ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • VSummerIL L 2020 H I A ISSUE S N A

69 S O Y UPDATE C E T SUMMER 2020 I

INSIDE

VE Day Remembered

Meet the ‘Veep’

OA On Song for Charity

THE ASHVILLE COMMUNITY MARKS VE DAY 75

OAS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF 75 YEARS AGO WHILST INSIDE WE DEVOTE THREE PAGES TO COMMEMORATING VE DAY. The coronavirus lockdown didn’t stop past Ashvillian Society President and former chemistry teacher, Donald Grayson and his wife Margaret, from celebrating the 75th anniversary of VE Day with a traditional English cream tea in his front garden. Donald’s Ashville teaching career spanned almost four decades and, in recognition of his years of service, he had the Grayson Chemistry Laboratory named in his honour. Since retirement from the classroom, Donald – whose Ashville lanyard identifies his job as ‘Senior School legend’ - has continued to work part-time in a number of different administrative roles, and, at the tender age of 81, is still an invigilator/scribe for exams at Ashville. Both Donald’s children are OAs - Richard Grayson (80-87) and also Helen, (82-89), who was amongst the first intake of girls and, like her father, a former Ashvillian Society President. 01 ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020

WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR

DAVID SIMISTER JULY 2020

Back in early February, myself and fellow Ashvillian Society officers met in ’s Fat Badger pub to discuss our plans for the coming year. The Spring committee meeting was just around the corner, and four days after we were looking forward to catching up with dozens of OAs at the London reunion. It was promising to be one of the best attended gatherings in a number of years. We were also looking further ahead to the Celebration Weekend; Speech Day, Summer Fair, AGM and an evening event on the Saturday for OAs, partners, staff and former staff members. However, a virus that no one had ever heard of, which originated in a distant Chinese city, put paid to everything we – and probably the rest of the world - had planned for 2020! But this pandemic, which forced the closure of the College, introduced us to the intricacies of Zoom video conferencing. It has meant that our AGM will not be held in the school library as planned, but online! Following on from December’s Winter Update, we are delivering the Summer Update as a digital publication; one that we hope you will enjoy reading and watching! To those Sixth Formers leaving Ashville this July, we welcome you to the Society. You will forever be an OA. We hope you will join us at future events and, if minded, take on one of the offices. I’d like to thank the Director of Marketing, Helen Stroud, and her team, plus all those OAs who have contributed to this edition. Without your memories, photographs, success stories and, I’m sad to say, obituaries, we wouldn’t have an Update. And finally, when ‘lockdown’ ends and social distancing is no more, we will meet again, not just in Harrogate, but in a number of locations across the UK to celebrate our association with Ashville College. Until then, ‘stay safe’, and we’ll see you when this is all over.

SOCIETY OFFICERS Ian Brown Kirstin Barnes President Honorary Secretary [email protected] [email protected] Beth Hartwell David Simister Vice-President Update Editor [email protected] [email protected] Simon Donkin Immediate Past President Helen Stroud [email protected] Director of Marketing, Nick Breton Communications and Honorary Treasurer Alumni Relations [email protected] [email protected]

Any postal correspondence should be addressed to the Ashvillian Society at the following address: Ashville College, Green Lane, Harrogate HG2 9JP ASHVILLIANASHVILLIAN SOCIETY SOCIETY UPDATE UPDATE • ISSUE • ISSUE 69 69 • • Summer 2020

CONTENTS

FROM THE HEADMASTER 04

MEET THE VEEP 04

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 05

OUR CAMPUS 06

ANNOUNCEMENTS 08 121st AGM

OA NEWS 09 Isolation Song Contest

VE DAY SPECIAL 10-12 Ashville in Exile OA Donald Halstead Special Online Performances

YOUR SUPPORT 13

FEATURES 14 Colts 1937 1957-1958 Asian Flu Memories

CORRESPONDENCE 15-16

APPRECIATIONS 16-19

NEWS 20-23 Silver Screen Win By George! It’s Mr Wise! Taking a Dip into the Past CWGC’s Live Series It’s Written in the Stars Our New Director of Marketing OA Peter Nicholson

COLLEGE NEWS 24-27 Homeschooling Art Lessons #SafeSchools Initiative Key Sports Department Signing Busy Bees Make Scrubs for Care Homes NYC Internship Postponed

THANK YOU TO THE NHS 28

03 ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020 Welcome Ashville College is a day and boarding school for boys FROM THE HEADMASTER and girls aged 3 -18. Founded in 1877, Ashville has a A MESSAGE FROM proud past, and an even brighter future ahead, yet our ethos and values remain loyal to our Methodist traditions, where each child is known and nurtured HEADMASTER AND within a caring, safe and supportive environment.

HONORARY OA, Ashville has a clear focus on academic excellence, enabling our pupils to be prepared for life in an RICHARD MARSHALL increasingly complex world, without ever losing sight of the individual child, their own talents and their wider development. Our commitment to an inclusive education, where individuals are valued wherever their Dear OAs, talents lie, is at the heart of all we do.

Instead of a written report, we have asked Headmaster Ashville is proud to develop young people who are “the Richard Marshall to record his report, which he has best versions of themselves”. We nurture and equip kindly done. The below words, penned by the Head to this year’s Sixth Form leavers, featured in a recent our young people for the challenges of the future, newsletter to pupils and parents, and we thought it encouraging a global perspective and a digital fluency worthy of being reproduced in this edition of Update. where adaptability, creativity, resilience and critical “….As you prepare to leave Ashville, we hope that you self-reflection are key. Problem-solving skills, developed achieve results that you can feel represent the efforts both inside and outside of the classroom, and an ability you have made over the last two years and that allow to engage and actively listen to others, is what sets you to aspire to your chosen course or employment opportunity. Ashville pupils apart from their competition. “We wish you all well and remind you that you are always part of the Ashville family, and I look forward Pupils face a lifetime of learning as they prepare and to a time in the hopefully not too distant future when I adapt for professions that may not yet have even am able to remind you of this in person. been invented. I am confident that the advantages “My final wish, for each of you, is that you do not MEET THE an Ashville education provides are unrivalled, a vision let the memories of these difficult times limit the of excellence for all, and I hope that you will visit us potential of your future. There are no limits to what in person to see for yourself the fine community and you can achieve on your journey through life, and I ‘VEEP’ look forward to celebrating your future successes family atmosphere that makes Ashville truly unique. alongside you. I will always be very proud to have been your Headmaster.” IN THIS EDITION OF UPDATE, WE MEET I look forward to welcoming you personally. With very best wishes, THE ‘VEEP’! Richard Marshall Richard Marshall Headmaster Name: Beth Hartwell Headmaster Years at Ashville: 1999-2009 Esse quam videri Favourite Teacher: Mrs Fisher, my Maths A Level teacher Favourite Subject: Biology (which I now teach!) Fondest memory of Ashville: The relationships I made with my closest friends and the love of learning that was fostered. Where did life take you after leaving Ashville? After Ashville I went to Newcastle University and I studied Biology for three years, graduating with a first class honours degree. I then went to work in a research laboratory in London, specialising in genetics. What do you do now? I am currently an Assistant Headteacher in a large secondary school in York. I live in Harrogate and I am renovating a flat in the centre of town.

04 ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Greetings to all of the Ashville family, I am writing this update in splendid isolation FROM THE PRESIDENT in North Northumberland - where I live - becoming increasingly aware of my non- regulation collar length hair! Of course, for many individuals this has been a devastating time, in terms of having family members who have caught the virus and that is before the impact on the economy and the ability for people to travel freely. The health and wellbeing of people is the focus of both the State, individuals and organisations such as Ashville itself; as such it has been reassuring to see our Headmaster Richard Marshall and his senior management team handle themselves in such an excellent way in making huge changes in the face of emerging facts. As your Society President, I have the pleasure to be on the current school Governing Body and also the Committee looking after the Ashville Foundation. The Foundation is a fund of money to help parents and guardians who have suddenly hit hard times in relation to continuing to pay for school fees at Ashville; previously we have received just a few applications per year, usually due to an unexpected death or redundancy, but since Covid-19 we have seen up to 30 enquiries. It would not be wrong to say that the very future of our school and many other private schools has hung in the balance as a way of educating all children has been worked out with a changed economic backdrop, let alone all the practicalities. The school has experienced other healthcare issues over the decades and my time at Ashville saw TB (tuberculosis) and Red Flu, but nothing like this so called one in 100 year viral event. So what is the impact on the Society? Firstly, in March we had a full committee meeting due to be held in the school building on the 14th, and then on 18th a well-attended London gathering was ready to take place in a busy city bar, as it happened both of these events were cancelled with good guidance from the school. I dread to think how I would have felt if somebody had been ill with Coronavirus or worse, after picking it up at the event. As it happens, we have lost past pupils, some before their time, of other death causes and we mark that elsewhere in this update. As a committee we have found the world of WhatsApp and Zoom and in fact our Society AGM will have to take that format this year. Of course that allows more people to be present, to ask questions and to impact on the democracy of our Society. Do please come along or watch at your leisure afterwards as a recording. I am your servant in this Presidential role and despite the virus a new group of current pupils will move into the Society in July as they have in over 140 previous Summer terms……and indeed new ones will start in the Autumn. Well, stay safe, stay well and the phrase ‘we will meet again in happier times’ has never had such strong resonance.

Ian Brown President, Ashvillian Society (OA 76-83)

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The relaxation of the lockdown – and a beautifully calm, sunny day – was the perfect opportunity for Update Editor David Simister to fly his drone over the school campus. We hope you enjoy looking at the photographs and video.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS NOTICE OF THE 121ST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the Hundred and Twenty First Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held online via Zoom video conferencing, commencing at 3.00pm on Saturday 4 July.

AGENDA 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Minutes of the Hundred and Twentieth Annual General Meeting at Ashville College, Harrogate on 6 July 2019 3. Matters Arising from the Minutes 4. The Headmaster’s Report 5. The Honorary Treasurer’s Report 6. The President’s Report 7. Election of Officers 8. Confirmation of Committee Retiring Senior and Deputy Senior Prefect 9. Appointment of an Examiner of the Society’s Accounts 10. Any Other Business Proposal for Collegiate Membership

Kirstin Barnes Honorary Secretary, Ashvillian Society

08 ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020

OLD ASHVILLIAN NEWS OA TOM TAYLOR’S ‘ISOLATION SONG CONTEST’ RAISES NEARLY £40,000 FOR THREE CHARITIES OA NEWS OA

Stars from the world of entertainment came Another OA, David Wilson – Head of Music at Sir together in a lockdown homage to the much-loved Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s The Really Useful Group – annual celebration of song and solidarity that is the wrote the song for drag artist Divina de Campo. , thanks to a former College On the night, Tom launched the contest before Head Prefect. handing over to ‘special guests’ who introduced each The cancellation of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest act ahead of their isolation performance. left a continentally huge cultural gap, but OA Tom Tom said: “I came up with the idea for the Isolation Taylor filled that void with the very first Isolation Song Contest at the end of March and worked around Song Contest. the clock to get it off the ground. The once-in-a-lifetime event – broadcast live on “Everyone involved in the project gave their time YouTube – was raising money for three national and skills for free to help raise as much money as charities that help vulnerable people in need across possible for The Trussell Trust, Crisis and Refuge. the UK - The Trussell Trust, Crisis and Refuge. These are three charities that are doing amazing work Whilst Tom set himself a £5,000 target, he managed supporting vulnerable people through these difficult to raise a total of £38,452! times.” Tom, who is also the promoter and resident compère at the Sitting Room Comedy nights in Harrogate and Tom’s Isolation Song Contest can be watched here: York, asked 14 friends from the world of entertainment, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJCGbIwuSvI including comedy, music and drag, to help him recreate the magic of the Eurovision Song Contest The results show can be viewed here: from the safety of their own homes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1FjP4MInXU Those involved included Sir Cliff Richard, Jason Donovan, , Divina de Campo, Nick Helm, Tim Vine, Måns Zelmerlöw, Josie Long and Neil Hannon. And to help promote the event, Tom roped I came up with the idea for in Graham Norton, Clare Balding, and BBC Radio DJs the Isolation Song Contest , and Sara Cox. at the end of March and After being randomly assigned a country, each worked around the clock to act was given one week to compose an original get it off the ground” Eurovision-style entry and music video for that nation.

TOM TAYLOR

09 ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020

SECTION TITLE VE DAY SPECIAL

With the country commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, we look back three-quarters-of-a-century to when Ashville was in exile.

While our current pupils and staff members marked On the third occasion, again escaping from Austria, the occasion not at school as originally planned, but at he managed to cross the border into Yugoslavia and home, in 1945 the school was celebrating VE Day at a fought alongside Tito’s partisans for several months hotel in the Lakes, which had been its home for almost before falling into enemy hands again. Finally, in 1945, six years. his fourth escape was successful. At the outbreak of war in September 1939, Ashville Coincidentally, one of Ashville’s Masters during this was requisitioned by the Air Ministry, leaving the then period was Charles Pleasance, uncle of actor Donald Headmaster, Joe Lancaster, to find a suitable location Pleasence, who played Flight Lieutenant Colin Blythe for ‘Ashville in Exile’. “The Forger” in the 1963 Hollywood blockbuster, The Great Escape. After surveying several different options where the school could be evacuated to, he plumped for the Ten OAs were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Hydro Hotel, in Bowness-on-Windermere, where in the Second World War, including Flight Lieutenant pupils and staff remained until 1946. Erik Hetherington, who died defending the island of Malta. While collegiate life went on in the Lakes, former pupils were fighting for ‘King and Country’. A total Compared with other schools during this time, of 61 Old Ashvillians were killed in action between Ashville fared well. Though few in number, those 1939 and 1945, including five members of the school’s who journeyed from school to the Hydro Hotel still hockey team that had toured Germany in 1938. remember the first day in their new surroundings - of crates of eggs purchased from farms between One of those to die in the Second World War was Harrogate and Windermere, so that the boys could Surgeon Lieutenant Commander SK Foster, who have something to eat when they arrived, and of the attended Ashville between 1916 and 1921. He was the trips to the Chestnut Tree Café before the kitchen youngest brother of OA Second Lieutenant R Foster, was organised. of the Royal Flying Corps, who died in the First World War. There were 171 boys in residence in the autumn term of 1939, which soon rose to 208 boarders and half a Their names – and those of all former pupils and staff dozen day boys. Sports fixtures suffered due to a lack members lost in both conflicts - are engraved with of pitches, and also a lack of opposition when petrol pride on the school’s war memorial, which stands rationing stopped all but a limited amount of travel. sentinel outside the Memorial Hall. However, Scouts and Cubs, the Army Cadet Force, and No fewer than 29 Old Ashvillians were captured and the ATC (Army Training Corps) all flourished. made prisoners of war in camps located in Germany, But coming back home to Harrogate they found Austria, Italy, Libya, Borneo, China, Java and Burma. Ashville “unkempt and uncared for, and Elmfield House Bill “Lulu” Lawton was incarcerated in the infamous whose floorboards were rotting, to a swimming bath Colditz Castle. For his part, the Captain in the Duke of overgrown with weeds”. In other words, seven years of Wellington’s Regiment became the camp’s Assistant total neglect. Despite this, Mr Lancaster and his staff Escape Officer, and featured prominently in The began restoring the school back to its former glory. Colditz Story, written by Pat Reid MBE. In his book A History of Ashville and the Ashvillian William Surtees was a serial escaper, managing to Society, OA Bill Booth, the Society’s Honorary slip captivity four times. The first was from a Cretan Archivist – from which much of the above is taken - stockade, where he evaded capture for just three days. concluded: “Despite the war years being beset with The second was from a camp in Austria. This time he problems Ashville conquered them all.” was on the run for ten days before being picked up.

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ASHVILLE 1939-45

OA Donald Halstead Remembers VE Day 1945 As the editors of the Radio Times say, “Most of us won’t remember VE Day. Some who do...were barely in short trousers at the time.” That certainly applied to me, then a nine-year- old schoolboy living in Thorne, a mining and ship-building community near Doncaster. (Tugs for the Admiralty were built on the banks of the canal, launched sideways and sailed towards the Humber and the North Sea.)

My father, Ernest, became the Methodist minister forces, of the liberation of Belsen, of Mussolini’s death at Thorne at the beginning of September 1944, just on 28 April, followed by that of Hitler on 30 April. By three months after D Day. At the same time, he also late on 1 May the BBC Monitoring Service had heard became a visiting chaplain at RAF Lindholme, by the news from Berlin and immediately relayed it to then a training and operational base for the UK. During the following days there must have heavy bombers. been an increasing sense of things coming to a head, with surrenders being formalised and leading onto There were no school meals or even somewhere to the VE Day celebrations. eat sandwiches, so lunch meant a brisk mile-long walk in each direction and a hurried meal, all in little To be honest, I cannot claim any precise memories more than an hour. For a long time, one even had to of that day. Over the decades since I have heard and carry your gas mask in its cardboard case as seen so many replays, I no longer know which are my essential luggage. memories and what is overlaid by other sights and sounds. The one thing I can be certain about is, from So, at 12.15pm on 6 June 1944, a fine but overcast my father’s records of 60 years of preaching, that day morning as I remember it, I was rushing up Markham in the chapel at Thorne he took as his text Romans Road, the hill that led to the Manse, hot and sticky, 12:15: “Rejoice with those that rejoice; weep with them when halfway up our next door neighbour suddenly that weep.” A timely reminder not only of triumph erupted through her garden gate and smothered but of sacrifice, not dissimilar to the thoughts George me in her capacious bosom. She was practically VI broadcast that evening. Talking to Christine hysterical and could only keep on exclaiming Sutherby, now the minister in charge of the Thorne “They’ve landed, they’ve landed, they’ve landed Methodist cause, she felt that text quite appropriate ....”. After a moment I managed to extricate myself to the situation existing today. and, scared out of my wits, ran the rest of the way to burst through our kitchen door and yell out that VE Day would have been a welcome day off from a “The Germans are coming!” Fortunately, my parents rather rough primary school where I found it difficult had heard the news, possibly on the radio via John to fit in; dogged by my lifelong bronchial problems, Snagge’s announcement, and calmed me down with so not able to play games, no Yorkshire accent, father the correct interpretation of “They’ve landed”. a clergyman, and so on. But I am sure we would have heard the 3pm broadcast by Winston Churchill, the I spent much time over the following months 9pm broadcast by George VI, and in between the studying the war reports in the News Chronicle with national rejoicing caught on BBC radio by reporters its maps and photographs, trying to understand such as Richard Dimbleby, and even Tommy Trinder. what was happening ‘over there’. My youngest uncle was in the signals and, judging by the cryptic clues Best wishes to everyone on this significant he sometimes slipped past the censors in letters anniversary. home, he was somewhere around Belgium and the Ardennes, so another cause of interest. Written by Donald Halstead As the pace built up in the early spring of 1945, by (OA 46-54) late April there was news of the advancing Allied (now aged 84 - and very conscious of that!)

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COLLEGE MARKED VE DAY 75 WITH SECTION TITLE SERIES OF ONLINE ‘SPECIALS’

Ashville celebrated the 75th anniversary of VE Day – and honoured the memory of those OAs killed in the Second World War - with a series of special online performances.

Originally the College – which was evacuated to a significance of the war graves located in Harrogate’s hotel in the Lake District for the duration of the war – Stonefall Cemetery. was due to organise a variety of activities, shows and Max also informed his audience about the virtual wall displays on campus, but these were moved online. of remembrance that the CWGC launched and how Director of Music, Anna Wilby, worked on two VE Day- the wider Ashville family can post tributes on it. themed musical performances, which were shared And when school does finally return, there will be with the residents and staff of local care homes and a prominent display garnered from the school’s on the school’s social media platforms. extensive archive collection, including a Distinguished One of the projects that Miss Wilby created was a Flying Cross, together with an accompanying letter special recording of the wartime classic, We’ll Meet from King George VI, awarded to former pupil Donald Again, featuring the voices of a large number of pupils, Checklin. parents and staff singing the chorus. Headmaster Richard Marshall said: “As well as Year 9 pupils used their creative writing lessons to pen celebrating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of pieces about VE Day and pupils across the College Europe, we also remembered those 61 Old Ashvillians were encouraged to make bunting for the bank killed in action. holiday. “Whilst our original plans were to mark this important OA Max Dutton, Interpretation Officer and Historian milestone during lessons and with a number of special for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission events, displays and activities, we are moving many of (CWGC), recorded a special VE Day virtual lecture these online. for pupils, which examined a number of key themes, “I would like to thank all those who have helped including why it’s important we remember this day achieve this, in particular Miss Wilby and Max Dutton, and honour the memory of those who fought and died for their superb contributions. I think the words to in the Second World War, the impact the war had on We’ll Meet Again have never been so fitting!” Ashville and those casualties from the school, and the

To watch the VE Day special video of We’ll Meet Again, performed by Ashville pupils and staff, click ‘Play’.

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ASHVILLE 1939-45

SUPPORTING YOUR ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY

Support for the work of the Society by our Old Ashvillians is much appreciated. You can give either through one-off or regular gifts. Standing orders for annual giving can usually be set up with your bank online, by phone, or by visiting a branch using our details below.

The Ashvillian Society Barclays Bank Sort code: 20-76-92 Account number: 53665240

We suggest £25 per annum for regular gifts, but any amount is welcome! Funds go towards a range of causes including sponsoring Society events, reunions and displays to celebrate the life and contribution of the Society. The Society is also happy to support the work of the Ashville Foundation. Please email the current Honorary Treasurer Nick Breton with any questions at [email protected] Many thanks to those who have contributed this year!

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SECTION TITLE COLTS 1937 FEATURES

Many thanks to OA James Cooper (73-79) for sending in this wonderful photograph of the 1937 Ashville Colts X1 Cricket Team, in which his father, the late Reg Cooper, played. Signatures of the squad are included on the reverse of the photograph. If you have any photos of you at Ashville, please do email us a copy and we will be delighted to share them with the wider Ashville community.

Email: [email protected]

OA Tony Williams shares his memories from six decades ago when Asian Flu forced the College’s closure.

Such was the number of pupils and staff stricken with Asian Tony, who, on leaving Ashville followed in his father’s Flu – which during the course of 1957 and 1958 claimed the footsteps and spent more than 60 years in the banking lives of up two million people worldwide – Headmaster Joe industry, added: “After a few days the numbers afflicted with Lancaster was left with no option but to shut the school in the flu overwhelmed the school and our parents were asked the first weeks of the 1957 Autumn term. to come and collect us and take us home. As well as pupils, the teachers were coming down with it too. However, the disruption was relatively short lived, and pupils returned to Ashville a few weeks later to resume their studies. “Normally, I would travel home by train via Leeds and Whilst the current crop of pupils have benefitted from the Carnforth, but on this occasion my father, who worked in the advancement in technology, allowing them to attend lessons bank in Arnside, had to get a day off at very short notice to virtually during the current lockdown, this wasn’t the case in collect me. the late 1950s. “Our vintage 1930s Austin Heavy 12/4 was not used to long or The first case of Asian Flu - considered to have been the least difficult journeys. It certainly could not tackle Blubberhouses severe of the three influenza pandemics of the 20th Century Moor, so we went via Ilkley and Otley. In those days there – emerged in the Guizhou Province of southwestern China in was no Settle by-pass and we had to get up speed to have a February 1957, before spreading worldwide and reaching the good run at Bucker Brow. UK in May of that year. “We stopped at the top to replenish the steaming radiator Tony Williams, who was 16 at the time, said that all boarders with water which my father had brought in bottles from at the independent school showing symptoms were home, and we had spam sandwiches made by my mother. immediately quarantined in one boarding house within the From door to door the journey took about four hours. main school building. “Not long after returning to school I contracted Tony, whose home was in the Lancashire village of Silverdale Osteomyelitis, and was taken into Harrogate General Hospital. near the then Westmorland border, said: “As the pandemic Over the course of three weeks I had 96 antibiotic injections took hold, it was decided that all of those with symptoms in my bottom and an operation which involved drilling holes should be moved into Briggs House, located in the main in either side of my ankle to drain off infected bone marrow. school building. The dormitories had rows of beds, not unlike those in a Crimean hospital ward. “Had they not done this I would probably have lost my foot. This was my last year at Ashville and it’s one I will never “I suffered from asthma at the time, and in addition to forget.” wheezing I also began coughing and sneezing. This led to me being sent to join the other patients in quarantine. “Unlike now, where the majority are ‘day pupils’ and Tony Williams is boarders come from all over the world, there were very pictured on the few non-boarding pupils at Ashville in those days and most left in 2016 with predominantly lived in Yorkshire and the North West. former classmate, His Honour Judge “I remember it well. However, unlike Coronavirus I don’t Stephen Lloyd, think there was any fear. After all, we were just young lads. at an Ashvillian There was laughter and jokes and we used to listen to Radio Society drinks Luxembourg. Guy Mitchell was very big at the time. reception at the House of Commons “I also vividly recall hearing a BBC broadcast from Little Rock, Arkansas, which was engulfed in race riots due to segregation.” 14 ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020 CORRESPONDENCE

Sir, I was interested to read Tony Williams’ account of the Flu epidemic at Ashville in 1957-58. I was visiting my brother Neil LETTERS Adamson (N T Adamson) only last week and he mentioned (from a safe distance) the flu epidemic and the main school dorms being taken over as an extended sanitorium. He was a day boy at the time and I think left in 1959 when he was a sub-prefect. He remembers helping out in some way but can’t remember how. I speculated that he was handing out cigarettes to the desperate inmates but he denied this suggestion, but he does remember the school being shut down. My brother went on to the University of Leeds where he studied law and had a successful law practice in Harrogate for many years. He has since retired.

Douglas Adamson (OA, 61-65) PS: My only claim to fame during my blank academic sojourn at the school was having a modest role in the school play, Julius Caesar, where fellow thespian, the celebrated Jim Carter, was ‘3rd man in a crowd’. What the heck happened to my acting career, I frequently ask myself?

Addendum - Despite Douglas’ failure to tread the boards, he had a successful career in advertising and marketing, initially as a copywriter, and eventually the owner of a number of businesses. He still works on occasional assignments and has published a couple of comedic crime novels and is about to complete a third. Former Headmaster Ron Southam wrote on one of his school reports that his suggestion that he might become a journalist was greeted with disdain, and Douglas quotes: ‘was not his idea’. Such was his encouragement. Douglas added: “Career advice at the school back in the mid-sixties was cursory to non-existent. Thankfully, today, matters are greatly improved.”

Sir, Sir, As well as Japanese, I have passed as French On VE Day I was 13, and unfortunately have no Interpreter, German Linguist and have a First from memory of it. The morning after D Day I remember the University of Westminster in Spanish for Military Joe Lancaster (Headmaster) putting on the radio Purposes. I have never had an Italian lesson in my life in the dining room for us to hear that a landing had but can speak it reasonably well, provided the other been made on the coast of, I think he said Europe. But person speaks slowly and clearly and avoids figurative as I said, no memory of VE Day. In the next issue of language. Update, could you ask if any other oldies are suffering from amnesia on this point, or is it just me with other Because of its rarity value, the Japanese was my things on my mind that day? principal claim to fame during my Naval service, though on one occasion when I was based in the Regards Ministry of Defence, the Naval Assistant to the First Barry Cross (OA, 40-50) Sea Lord (not the same one I escorted in Japan, who was Admiral Lord West) rang me up and said: “Peter, could you get yourself down here immediately? First has got a visitor from the Peruvian Navy and they do not have any language in common!” It was the work of a minute to go from the sixth floor to the fifth to act as interpreter between Admiral Sir George Zambellas and Rear Admiral Romero of the Peruvian Navy. Saluti distinti, Peter Nicholson (OA, 57-65)

The image shows Peter earning his pay during the visit of the Japan Training Squadron to Portsmouth in 2013; he is the Lieutenant Commander on the left of the photo. The Japanese Captain on the right was the Naval Attaché at the time.

15 ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020 CORRESPONDENCE APPRECIATIONS

Sir, Great to hear what Ashville is planning for 8 May. I did look up the various records of Ashville’s 1945 VE Day, as written up in Dolly Coper’s memories and in the 125-year celebration book. I imagine those bits are now available online somewhere? Haven’t yet had time to look... I compiled the scribblings that follow for Rabbit’s friends and relations, as well as for ex-Marconi colleagues. Hopefully they are self-explanatory. They are out to a fairly wide circulation, including the minister now leading Thorne Methodists! I hope you enjoy looking at them, especially the rather special postscript, an absolutely genuine memory of the Day itself. Please feel free to make any use of them you choose; there are no restrictions. Here’s to a splendid Day of celebration and of remembrance. Yours, Don Halstead (OA, 46-54)

APPRECIATIONS

Remembering Patrick Burke

I have tried to keep in touch with some Harrogate his brother at one of our Christmas Drinks Receptions. OAs who became a big part of my life when I was the The cabinet has pride of place in the Richardson OA Secretary. Patrick was the first OA I met, and he Room. Both Patrick Burke and David Hill became good gave the book mentioned in John Lawton’s tribute to friends of mine and I was so very saddened to hear of Patrick (which is now in the Ashville Library) to the Patrick’s passing. David and Patrick attended all of the former Headmaster, Mark Lauder, just before I took events in Harrogate during my time as OA Secretary, up the post of Society Secretary, along with some including the Somme Anniversary dinner. cricket pictures from his time at Ashville. I invited Patrick in to chat and I’d like to think we became Lynn Conway, former Society Secretary friends. I interviewed him and the piece, along with some pictures, was one of my very first pieces in the Update magazine. He introduced me to his fellow OA friends and I used to meet them in Wetherspoons on the first Thursday of every other month for coffee and reminiscing - it was a pure joy. Many of them returned to our Christmas soirées - they were a joyous group. And had been quite naughty too - we referred to them as The Ash Villains! They also came with their wives to our Celebration weekend events, and David Hill, another member of this group, was the first OA to buy an OA blazer! They were a very loyal group and even invited my son and me to their annual Christmas lunch in Scotton. I felt honoured. Patrick was the brother of Mike Burke, former Archivist and fellow OA. Patrick unveiled a cabinet in honour of

16 ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020 FURTHER APPRECIATIONS

after school to make sure the orphanage boys did not APPRECIATIONS Patrick and I started at Ashville dismantle our efforts when they returned from their more or less at the same time school. Patrick was a good cricketer, excelling at bowling and and we became very good he played for the local Cardinals team, playing matches friends, both in and out of in different parts of Yorkshire to a high standard. We visited Headingley to watch county matches. When school. Even in our very young played in Leeds, the home side and the opposition both stayed in Harrogate hotels, besieged days, he was a born organiser by autograph hunters, including Patrick and myself. as well as a keen sportsman. Patrick did his National Service in the RAF; one of the highlights was playing rugby for his unit in Gibraltar in Our out of school activities included setting up our front of a crowd of some 40,000. This earned him a railway club, a cricket team and a football team. We write-up in the local Harrogate paper. even had our own cricket pitch in a field adjoining his parent’s home on Pannal Ash Road. Entirely unofficial He followed his father into insurance, with his work of course, as the land belonged at the time to a local taking him away from Harrogate and although we kept orphanage, a Barnardo’s home. in touch, it was not until his return to his roots that we met up again. I know he was delighted to be back on We built our own version of a pavilion with wood planks home territory, and we were able to reminisce about sourced and carried from various parts of Harrogate. I our youth. He will be sadly missed. can still see us as young boys of 12 years old carrying wooden planks from as far afield as Woodlands, a Adrian Gange (OA, 49-55) three-mile trek across the Harrogate Stray. Not quite as good as Lords or Headingley, but we were very proud of our efforts. We had to dash from Ashville

He was successful in business and an enthusiastic Patrick was my friend and the athlete! As a cricketer he toured England as the captain brother that I never had! of the Cardinals, an amateur cricket club. Patrick told me many wonderful colourful stories about this motley We’ve known each other for over 70 years however we crew, but let us just say they had a lot of fun. He was lived most of our lives separated by two continents, also the Captain of this golf club when he lived in Patrick lived in England and I lived in America. Crowborough near Tunbridge Wells and dedicated much time and effort promoting the club and bringing Our first meeting was in the summer of 1949, I was in many new members; as always he gave his all. enrolled in Clifton House Prep School and it was the summer holidays. Martin Dubell and I wanted to He was the Regional Manager of the Midland Bank, practise cricket so off we went to the Clifton sports for the South of England for many years. Later when field directly behind the Harrogate cricket grounds. he retired he wrote a book about the art of public When we arrived two other guys were on our pitch speaking, unfortunately the title escapes me, but and not from Clifton. As arrogant, territorial ten year Patrick always had the innate ability to communicate olds we confronted them! “What are you doing on our with people on every level. He shared his knowledge, pitch!” we shouted. enthusiasm and humour in the lectures that he gave all over England. “What does it look like we are doing?” said one of them. “Playing cricket of course.” That person was Patrick I left England in 1960 and emigrated to America. Patrick Burke and with a friendly smile on his face invited us to and I didn’t see each other often but we stayed in touch join in the game. We have been friends ever since. for most of those 70 years. When we did get together he would delight in recalling irreverent nicknames We spent many early years together as schoolmates that we gave to our schoolmates and our masters at at Ashville College and I observed how his warmth and Ashville. Names like Peg Leg, Skinny and Dizzy for our generosity made him excel in so many ways. His ability mates, and Dracula, Mothy Moore and Nous Nous for to smooth out conflict with grace and fairness made the masters. We would laugh for hours. him popular and successful throughout his entire life. That was Patrick? John Lawton (OA, 50-56) 17 ‘May the souls of the ‘May the through departed, of God, and mercy love and rise in peace rest in glory.’ We extend our love and sympathy to Margaret’s family family Margaret’s to and sympathy our love extend We friends. her many and to Barker Dr David Chaplain, Rev College Ashville He also became a keen golfer and loved to go fishing to and loved golfer keen He also became a James in physics, a degree achieving After in life. later where with his family Zimbabwe, Harare, to emigrated everything James loved a GP. become to he studied but short, battle brave, a very and endured about life the end of at away passing cancer, with pancreatic children, and Lorraine behind his wife April. He leaves and Claudia. Tom .

JAMES HILL JAMES OA Margaret, the widow of Les Smith, was a staunch a staunch Smith, was of Les the widow Margaret, of the and in particular of all things Ashville, supporter Singers for Music Department. She sang in the Ashville in rehearsals, a cheerful presence and was years many of humour quiet and unique brand adding her own a true and She was the proceedings. and charm to the College. friend to loyal a musical tribute Department has created Music The here which can be viewed Margaret, to It is with great sadness that I that sadness It is with great of the news bring you to have of Margaret Covid-19 from death friend to a great Smith, who was years. many many, for Ashville MARGARET SMITH Smith) Leslie teacher, chemistry of former (Widow We regret to announce the announce to regret We Head of former passing James (86-87) Prefect 1968. A Hill, born “Jimmy” Briggs House, member of in all James participated (1980- life of Ashville areas but had a particular 1987), involving sport, for passion and himself in the rugby his throughout teams cricket the becoming school career, XI whilst captain of the first Sixth taking on in the Lower keeper. of wicket the role Summer 2020 • Summer 69 • ISSUE UPDATE SOCIETY ASHVILLIAN 18 APPRECIATIONSSECTION TITLE ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020

OA EUAN LONDON

We are sad to report the death of OA Euan London, position in the Ashville 1st XV Rugby Team, and a who attended Ashville during the late 70s and early valued member of the 1st XI Cricket Team. 80s, who passed away on 30 August 2019, aged 53 years, at Saint Michael’s Hospice, in Harrogate. Euan A tribute to Euan from Nidderdale Cricket League was a prolific sportsman, playing in the number 8 can be found here. APPRECIATIONS

OA MIKE HINE OBITUARY

At the end of last year, we learned the sad news of the death of OA Mike Hine. Mike was incredibly well-known in the town, primarily through his work promoting Harrogate as a tourist destination.

The Harrogate Advertiser paid a full tribute to him, which can be read here.

FROM THE ARCHIVES In addition to looking at today’s campus from the air, we thought we would share these photographs of earlier aerial shots of Ashville. Whilst unsure of the dates, they show not just how the land occupied by the College has been developed over the decades, but the surrounding landscape too. If you have any photographs of the old College that you would be willing to share with us, we would love to receive them. Please email them to [email protected]

19 ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020

SILVER SCREEN WIN OA LEWIS ROBINSON WINS BIG AT

NEWS HARROGATE FILM FESTIVAL

An OA has proved there’s more than one Lewis Lewis is not the only talented film maker to have winning major titles! been schooled at Ashville. The late Tony Richardson - who was married to Glenda Jackson and had two For Lewis Robinson (OA 09-15) - whose brother, Finlay daughters with her, Natasha and Joely Richardson (OA 09-16) happens to be a competitive motor sports - won two Academy Awards for directing and driver – has scooped the “Audience Choice Award” at producing comedy film Tom Jones (1963). this year’s Harrogate Film Festival – a competition that has worldwide reach. Among stars that he directed were Orson Welles, Rob Lowe, Milton Berle, Trevor Howard, David Hemmings, His film, ‘Addiction’, was voted for by the audiences Lynn Redgrave, Marianne Faithfull, Richard Burton, that attend the Festival across the two days of the Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Mick Jagger, short film competition, and was mainly made up of a Katharine Hepburn, Tommy Lee Jones and Judi Dench. Harrogate cast and crew – with the film also shot in his native Harrogate. Adam Chandler, Managing Director of the Festival, said of Lewis’ award: “Holding our fourth straight filmmakers’ competition with ten screenings was amazing! We welcomed filmmakers from across the globe and it was a pleasure having everyone. “For a local filmmaker to win our Audience Choice Award is a massive hat off to Lewis and something Harrogate should be very proud of, with our town’s creative and digital sectors thriving!” Lewis said: “I am extremely proud to have won the Audience Choice Award at the Harrogate Film Festival. It was an incredible honour to share the film with an audience on the BIG SCREEN at Everyman, and it means a lot to hear the positive reaction this award represents.”

A link to an interview Lewis gave to the Yorkshire Post newspaper can be found here.

BY GEORGE! IT’S MR WISE!

As well as looking back at photographs of past pupils, it’s only fitting we feature the College’s teaching staff, past and present. We have found this of former biology teacher and housemaster, George Wise, which we suspect was taken in the early 1980s. If you are pictured with George, please do let us know and perhaps you can name all the pupils featured?

20 ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020

TAKING A DIP INTO THE PAST Attached are two photographs of the school swimming pool – one taken three years ago and the other some five or six decades ago.

Sadly, because of the College’s temporary closure due FEATURES to COVID-19, we were unable to interrogate the archives to get an exact date. Hopefully some OA will be able to assist us. Perhaps there are some of our readers who were there at the completion of its construction. If so, please do get in touch.

but an international one. Viewers will also be able to ask CWGC’S LATEST LIVE questions before and during the broadcast. “And whilst in lockdown, we are also giving information on SERIES KICKED OFF BY how people can go on virtual tours of war graves sites by using free online resources like Google Maps, the National OA MAX DUTTON Archives and the National Library of Scotland.” In the four-and-a-half-month Somme campaign, 29 OA Max Dutton (OA 03-10) virtually explored one of the Ashville alumni were killed in action, with five falling on the bloodiest battles of the First World War when he launched very first day. the new series of CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) Live. One of the Ashvillians to die on the first day was 25-year- old Second-Lieutenant Arthur Spencer. A member of the Broadcast on Facebook, the Interpretation Officer and cricket and football teams while at school and a keen Historian shared his in-depth knowledge of the Battle of mechanics enthusiast, he was killed while leading his men the Somme, as well as talking about some of the iconic across No Man’s Land, where, as his Commanding Officer cemeteries and memorials maintained by the Commission later wrote, “He did his duty as a soldier and a gentleman.” on the former battlefields. Fifteen per cent of those former pupils and teachers who After leaving Ashville in 2010, Max went to the University of enlisted and fought never made it home. Brighton to study Humanities: War, Conflict and Modernity. He did his undergraduate dissertation on Ashville during The Somme even led to a change in the school’s official the First World War, then went to King’s College, London, magazine, which, after summer 1916, replaced its triumphal to take an MA in War Studies. poems and nationalism with obituaries and a segment named Ashville and the War, about the Ashville alumni, at Max, who started working for the CWGC in 2014, said: “The the front. Battle of the Somme, which began at 7.30am on 1 July 1916, was one of the bloodiest and most infamous battles of the war. “The first day is especially sombre in British military history, as 57,470 British soldiers were killed or wounded in only 24 hours of combat against the German Army. “During my CWGC Live broadcast, I’ll be taking viewers on a virtual tour of the battle, examining key dates and outcomes, and introducing viewers to some of the iconic cemeteries and memorials to the British and Commonwealth servicemen maintained by the Commission.” Max added: “The CWGC Live series is broadcast on Ashville War Expert, CWGC Interpretation Officer Facebook, and attracts not only a national audience, and Historian Max Dutton 21 ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020

IT’S WRITTEN IN THE STARS! SECTION TITLE OA and former Yorkshire Cricketer, Peter Whiteley, selects 12 County teams NEWS based on players’ zodiac signs.

OA Peter Whiteley has been using the Covid lockdown to select 12 sides based on the star signs of past and present Yorkshire County Cricket Club first team players. The former Yorkshire off-spinner and President-elect of the Yorkshire CCC Players’ Association, studied all 673 players who have played first-class cricket, or its equivalent, listed in the Yorkshire CCC Handbook.

Peter’s 12 choices – and his verdict of each team – can be found here.

A NEW ADDITION TO ASHVILLE HELEN STROUD

INTRODUCING ASHVILLE’S NEW DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND ALUMNI RELATIONS In October 2019, Helen Stroud was appointed the new Director of Marketing, Communications and Alumni Relations for Ashville.

Helen has a varied marketing background in both the private and public sector. Prior to joining Ashville, she worked at the University of Leeds for six years as part of the international marketing team where she was responsible for market development, student recruitment and alumni relations for the regions of Latin and North America. As part of her role, Helen built strong relationships with alumni and arranged alumni events both in the UK and overseas. While originally from Merseyside, Helen has formed a close bond with Yorkshire over the years; first moving to Leeds in 2006 for university and then to Harrogate in 2014, she now has a strong connection with the town and local community. Moving forward, Helen is keen to meet with Old Ashvillians in person at the next event, following the unfortunate cancellation of the London Spring drinks event that was due to be held in March.

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OA PETER NICHOLSON RECALLS HOW A CAREERS INTERVIEW SET HIM ON COURSE TO STUDY JAPANESE AT THE SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL AND AFRICAN STUDIES NEWS

It was Mr Jack Symmons who, as Careers Master When he told me I should study a language that most in addition to his main role as a teacher of History, English people would not contemplate, he didn’t mean suggested to me that I should read Japanese at something highly academic like Sanskrit, Cambodian university. Before I went to Ashville at the age of ten, or Tibetan, he meant something with a clear I had never heard a word in any foreign language; if commercial value – which led to the shortlist of four. you had told me that the French word for ‘yes’ was My final choice was Japanese, and I accordingly ‘oui’, I would have assumed that you looked it up in the undertook a four-year course in October 1965 at dictionary under ‘w’. Then in autumn 1957, they started the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), me off with French (under Mr Jack Ingham) and Latin University of London. (under Mr Adcock). It was instantly obvious that I had a gift, previously unsuspected, for languages; It was a purely commercial decision – I had no I never did any work and got 20 out of 20 at each thoughts at the time of becoming a Naval Officer. weekly test, and moreover could not understand why That was sparked off by a university flat mate coming the other fellows were making such heavy weather home with a Naval Officer’s uniform; of course, at the of it. I won the Languages Prize (which is still on my age of 73 I am now long retired, but for a quarter of bookshelf) at the end of my first year. a century, if the Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord typed into his computer, “Japanese-speaking, security- When at the age of 16 I went in for my careers cleared Naval officer”, only one name would ever interview with Mr Symmons, he asked me first of pop up. all what I intended to read at university. When I responded, “Languages, Sir!”, he said, “I don’t think As well as being sent by the Royal Navy four times you’ve really thought this through. If you read to Japan, I also escorted no fewer than four Chiefs of French, or German, or Spanish or whatever, the day Naval Staff (Japan) on their visits to the UK, and many you graduate you will be one among perhaps three Japanese delegations visiting the Farnborough Air thousand others with the same qualification – where Show and the International Defence Equipment Fair will your uniqueness be?” at the Excel Centre. So that advice from Mr Symmons influenced my whole Naval career! He said that I should go for a language that most Englishmen would not contemplate – we narrowed Peter Nicholson it down to Russian, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese. (OA 57-65)

Peter Nicholson pictured with his wife, Hisako

23 ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020

COLLEGE NEWS

Creativity and technology at the heart of the College’s innovative homeschooling arts lessons

‘Lockdown lessons’ in the arts have been thriving at Now finished, the class is doing a virtual read-through the College - thanks to a combination of creativity whereby the pupils – who sit their GCSEs next year and technology. - are recording their own lines into a shared studio project app. This sparked some great ideas for Whilst some schools have found it difficult to remotely physical theatre work using the recorded voices when teach arts subjects, the sudden and unexpected they return to the actual drama studio. advent of homeschooling has seen the College’s heads of music, drama and art exploring new and exciting The use of this app has also inspired Mr Boyd to methods to teach their pupils. develop some practical group work with his Year 9 classes. Pupils have started a new topic of ‘Theatre Since the start of lockdown, Director of Music, in Education’ and they have worked individually to Anna Wilby, has become an expert in online music research relevant and appropriate subjects for a show production, which has helped her pupils to make and to their Year 5 counterparts. record a number of songs as a ‘virtual choir’ marking VE Day, including We’ll Meet Again, and A Nightingale Since its completion, Mr Boyd is hosting video Sang in Berkeley Square for the opening of the town’s conference lessons with each class and teaching them NHS Nightingale Hospital. DVDs of the recordings the conventions of radio drama. Following this, they were delivered to two local care homes to help will be writing a radio play for Year 5s and recording entertain residents. See the video here. their input remotely as groups. Miss Wilby also led the performance of You Will Be Elsewhere in the Art department, Upper Sixth pupils Found, from the musical Dear Evan Hansen, which was have delighted the Head of Art, Simon Brook, by the pupils’ chosen finale for this year’s Headmaster’s deciding to complete their exam pieces – which were concert, that has been unfortunately cancelled due to deemed no longer necessary by the exam board - for restrictions on social gatherings. This video also had their own personal satisfaction and reward, and to a fitting message for Mental Health Awareness Week finish their coursework in style. 2020, the week in which it was launched. See the A ‘Pinterest’ board - created before the lockdown video here. and which now has 1,200 followers – is being used for Meanwhile, under the direction of Head of Drama, Karl them to post different aspects of their work, and for Boyd, Year 10 pupils have devised their exam piece Mr Brook and his art department colleagues, to offer and have worked collaboratively to write the script on both formative assessment and feedback. a shared Microsoft Word Document.

College signs up to the #SafeSchools initiative The College has joined a select band of other Schools can adhere to this voluntary code, if they independent schools to join the #SafeSchools guarantee to adopt all appropriate measures to ensure initiative. that their boarding school is a safe environment for pupils and staff. This group of independent schools and other key sector organisations aims to ensure the safety of all In line with these requirements, Ashville College – pupils and staff as schools begin to reopen across which reopened on Monday 1 June, to pupils from the UK, following closures due to the coronavirus Reception, Years 1-6 and to pupils in Year 10 and pandemic. Lower Sixth on 15 June – put in place a number of health, safety and wellbeing measures. As part of their pledge, all members have adopted the Boarding Schools’ Association’s (BSA’s) Covid-Safe These included permitting pupils to wear face masks Charter that was established on 26 May. in school, undertaking daily temperature checks

24 Continued overleaf ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020

SUMMER 2020

on pupils and staff on arrival, establishing social “By doing this, we are sending out a clear signal that distancing measures in classrooms and across the we are doing everything in our power to minimise any College, and sourcing appropriate PPE for staff who risk of infection for the returning year groups. require it. “An extensive risk assessment has been undertaken, It also instigated additional measures for its and detailed plans are now in place, giving parents the international boarding pupils, ensuring they have a reassurance they rightly need to confidently send their safe transition whether they are returning to or joining sons and daughters back to Ashville.” the Ashville boarding community for the first time. In addition to the above measures, Ashville College is Further information about how Ashville has committed to providing regular and timely updates to committed to adhering to the BSA’s Covid-Safe all parents and guardians. Charter can be found here To find out more about the #SafeSchools initiative, Although this is a voluntary code of conduct, any visit here school choosing to adopt the Charter must guarantee to meet all of the strict requirements. College Headmaster Richard Marshall said: “The health and safety of our pupils and staff is our number one priority, hence us signing up to the BSA’s Covid-Safe Charter.

COLLEGE MAKES KEY SPORTS DEPARTMENT SIGNING The start of the Summer Term saw Dominic Bradburne – a Leeds Beckett Carnegie graduate – join the College as Director of Sport, after four years heading up the PE department of an independent school in Shropshire.

Dominic’s arrival came on the back of two other recent key signings made by Ashville, as it looks to further enhance its sporting reputation. In January 2019, former American professional basketball player Voise Winters - who at the height of his career faced Michael Jordan on the court – became the school’s first basketball coach. And last September, Gary Mercer, a former New Zealand international, became its first Head of Rugby. As an ‘all-rounder’, Dominic has played cricket for various teams in the Shropshire Premier League, Birmingham League, and represented Shropshire at all age groups; played football for Shrewsbury Town, Kidderminster Harriers and Hereford United; and rugby for Shrewsbury Rugby Club and Church Stretton Samurais. Dominic said: “I’m relishing the opportunities and challenges that becoming Ashville’s new Director of Sport will give me. The facilities are second to none and I have joined a great team that is the PE department.” Dominic, who is married with two young children, added: “I’m happy about the move up north to ‘God’s own county’, where we can take Oscar, the family Labrador, for wonderful walks in the Yorkshire Dales and make a new family home in this beautiful part of the world.”

25 ASHVILLIAN SOCIETY UPDATE • ISSUE 69 • Summer 2020

COLLEGE NEWS

ASHVILLE ‘BUSY BEES’ MAKE SCRUBS AND OTHER PPE FOR HARROGATE CARE HOME STAFF

A group of support staff from the College – including former Society Secretary Lynn Conway - have been making scrubs and other personal protective equipment (PPE) for two of the town’s care homes.

The six ‘Busy Bees’ have set up a volunteer group to Ashville Busy Bee Caroline Beer said: “With additional make the items for Heath Lodge, on Pannal Ash Road, time on our hands, we wanted to do something that and Berwick Grange, on Wetherby Road. could assist those working in the care sector, hence forming the Busy Bees. Additionally, the community-spirited staff members have also created story time materials for the “We chose to support these care homes as Ashville Woodlands children’s ward at Harrogate District has long-standing relationships with them, and those Hospital. This follows Ashville College itself donating working in the nation’s care homes are in need of around 200 pairs of safety glasses from its science PPE just as much as the nurses and doctors in our department to frontline hospital staff treating patients hospitals are. with coronavirus. “We all bring different skills to the mix and our pooled The volunteers are led by Caroline Beer, Matron at talents are benefitting employees and residents at Norfolk and Mallinson House, Annie Wilcockson, Heath Lodge and Berwick Grange, and young patients Domestic Support at Norfolk House, Sarah Mansfield, at Harrogate District Hospital. Prep School Teaching Assistant and Senior School “We have set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for Common Room Secretaries; Helen Thompson, materials and will keep on being busy bees until the Elizabeth Pennington and Lynn Conway. crisis has passed.” Collectively, the team have been making scrubs, The latest Busy Bees project is to make face coverings scrub bags, face masks and head bands, to keep in Ashville maroon should alumni, pupils, parents health workers’ ears comfortable from hours of or staff wish to make an order, in return for a small mask wearing. They have also produced artwork of donation of £2 per covering, made to the fundraising fictional characters to support children’s storytelling at page, to cover the cost of production, with any surplus Harrogate District Hospital. funds split between the two care homes.

The Busy Bees’ GoFundMe page can be found at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/sewville1877

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POSTPONED NEW YORK INTERNSHIP SEES OA REBECCA FALLON ‘GOING WITH THE FLOW’

On 16 March, Rebecca Fallon (OA 01-14) should have been starting the next chapter in her career, a one-year internship with HSBC in New York, secured through the Mountbatten Program.

However, with the world in the grip of the coronavirus of their day. So, I decided to extend my reach further, pandemic, Rebecca found her plans put on hold, and and ‘Flow with Fallon’ was born. like a vast number of the population, with plenty of “Through social media platforms I am able to reach a time on her hands. much wider audience to share daily positivity through The previous November, Rebecca, who graduated movement and some mindful teaching. We have really from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in started to build a community with a complete range of psychology, spent a month in Goa, southern India. She ages and abilities and it’s great to hear that there is a spent over a month taking a 200-hour course of study class to suit everyone. to become a yoga teacher, specialising in a style known “It’s become the best thing from lockdown being able as Ashtanga-Vinyasa. to see familiar faces every day, school friends, OAs and From tentatively teaching immediate family members, even some of my old teachers have been my pupils! the lockdown saw her being able to extend her class to “The yoga I teach is a style called Vinyasa, which just other family members from across the UK via Zoom. means linking movement through the breath. But our Rebecca said: “Despite the lockdown preventing me main focus is on not just building strength and flexibility from beginning my placement in New York, I saw but mobility too. Of course I have different classes to the opportunity to use my free time to bring people suit all abilities as I describe on my page.” together through mindfulness and yoga online. “From initially teaching family members, I was so encouraged to hear our Zooms became the best part

Further information about ‘Flow With Fallon’ and class times can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/flowwithfallon/ https://www.facebook.com/flowwithfallon/

Details of the Mountbatten Program can be found here: https://www.mountbatten.org/

27 THANK YOU TO THE NHS

FROM THE STAFF AT ASHVILLE COLLEGE

ashville.co.uk

Green Lane, Harrogate, HG2 9JP United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1423 566358 Email: [email protected] www.ashville.co.uk