transformation Recruitment. I taught myself a whole new industry, made connections, and used recruitment as a stepping stone to accelerate my career. I am now an Accounts and Engagement Manager for a HR and Finance Transformation
Consultancy, optimising how companies utilise technology in their back-office functions.
Going forward, I plan to continue to improve my knowledge and experience to maximise my potential and success in life and career. I plan to continue travelling, see the world and gain life experiences. I also hope to continue to play rugby in all corners of the world. At the same time, I will ensure I see family and friends, it’s important to make an effort, see them lots and be present in that moment – don’t let life get in the way!.. Whilst at Sherborne, I made friends, who I would consider friends for life, and these include members of Pilgrims Football and Pilgrims Rugby Members.
If I could offer any words of wisdom or advice to current or prospective pupils of Sherborne, I would say enjoy your school years playing sport, being with friends, enjoying life, and the lack of responsibilitiesit’s much easier than you think compared to adult life. Use Sherborne Connect and be a Pilgrim – there are exceptional OS in this world who are happy to help other OS. I would also suggest listening to the High Performance Podcast! Do not fear failure – fail often, learn, get up, go again and you will achieve great things. Finally, find a passion and try to make it a career or side hustle – trust the process!
It always amazes me how many conversations I have had about my time at Sherborne since leaving. Five of your formative years is a long time to spend in one place, and I am incredibly grateful to have such wonderful memories and experiences – sailing in Poole with Dr Hamon and Mr Mitchell, weekly Crossfire with Mr Scorer and of course running a lucrative business empire out of the Digby Tuck Shop LLP. All of this was underpinned by a brilliant and solid set of friends that has helped to shape the aspects I am most proud of in myself today.
Unlike many schools where the focus is on grades and statistical success, Sherborne places an immense value on finding what interests you and cultivating that instead. You leave with (at the risk of being very clichéd) a genuine curiosity, which I think is far more valuable than nailing your grades. This inevitably led me straight onto an incredible Gap Year travelling around India and Southeast Asia with Charles Freeman (e 12) and some of the Sherborne Girls we knew well.
I greatly enjoyed Geography with Mr Preston and so went north to York for a few great years studying. I ended up playing a lot of music, expanding on the area I enjoyed the most at Sherborne. There are so many incredible music opportunities here – I was lucky enough to benefit from the new Music School and the biannual Caribbean trips with the Jazz and Swing Bands (an enormous thank-you to Jamie Henderson is due here) and so really enjoyed being
involved in one of the most vibrant uni communities I got to know.
York wasn’t my plan originally and I ended up going there through clearing after missing grades. Although at the time a bit stressful, it’s a great example of how plans change for the better. I’m so grateful for the time I had there, as well as meeting my now wife Emily (who went to St Mary’s Shaftesbury down the road)!
Thinking about careers, I wanted to explore several options and ended up having over 60 coffees with people in different industries. Through this I met several people in Investment Management and started a job at 7IM two days after graduating (despite an embarrassing experience getting stuck in the goods lift for 45 minutes after leaving my interview). I’m still there now, managing a team of six and stewarding clients’ money through what’s become a pretty interesting few years.
My job is founded on many of the values impressed on me at Sherborne – an insane love of small talk, curiosity in people and ultimately working for the community around you as best as you can. Through this latter point I’ve become heavily involved in the company’s culture, and head up our Mental Health work as well as one of the sub-committees on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
I’m very grateful for my time at Sherborne and love keeping up with a lot of OS frequently in London.
I always feel very lucky to be doing what I love as a career, and I certainly wouldn’t be doing it if it weren’t for a lot of help from Sherborne. Ever since rugby has been played at the School, Sherborne has had one of the most competitive fixture lists in the country, you are playing with and against some of the most talented young players in the country week in week out. I found it both a challenge and a privilege to test myself against the standard I aspired to reach.
I had some outstanding coaches in my time at the School, it was their dedication and belief that made me think I could consider rugby as a career. I’ll always be very grateful to the late Mike Davis, Paul Miles, Simon Lilley and Dave Guy for the time and energy they put into making each boy they coached not just a better player, but more importantly a better person. Mike coached my Dad at Sherborne in the late 70s, and showed the same fierce passion for the game coaching me 30 years later.
When I left Sherborne, I took a year out before attending Loughborough University. I travelled to New Zealand where I played and coached rugby in Wellington, a city I absolutely loved and hope to visit again one day. At Loughborough I continued with rugby alongside studying Economics. I had the best three years playing, training and living with some of my closest mates. I was fortunate enough afterwards to continue with the sport full time, and after seven seasons of professional rugby I now find myself at Northampton Saints. We unfortunately lost in the Premiership semi-finals in 21/22 to Leicester Tigers, but hopefully we can go the distance in 22/23!
Alas, one day in the not too distant future I will have to hang up my boots and finally get a real job!
To the Old Shirburnians I have the privilege of knowing, please expect a phone call….
I had some of the best memories at Sherborne and made some awesome friends. I was in Abbey House (the best House haha). I was always keen on music, whether that was from my drum lessons at school or my love for DJing and electronic music. I was able to perform at Concert in the Courts and DJ at a few of the socials we had with Sherborne Girls.
After school, I attended Leeds College of Music (now called Leeds Conservatoire) where I graduated with a first-degree Bachelor of Arts in Music Production. I had the best time in Leeds, I loved my course and I met some fantastic people.
After graduating, I moved back to London where I landed a job for 8O8 Whisky. This was a very exciting company as it was named after the infamous Roland TR-808 drum machine which can be found in a lot of electronic music. The company was heavily partnered with music with the DJ legend Pete Tong involved. We were aiming at a younger audience and using nightclubs and great venues as our avenue to target them and help change the perception of whisky. I helped put on an 8in8 tour where we threw eight club nights in eight different cities in the UK. This was epic as we had some big names play and I was able to be a part of something which I was really interested in. Another spectacular event we were involved in was when DJ Paul Oakenfold and Carl Cox did an intimate DJ set at Stonehenge to just 50 people! The stones were lit up with light mapping and projectors, it was an incredible event. We could get in amongst the stones. The only other time you
are allowed to do this is for the summer solstice.
After four to five years working at 8O8 sadly the pandemic began which really limited what I could do for the company. This was of course because events were banned from happening and the bars and nightclubs we closed for a huge amount of time. This made me think of what I could do with my time.
Towards the end of the second lockdown, things were slowly opening, I knew Graphic Design was a big interest of mine. I signed up for a graphic design course at Shillington College where I completed a three-month intense course, a 486-hour curriculum where I became a qualified graphic designer. After this, I became freelance for a year working with various people including a great sunglasses brand called Sub Sun (an old Shirburnian).
I am currently working at a small publishing company based in St Pauls doing graphic design, which I thoroughly enjoy. I am also still making music and DJing at festivals and club nights on weekends.
Most of my closest friends today attended Sherborne with me and it’s nice to know we have stayed friends all these years. Sherborne boys are the best!
Riaz joined us in September with a background in economics and law. It quickly became clear that we had gained a highly promising new member of staff. Riaz had high standards and expected the boys to be as keen and passionate as he was for his subjects. With a wealth of real-world experience, Riaz was able to punctuate his lessons with examples that would excite the boys. These, along with carefully prepared lessons, saw him quickly gain the trust of the new Lower Sixth. A hastily produced Hall was never going to be acceptable to Mr Ahmad.
He looked for ways to find out why some boys were not giving their all, and made sure there was something for them in his classes. He was particularly diligent when helping the boys to express themselves clearly on paper. This was something that Riaz himself did brilliantly. As a Tutor in School House he took a keen interest in all the elements of his tutees’ lives at school. His communication was not only succinct and insightful (as one would expect for someone with a legal background), but also warm. He also became involved with a number of School football teams and coached many of the boys at Sherborne.
Riaz leaves with his young family, and we wish him the very best for his future in London.
Harriet contributed widely to the life of the School in her time here. The majority of her teaching was in the Learning Support Department, where her kind, motivating rapport with the boys she taught 1:1 led them to develop both as students and as young men; she also contributed significantly to the running of department programmes such as the assessment of new boys and the Fifth Form Boys’ and Parents’ revision workshops. Alongside her work in Learning Support, Harriet also taught in the English Department, helping many of the same boys who come to West Lodge in a classroom context too, which meant they got excellent continuity of learning. With Harriet as a direct link between them, the two departments were also better enabled to develop their relationship further, with staff working closely together to tailor their support of the boys.
During her busy few years at Sherborne, Harriet also taught in the RS and Wellbeing Departments, which benefited from her existing expertise as an RS teacher and her keen interest in the pastoral and wider life of the School. In her last term she also took up the post as the School’s first Community Outreach and Charity Co-ordinator, before leaving Sherborne to move on to a role combining many of her areas of skill and interest as a Deputy Housemistress. The very touching messages in a leaving card written by her Learning Support students are testament to just how much the work she did with them impacted on their confidence and wellbeing and how much she would be missed when leaving Sherborne.
Caroline CarrierRobert HarrisLibby joined the Religious Studies department as a PGCE student during lockdown, but despite having to start her teaching career remotely she impressed everyone in the department with her warmth, positivity and good humour. When an opportunity came to cover a maternity leave, she stepped into the breach and quickly became a valued member of the team. Her contribution to the School didn’t end with the RS department though: she also got involved with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, the tennis coaching department and set up the cookery club, as well as using her life coaching skills to bring out the best in the tutees under her care in Abbey House.
While she often presented herself as a soft and caring person, that exterior hid a side that was tenacious and gritty and which also contained a wicked sense of humour. However, in every pupil questionnaire that accompanied the formal observations of her teaching, all the boys identified her as a teacher who really cared. She is currently starting her role as Head of Latin at Farleigh Prep, a role at which I am sure she will make a great success.
Mary has been a brilliant addition to the Drama Department in her two short years with us. In her first lockdown year she brought about some amazing improvements to the Fifth Form performance grades and amazed us all with her dedication and commitment.
Hard as it was for us to teach Drama online, I can only imagine the difficulties Mary must have endured in her first year here, not having taught Drama in a school before. She then went on to take her PGCE and teach full time as well as taking the Drama scholars through a devising project called The Fall Of The House of Usher in her second year. In addition, Mary directed the brilliant Green House play, Dealer’s Choice, in the Lent Term. This reminded me of prepandemic Drama days and the real buzz that Drama had around the School: it lifted spirits and reminded us all not only of how much fun Drama can be, but also how well Sherborne can do it. On the less exciting side, Mary is also a brilliant marker and is one of, if not the most, assiduous assessors I have seen in my time. A career as chief examiner evidently awaits her if she doesn’t become a beat poet or comedian first.
Ian ReadeIt is sometimes difficult to know quite what to write about a colleague who is leaving, because upon reflection the day-to-day business of working together in an incredibly busy department leads the days, weeks, terms and years to blur. Vickie has been with us for four and a half years, and it’s not until I am asked to reflect upon her time here at Sherborne School that I realise how much above and beyond Vickie went with her duty as a Teacher of Art. To say just a few words about her time at Sherborne feels a little disingenuous to what she has given us in return. We have of course already said our goodbyes to her, and the following is a snippet from my endof-term department speech for her: A reflection of Vickie.
V is for Versatility. Vickie has been an incredibly diligent member of our team, always going above and beyond what is asked of her. To be a mother of two, military wife, Teacher of Art, Wallace House Tutor, Artist and Interior Designer - to name just a fraction of Vickie’s abilities - shows her versatility to juggle many roles, and yet be diligent in all. It is mindboggling and testimony to her skills of organisation. Care focus and fun are all a part of her daily remit: Vickie’s versatility is second to none, especially as an outstanding Teacher of Art: she delivers numerous processes and techniques across a wide range of media with aplomb.
I is for Instagram Queen. Vickie has been amazing at getting “what we do” out there! As someone with little time for social media, I am very aware that I do not shout enough about the amazing work which we
do in our department. But Vickie has taken this in hand, and collated an amazing array of snapshots of Art moments and work to share with parents, pupils, colleagues and other schools. Excitingly, our #sherborneschoolart Instagram account is beginning to make larger ripples outside of our own walls.
C is for Creativity. As lead teacher of GCSE for the past couple of years, Vickie has spearheaded the inspiring projects for GCSE Art. Always with one eye on what is happening in the world of Art Education, Vickie has brought fresh and creative ideas to the Department to engage boys in their learning. Most impressive is her ability to skilfully deliver her own engaging Art lessons, which I know her students thoroughly enjoy.
K is for Kindness. Outside of the department Vickie is a Wallace House Tutor, working hard with her tutees to ensure that they have a sympathetic ear, pastoral care and regular trips to the Hub
for hot chocolate. With her Art students Vickie is patient in her approach, and has the ability to calmly explain the same process for the tenth time to that pupil who still doesn’t understand.
While she is caring for all, over time I have noted her vigilance in drawing alongside all who need help and support. On a personal level, I would also like to thank Vickie for her kindness in supporting me both as Director of Art, but also as a friend.
I is for Interior Design. Vickie has left Sherborne School, although she remains local to the town to pursue her passion for interior design. This sees her setting up her own business #livingtheinterior. We wish her every success with her new business.
E is for Emptiness.
Vickie’s departure from the Department will leave a certain V shaped hole in what has become a tight Art team, both as a valued colleague and as a friend. She will be sorely missed by us all, but she leaves with our warmest wishes for the future.
BoneI first met Nick when I was on my teacher training placement at the Gryphon School in 2005 where I observed him teach Highest Common Factor to a bottom set Year 10 group, which was a character-building experience for all concerned! Joining the Mathematics Department at Sherborne in 2011 it quickly became apparent that he was a highly competent mathematician; thriving in teaching the most demanding parts of the A level Maths and Further Maths syllabi.
In his time in the School he was a tutor in Abbey House, a member of the Careers Department, giving valuable advice across the board but in particular for those boys hoping to have a job in the City. However, it was his passion and commitment to growing and developing Clay Pigeon Shooting that most will remember of his co-curricular contribution. His stewardship of 12 years as Master in Charge saw the sport grow into a games option and put Sherborne on the map as a strong contender on the competitive Clays circuit.
He was the motorcycle outrider for many a Turing ride however, it was his contribution (again as a motor cycle outrider) to the Lyon to Lyon cycling challenge through France, that I really got to know him; generous spirited, dedicated and hugely committed.
He is a man of great integrity, compassion and humility and has proved himself to be a devoted teacher, an impressive strategist and a proud husband, father and grandfather and perhaps above all, a really kind man who I know the Department and Common Room are going to miss hugely –we wish him a very happy retirement.
Ben SunderlandWhen Vanessa arrived at the School in mid2016, it is fair to say that our Admissions Department was not in the finest fettle, something that was seriously undermining our efforts to attract and recruit first-class pupils. It was thanks to Vanessa’s ability, hard work and professionalism that, within two years, the situation was transformed. The Department is now rightly considered among the best in the country and its warm, effective and efficient operations have underpinned the recent revival in Sherborne’s fortunes.
Vanessa came to us with vast experience of independent school admissions, most recently at Bedford School. Setting herself the high standards that she expected from others, she immediately embarked upon the colossal task of reviewing, developing and improving our admissions processes. She also completely revamped our programme of admissions events and reinvigorated our prep school engagement strategy. Above all, Vanessa understood that people are the vital ingredient in successful pupil recruitment. As well as creating an exceptionally strong team around her, she also forged strong links with prep school Heads whose high opinion and genuine affection for her was revealed in the many messages they sent to the School when it was announced that she was retiring.
Formidably efficient, Vanessa is also warm, funny and genuine. She is great with children, and put many a prospective pupil at ease before they sat their admissions tests. Partly because of this, parents loved her, and she was undoubtedly the reason that many sent their sons to Sherborne. That said, she had plenty of steel about her and would deal politely but firmly with any who were not being entirely reasonable or straightforward in their dealings.
As a senior colleague, Vanessa was a delight. Hard-working, committed and with a profound sense of professional pride and responsibility, she preferred to conjure solutions rather than simply present problems. Meticulous, creative and pragmatic, she both anticipated difficulties and crafted thoughtful and imaginative answers to complex and sensitive questions.
Alongside her professionalism, Vanessa is also tremendous fun. At the end of a busy day on a trip to Hong Kong, Bermuda or Jersey, glass of wine in hand, she kept us all entertained with stories and pithy asides. And, a shrewd judge of others, she could at a stroke puncture the pomposity of those apt to take themselves a little too seriously.
All of us lucky enough to work closely with Vanessa have gained immeasurably from the experience. Alongside her myriad successes, she kept our spirits up when things did not go according to plan, responding to setbacks with humour, good grace and a determination to bounce back and carry on. We will miss her hugely and will always be grateful for all that she has done for the School.
We wish her many happy years enjoying her family and her garden as part of a well-deserved retirement.
Chris was appointed to succeed Siew-Chiang
Lim as Head of Maths from September 2021, he was extremely pleased to make the move down to Sherborne.
Covid-19 was not an easy situation to deal with, having to manage a large team in departmental meetings which had to remain ‘remote’ for a considerable period of the year. He was a natural in the classroom, and boys responded well to his style of teaching which got them thinking independently and pushing themselves forward.
As Covid restrictions were eased, Chris settled into a routine where he got involved with co-curricular activities alongside his role as Head of Maths. He enjoyed his sports coaching and threw himself with gusto into coaching rugby and basketball. He also enjoyed helping out with Ten Tors, and would give up regular weekends to spend time helping the boys with their training. He was a tutor in School House and his Housemaster was hugely impressed with Chris’s dedication
to his tutoring role, where Chris was very happy to pop in during his free time and give extra maths coaching to tutees and other boys in the House. He was quick to offer to help with weekend duties and assemblies – all things that help the smooth running of the Boarding House.
We wish Chris all the best for the future.
It’s not a perfect measure, but observing someone teach can tell you a lot about a person, certainly more than can be gleaned from their highly polished CV. This was certainly true of Rob (the teaching, not the CV – though his credentials are quite shiny), and within minutes of arriving for his interview lesson he had not only established himself as a charismatic trove of economic insight, but - more importantlyhe had managed to get the boys engaged. All of them, which was no mean feat given the characters in that class. It left a deeply positive impression, one that I’m reminded of every time I see Rob lead an assembly or teach or just stop to talk to a Sixth Former in the street.
For me, that enviable talent of bringing people together and making them feel valued is one of the major hallmarks of Rob’s success here. As one of Rob’s careers team recently put it: “He’s the best boss I’ve worked for.” I’m not sure the boys would be quite as gushing, though it was telling they marked his last assembly with a burst of impromptu applause - something I thought revealed their profound respect for him far more than any gift.
With respect to that last point, Rob has achieved a great deal in his three years at Sherborne. He was quick to spot the opportunities in Careers and over the past 18 months he has carefully restructured his department, bringing in new people and new ideas. There have been new roles too: support for overseas applications has grown significantly (thank you Caroline) and, working closely with Judy, Rob has developed the programmes of specialist higher education to include more robust support
for Oxbridge, a programme for admissions testing and various upgrades to the training and tutoring packages overseen by HoDs. The remit of the Careers team has also broadened, with greater emphasis placed on apprenticeships, internships and the support given to boys seeking work experience placements. The number of careers and Higher Education events has burgeoned, including more intended for parents and boys in the lower school. Lunches, webinars and visiting speakers are now a regular occurrence. Thank you, Mr Marston.
Throughout all these welcome innovations, Rob has sought to prioritise the people around him, bringing training and guidance for a range of teams, and giving generously of his time to the boys. The prefects will know exactly what I’m talking
about, though Rob’s care and attention has been just as freely bestowed on those he teaches, coaches, tutors or simply feels need a bit of extra help. That last point bears emphasis: there are more than a few boys who have leaned on Mr Marston this year and found him dependably solid. He is. And I’m not referring to the time he somehow manages to squeeze in the gym.
Rob leaves us to take up a deputy directorship at the Education Development Trust. It’s an excellent opportunity for him and a position that draws equally on aptitudes developed during his time in the city and the skills and experience he has honed through leadership roles in two different schools. That Rob will be successful, I have no doubt: he is never anything less.
Alex Pearson blazed her way across the Sherborne School firmament achieving a huge amount in her time here. She was recruited to teach History and with experience gained in two very different London schools she was an inspirational and thought-provoking practitioner, who challenged the preconceptions of some Shirburnians and encouraged them to think in a more rounded way.
Coping with the musical tastes of John Crouch in the classroom next door would be another challenge to surmount, but the two formed a good team teaching the
A level Wars and Welfare course. Alex always saw teaching as more than just delivery of material to her students and therefore, with her pastoral skills, it was no surprise (except to some rooted in the nineteenth century) when she was appointed the first sole female Housemaster at Sherborne. It was her misfortune to take over The Green during a global pandemic, but she responded brilliantly to the challenges setting up bubbles by altering the layout of the House and bringing about a
host of other impressive changes. She forged a loyal team around her and most importantly ensured that the boys in the House were well cared for.
Accomplishing this while bringing up a young son was a tremendous achievement. The evident fondness for her from boys, staff and parents was revealed in a moving Commem lunch, although Alex, coming from Kiwi stock, is never one for excess sentiment.
Alex exemplified high standards, flexibility and pastoral care and will be much missed at the School.
As a Junior Jeremy progressed through the ranks to play at Under 18 South West Regional level and was the Dorset Senior singles Champion. Playing 60 tournament finals over his career, Jeremy has won 38 titles, 11 of which are at National Series level. His career-high international ranking is 49 (at 35 and over) and impressively he captained England in the over 35’s Four Nations Competition.
In addition to playing, Jeremy has had an illustrious career in officiating where he has experienced the show courts at Wimbledon Championships and, the Ladies semi-finals.
Sherborne’s tennis has thrived under Jeremy’s direction, participation has doubled, and performance has been extended by multiple tennis tours overseas. As Director of Tennis Coaching Jeremy’s philosophy is ‘learn to play and play to learn’, to give 100%, and to enjoy every moment and the challenges in the process.
A Level 4 Senior Performance Coach, Jeremy is well-equipped to help boys reach their goals, he assists on the High-Performance Programme, with an interest in Sports Psychology in which he has a Diploma.
Jeremy still aims to travel and compete himself in the future but enjoys rural living in Sherborne with his family, wife Hayley and son Teddy-John.
David GuyIan leaves a legacy at Sherborne of having introduced boys to drama in a way that they are unlikely to have otherwise encountered. His productions are incredibly entertaining and stretch boys to perform outside their comfort zone, Ian’s love of the absurd means that they are often darkly funny.
My first contact with Ian was as my first Head of Department at Sexey’s School, where I found his take on theatre innovative and creative; decisions such as removing key monologues from Hamlet created innovative productions which gave boys reluctant to engage with the written word a viable means of expression. Ultimately, Ian’s quixotic patrolling of the boundaries between marketing and drama, literature and drama, philosophical proposition and dramatic expression play out as a faith in its legitimacy as a form of perception. Consequently, boys’ performances very often implied an authenticity that is rare in school drama.
Ed came to Sherborne in September 2021 fresh from completing his PGCE at Oxford University and at the tail end of the more restrictive Covid practices. This meant that his teaching preparation had been anything but orthodox as he struggled with the rigours of lockdown teaching on the one hand and those of lockdown learning on the other. On arrival in the Chemistry Department, however, he quickly showed himself to be both a firm and popular teacher in the classroom as well as one who instinctively understood the boys and was able to get alongside them. As his confidence grew, so did his recourse to practical experiments and imaginative boycentred techniques. He played a full part in all department activities, building up a considerable following for Monday Academic Support sessions. In addition to this, he was Resident Tutor in School House, at a time when the handover between one Housemaster and another had just occurred, as well as being an active and enthusiastic participant on the rugby field and as an athletics coach.
It goes without saying that we shall miss him and his can-do attitude next year as he heads off to the bright lights of the capital to work at Watford Grammar School for Boys. We wish him every success as he enters the next stage of his career.
Marcus Allard Teacher of Classical Guitar
Kotaro Blake Choral Scholar
Alex Boyd-Williams Deputy Head (Sixth Form)
Fiona Burness Receptionist
Chris Campbell Teacher of Chemistry
Rosemary Chatfield Teacher of Geography
Robert Costin Head of Academic Music
Lenka Edge Engagement Officer (mat cover)
Nicola Hall DT Technician
Elliot Hampton Choral Scholar
Cecilia Handel Commercial Director
Guy Hepher Organ Scholar
Lauren Kwok Head of Psychology
Charlotte Lisiewiez French Language Assistant
Lucy Mackenzie Operations Bursar
Diana Matarranz
Spanish Language Assistant
Michael McGinty Teacher of History
Anne Megdiche Director of Admissions
Samantha Poulter
Library Assistant Adam Simmonite Sports Intern
Mark Spivey Sports Coach
Helen Stratton Assistant Matron
Maxat Syzdykov Teacher of Computer Science
Joe Travis Choral Scholar
Stephanie Wadham
Assistant Matron
Phil Woolrich Teacher of Economics & Business
We are thrilled to announce that Sherborne School has been Highly Commended in the 2022 Muddy Stilettos Best Schools Awards 2022 ‘Empowering Young Entrepreneurs’ category for the Surf2U business launched in 2020 by our very talented young entrepreneurs Rory Parnell (U6g), Max Coltart (U6g) and James Sandars (U6f).
Surf2U Cornwall is an exciting new surf equipment company based in Cornwall. Please visit the following website to find out more: www.surf2u.org
Sherborne School has been selected as a finalist in two categories for the 2022 Independent Schools of the Year Awards; Independent Boys School of the Year category and the Development Award for Outstanding Fundraising Achievement
The awards highlight the excellence of the student experience offered by the UK’s amazing independent schools.
Described by Tatler as the awards that ‘round up the finest prep and public schools in the country’, we are delighted that Sherborne has been announced as one of five nominees for the ‘Best Public School Award’ in the 2023 Tatler Schools Awards.
Headmaster Dr Dominic Luckett, who was awarded ‘Best Head of a Public School’ in the 2020 Tatler Awards, said:
“I am delighted that Sherborne has again been nominated in the Tatler Awards. It is a well-deserved tribute to the hard work, talent and dedication of boys and colleagues alike. The breadth of our boys’ achievements is simply remarkable and they are fortunate to be supported by a tremendously committed group of academic and support staff. They are also thoroughly decent and engaging young men. With our unique partnership with Sherborne Girls, the School really does provide the best possible education for our boys.”
THE 2021/22
EDITORIAL BOARD
HARRIET MCKAY ZOE SHEFFIELDWITH THANKS
THE SHIRBURNIAN WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE OUTSTANDING CREATIVITY AND HARD WORK OF MANY PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ALL BOYS AND STAFF WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EDITION.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
JOSIE STURGESS-MILLS, DAVID RIDGWAY, MARK STUART, SAM RUTHERFORD, OLIVER SENNECK, HARBOUR MEDIA, CAPTURE THE EVENT, GILLMAN & SOAME AND OTHERS.
Mack Rutherford (L6b) touched his microlight aircraft down in Sophia from where he had started a 30,000 mile round-the-world flight five months earlier. He thereby claimed the Guinness World Records for both the youngest person to fly solo around the world and the youngest to do so in a microlight aircraft. We could not be more proud of him and his picture on the front cover of this year’s Shirburnian is fitting tribute to his skill, commitment, resilience and courage.
Dr Dominic Luckett, Headmaster and Chief Executive
