Diary Autumn 2013 15

Blundell’s www.blundells.org D IARY T HE M AGAZINE FOR THE B LUNDELL’ S C OMMUNITY I SSUE N O : 12 Enterprise and Endeavour The Blundell’s entrepreneurs running their own businesses, innovating and volunteering overseas INSIDE: Storming ahead: Nicola Huggett: Singing in the snow: Leading Edge: Blundell’s Rugby A new era starts The choir in the Creativity at Daily Mail debut at Blundell’s Czech Republic Blundell’s BLUNDELL’S NEWS | OLD BLUNDELLIAN CLUB NEWS | UPCOMING EVENTS | DEVELOPMENT OFFICE NEWS Classic view The Russell 2013 - boys in House colours running up Pool Anthony track - Photographs by Corren Kvesic Yr 12. The traditional format of the Russell was for all to run and just the first twenty or so home scoring points for their House, leaving the vast majority to simply endure. As soon as Norman Ridgway took charge, however, the philosophy was to change. Each course now has optimum times and the runners score points according to their personal times, thereby encouraging the ideal of trying one’s best for personal satisfaction and the greater good of others; namely your House. Further to this, the modern Russell enhances collective spirit and tolerance of others; the early fleet-footed finishers now jog back down the course to encourage and support the less aerodynamically blessed members of their House, urging them to strive for those one or two extra points. That everyone has their worth and that selfless effort is lauded, greatly underpins much of the spirit prevalent in the lives of the Blundellians of today. New Head Nicola Huggett dived straight into this unique Blundell’s tradition by running the Russell in her inaugural term. The 2013 Senior Boy's winner was Ollie Clarke FH Yr 12 and the Senior Girls' race was won by the Head Girl, Charlotte Routledge NC/W Yr 13. The latter has never been beaten in a Russell run since she joined Blundell's in Year 7. The Head’s NEWS H EAD’ S I NTRODUCTION As I now draw near the end of my first term as Head, I can look back at a remarkable set of achievements by both pupils and staff. Blundell’s is as vibrant and exciting a place as I have ever been and I consider myself fortunate indeed to be able to reflect in the glory of so many individual and team achievements. We have excelled on the sports fields, triumphing soundly I believe over whatever obstacles the meteorological office decides to send us. A few weeks ago, I drew the School’s attention to a quote by iconic US track and field coach Bill Bowerman ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, just soft people.’ This was certainly put to the test in the 133rd Russell Run, showing, once again, that Blundellian spirit and drive is at its very best when three feet deep in sticky mud! We have also seen a wonderful array of musical talent in both the House Music competition and the many individual concerts that have taken place. A great range of acting talent has also been on show in School House’s production of the Snow Queen and the very individual and universally hilarious House plays that have brought us in such good spirit to the end of term. The arrival of nine experienced inspectors from some of the other top independent schools in the country, in the second week of term, might have challenged the faint-hearted, but not us. The final report, which is now available on the school website, is a true and fair reflection of all the very best that we have to offer. We are thrilled and excited by both the recognition of what we do well and by the clear direction it provides for the future. Perhaps my favourite quote from the whole report (though there are many excellent ones to choose from) is the observation that there is a wonderful ‘unforced rapport’ that exists between the staff and pupils here. This is something that I noticed from my first day, as do all visitors that I meet, and the commitment of the staff to the pupil’s achievement both inside and outside the classroom makes it a wonderfully strong community committed to helping the pupils achieve their very best. At Blundell’s we really do believe that you get out of life what you put in. I am indebted to the staff for all that they do, and to the pupils and parents who give so generously of their time and effort. This edition of The Diary, thanks to the many pupil contributions, celebrates the spirit of enterprise and endeavour that permeates the School and highlights other terrific achievements. I am sure it will give you the same sense of interest and excitement that it does me. Nicola Huggett Head Blundell’s School Tiverton Devon EX16 4DN Tel: 01884 252543 Front cover: Business owners Ollie Tobey, Lewis Steer and Georgie Cummings (see pages 8 and 9), posing on Lewis Steer’s Land Rover, a E-mail: [email protected] vital tool for his sheep business www.blundells.org 1 Blundell’s NEWS ...thats entertainment England call up The U6 who volunteer Victoria (Torzie) Boylett, (Year 10) has to get involved with been selected for the U16 England the younger pupils hockey squad, despite spending several from SH on a weekly weeks at the end of last year in a basis, put on the style wheelchair following an accident at a tournament when her knee cap was for the post SH Gut smashed by a hockey stick; she wasn't entertainment. able to start playing again until January and trained really hard for her selection. She attended an England training camp during half term. S African Tour Will Thompson, Dan Pyle, Jack Maunder (Year 10) has also received Charles Fitzroy and Ben Steer an England call up for the U16 rugby (Captain) all enjoyed a training squad – see special feature on fantastic cricket tour to Blundell’s rugby on pages 22-25. Flora Dickinson and South Africa playing for the Oliver Tobey ensured Devon U15 Team. There were that the overall House six highly competitive Debating Cup matches but also some time remained in Westlake for sight-seeing. for another year when opposing ‘This House Regrets American Independence’. Oliver Christopher Hamilton Yr 10 won also won the Best the Junior Best Speakers Trophy Devised Drama Speaker Trophy. for Petergate. This year the A2 Drama students created a piece of theatre inspired by the case of Joyce Carole Vincent; a successful 38 year old woman living in London who died alone Tate that! and who lay undiscovered for three years. The piece contrasted the Annabel Chatwin of Year 8 has won second frenetic pace of modern place in a national art competition communication systems with the arranged by the Tate Gallery. The theme break down in community that lead was ‘butterflies’ and the artist used ink and to such a tragic end. The group glue to make a stunning picture which is created a visually exciting and moving piece of drama that gave on display at Tate Modern. the audience much to think about. Many congratulations to Annabel! 2 Blundell’s NEWS This record number includes eight girls who will play for the U14s, as well boys in the U14, U15 and U17 teams and girls playing in the U15 and U17 teams. Heads of Hockey Mrs Klinkenberg and Mr Bucknell said they were pleased that the players efforts had been recognised and added that this was fully deserved School Archivist Mike after all their hard work. Sampson has won the Devon Book of the Year award for Some of these players ‘A History of Blundell’s School’. make up the very strong Mike’s book traces the School’s Blundell’s on a hockey high Blundell's U13 girls and past from its 17th century U14 boys hockey teams foundation in Tiverton to 2011, recently crowned Devon taking in notable alumni, the champions. Both teams move in 1882 to its present site Hockey playing at Blundell's on the outskirts of the town, the is at an all-time high with 17 won the county change to co-education and tournament without much more within its 398 pupils selected to play for conceding any goals and pages. Signed copies of ‘A will now go on to History of Blundell’s School’ Devon in the county squads. represent Devon at the are available from the school office at Blundell’s for the West of England finals. exclusive price of £17.50. It is the second time that Mike has won the award, which is presented by the Devon History Society; he also took the prize in 2004 for his book, ‘A History CANDYGRAMS of Tiverton’. Year 12 Gorton House girls raised £350 for Crisis at Christmas by selling 750 CAMPUS RELAYS candy canes to pupils who Judit Lam bought them for their (Year 10) will friends in the School. The annual Campus Relays were as hotly contested as ever with be selling Everyone who bought a competitors of all ages hurtling around the main buildings at breakneck her stunning cane wrote a message on speed. There were a number of Stewards’ enquiries but in the end artwork in a label which the GH girls aid of tied onto the canes and nothing could stop FH retaining their overall title coming first and third, charity. The then delivered the canes with Petergate in second and fourth. In the girls’ race GH put one over artwork can to the lucky (and NC for a change, coming in first and third.

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