Scholarship | Gaiety | Humanity
The Moretonian 2020 1 Email: [email protected] Moreton Hall, Weston Rhyn, Telephone: (+44) 01691 773671 Oswestry, Shropshire Web: www.moretonhall.org S Y11 3 E W
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2 The Moretonian 2020 Contents
4 Principal George Budd's Reflections 55 Lacrosse National Finalists
8 Opportunity At Moreton 56 Lacrosse Nationals
9 Divisionals 58 Fond Farewell
10 Special Awards 62 Making of A Moretonian
12 News Highlights 63 Tribute To Katy Tanner
16 The Holroyd Community Theatre 64 Housemistress' Highlights
18 Head Prefects’ Speeches 66 A Room with a View
20 Careers Fair 67 The Old Moretonian
22 Moreton Enterprises (Pages Reversed) 24 Chicago Moreton First
26 Face2Face 2 Reflection 28 Beauty and The Beast 4 A Tribute to Mrs Ford 30 Bridging The Gap 6 Moreton First News Highlights 32 Wellbeing At Moreton 8 Moreton First Awards 34 The Rylands Diploma 9 Moreton First Means Business 36 The Lady Barbirolli Music Society 11 Playing and Learning Outdoors 38 The Jenner Society 12 Reception 40 The Bronwen Society 14 Year 1 42 Bioscience Essay Success 16 Art Gallery 44 History In The Making 17 Year 2 45 Girls Do STEM 18 Year 3 46 The New Woman 20 Year 4 47 Widening Horizons 22 Year 5 48 The Economic Outlook 24 Year 6 49 Photography 26 Moreton First Sport 50 Art Gallery 27 Sport Highlights 52 Sports Highlights 28 Bombs In The Night
The Moretonian 2020 3 Principal, George Budd, reflects on his first year at the helm.
4 The Moretonian 2020 I’ve had a copy of the 2019 Moretonian in my office Over the past three terms, we’ve had conversations all year. I’d often thumb through the articles in a quiet with Old Moretonians, current staff, former staff, moment with a cup of tea, and think about how I School Council and the Upper Sixth Prefects. We might write something that somehow captures the were starting to settle on a broad set of descriptive magic of the first year at Moreton. However, as we phrases which somehow encapsulate what it is to have seen, history and epidemiology had other ideas come to school here; and then lockdown started and and have rather written the script for me. we transitioned to remote learning. Nevertheless, we have continued to work apace on this document I cannot express enough my gratitude and recently launched Moreton Hall ʻValues, Vision & Commitmentsʼ on Speech Day. and appreciation for the warm welcome my wife, Nicky and I have received from This is a comprehensive reflection on that which we hold dear and the future development priorities the entire Moreton community. for the school in the coming years. We expect to launch this in the summer. I’ll come back to the It’s been a year of getting to know the school and values - but clearly any review of the year would not its culture through events and informal chats over a be complete without a commentary on the brilliance coffee in Moreton Enterprises on a Friday morning. of my colleagues in delivering an engaging, balanced, This is a truly unique place where a blend of trust, inspiring and fulfilling education and on the flexibility, mutual respect, self-confidence and independence determination and dedication of our pupils. come together in such a special way to mean that our alumni have developed the resilience for whatever the world throws at them. It has been so impressive and humbling to see this evolve and so heartwarming Our pupils are always the highlight of any event; be that speaking at an Open Day, acting or backstage to receive so many positive comments in a Drama production, playing or singing in a Music from our parents and guardians. concert or producing extraordinary work for an Art exhibition. The humility with which our pupils Alongside COVID-19, business as usual has continued go about their work and lives is one of the core and the school has seen some major enhancements ingredients of the success enjoyed by this fabulous to the estate. Of course, there’s the wonderful new school and is why I so enjoy reading our Holroyd Community Theatre (HCT). We’ve kept now-weekly eNews. the vision for the HCT alive with an online summer event following the magical first shows of Chicago Throughout the year, we’ve been considering the core and Beauty and The Beast and the heartwarming values of the school. We refer to these values a lot, community Christmas concert. alongside the Moreton Magic, but after a great deal of searching we concluded they hadn’t been written down anywhere.
The Moretonian 2020 5 We’ve opened our new reception area, refurbished Turning back to our core values; one unintended the staff work and social spaces, created a new school side effect of the lockdown was that Nicky and shop, revamped Moreton Enterprises, built a home I walked more laps than I care to count of the for our new CCF, opened up the view of the school school grounds walking our dog, Beth. I’ve taken from the A5, added new signage, built dedicated PE the opportunity to explore all the corners of the changing rooms for Moreton First, and Lloyd-Williams Moreton site; it’s remarkable how much you can and Stables Houses have new common room spaces. miss when you pass something every day - although I have greatly missed the interactions with our The place is looking spectacular. pupils on my way to the office in the morning. Whilst we often say it’s the people One thing I spotted was the plaque outside the main who make Moreton, those people entrance to the Front Hall which pays a touching tribute to our transformative former Head, Bronwen benefit from the right environment to Lloyd-Williams, and details the various new buildings work and study which our ongoing the school benefitted from under her leadership. investment in the estate provides. Something I saw was that it also reminds us that Bronwen's courage and vision gave the school its core values of Scholarship, Gaiety and Humanity.
6 The Moretonian 2020 There is a certain irony that we had spent the Bronwen's final value of humanity has been shown best part of a year working with our community in spades this year. Even living under lockdown to define our values, only to discover them on a here in the UK, we have seen a remarkable amount 70 year old plaque right outside my office during of support for our key workers and NHS staff lockdown. These values certainly still ring true across in particular. Applause has rung out across the our community today and guide all that we do. country each Thursday evening in recognition for all they do. A number of our pupils undertook It has been a pleasure to see such voluntary work with local charities, engaged with fundraising by designing t-shirts, running a marathon engagement, creativity and excellence at 3km a day or a myriad of other initiatives. in the work produced during our We shall never know how Bronwen would have period of remote learning. viewed the school today. I suspect that she would be proud to see her three core values so visible, shining Certainly very scholarly and most impressive. through and being the hand on the tiller for all we do. Our values are right front and centre on our new website and in the Community Vision We would all do well to remember these three values 2030 document, setting out our vision for the - scholarship, gaiety and humanity - in the coming year school’s progress over the next 10 years. as we adapt to what is being described as the “new normal” - whilst elements of social distancing may Even through lockdown, we’ve seen the remain, we are stronger than ever as one community. continuation of the fun, joyous and expressive side of the school with choir rehearsals, digital theatre and incredible artwork. As I’ve said, we opened the amazing new Holroyd Community Theatre earlier this year which further espouses George Budd, Principal the gaiety running right through the school.
No doubt there will be many opportunities to continue this when we return to being one community back at school, hopefully in the not too distant future. Not least, we need to say a proper goodbye to those staff and Upper Sixth students who are leaving Moreton at the end of this term. We will find the right time to do just that.
The Moretonian 2020 7 Moreton Can Give Children From any Walk of Life an Opportunity.
Jenny Keaveny on behalf of Moreton Families sums up the last seven years
Being a parent of a Moreton pupils to optimise every opportunity because, you never know, maybe your child is a budding star in pupil has been a very proud time the making! They give so much to children who wish for me, and I have witnessed to pursue a career in the Arts, and I will forever be truly grateful for the support that they have given first-hand what this school can Megan, through the good times as well as the contribute to a child’s education. more challenging.
This whole journey began with a meal out for my The concerts and productions have always been birthday (the number of which I won’t disclose!), absolutely fantastic, but my greatest memory (excuse where I received a chance comment from a relative the pun) would have to be the first production I went that perhaps Moreton was somewhere to consider for to see, where Megan played Grizabella in Cats, and Megan’s secondary education. I, and all of my family she sang that iconic song ‘Memory’. I could not hold before me, had received a state school education, so back the tears. She performed that song at a few more I really had no knowledge of what a private education events and the same emotion was felt. After that I was could give a child. But, we took a chance and plunged known as ‘Mrs Memory’ by one particular teacher. ourselves into a world which both daunted and excited us. And what a journey it has been! Being able to share key moments in our children’s education has been invaluable - Moreton has facilitated Moreton has not only taught Megan so much, but the positive involvement of parents and we become a also me. I have come across so many different people key part in the inspirational journey. Malcolm X sums it in the seven years I have been associated with this up perfectly: school, and have learnt that Moreton does not differentiate between anyone, regardless of their “Education is our passport to the background. I have learnt that Moreton can give children from any walk of life an opportunity to follow future, for tomorrow belongs to the whatever path they choose in their education and people who prepare for it today.” future career.
The Music and Drama departments have been a big part of our time here. They help pupils to enjoy the arts to their greatest capacity, and they encourage
8 The Moretonian 2020 Divisionals
Being in a Division is more like being part of a very Divisions are a great way for all the year groups to dysfunctional family. Each year we all support one come together and communicate with each other and another through different events, which always meet people we haven’t met before. The Divisions: seem to have a competitive element, with each Calvert, Roberts, Norton and Vincent are a fantastic house striving to win. Each Division participates in and different way to build pupil's confidence in various events throughout the year, such as sports various ways, such as the arts, sport and much more. competitions, the Christmas singing competition, quiz Although we are leaving this year we want to see our nights and many more. Divisions still thriving and winning in years to come, so we will watch with interest as Old Moretonians! And it is not just the pupils who get involved - the staff play a huge role in supporting the Divisions and the Staff Heads of Divisions really encourage everyone to work together as a team. Although we’re the Captains Alysha Brown of the Divisions, each individual plays a huge role in our competitions and are able to voice their opinions Calvert and suggestions on how we can develop.
One of the most memorable and competitive events of the year is the Christmas singing competition; we take this very seriously as we have professional adjudicators from the world of performance and the arts. Another element that stands out at the Jemima Davenport Christmas singing competition is Dr Hindson’s professional and heart-warming jokes. Vincent
The pupil’s creative eye thrives during this competition, with everyone making their own costumes - this year we had a myriad of costumes ranging from characters from the nativity to the pupils becoming a pig in a blanket from a roast dinner! Amelia Coker Norton Being a Divisional Captain allows us to have responsibility and build our confidence in leadership and teamwork, which will benefit us in our future lives. The whole event fills the room with lots of laughter Holly Wingett and fun. Everyone is able to gain points for excellent work, kindness, thoughtfulness and community spirit, Roberts as well as through competitions and charity events - the Division with the most points at the end of the year being awarded the Divisional Trophy.
The Moretonian 2020 9 Special Awards 2020
The Moreton First Isabella Gharagozlou The Field Drama Cup Romilly Pickering and Eliza Pickering Achievement Award
The Moreton First Saranya Lalam Middle School Gaia Vyas-Adams Effort Award Drama Award
The Grace Lloyd-Williams Beatrice Findlay GCSE Drama Cup (U5) Nell Clacher and Grace Honey Award (for good citizenship) The Macdonald Performing Alysha Brown The Moreton First Alexa Wilson Arts Award Sports Award and Amelie Marshall
The Nicholas Drama Megan Keaveny The Moreton First Gethin Kelly Cup (U6) Music Cup Ebun Clark Trophy Catherine Holt The Stables Music Cup Catherine Holt and Sophie Bunce and Yasmin Tyack
Halsall-Williams Spoken Grace Shakeshaft The Middle School Tara Davies English Middle Trophy and Maya Falah Music Cup Halsall-Williams Spoken Emma Vivian Lady Barbirolli Award (for Honor Grigg English Senior Trophy and Alice Balchin outstanding contribution) The English Speaking Florence Tyne Laura Morris Choral Cup Jin Xiaoxi (Cici) Board Trophy and Cordelia Harpin The Kenneth Brown Tatyana Kahn The Millicent Kaye Junior Holly Longfellow Music Cup Art Award and Anya Hartwi Senior School Music Cup Megan Keaveny The Kyffin Williams Saskia Enderby History of Art Award The Thea Musgrave Award Jemima Davenport Lingard Research Award Amelia Graham The Anne Barber Trophy Phoebe Jones (Research in Fine Art)
The Gittins Trophy Maddie Kennedy The Nicola Hooper Imogen Marmont Art Cup Morgan Hockey Trophy Saskia Enderby and Freya Reeves The Lora Gadd GCSE Zoe Tse Art Trophy and Lottie Pryce Janet Norton Award Isobel Donaldson for Sport and Fenella Hallett Excellence in Life Drawing Cheung Yan Lam (Flora) Scott Trophy Hattie Jones Outstanding Achievement Abigail Pickersgill Prize for Outstanding Alysha Brown Award for Art Commitment to and Freya Cox School Sport Outstanding Achievement Freya Cox Award for Photography
10 The Moretonian 2020 Outstanding Achievement Hattie Jones The Economics Trophy Cerys Chamberlain Award for Textile Design Moreton Hall Eco Award Nancy Twigg Sixth Form Charlotte Higgins and Simran Sajan Designer-Maker Award Prize for Religious Studies Nancy Parish Award for Innovation in Alysha Brown Film, Lens and Light Prize for Contribution to Jasmin Rogers Based Media Moreton Enterprises
The Wilding School Hu Xinyu (Ashley) The Abiola Trophy for Zeng Yuting (Natalie) Mathematics Cup Business Studies
The Pinder Mathematics Zeng Yuting (Natalie) Charities Award Mia Bebbington Trophy (Double Maths) The Salter Prize (Leiths) Amelia Graham Anne Lloyd Trophy for Megan Keaveny Mathematics (Single Maths) GCSE F&T Award Ella Campbell
The Reakes-Williams Grace Honey International Sun Yun (Alice) English GCSE Cup Student Award
The Owen Trophy Megan Keaveny Selina Sasse Fenella Hallett for English Geography Cup
The Hodgkinson Prize Nancy Parish France-Hayhurst Bracelet Fenella Hallett for French Geography Prize Amelia Coker Bruna Hodges Tatyana Kahn German Prize The Hill Trophy Holly Wingett (Good Citizenship) and Tabytha Williams The Ollier Prize for Tatyana Kahn Modern Languages Katie Evans The Hebblethwaite Award
The Wilding Middle School Tong Yan (Catherine) Charlesworth House Prize Jasmine Pugh Science Cup and Ella Felkin
The Bolton Biology Trophy Jin Xiaoxi (Cici) Charlesworth Megan Keaveny Diligence Award
The Bourne-Greatwood Cerys Chamberlain Chemistry Award The Ursula Roberts Award Helen Assheton and Alice Lovell The Faraday Physics Prize Zhang Tianyi (Joyce) Principal’s Award Jin Xiaoxi (Cici) The Piaget Maddie Kennedy Psychology Prize The Karefa-Smart Trophy Megan Keaveny
The Davies Roberts Yang Hsu Yuan (Anabelle) Science Cup
Jenner Award Jin Xiaoxi (Cici)
Classics Trophy Tatyana Kahn
The Moretonian 2020 11 News Highlights
Young Performer of the Year Remove pupil, Hedy, was crowned Oswestry Youth Music Festival’s ‘Young Performer of the Year 2020’. Pianist Hedy Dong competed against hundreds of performers across Shropshire, Cheshire, Wrexham and North and Mid Wales, including fellow Moreton pupil Kate Reardon having both won their 12 and under solo class earlier in the competition. Hedy’s performances were executed in a highly professional and committed way and gained her the prestigious, coveted title in the final round.
Tes - Education Oscars For the second consecutive year, Moreton joined the best of the UK’s independent schools sector at the prestigious Tes School Awards Ceremony in central London. The nomination recognises Moreton’s leading role in delivering a range of community creative arts projects to young people from across the region. Viewed as the education Oscars, the awards afford the opportunity to showcase the arts provision which has seen school children from across North ESB and LAMDA Distinctions Shropshire and the Welsh border experience the joys The ability to speak and present with confidence is the of Art, Music and Drama at Moreton Hall. It is also an hallmark of a Moreton education. ESB was undertaken accolade for all the young people who have engaged across the age groups with pupils presenting their talks in the classroom and beyond, and for the specialist with aplomb. Whilst for LAMDA, pupils performed teachers who have been involved in the projects. a variety of monologues and took part in a viva voce, which included theoretical questions based on the Commenting on Moreton’s nomination for the whole- characters and plays. school community initiative of the year, Principal George Budd said: “Big Sing, Face2Face, The Holroyd Community Theatre, CCF, Creative Arts Project, and Stem Discovery Days, when you list it all out – wow!”
12 The Moretonian 2020 Pupils Shortlisted for International RSPCA Great Debate Sports Awards Moreton’s Mini Model UN team attended the RSPCA’s Moreton Hall pupil’s sporting talents were annual debating competition for pupils from Remove recognised and celebrated during the Shropshire to Upper Four. The competition aimed to develop Schools Sports and Athletics Association (SSSAA) understanding about animal welfare and the work John Beswick International Awards Evening held of the RSPCA through the medium of debating. at Shirehall, Shrewsbury. Eight senior school pupils Moreton’s intrepid team of six were tasked with were presented with awards by Shrewsbury debating the motion ‘This chamber believes that the Town’s professional Footballer, Dave Edwards. ban on hunting with dogs should remain’. During the debate two members of the team took on the role The awards identify individuals who have successfully of press and created live tweets to reflect the key represented their country in their chosen sport issues of the day. All our debaters were praised for over the preceding year. Awards were presented their well-reasoned and incisive arguments. The judges to Hattie Jones, Coco Harpin, Iris Downes, commended our press team for the most effective Hannah Legge, Milly Wray, Maddie Kennedy, press team at any regional heat. The team is all fired Annabel Noble and Isla McDonald O’Brien. up to return next year!
Exercise Fledgling Eagle Bioscience Essay Success Moreton Hall and St Martins cadet’s teamwork, The world faces many challenges in the 21st Century; leadership, resilience and determination came to the from disease and drug resistance to species extinctions forefront when they embarked on Exercise Fledgling and climate change. Many of these challenges are Eagle at Nesscliffe Training Camp. The ankle-deep biological, so can Biology save the world? mud did not put the CCF cadets off. Alongside cadets from schools across the West Midlands Brigade they The University of Gloucestershire set this as a enjoyed a carousel of training activities including challenge in their A Level essay competition and we shelter building, STEM construction tasks and an were delighted to learn that Sixth Form student, Isobel escape room, followed by a competitive field gun run. Jones, was awarded the Runner Up Prize of £500.
The Moretonian 2020 13 Master Chefs’ Masterclass! Moreton Means Business Our Leiths Cookery School students were in the International Women’s Day was marked with the audience when octogenarian Prue Leith, founder second Moreton Means Business™ Mini Conference. of the Leiths School of Food and Wine, visited With a long track record of fostering entrepreneurial Shropshire. The restaurateur, teacher, TV cook, food spirit amongst our pupils, not least with Moreton journalist, novelist and cookery book author and Enterprises, it was no surprise that Business was at probably best known now as a judge on the nation’s the top of our International Women’s Day agenda. For favourite TV programme: The Great British Bake Off pupils from Upper Four upwards, the Moreton Means was joined by her niece Peta Leith, a professional Business™ Mini Conference, provided an opportunity pastry chef and food writer who trained at the French to gain first-hand insight from an impressive array of Culinary Institute in New York and spent seven years the region’s top entrepreneurs, both female and male. as a pastry chef at The Ivy. After the talk there was a Conference delegates also included girls and boys from chance for the girls to meet Prue and Peta for a photo St Martin’s, The Corbet, The Priory, and Dinas Bran and the Leiths girls also took the opportunity to have schools. their Leiths Food and Drink books, their cookery bible, signed by the great lady herself.
Star-studded Attendance at F.A.I.R It was the stuff that star-struck dreams are made of. Will any of the girls of the Moreton Hall Chamber Choir and the newly formed Moreton Prep Chamber UKMT 2020 Intermediate Maths Ensemble ever forget the frosty December evening when, by candlelight, they sang in a London Carol Challenge Success Service alongside leading British actors of stage and Moreton’s mathematicians celebrated a record- screen, including Dame Penelope Keith and Rupert breaking year of results from the Intermediate Maths Penry-Jones. For all the congregation at Christ Church, Challenge. An outstanding 43 certificates were Chelsea, it was a very special Carol Service indeed. awarded to pupils, with a whopping 15 being Gold Now a highlight of the Christmas calendar for the Awards - the highest possible result! These results Moreton choristers, this sparkling evening is designed are the best that Moreton has ever recorded. This to raise awareness of and funds for F.A.I.R (Funding competition is an excellent way to encourage curiosity, Auto-Immune Research). precision of thought and understanding of the variety of ways taught mathematical concepts can be used in unseen and imaginative scenarios.
14 The Moretonian 2020 World Book Day: More than just Dressing Up Pupils and staff at Moreton celebrated World Book Day 2020, a global charitable event backed by UNESCO. Sixth formers gave special readings of their favourite passages; Upper Five pupils treated a packed Stables House to a bedtime story, complete with hot chocolate by the fire. And we dressed up.
From Shakespeare to Enid Blyton, from Beatrix Potter to Harry Potter, from gothic horror to Mr Bean, pupils and staff excelled. World Book Day proved that Moreton is a reading school, chock-full of erudite and engaging pupils eager to talk about their favourite books.
The Moretonian 2020 15 “It was clear from the many organisations Virtual Curtain represented at the recent meeting that it will reach all areas of the community, providing a varied programme with something to interest all Up at The Holroyd ages and interests. It will become a cultural hub, bringing together all aspects of the arts in one Community Theatre place, making it easy for people to access.” Despite the challenge that lockdown is posing Derek Jones representing Wrexham Symphony to arts organisations across the country with Orchestra and Ensemble Cymru added: theatres in darkness for the foreseeable future, plans continue to be made to ensure The Holroyd “It is a great encouragement that the Community Theatre remains at the heart of its North Shropshire and Welsh Borders community. HCT team are reaching out to the wider community to engage with them With lights literally shining from The Holroyd in the development of the programme every Thursday evening when the theatre’s blue illuminations shine out as part of the nation’s 8 for The Holroyd Community Theatre. o’clock salute to the NHS, local Arts groups and societies as representatives from Music, Drama, “I have always considered that collaboration and Art and Community organisations gathered, in partnerships offer a significant contribution to May, for a virtual meeting to discuss a range of eventual success for all organisations and particularly exciting Arts opportunities and initiatives. so in the world of arts. There is much to gain from different art forms seeking to cross fertilise Opening the evening’s discussions Carolyn Tilley their ideas. In the new post COVID-19 world, from The Holroyd Community Theatre invited collaboration and partnerships will become even the delegates to explore ways in which even in more important to build a sustainable future.” these virtual times, The Holroyd could showcase a wealth of local talent. Breakout rooms were an The Holroyd Community Theatre opened its opportunity for those gathered to work in smaller doors with a Christmas Special. It was a night of groups to discuss a range of possible initiatives a thousand stars as surrounded by fairy lights and focused on Music, Readings, Arts and Drama. cradling candles, five choirs, an orchestra made up of musicians from across the region, and a brace of Reflecting on the evening’s discussions, Alison TV celebrities gathered on stage of The Holroyd Stevens, Manager of Shropshire Music Service, said: Community Theatre for its inaugural performances.
16 The Moretonian 2020 The acclaimed Dyffryn Ceiriog Male Voice Choir were ‘Christmas at The Holroyd’ was a joined by choirs from Selattyn Primary School, St Martins Primary School, Moreton First, The Stables magical evening and for the community Choir and the Face2Face Performance Academy. it was built to serve, a wonderful The evening was hosted by Coronation Street stars Ian Bartholomew and Ian Puleston-Davies who both first opportunity to enjoy their performed laughter-inducing Christmas extracts. wonderful new performance space.
Mulled wine and mince pies added to the occasion With diverse and creative ideas a plenty, actors, and the announcement of the winners of The singers, performers and patrons from the community Holroyd Poetry Competition, Isabelle Jebb from look forward to The Holroyd Community Theatre St Martins School and Hugo Leglu-Moore from hosting virtual events from the beginning of June 2020. Selattyn School topped the celebrations.
Produced by acclaimed Theatre Director and Artistic Director of The Holroyd, Loveday Ingram,
The Moretonian 2020 17 Head Prefects’ Speeches
Read extracts from the Head Prefects’ speeches from virtual Speech Day 2020 below.
Megan Keaveny Hattie Jones In February 2013, my uncle, who was a bus driver I started my journey in Moreton First as an at the school, suggested to my mum that I tried under-confident, overwhelmed and extremely out for a scholarship at Moreton. My mum and nervous young girl. Eight years have passed and I were not so keen on the idea as none of our family had ever had anything to do with private I can truly say that it has been the schools. But, we looked on the website and thought we’d go to the Open Day. After that, all I best decision I ever made to join wanted was to go to Moreton. the Moreton family. The seven years that ensued were Over those eight years I have grown into a strong, determined and cheerful young woman full of laughter, friendship, hard who has become Deputy Head, Captain of the work, and priceless memories. Lacrosse Team and a person who will hold many unforgettable memories of joy and laughter. I Many aspects of Moreton life contributed to my would have laughed if someone told me that journey, but without the inspiration and support before leaving Moreton, I’d have played in multiple of the Music and Drama departments, I wouldn’t international matches and vice-captained team have the love for the arts that has become the Wales at a world championship. However, I epicentre of my life. I can’t describe what it feels am fortunate enough to say these facts are all like to be leaving Moreton, but all we can do is true. For me, the Sports department, with their look forward to what comes next, and as Walt encouragement and kindness to myself and many Disney said: “The way to get started is to quit other players, has undoubtedly been the best part talking and begin doing.” of my development. They really did knock the ball out of the park.
18 The Moretonian 2020 Alysha Brown Tatyana Kahn In 2008 I came back from a normal day at Weston I first came to Moreton as a very small, shy five Rhyn Primary School not expecting to be asked year old, but since then Moreton has become a by my parents if I wanted to have a taster day at family and a home away from home. Moreton First. Being a crazy six year old, I straight away came to the conclusion and said YES! That Moreton is not only the place was the best decision I have ever made, and I am so appreciative to my parents for giving me that where I have made many happy opportunity. Moreton has been a wild journey and memories, but it has also given me it has made me into the person I am today. I am genuinely so thankful for the amount of support the opportunity to explore my and opportunities Moreton has given me. interests in music and languages.
I have met the most amazing people Despite being one of a very small number to study my subjects at A Level, Moreton has always who will be my best friends for life. supported me to do the subjects I wanted to, which I am extremely grateful for. For the last 13 To the teachers and staff who have supported years I have made lifelong friends and experienced me and been there for me through all the years, some truly unique adventures, from trekking I am so grateful and thank you. Even though my across the Lake District in a storm, to travelling Moreton journey has come to an end it will live to Prague as part of the choir. None of us with me forever, and I wish everyone the best in expected to leave school like this, but it is at least the future, and I am always here for a laugh. To my comforting to know that whatever we go on to best friends, you all deserve the world and good do, we will always be Moretonians. luck in everything you do. Thank you.
Cici Jin In 2014, I came to Moreton as a 12 year old However, soon this wasn’t a problem anymore as international pupil. To be honest, I felt out of place they were willing to help me get over my bottleneck and it was hard initially to get used to everything in the process of learning English. Many fellow around me. My self-confidence and my willingness language learners would probably resonate with this to go outside my comfort zone and accomplish feeling: once the bottleneck of a language has been things didn’t all just arise from thin air. conquered, it was like a door to the secret garden has been opened. I soon started understanding Many aspects of Moreton contributed everything in the lessons, moving up to top set in English, and was even able to write my own English to the girl that I am today, but I would essays and short stories. especially like to thank the Science, In the meantime, despite my terrible English, my English and Music departments. singing teacher, Mrs Diack, apparently saw something in me and told me that I should join the Chamber It was the supportive teachers, and the thought Choir. I started participating in all sorts of music that I could do something I truly enjoy which events such as lunchtime concerts, music festivals and lightened my first days here at Moreton. At playing piano duets in the Lady Barbirolli Society. first, I didn’t speak much English at all, let alone understanding scientific terms in lessons. I used I would like to say a massive thank you to all those to ask for definitions all the time, but at the same who have supported me through my difficult first days time fearing this would annoy my peers and make at Moreton, and I promise that I will always treasure the teachers run out of patience. the memories of Moreton.
The Moretonian 2020 19 A Bright Future at Moreton’s Careers Fair
Moreton’s annual Careers Fair continues to be a leading provider of post Sixth Form advice for students at the school and beyond. With exhibitors from 38 of the UK’s top universities, as well as over 40 advisors from professions and industry, there was a diverse range of information available, designed to meet every aspiration and ambition.
Students from The Maelor School, Beauty Editor of Vogue/Glamour, Reflecting on the success of the Dinas Bran, The Marches, St Susannah Evans-Pollard (OM day, Head of Careers at Moreton Martins, and Lakelands Academy 1994); ‘Careers in Property, Real Hall, Catherine Ashworth said: joined Moreton girls to explore Estate and Surveying’ by Catherine how to start their career journey Tilley from Savills (OM 2007); and “It is extremely and to realise their potential. ‘Marketing, PR, Brand Management’ by Clare Downes (OM 1991). rewarding to be able to Marches student, Dan felt that the Rebecca McHale (OM 2015) a offer a Careers Fair which event gave him a more concrete student Midwife, who recently picture of what universities offer delivered her first baby, offered many of the universities and expect. Looking to study a range of advice from the describe as the best one History and Politics at Manchester, application process to gaining they attend in the UK! he said: “I discussed the course and relevant experience. now know that they specialise in Modern History. To secure a place Discussing the impact of “This Moreton Hall I will need to achieve ABB, so high technology on the future of work, expectations, but I know what I’m Keynote speaker, Euan Davis annual event has become working towards.” reflected on emerging industries a destination of choice and jobs. Moreton student, Nancy for the universities and Emily from Lakelands was enthused: “It was an insightful impressed by advice that showed look into the future of jobs from professions, allowing her there are a range of routes agriculture to medicine.” Whilst young people from across to her chosen career: “I want to for Belinda it was “interesting how work in education and had thought the use of robots in the future the region to benefit from of the conventional teacher roles, was described as positive, when first-hand expert advice, but today I realised that there is so often Artificial Intelligence has information and guidance.” broader scope, for example jobs in negative connotations. Mr Davis government relating to childcare.” gave lots of examples of how job roles would change, from those The school’s alumni are a highlight in the football industry to car of the event. Their seminars manufacturing. For example, BMW included: ‘What it Takes to be in Munich is currently looking for a Magazine or Online Editor’ by 5000 data scientists but they can Wellbeing columnist, and former only currently find 150.”
20 The Moretonian 2020 It was an amazing opportunity“ to open your eyes to future prospects. Moreton Hall’s Alex
There were loads of options. The“ Careers Fair caters for everyone.
Amy and Grace from The Maelor School
The Moretonian 2020 21 Moreton Enterprises
Being the bossy, ambitious and obsessed person While all of the above were exceptionally rewarding, that I am, over my years at Moreton I - almost nothing was, perhaps, as satisfying as fighting for subconsciously - filed away thoughts and ideas about and getting a new payment system. I say with changes I believed should be implemented in Moreton utter seriousness, that this was one of my biggest Enterprises. These included: a nail bar, a buy and achievements to date. Many of you will have swap shop and a cinema. While these fourteen year perhaps seen, worked or heard rumours of the old’s ideas were inventive, I later had to concede ancient computers that were being used; I knew they were not going to make much money - even that this payment system must be overhauled. though we would have had gorgeous nails! Yet the necessity of actually turning a profit was at the After many, many, many weeks of communicating with forefront of my concerns when I took over ME. Finance and Heads of School, we bought three new iPads all with Apple Pay and Contactless Card readers, I was determined to make ME thrive complete with a new POS - iZettle - these have been a bigger success than I could have hoped for. rather than just survive, I wanted us, the 2019/20 team, to turn ME around and make a memorable impact.
So after my (surprising) appointment of Managing Director and with a great team with me, I started planning. I obsessively wrote lists and drew up a new plan for our Moreton Enterprises. I realised that the main source of revenue loss was the long queues for payment which meant that Moreton girls were leaving before buying. I felt this needed to be addressed first and foremost and so, during the summer, I went to school, measured up for a new layout and started ordering. While our Summer Term plans have sadly been halted, This meant that, when everyone came back to school, my team’s success has by no means been diminished. the new ME was ready. We opened on the first day The exceptional profit that we turned over, the total of school with a 20p sale to get rid of old stock and reinvention of what a school shop could look like and we started afresh. With a new space that enabled the valuable lessons we have picked up (with huge help people to come in and work, relax, watch TV and from Mrs Lang’s Directors’ Tables) will remain with us. buy things quickly, we soon began making money.
We launched new initiatives, including Coffee Florence Tyne Mornings for parents (which was a lovely money Managing Director of Moreton Enterprises spinner, thank you to all who came to that), (2019-2020) movie nights, an American Cereal Bar and our biggest ‘Social’ yet, and profits kept rising...
22 The Moretonian 2020 This year’s victories of Moreton Enterprises“ - both the profit, wider customer base and new modern approach was not without adversity; the team however, dealt with this admirably and we have come out all the stronger for it.
The Moretonian 2020 23 AND ALL THAT JAZZ
The Holroyd Community Theatre Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly learn to manipulate others as they tussle for notoriety, and let’s be clear, Kim hosted Moreton’s home-grown Kardashian’s idea of media manipulation is small-scale production of Chicago. Ahead of its compared to these women! Chicago really ‘can’t resist official opening and with temporary a reformed sinner’ and the newspaper’s readership are capricious sycophants – happy to move on to the next lighting and sound, the setting gave big story on a daily basis. the girls their first taste of a The performance started with a slick, toe-tapping professional venue. production number ‘All that Jazz’ and continued in Howells’s usual well-energised fashion. The performers The play explores the transient nature of celebrity moved into each formation and position with such status, and how apt a theme in an age where celebrity style and attention to detail. can mean anything from eating insects in the jungle to an anaemic social media influencer. Produced and Abby introduced and carried the narrative through her directed by Head of Drama, Kate Howells, role as announcer, while Alysha once again stepped into a role which seemed perfect for her, playing Billy this vaudeville of musical theatre Flynn the ‘silver tongued prince of the courtroom’. transported the audience to Her performance was comedic genius. A self-seeking prohibition 1920’s Chicago: smoky, lawyer, Billy waved his jazz hands and allowed every member of his entourage to fawn! An able puppeteer, gritty, sensationalist; it really did he pulled the defendant’s strings with consummate have ‘All that Jazz’. ease. In amongst the comedy were moments of pathos.
24 The Moretonian 2020 A beleaguered Mr Cellophane’s simple invisibility As always, the ensemble numbers were was performed so ably by Belinda and reduced some audience members to tears. As the song progressed, crafted with precision and flair. Every Belinda’s voice echoed through The Holroyd Theatre. member of the cast performed with Her musicality and tone were awe-inspiring. energy and élan.
Leading raunchy protagonists Roxie, played by Milly Roxie and Velma’s story ends with a sensational and Jemima respectively, and Velma, played by Megan, double act, but the symbolism looms large – guns excelled in their roles as ambitious and calculating become props. One is left reflecting on where murderesses, stepping over each other with a sensationalist stories, propaganda and self-interest ‘rhinestone heel’. Their razzle dazzle voices captivated will lead. An excellent production, with an equally and enchanted the audience. They were competing for professional venue. attention as much as their freedom – which mattered more?
Mamma Morton epitomised the corrupt and capitalist Georgia Thomas society that pervaded the era. ‘When you’re good to Mamma, Mamma’s good to you’. Money motivates. Both Kundai and Olivia covet cash. Their every statement had a transactional bent.
The Moretonian 2020 25 The Face2Face Performance Academy James Williams, West End producer, said: “It was a pleasure seeing Face2Face performing ‘Beauty and The has continued to grow, proving popular Beast’. The amount of talent and enthusiasm on stage with Moreton pupils, and the wider was incredible. Vocally it was superb and the direction community. The Academy has over and choreography were on point, current and perfect for a large ensemble. seventy pupils enrolled, many of whom have been members since the doors “Face2Face seriously know how opened back in January 2017. to get the best out of their pupils.”
This year has been a special one for the Academy, Following the production, pupils enjoyed a screening with highlights including; moving into the newly built of the show at The Holroyd Community Theatre. Holroyd Community Theatre, performing a sell-out production of ‘Beauty and The Beast’ and hosting a In a time pre-lockdown, the Academy met weekly series of West End masterclasses online, during the for a two and a half-hour session which focused on COVID-19 pandemic. developing the core performance disciplines. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Academy kept the doors As per previous years, the Academy kick-started open, albeit virtually with an online programme of with scholarship auditions, awarding six pupils with West End masterclasses. full and partial tuition fee scholarships. The successful pupils impressed a panel of judges with their solo The sessions were delivered by a host of industry performances, which ranged from drama, dance and professionals, via Zoom. The expert and insightful musical theatre. coaching allowed the Academy’s pupils to continue developing their craft, socialise and gain a useful insight The year progressed with the casting and rehearsal of into the theatrical world. Disney’s, ‘Beauty and The Beast’. The production took place at The Holroyd Community Theatre and was enjoyed by all.
I was blown away with the talent at Face2Face. The pupils were superb; they took direction exceptionally well. It was my first time using Zoom to teach, and I can honestly say I really enjoyed it. It’s brilliant that the Academy is still open and offering training online. An original cast member of SIX, Christina Modestou, one of the professionals who delivered a Zoom session.
26 The Moretonian 2020 This has been our most successful year to date. I am thrilled that our numbers continue to rise and that Moreton pupils, and the community value what we are offering. Running the Academy can be challenging, but it is all made worthwhile when you see the quality of performance that our pupils produce. We have a superb set of dedicated coaches and excellent supporters within the school. I am looking forward to our next production and launching new initiatives in the autumn of 2020.
Face2Face Manager and Head Coach, Michael Jenkins
The Moretonian 2020 27 Face2Face's production of Beauty and The Beast Beauty and The Beast tells the story of a young prince had everything you’d expect from a professional turned Beast and a young girl who feels like she company: stunning costumes, bold characters, ‘doesn’t fit in’. The role of Belle was played by Ella - impressive scenery and spine-tingling music. one to watch in my opinion. Ella’s voice was stunning, clear and full of texture. This, married with her excellent acting ability was simply wonderful to watch. The production packed a punch - and a sparkly one at that. As the performance progressed we met characters like the chauvinistic Gaston, the Silly Girls and the The Holroyd Community Theatre was the perfect people’s favourites: Lumiere and Cogsworth. Each venue for the performance. I was welcomed performer used excellent physicality to deliver a by an attentive front of house team, who were characterful performance that was animated - and keen to make my experience a positive one. The above all, watchable. I particularly enjoyed Lumiere’s Theatre’s foyer is an excellent space - plenty commitment to her character and comedic timing. of room, and I hear a ‘gorgeous view’. She worked extremely well alongside Cogsworth - who was equally entertaining. Their connection As the performance started, I could feel the on stage was infectious. The stand out musical excitement in the air. Not just for the production, number had to be ‘Gaston’ with nearly every but in anticipation of how this new theatre member of the cast on stage, singing and dancing. would house all things artistic. The director had cleverly chosen to use a tune-up track to give the This song came to a crescendo with the illusion that there was a live orchestra. This also allowed the audience to finish their conversations whole cast performing a soft shoe tap and prepare to watch the performance. dance, in time, whilst singing. Wow!
28 The Moretonian 2020 It was such a pleasure seeing Face2Face performing Beauty and The Beast at The Holroyd Community Theatre. The amount of talent and enthusiasm on stage was incredible. Vocally it was superb and the direction and choreography on point, current and perfect for a large ensemble.
Face2Face seriously know how to get the best out of their pupils. With this level of training so early on in their careers, success is almost definite.
I cannot wait to see what Face2Face delivers next - with The Holroyd Community Theatre as their home, I am sure that they will continue to raise the bar.
James Williams West End Producer and Theatre Owner
The whole event had an inclusive“ and positive atmosphere which was infectious and fun. We left with smiles on our faces and a spring in our step. Sarah Hopkins
The Moretonian 2020 29 Bridging the Gap
Turn the clock back to January and with Then, after half term, the countdown to A Levels began with introductions to A Level lessons, study mock examinations looming and GCSE skills sessions and a focus on an independent research and A Levels examinations on the project. Plenty of fun was on the agenda too with horizon, Upper Five and Upper Sixth Cookery, Sport and Wellbeing activities. students around the country were Finally, in the last week of term, the annual Moreton looking to the middle of May as the Sixth Induction programme began, our one stop shop for everything the Upper Five need to ensure they start of study leave and to June for the hit the ground running when they return to Moreton light at the end-of-exams tunnel. Sixth in September.
COVID-19 certainly put an end to all that and whilst For Upper Sixth, we consulted our Old Moreton there may have been a few brief moments of relief at alumni and asked for their thoughts on some of the the cancellations of exams, for most young people, this things they wish they had known as they left school change of plan has been like having a rug pulled from to embark on university, college courses or gap year under their feet; this dreamt of time had lost some of adventures. Their insights provided the framework its shine. for the Upper Sixth Bridging the Gap programme and many of them joined us either live on Zoom or with a However, at Moreton Hall, new pre-recorded contribution from their homes around the Oswestry area and across Shropshire. challenges become new opportunities. An additional thread running through the six week Mindful that the final weeks of term must feel like a programme was provided by an inspirational OM, chasm, we developed two unique programmes for Jo Chavasse, who left Moreton in 2009 and went on Upper Five and Upper Sixth, both created to bridge to study Economics before launching her business the gap to the next stage in the girls’ educational Freckles Childcare in May 2015. Jo’s passion lies in journey. supporting and training nannies and young adults to be their best selves and she has brought that passion For Upper Five the programme included time to her Bridging The Gap Challenge Programme: 12 reflecting on the GCSE years with virtual team building sessions of essential life skills which the girls will fun to celebrate existing friendships, whilst forging new certainly value in the years ahead. ones with the girls from around the region who will be joining Moreton Sixth in September. Caroline Lang Senior Tutor and Sixth Form Registrar
30 The Moretonian 2020 Both of these courses are entirely “new, built from the ground up to best prepare our pupils for Sixth Form and life beyond Moreton. It has been truly remarkable to see them develop with input from staff, pupils, parents and Old Moretonians. Opportunities abound for our Upper Five and Upper Sixth to develop the skills they’ll need to see them through their coming years of study. George Budd Moreton Hall Principal
The Moretonian 2020 31 Wellbeing within the Moreton Community
Vice Principal, Carolyn Tilley reflects on the resilience and generosity of Moreton pupils.
The word ‘community’ has never been as important They’ll also be exposed to endless news stories and as it is now. As we, and the world around us, social commentaries about the virus, and we know went into lockdown, we were thrown into the that young people worry about society and global complete unknown. Never in our lifetime, or our issues so we would expect levels of worry to be Grandparents’ lifetime have we ever been faced high during this crisis. They will be worrying about with a worldwide pandemic on this scale. themselves, family members and friends, some of whom may be working in the front line as key workers. The COVID-19 crisis will have It may also impact how they think about their future, turned many childhoods upside possibly worrying about the consequences for their down and for many people who family. It is important for all of us, parents, pupils, staff and family members, to feel supported during this were already struggling, life will time, and to feel as though we have the right tools to seem even more of a challenge. cope with a situation which is beyond our control.
With schools closed for most, young people are What we have seen is the directly experiencing social distancing, high levels of isolation and wider dislocation. Similarly, spending amazing Moreton Spirit shining less time with friends or being restricted to online through the darkness. socialising will be having an impact on children’s wellbeing, especially for those who can’t get online, We have seen the incredible resilience of our don’t feel confident with it, or don’t enjoy being pupils, supporting those who are struggling to seen on screen with the rest of their peers in find their way through this very difficult time. lessons. Being at home and not having the autonomy and choices they’re used to will be a challenge.
32 The Moretonian 2020 We have seen acts of kindness such as raising money for key workers and good causes; sending handmade gifts to their year group to comfort their friends and put a smile on their faces, to let them know they are thinking of them; creating new ideas and initiatives; helping those in need in their local community, the list is endless.
In a virtual Open Day the overwhelming message that came across from pupils speaking to prospective parents was the word ‘family’. That is what we have seen in bucket loads,
Staff, pupils and parents all pulling together with words of encouragement and support as we have transitioned into a new way of learning and interacting.
We all hope that we will return to some kind of normality soon, but one thing we can all learn from this is that we are in this together and we are here to help and support everyone in our wonderful family.
The Moretonian 2020 33 The Rylands Diploma
“...It’s disturbing to find that around half of young people feel their education has not prepared them for the world of work, at a time of great economic uncertainty and technological change.” Sir John Allan, CBI President, 2018
At Moreton Hall we are proud to be ahead of the game in preparing our pupils for life after school.
It is in response to the The programme, this year, was We believe these are key areas demands and pressures launched with an interactive that have been missing from that face young people session from recruitment educational provision at Sixth leaving school today that consultant, Sarah Hopkins, from Form level. Hopkins Longworth, on creating we have developed the ‘BrandYou’. Following this launch, They are an essential Rylands Diploma. the programme begins with a focus on presenting yourself confidently element of the tool kit The Rylands Diploma is a bespoke and communicating effectively in that prepares young Life Skills programme delivered on the workplace. a weekly basis over the course of people for the world the year, to all of our Lower Sixth The approach is one of opening of work. girls. The course comprises 20 key mindsets and fostering a strong elements that broadly fit under 6 sense of self belief. The students In addition to equipping them with headings: Working World Skills, are encouraged to identify values these skills, we aim to teach them Managing Finances, Health and and interests and to understand the importance of balancing their Wellbeing, Essential Household the importance of aligning these work lives with their home lives. and Car Maintenance and with possible career choices. In Transforming the mental health Independent Extended Learning. order to help our students to be of young people must begin with The programme is delivered by a ‘work ready’ we see it as essential building resilience, emotional and number of experienced teachers that they are able to manage their physical wellbeing and helping and professionals from within and finances and plan for their them to develop healthy coping outside of the school. financial futures. strategies for the demands of life.
Our Diploma is endorsed by a In partnership with local businesses We need to help them find their own number of businesses, which we run sessions on budgeting, solutions for when their goals and support the programme and offer managing bills, borrowing, saving, aspirations may prove incompatible. follow up advice and mentoring. tax and VAT.
34 The Moretonian 2020 As the requirements of PSHE To achieve the Rylands Diploma To understand not no longer extend into the Sixth the girls must not only attend key Form years, our Diploma provides sessions from each of the five only our values and our ongoing opportunities for taught areas of the course but also goals in life but also education and discussion around to fulfil two additional criteria; the issues of women’s health and first, they must submit evidence our responsibilities. healthy relationships. of independent study and second, The Rylands Diploma is a holistic they must submit evidence of programme that responds not just The course also has a practical voluntary work. to the demands and pressures focus, educating the girls on how facing our children but to the to maintain a car, change a tyre and We place great importance on criticisms, often unfairly, levelled reset a fuse in the fuse box. Over students giving of their time to help at them that they are neither the year there are cookery sessions others, whether that be gardening resilient nor fit for the working designed to make the transition to at the local residential care world. Moreton’s students are not independent living, away from the home, taking part in our student only socially responsible, resilient, school dining room, easier and fun. mentoring programme or helping confident and capable but well with local community projects. prepared for all the challenges that The course is not all lie ahead. Surely the most valuable skill we taught. A key element take away from our time at school to the Diploma is to is the ability to make a valuable Sarah Pritchard contribution and to function Life Skills Coordinator encourage independence effectively as part of a community. in our students.
The Moretonian 2020 35 The Lady Barbirolli Music Society
Now in its third year, the The Lady Barbirolli Music Society is building on its successes and creating a tradition of musical excellence.
The Winter Term saw a hive of musical activity: A piano masterclass with Naomi Kayayan (Wycombe Abbey, China and ABRSM Examiner), a guitar masterclass with Vera van Heeringen (Shropshire-based Dutch guitarist and songwriter) and a trip to Steinway Hall London, which included a masterclass with Charles Owen, Steinway Artist, for Cici Jin and Janice Hao.
Performing continued in earnest with the first of our 2019-20 Lunchtime Concerts, the delightful evening spent at Iscoyd Park where Moreton’s musicians provided the backdrop to the drinks reception and the Show Choir and cast of Chicago delighted us with tasters of upcoming events. Well done to everyone involved! This year’s Sixth Form Recital Prize was judged by guest adjudicators We were all treated to a musical extravaganza in Samantha Ward and Maciej Raginia. Sam and Maciej the production of Chicago, moving performances also run Piano Week, which is hosted in different from the Show Choir at Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham schools around the world, including Moreton, and the Orthopaedic Hospital, and the term during the school holidays. We were treated to an ended with the annual F.A.I.R charity carol evening of vibrant and compelling performances service in Chelsea, which was again a resounding from Lexy Nuo, Megan Keaveny, Isabella Gilchrist- success, and the school carol service. Dick and Janice Hao. Megan came away as the 2020 winner with her vocal performance.
This year we had a record number of Towards the end of the Spring Term our planned Oswestry Festival entries and we had programme of events had to halt due to the arrival of the Coronavirus in the UK. The safety of our a high number of pupils who were pupils and school community always takes priority awarded first, second and third place and so all planned events had to be cancelled. in their classes, some of whom then The immediate transition to online learning at the end went on to compete in the Final. of March opened up the possibility of making music together in other ways. Instrumental, vocal and theory The Spring Term is always busy, with the Oswestry lessons continued on Zoom and by the end of the Festival and Sixth Form Recital Prize. In addition, we Summer Term, over 2200 online lessons took place! had another Lunchtime Concert and a full day of string masterclasses with Cellist James Barralet, who is also the Artistic Director of the Whittington Chamber Music Festival.
36 The Moretonian 2020 To keep everyone’s spirits up, and to give us all a sense of shared purpose, we have run a virtual Barbirolli over the Summer Term. The massed staff choir’s moving recording of ‘You Will be Found’ set the tone for the term. The choirs shortly followed with a recording of ‘We’ll Meet Again’ which was so well received that it led to a weekly ‘Musical Escapes’ in the eNews to give everyone uplifting performances during these challenging times. A Divisional Dawn Chorus and Practice-a-thon were set up, seeing pupils and staff recording clips of bird song and practising a very wide variety of skills!
We held virtual concerts with pupils sending in recordings of their performances, and to complete the term’s online events, we launched the HCT Covid Composition Competition open to pupils, staff, parents and the wider community, with the basis of the composition being the letters of the word COVID. We can’t wait to see the winning composition being performed in The Holroyd Community Theatre once we are all back!
The Moretonian 2020 37 The Jenner Society
Further exploration into professions involving veterinary medicine occured at Moreton’s Vet Clinic, run by students in the Lower Sixth and supported by members of the Jenner Society as well as aspiring Veterinarians in the younger years and external pupils.
Dr Sarah Heath, who is a veterinary practitioner specialising in behavioural medicine, gave a very interesting Jenner talk on the subject of animal behavioural medicine, a modern take on a typical veterinary medicine job that looks at a different aspect of the animal world.
The Jenner Society’s The year began with a talk from Old Moretonian (OM 2011) ninth year at Moreton Rebecca Lewis on the science of has been a triumph for birdsong, and its importance in all its members. the conservation of many rare species. This has led her to work There is a regular large turnout closely with Chester Zoo, and the of pupils on a Friday evening, all current Lower Sixth’s Biology trip wanting to further their knowledge to Chester Zoo, allowed us to see of medicine. Each session did not some of the bird species she was Throughout the year disappoint as we were introduced working with in her project. Jenner received many to new biological ideas and doctors and specialists acquainted with careers in the Another talk on the conservation veterinary and medical world that of rare species was given by Tullis who presented a vast were untold before. Mattson, the owner of Stallion AI at Twemlows Stud, who has and varying range of also done conservation work with medical careers. Unique opportunities Chester Zoo. His line of work was were grasped as we rather different as he is involved This stretched from midwifery and in developing new technologies obstetrics; presented by Marie pursued exciting career in Equine reproduction and rare Walmsley and Helena Robinson, choices into this realm breed preservation in the hope and Michelle Mohajer, to dentistry of medicine. of preventing the extinction of and pharmacy; given by Daniel thousands of species and breeds. Waylor and Dr Katie Maddock.
38 The Moretonian 2020 George Lock covered the many Brad Pritchard from the West Mrs Asworth, Head of Careers allied professions, while Dr Andrea Region Oswestry Unit of the St at Moreton, also gave a talk for Bailey spoke on physiotherapy and John Ambulance talked on the pupils interested in veterinary rehabilitation, and Saskia Jones- major role the charity plays in medicine on the application Perrot talked of respiratory and supporting the NHS and saving process for studying veterinary acute medicines. lives, as well as other roles, such medicine at university. as teaching first aid to volunteers In addition to this, Jenner invited of all ages. The Society was given a Both stressed the many professors and doctors live demonstration by Mr Pritchard to talk of research they were and his colleague on how to save importance of work doing. This ranged from Dr Paul someone if they were choking or experience and how to Cool delving into bone tumours, bleeding profusely, as well as a genomics, orthopedic surgery great opportunity to learn how to respond to it and use and statistics, to discoveries of bandage a wound correctly. experience gained in oncogenes and tumour suppressor interviews or multiple genes in cancer biology by Another talk, given by Professor Kevin Gaston. mini interviews Charlotte Tunstall was at universities. Pain in the brain and its on how one applies for importance in human survival was medicine in the army. Due to the complications of explained by Elaine Richardson, COVID-19, during the Summer while a visit for all Sixth Form Term Jenner adapted to online Biology and Psychology students This was something she did herself while studying medicine at ‘Virtual Jenner’ talks. So far there university, and went on to train have been several interesting talks from Dr Sutton, a at The Royal Military Academy at on how dogs are being trained to neurologist, on ‘Brain Sandhurst. This can offer many sniff out malaria and an in depth great opportunities for anyone explanation of how the COVID-19 Day’ involved an exciting planning to follow a medical career. virus affects the human body. brain dissection to Despite the Society not being understand further how As well as navigating the many career choices, Afshan Ahmad able to congregate during the last this organ functioned. (PhD) talked through the process term of the year Jenner has had of medical school admissions, a very successful year and still Two rather different talks during and gave advice on how to best holds talks every Friday evening, the year both spoke of divergent approach the process of applying sharing knowledge on the radical roles one could take on in the to universities. discoveries being made in biology medical world. and the amazing opportunities out there for students whose passion is medicine.
We all look forward to another year of Jenner to come where our knowledge of biology and science will be broadened even further.
Anna Warner
The Moretonian 2020 39 The Bronwen Society
Although COVID-19 intervened Get creative was also the message from OM and student entrepreneur, Hermione Burrell (2017) and curtailed our Bronwen Society when she joined the Bronwen Society to talk programme for the year, as I reflect about launching a business selling her own brand on the speakers and events from of jewellery. Under lockdown, a T-shirt designed and marketed to raise funds for NHS Charities has the terms before lockdown, certainly taken forward Hermione’s message.
what is remarkable is the way in which our talks and trips not only enriched our audiences at the time but also the way in which our Bronwen Society evenings can be linked to many of the activities Moreton girls have been enjoying at home during the latter half of the academic year.
With the internet and computers central to our distance learning school life, Raspberry Pi inventor, Pete Lomas’s inspiring talk was certainly a highlight of the Bronwen calendar. Pete reminisced about his journey from getting creative with a cardboard box to the invention of the Raspberry Pi computer, For the Stables girls who relished their Bronwen intended to offer affordable computer programming evening on the Joys of Flamenco with Spanish teacher opportunities for young people, encouraging them and housemistress Raquel Cárceles Sánchez, music to become creators rather than consumers of the and dance seem to have been on the agenda as digital revolution. Pete’s message to the Bronwen reflected in contributions on line in the late Spring audience was that the imagination of children knows and Summer. For the thespians among the Bronwen no bounds; his parting piece of advice was to ‘go and Society attendees, a trip to Oswestry’s Kinokulture make’. He would be delighted to see that imagination to see the National Theatre Live Encore screening reflected in so much of Moreton Hall life, not least in of ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’. This hilarious evening in the entries in the Moreton Hall Coding Competition which James Corden delivered his BAFTA nominated which included a COVID-19 computer game complete Tony award-winning performance as Francis Henshall, with virus beating hand sanitiser warriors. has been part of the plethora of the treats on offer for Theatre and West End musical lovers and our girls have certainly been making the most of them.
With so many travel restrictions in place for the foreseeable future, now is the time to dream of those once in a lifetime trips. As the keynote speaker at our Bronwen / Bronze DofE evening, climber Ben Heason told his own tale of turning a dream into a reality. Ben spoke about his “obsession” with climbing and about some of the lessons he has learned from the more than 10,000 climbs he has completed.
40 The Moretonian 2020 At the heart of his talk was his first ever climb of the 979m tall Angel Falls in Venezuela, the highest waterfall in the world, overhanging virtually throughout.
The climb took twenty days to complete and was described as ‘one of the finest achievements by British climbers on foreign soil’. It was an extraordinary tale of courage, commitment and personal endeavour and will certainly have been food for thought for those dreaming of their next challenge in the great outdoors.
For Bronwen pupils interested in the shape of our future world, Sarah Pritchard’s lecture on The Establishment of our Human Rights: from the Magna Carta to the Human Rights Act 1998 offered both inspiration and food for thought. Delivered on the day of the UK’s departure from the European Union, Sean Lang’s talk: ‘Brexit Where Are We Now?’ invited a packed audience to look forward to what the future might hold.
Finally, those for whom the many hours of family time may have occasionally worn thin under lockdown may wish to reflect on the challenges which faced The Last Princess. Queen Victoria’s youngest child and most dutiful daughter, Princess Beatrice is the subject of Matthew Dennison’s acclaimed biography and was an extremely popular Bronwen lecture. Matthew Dennison told a story of love, death, sadness and above all else, control. Princess Beatrice was Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s final child, whose father died before she was five and grew up being the person her mother demanded affection from. She had no real childhood, missing out on the fun her older siblings had experienced, until their mother’s grief had taken over her. Summing up the evening, a Lower Sixth Bronwen correspondent wrote:
“The evening was wonderful. Those of us who know him are fully aware that Mr Dennison is a passionate speaker and hearing him talk about a subject on which he is so knowledgeable was a privilege.”
With plans now well underway for another year of passionate speakers, we look forward to continuing to share all the privileges of the Bronwen Society.
The Moretonian 2020 41 BIOSCIENCE ESSAY SUCCESS
The world faces many challenges in the 21st Century; Reflecting on her success, Isobel added: “My article from disease and drug resistance to species extinctions was about brain-computer interface technology and and climate change. Many of these challenges are how in the future, the human brain working alongside biological, so can Biology save the world? The computers and AI software could lead to new and University of Gloucestershire set this as a challenge in effective solutions for the problems we’re facing. their A Level essay competition and we were delighted to learn that Sixth Form student, Isobel, had been “I was inspired by all the buzz around AI at the awarded the Runner Up Prize. moment, all the advancements being made with it, and how it looks like it will become a really useful tool Head of Biology, Mrs Peel, commented: in so many areas. I am also a really big Elon Musk fan, and was really interested by the plans his company “Isobel’s excellent essay on the use of Neuralink has to develop brain-computer interface tech. It’s amazing that the Biology department gives Brain Computer Interface technology us these opportunities to explore and engage in our (BCI) has won her £500. subjects outside the classroom, especially when you get to talk about, and research a subject you are so “As our current battle with COVID-19 has made all interested in, and I am really grateful to Mrs Peel for too apparent, the work of bright forward thinking encouraging us to enter the competition.“ biologists like Isobel is going to be increasingly important. I was delighted at the high quality of the essays submitted from all the Lower Sixth Biology students and also by the £500 that Moreton was awarded as the school with the most entries. All of the girls who took part have received a certificate in I am really happy and recognition of their entry.” surprised that“ I managed to be a runner-up; I genuinely didn’t The University of Gloucester’s judging panel added: think this would happen. “The standard of writing and the depth of understanding were outstanding. Your students’ essays were excellent, and demonstrated their passion for Biology. The judges ranked Isobel’s essay as runner up, and noted that her essay was highly commended to reward her efforts.”
42 The Moretonian 2020 EXTRACT
How Can Biology Save The World? We are currently facing a seemingly endless list of devastating potentially apocalyptic problems: climate change, disease, pollution, drug resistance, poverty, inequality, war. All terrifyingly complex issues with the potential to end the world as we know it, whether it be an environmental mass extinction or the collapse of human society. With the scale and complexity of these problems, they often seem impossible for the human brain to even comprehend, and even with the best minds working tirelessly to fix these issues, the solutions still seem unattainable. So that begs the question in trying to understand and solve the world’s problems have we finally found the limits of the human mind?
Like every other organ in the human body, the brain has physical limits to what it can do; it can only store and process so much information at a time. Computers, however, have no such biological limits, having already far surpassed humans in regards to the volume and speed at which they can execute calculations and process information. With the development of machine-learning, computers can now learn from the information they are presented with and use it to make informed decisions, and moreover, technology is now developing at an exponential rate, improving much faster than is possible with the relatively slow process of human evolution.
However, computers don’t completely outsmart the human brain just yet. Where computers outrank humans on the sheer scale and speed at which they can think, human minds are still considered generally more intelligent than computers, maintaining superiority in creativity, common-sense knowledge, and understanding of the world; all incredibly valuable factors that are unequivocally essential for solving the world’s issues.
This is where Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology comes in. BCI technology creates a direct two-way communication between the human brain and computers, not only creating more opportunities to study and understand human neural systems through their interactions with technology but also having the potential to revolutionise how we think and interact with technology. In July 2019 neurotechnology company Neuralink announced their plans to develop tiny flexible electrode ‘threads’ that can be implanted into the human brain by a ‘sewing machine- like’ device in order to wirelessly receive information from the brain. Neuralink aims to initially create devices to treat serious brain disease and brain damage, however, they have long term goals to develop technology for human enhancement, with the company founder Elon Musk claiming that they want to eventually create “symbiosis with artificial intelligence”. It might sound like science-fiction but in the same July 2019 presentation, Neuralink also announced plans to begin testing ‘threads’ in humans by 2020.
The development of BCI technology could allow the human brain to work with computers on a completely new level, combining all those essential aspects of human intelligence like creativity and understanding of the world, with the information processing abilities and speed of computers to push human intelligence beyond its biological limits. Imagine the possibilities of the human mind working with advanced AI software, we could understand big apocalyptic problems on a whole new scale and level of detail, granting us the ability to think in different ways and explore previously inconceivable avenues of thought at much greater speeds, and finally find the solutions we need to save the world.
The Moretonian 2020 43 HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Matthew Dennison explains why every Insofar as it implies an understanding school should guide its pupils towards of why we think what we think and how philosopher-kingship. we make the decisions we make, critical
Moral leadership was the aspiration for his pupils thinking is indeed key to each of us. of German Jewish educationalist Kurt Hahn, first at Today’s teenagers inhabit a results-driven culture: the Salem School in Germany and, from 1934, in Scotland, ability to satisfy examiner requirements is of greater at Gordonstoun. Influenced by Greek philosopher short-term value to them than constructive or creative Plato, Hahn embraced the idea of the ‘philosopher thought. Among inevitable potential drawbacks is king’, capable of resisting corruption in the exercise study for perceived personal gain: a course undertaken of responsibility, unswayed by the meretriciousness for a high mark at its conclusion rather than the of popular demand. His most famous old boy, Prince Platonic pursuit of knowledge and thence truth, an Philip of Greece, became not a philosopher king but immediate but not a lasting benefit. a philosopher consort, through his marriage in 1947 to the future Elizabeth II. Initiatives like the Duke of History’s cataclysms have been shaped by the Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, with service and duty self-motivated. Egotism has gouged out national among its founding principles, essay the creation of a boundaries, defined national identities, necessitated juster society, an appropriately ‘princely’ exercise of the building of national memorials to nations’ dead. leadership in Platonic terms. Pursuit of short-term gain by those reluctant to or
incapable of thinking wisely has brought in its wake That every school should guide its pupils towards wider impoverishment, destruction of communities, philosopher-kingship (or -queenship) appears to be ways of life, natural and manmade environments, one of the more obvious lessons of history. Plato’s the erosion of inconvenient values of service, duty, definition of a philosopher was a literal one: a inclusion, compassion. The Roman philosopher wisdom-lover. For Plato, the man or woman whose emperor Marcus Aurelius strove for equanimity love of wisdom is whole-hearted and sincere aspires - evenness of temper, a balanced composure - to to knowledge of the truth; implicit is a refutation enable him to rule wisely and selflessly. Equanimity’s of the purely personal, the small-scale, petty, opposite is the sort of frantic busyness that too often antagonistic or immediate in scope. The call to arms loses sight of best principles, reaching unsubstantiated that Socrates outlines to Glaucon in the Republic judgements in the interests of action, abandoning the is leadership through ideals and understanding, bigger picture. wise and reliable governance, a sense of duty and dedication to a society that is, above all things, just. History need not engage with arguments about Plato’s prescription can call each of us to exercise relevance: the story of each and all of us can never be philosopher-kingship by example in every aspect of less than blood-pumpingly relevant. History’s challenge our communal lives: as members of local and national within schools is to extend beyond grade-chasing to communities, our school society, our families. equip pupils with a love of wisdom that will reshape the world for the better for everyone. In this sense, its Current GCSE and A Level study of History study ought to be compulsory. emphasises the importance of what examiners describe hifalutinly as ‘substantiated judgements’. These are conclusions clearly based on impartial and even-handed evaluation of reliable evidence. In this Matthew Dennison sense, substantiated judgements are an aspect of Head of Classics critical thinking.
44 The Moretonian 2020 At Moreton Hall, Girls do STEM!
Science, Technology, Engineering and The Senior Challenge produced a record 45 awards including 7 Gold awards with qualification for follow- Mathematics (STEM): key disciplines at on rounds. The Intermediate Challenge also broke all any time but even more relevant during records with 33 awards including a truly extraordinary the COVID-19 crisis. 15 Gold Awards and 18 pupils qualifying for follow-on rounds. Sadly, lockdown led to a delay for the Junior Challenge… a delay not a cancellation, so we are still The role these subjects have played in understanding, hoping for a third outstanding performance. predicting, managing and, hopefully, solving the pandemic is of great interest to the STEM Department One of the key events of the year was the Junior at Moreton Hall. We hope that, as our pupils move Science Day co-hosted by Moreton First and the out into the world, their knowledge, expertise and STEM Department. This amazing day saw 250 pupils enthusiasm for STEM will position them to play a from primary schools across the region joining our leading role in confronting whatever the next global own pupils for a day of scientific exploration and challenge might be. discovery. Activities including a series of workshops and hands-on demonstrations delivered by Moreton Computer Science is at the forefront of everything Hall’s specialist STEM teachers helped to promote the we do. Not necessarily as a standalone subject but as joys of Science and expand children’s learning across an embedded and critical part of every other activity. Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Our girls are using IT on a daily basis for a remarkable range of tasks: as the means for the delivery of teaching / learning; as a tool for analysing medical statistics; or to model the study of the spread of an infectious disease. The boundary between Computer Science and other subjects is blurring and the breadth of possible uses was highlighted perfectly during the recent Bronwen Lecture by Pete Lomas (creator of the Raspberry Pi). Coding is on the rise at Moreton Hall and it is a rise that we look forward to nurturing over the coming years.
The UK Mathematics Trust Challenges have long been a highlight of the STEM Department calendar and 2020 has been a vintage year. At the other end of our age range, the school’s flagship Jenner Society has been preparing our pupils for a career in the medical profession. At a time when the NHS is doing such an outstanding job we are especially proud that our latest round of school- leavers included girls starting degrees in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Microbiology.
Sean Lang Head of STEM
The Moretonian 2020 45 The New Woman
the new woman: a vital, vocal vamp who knows herself and where she is, and why, who grafts and strives and sometimes needs to stamp her way towards an ever bluer sky;
who multi-tasks the iphone and the page, dissecting rhyme and late-renaissance man; who’s also literally so outraged about those burnt baked beans on instagram;
who sees through alpha males on rugby teams, whose future’s not an endless list of chores, for whom equality’s not a pipe dream, for whom glass ceiling’s not a metaphor.
new woman, here’s the world: it’s in your thrall. the readiness, the readiness is all.
Head of English, Mr Reynolds salutes the Moreton girls with a sonnet.
46 The Moretonian 2020 Widening Horizons
Languages teacher Lesley Eyre looks One who sticks out in the memory was the American former cowboy who shot holes in the wall of the back on 30 years at Moreton and recalls Musgrave Centre with his Colt 45. Another speaker her highlights. had been an escapee from Stalag Luft 3 in the real “Great Escape”. We also enjoyed talks from two Looking back over my nearly 30 years at Moreton, survivors of Auschwitz concentration camp, members I’ve been thinking about the changes that have taken of the cast of “The Archers”, a mountain rescue team, place in that time – when I arrived there were no the actress Joanna David, and many more. A talk by an computers, no Mitchell or Charlesworth houses, no ex-SAS paratrooper led to a group of girls and I doing covered swimming pool, no Moreton First, no Study a parachute jump (I still have the certificate!). Centre, no theatre – I could go on! But a school is so much more than its facilities and the Moreton family So many happy memories: thank you has always been warm, welcoming and lively – that never changes! to all colleagues and pupils past and present. I will miss you! Teaching French and German at Moreton has been fun and extremely rewarding. One of the most The balloonist Per Lindstrand gave a talk one Saturday, important aspects of the job, for me, has always been and the following week came back with three balloons, taking pupils over to Europe to use and develop the which were inflated on the Lacrosse pitches and skills learned in the classroom. In my time I have made floated gently into the skies above, carrying a dozen or more than fifty channel crossings with groups so lucky girls whose names came out in the ballot! of Moreton girls, some on exchange visits to France or Germany, and some on the famous Lower Four As well as a member of staff, I have been a Moreton French trip! parent and will always be grateful for the excellent education and wonderful experiences my daughters One of the joys of working at Moreton is the Charlotte and Ettie had at Moreton Hall. opportunity to become involved in activities beyond the classroom. Running the Widening Horizons programme of lectures on a Saturday morning in the Lesley Eyre 1990s was a fantastic opportunity to introduce the girls to a wide range of people with a story to tell.
The Moretonian 2020 47 The Economic Outlook
Sixth Form Economics students predict a Working habits are likely to change. Companies, and workers, have had to adapt quickly and acquire new V-shaped recovery. Head of Department technological skills. We have seen this at Moreton, as Alison Matthews tells us why, and what teachers and students have moved to online learning. the future may hold for the UK economy. Going forward, more people are likely to work from home, which in turns means less commuting and less pollution, and the rise in online shopping is set to So much has changed since my last article in Moreton’s increase. We may also see less overseas travel, with eNews (Feb. 2020). The focus then was on the more people choosing to holiday in the UK. We are outlook for the UK economy post-Brexit. Who could likely to see more innovation, as companies seek new have foreseen the huge shock the coronavirus crisis ways to reach their customers. would inflict? Brexit, although proceeding, is now firmly in the background. For my Economics students, these are unprecedented times. They have covered monetary and fiscal policy The Bank of England is predicting a 14% decline in during their A Level course so can understand, and GDP this year, a bigger fall than during the Great evaluate, the different policy responses around the Depression of the 1920s, and the deepest for more world to fight the crisis, ranging from direct cash than three centuries. There is, however, a huge transfers to citizens, generous wage subsidies and the amount of uncertainty surrounding any short-term possibility of negative interest rates. economic forecast, with much depending on the duration of the lockdown. It has been fascinating to discuss Longer-term, as we emerge from the current crisis, with my Upper Sixth students their the UK economy is likely to look very different. The role of the government will undoubtedly be larger and predictions for the shape of the recovery. it is likely that taxes will have to rise to cover the sharp rise in National Debt. It is possible we will see a more It was very encouraging to hear that they unanimously caring society emerge, with more focus on social care predicted a V-shaped recovery, in other words a and on improving the distribution of income in the UK sharp bounce back in Q3. This would be the best case economy. The crisis has exposed the vulnerability of scenario, so hopefully they will be right. those in the gig economy, for instance, who have to cope with low and unstable incomes. Alison Matthews Head of Economics
48 The Moretonian 2020 Photography
The Moretonian 2020 49 Art Gallery
Abigail Pickersgill Eva Cheng
Lottie Pryce
Hattie Jones
Kaho Kuroda
50 The Moretonian 2020 Lower School Art Zoe Tse Freya Cox
Charlotte Higgins
Lower School Art Holly Wingett
Cindy Gee The Moretonian 2020 51 SPORT HIGHLIGHTS Hockey This has been another successful year for Hockey at Moreton with record levels of participation and qualification for National Finals for the first time ever. The U12, U14 and U16 teams were crowned Shropshire champions while the U13 and U18 teams finished as runners up, meaning each side qualified and represented Moreton Hall at Regional Finals. The U16 team were runners up at Regional Finals meaning they qualified for National Finals in March, where they competed with some of the best schools from all over the country.
There was also record levels of participation in Hockey, with more B and C team fixtures than ever before, also a senior 3rd XI was introduced due to the demand for pupils wanting to play. Moreton has had a number of girls represent Shropshire with distinction this year, while Lower Five pupil, Ella Long, has been training and playing for the U15 Midlands Performance Centre.
Cricket The U15s won the North Shropshire Lady Taverners tournament while the U13s finished as runners up in North Shropshire. Both qualified for Shropshire finals but these were cancelled due to COVID-19.
Netball Our U13 Team came in the Top 8 on the County U13 Tournament. Our 1st Team play weekly in the Adult Netball League and were in the Top 10 on the Leaderboard until the League was suspended due to COVID-19. The U12 Team won the North Shropshire Schools Tournament and were meant to go onto to the County Finals but sadly this was cancelled due to COVID-19.
52 The Moretonian 2020 Equestrian The COVID-19 outbreak has led to the cancellation or postponement of numerous international and national equestrian events since March 2020 and as I sit and write this it is still uncertain as to when the sport will resume at a normal pace. Until this point the Moreton school NSEA riding squad was flourishing with 16 members. We had a promising start to the academic year in September when we qualified teams at Southview for The National Championships at Addington in October and The Champions Plate at Keysoe in November in dressage, JWS and Show Jumping.
The stakes were high and competition fierce with our teams narrowly missing out on podium placings. Spirits were high and girls were filling their diaries with events in the Springtime – qualifying for Royal Windsor again was high on everyone’s lists. Alas, it was not to be. Optimistically, I look forward to September and getting back to ‘the new normal’ and competitions again in whatever form that may be. Keep riding everyone!
Fencing Despite the cancellation of the showpiece British literally, on the podium of regional fencing. The final Public Schools Fencing Championships, it was another fencing event of the year was a victorious two leg successful year for fencing at Moreton Hall. The overall match against Bangor University, where the girls standard and number of girls fencing has continued to assisted in preparing their older counterparts for increase. One significant development is the increasing their inaugural entry to the University leagues. number of girls who have competed in external competitions, notably the Youth Series events and the Moreton Hall was also represented in the regional British Youth Championship Qualifiers (where all 4 Winton Cup competition hosted in Millfield School in entrants qualified for the Gala British Finals). Across December, where Evie fenced for the West Midlands these events Moreton gained an impressive hall for against the top fencers from across the English and the season of 3 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals. Welsh regions. Following on from this success Evie was able to break into the Top 8 U17 in England, Huge congratulations must go to these girls, Evie putting her in contention for an international selection Wall, Lulu Joynson, Cindy Ge, Iris Girvan and Zinnia to compete in Europe at the end of the year. Evans – all of whom have put Moreton, quite
The Moretonian 2020 53 Lacrosse Lacrosse continued to go from strength to strength The U15 and U14 have a plethora of talented players this season throughout all of the age groups. At senior and had extremely successful seasons. Both squads level, both 1st and 2nd teams won their respective were Welsh Rally and North School’s winners, and Welsh Rally and North Schools’ titles. A strong 3rd finished in the Top 8 in the country at National team also competed in these tournaments, winning Schools. The U13s were 2nd at North Schools and many of their matches against 2nd teams. won the U13 Prep Schools Tournament. The U12s were 2nd in the Prep Schools Tournament and semi- In November, the 1st team took part in the Challenge finalists at North Schools. There are over 15 girls Cup which is for the Top 8 schools in the country. currently on the England Regional Academy Pathway, All three of their games were extremely close and 2 on the Welsh Talent Pathway and 4 on the England gave the team the belief they could beat any of the National Academy. top schools in the country. In January, the 1st and 2nd teams went on a successful mini south tour where they At national level, Hannah Legge and Iris Downes were won all of their games. selected for Wales U19A and Coco Harpin for the England U19A team. The highlight of the season was at the rearranged 2nd team Nationals Schools. The Moreton team, captained by Alysha Brown, played some outstanding Lacrosse throughout the day and reached the final.
Squash The profile of squash at Moreton has continued Tennis to rise this academic year. The Upper Five team made it to the Plate Finals of the National Schools In Summer Term 2019 the U13 team, comprising Isla Championships, which were unfortunately cancelled. Mcdonald O’Brien, Eloise Chapman, Izzy Harpin and Moreton also entered not one, but two teams Amelia Griffiths, qualified for the regional rounds into the North and Mid Wales Junior League of the LTA team tennis competition. In the regional this year, competing against regular club players rounds, which took place in the Autumn Term 2019, from Wrexham, Bethesda, Llanfyllin, Newtown, the team won their first match against Newcastle Shropshire and Flintshire. The team gained many Under Lyme and went on to lose in the Area Final individual and team wins but with the league against Queen’s Chester. postponed we have no overall finishing position.
54 The Moretonian 2020 Lacrosse National Finalists
For the second consecutive year “Their teamwork and fighting spirit was awesome to behold. They absolutely gave their all and Moreton has excelled in Lacrosse fully deserved to make it to the final. A fantastic reaching the National Final. The achievement. Congratulations to the girls and their school’s Second Team played against fabulous coaches, Lulu, Hollie and Jenny.” larger schools from across England Team captain, Alysha Brown, added: “What a way to with tenacity and resolve to be placed end Lacrosse at Moreton Hall. I am so proud of what we have achieved. Everyone was so determined and second in the country. no one ever gave up during the day. The team made it through the group stages beating Queen Anne’s, and Saint George’s School. A narrow “We are so grateful for Mrs Lewin and defeat to Berkhamsted gave the girls the impetus and the support she has continually given us motivation to press even further forward. this season. Thank you Mrs Lewin and A convincing win against Godolphin was followed thank you to my wonderful team for a by a hard fought game against St Swithun’s, and an great season.” outstanding semi-final performance against Lady Eleanor Holles saw the Moreton team reach the Head of Lacrosse Coaching at Moreton, Miss National Final. Harrington, added: “I am so proud of all the girls and Mrs Lewin for everything they achieved at Nationals. Onlooker and parent, Mrs Legge, commented: “It was Two finals in two years for Mrs Lewin is a testament a privilege to watch Moreton’s U19B team compete at to her as a coach and the time and passion she gives the Nationals. The girls were incredible. They had only to the girls. As coaches we are so lucky to work with 13 players for all 8 matches. They were the smallest girls who are committed, focused and dedicated to the team competing in any match. They were on the pitch sport we’re so passionate about but for that passion from 10.00am to 5.30pm. to be reciprocated by them makes it truly special.”
The Moretonian 2020 55 Lacrosse Nationals
Moreton’s Lacrosse teams took to the “Having secured their place in the last sixteen, they beat a strong St Mary’s Calne side 7-1. In the quarter sporting stage as they ventured to finals we were drawn against Guildford (the eventual Aldershot for the highlight of their year. winners). After an excellent start to the match, injury and tiredness were evident and Guildford finished the Recognised for Lacrosse prowess and for skills that game strongly with the score 4-6 on the final whistle. have been honed with fastidious precision by our The whole team can be extremely proud of their coaches, all three (U14, U15, and The Firsts) teams achievements and they certainly showed the Lacrosse were set for the challenge ahead. world what they are capable of in the future.”
The U15 team – last year’s national champions – won The First Team had a tough weekend with the all six of their first-round matches, and with only one Saturday of Nationals being cancelled. It meant that sub they worked relentlessly attacking and defending with no results to go on they were seeded in a very with aplomb! But what is it that enables this small tough championship group on Sunday with three year group to yield such a superlative team? The top eight teams from last year. They had some very camaraderie, the mutual respect, the unselfish passing challenging group matches against Berkhamsted and positioning. School, St Mary’s Calne and St Helen and St Katherine and results from these meant they then They are a cohesive unit who value every had a knockout game against Downe House School, narrowly losing 4-3, which placed them in the top member and testament to this, girls sixteen in the country. who hadn’t played last year stepped up Head of Lacrosse Coaching, Miss Harrington, to ensure the old guard could continue commented: “As their coach I am extremely proud their fight. of the girls and all of their efforts this year. Although Nationals may not have gone the way the First Jemima, Grace and Ella should be commended for Team had wanted their season isn’t defined by these new roles. one tournament. It is defined by the progress they have made, relationships that have formed and the Battling on through to the quarter finals, the U15s family that they have become. The girls have had an lost narrowly (1-3) to Benenden School, but as Vice- outstanding year and have continued to excel. Captain Laura commented: “We couldn’t have given more.” How true and how proud parents and coaches “I cannot thank our Upper Sixth leavers, were of their heroic endeavour. Hattie, Maddie and Fenella, enough, for Similarly, the U14s were placed in the top eight teams everything they have given to Lacrosse in the country as they achieved a quarter final place. Their coach, Mrs Lewin, said: “The huge amount of over their time at Moreton. talent in this group of players was evident from the “However, I must give a special mention to both start with convincing wins against Heathfield School Hattie as our Captain and Maddie as our Vice. They and North London Collegiate. After a difficult match have led the team admirably this season, leading by against Caterham School, they gathered momentum example and driving the team on to be the best they and started to work as a team. This enabled them to can be. They will be greatly missed at Moreton but I finish the group stage with emphatic wins against St am confident that their Lacrosse journeys are only just George’s Ascot 7-0 and Queen Anne’s 9-0. beginning and I am excited to see what else they will achieve.”
56 The Moretonian 2020 The Moretonian 2020 57 Fond Farewell
Lesley Eyre Jenny Sanderson Jenny Eaton
My first memory of Jenny was in 1981. She was starting out in her teaching career at Moreton, Lesley Eyre joined Moreton Hall and I (Lulu Lewin) was in Lower Since joining Moreton First in in 1990 as a teacher of French Four. I never would have dreamt 2010 Jenny Eaton worked with but her 30 year career at the then, that we would eventually the greatest of consideration to school has seen her involvement end up working together and support anyone who needed an in so many of the wider aspects develop such a strong friendship extra helping hand along the way. of school life including being in the years to come. Like Mary Poppins she dug into her Housemistress in Gem House, magical supply of resources and running the Widening Horizons Having taught at Moreton for found a way to iron out problems; programme, an early extra- 3 years, she left to have her from times tables to handwriting curricular activities programme, children and further her career, and the trickiest of grammar rules. and even stilt-walking in the before returning in 2002. Moreton circus. Lesley has been During the last 18 years, Jenny Jenny’s kindness and patience an exceptional and inspirational continued to inspire many Old are legendary, as is her Surprise French teacher to so many girls. Moretonians, particularly in Tennis Club. Her weekly after school and Lacrosse. As an ex England activity has always been the Her long-standing trips to France Lacrosse player, her knowledge most popular with a constant with Lower Four and the Upper and passion for the sport, have waiting list. Appropriately named Four Exchange Program continues been hugely influential to the ‘Surprise Club’ because each to create lasting memories for the development of Lacrosse in the week was literally just that! The girls. With both daughters having school. She is a first class teacher, variety of activities from baking, been pupils at the school, this has whose dedication and attention bingo, movies with popcorn to the certainly been an enduring family to detail are second to none. renowned Advent Calendars filled affair and one that has brought with chocolate have thrilled pupils great success to them all. Lesley Finally, Jenny has been a great in Moreton First for several years. has a myriad of extra-curricular colleague and friend to me and I activities of her own to pursue in shall miss her immensely. We all As Jenny retires we wish her much retirement of which, time spent wish her a very happy retirement! happiness and know the staff room with family and grandchildren will will never be the same without her be paramount. Bonne continuation! and her unforgettable Friday cakes!
58 The Moretonian 2020 Janet Sheppard Gracie and Alice, started here in Helen Powers 2012. With her knowledge and understanding of the pastoral care needed for all students, alongside her excellent experience as a nurse, she transformed and developed the team to create an outstanding centre for the Health and Wellbeing of students within the school.
Her knowledgeable, kind, gentle and supportive advice gave parents and students the confidence to know that they were in excellent hands. She will be missed by the Moreton community, and we Some people are unflappable Erudite, kindly and unflagging thank her for the wonderful care and serene and no one more so in her resourcefulness, Helen she has offered to all of us. that Janet Sheppard. Since joining Powers has rekindled for lucky Moreton First in 2012 her gentle Moretonians the ancient cultures guiding ways have enriched us of Greece and Rome, and all as she epitomises a ‘Keep demonstrated exceptional talents Calm and Carry On’ approach Ji l l Tur ner as a Latin language teacher. Her to school life with our youngest production for a Classics concert children. As an experienced Infant of extracts of ʻThe Tale of Peter teacher Janet has given hundreds Rabbitʼ and ʻWinnie the Poohʼ will of children the confidence to long be remembered by all who begin their educational journey. saw them, as will her concern Her knowledge and advice to for every girl in her care. She colleagues, parents and children will be missed enormously. has been invaluable and she will be greatly missed by everyone. In true form there is no rest ahead for Janet as she looks forward to Chris Symons countless days with her growing number of grandchildren.
After a life-long career teaching Deb Lovell German and French first in the UK and then for 20 years in Australia, Jill Turner returned to her roots in Cheshire 4 years ago. After joining Moreton Hall’s summer school, Jill very quickly established herself as an indispensable member Chris Symons conferred of the team and has been an inestimable élan on the Classics Assistant Housemistress in the department and the school at ISC and Brook House since. large. A teacher of extraordinary breadth and wonderful ability, he In addition, Jill has brought her inspired a deep love of the Latin wealth of experience in French language and abiding curiosity teaching to pupils in Moreton about this richest of literary First and the Senior School. Jill’s heritages in the generations of Deb Lovell started at Moreton support has been invaluable and Moretonians whose education Hall in 2015 as Health Centre she will be greatly missed by he irradiated and blessed. A Sister. She already had a good her many friends at Moreton. understanding of the school’s delightful, courteous and witty ethos as both her daughters, man, he is simply irreplaceable.
The Moretonian 2020 59 Sophie Morgan Lara Kennedy Philip Griffin
Sophie Morgan is leaving us after Lara Kennedy brought to Moreton two years teaching Mathematics Phil Griffin has decided to leave a passionate enthusiasm for Moreton at the end of this from Year Five to Upper Four classical literature and a natural academic year. We thank Phil and also fulfilling the key role gift for teaching. Her first-rate for his contribution to Moreton of Form Tutor for Year 6 in rapport with the girls and zeal for over the last two years, both Moreton First. The job of bridging Classics made her an inspirational in the English Department and the transition from Moreton First leading Norton Division, and wish teacher during her short time to the Senior School is a vital him all the best for the future. with us, and she will be greatly one and Sophie tackled it with missed, both inside and outside enthusiasm, determination and the classroom. Her exemplary an endless supply of cheerfulness. record in teaching Latin, Greek She is moving to a job at Oldbury and Classical Civilisation sets a Ian Wood Wells School in Bridgnorth and high bar for her successors. we wish her every good fortune for this next step in her career.
Robert Parfett Adam Jermaine-Jones
Mr Wood is leaving us... again! After dipping his toe into a brief retirement last year, he returned to cover Mrs Quantrell's maternity leave and has been teaching Lower Five and Upper Four Maths for Adam Jermaine-Jones has made the last 12 weeks. He certainly a sterling contribution to the Art didn't expect 10 of those 12 weeks department during his maternity to take place via Zoom and it Robert Parfett joined Moreton cover for Sally Penrose. His sense is to his credit that he adapted Hall in September 2018. He of humour, positivity, and team his teaching style and embraced quickly established himself as spirit has meant that he settled the new technology to deliver a strong member of the EAL into the team fast and that all an outstanding programme of department, teaching pupils of who have worked with him have online learning. He is now going the International Study Centre, had their spirits lifted, although to resume his well-deserved as well as international girls in several ‘dad jokes’ have been retirement after proving once the main school and in Moreton endured by all! We are sure that and for all that you can indeed First. Robert was a cheery, Adam’s creative and technical teach an old dog new tricks. dependable member of the EAL talent will stand him in great team in term time and during stead as he moves on to complete the Summer School. He will be his MA in Film, Photography, greatly missed by his colleagues. and Light Based Media.
60 The Moretonian 2020 Catherine Ford years by offering extra sessions, Davina Kynaston opportunities to attend external Hockey at clubs in the area and also being involved in the England Hockey Talent Pathway. Our U16s also reached the National Finals in Reading which again was a first for Moreton! Chris has really put Moreton on the map for Hockey. We wish him every success in his new role as Director of Hockey at Denstone College.
Headteacher, Catherine Ford began her work with Moreton First in 2007 and she has contributed Gavin Woodcock to the school's expansion ever since, not least when she visited the sister school in China. Her Davina Kynaston joined the message of kindness and her Moreton family almost five years belief that childhood is precious: ago, and from her first days to there should always be a balance most recently before the start between protecting childhood of lockdown, has remained a and preparing children to grow dependable, thoughtful, kind, caring up, has had a huge influence nurse who has always remained on pupils and her legacy will be calm in whatever situation has remembered for years to come. arisen. Davina's knowledge of all things ʻnurseryʼ astounded every one of us; from her midwifery to her care of those in their later Chris Prosser In all his years at Moreton Hall as years of life. Whilst no babies have ICT technician, I think it’s safe to been born on site in recent years, say that no two days were ever the same for Gavin Woodcock. Davina has kept a close eye on Having started out in his role our pregnant staff, and I am sure predominantly building computers that on more than one occasion, from parts for the school, as the has had the hot water and towels world around us changed, so did on standby! Her care of all our the needs of the school and who asthmatics in the community is would have envisaged that Gavin second to none; it has allowed would spend his last few days at many of our pupils to become Moreton preparing staff and pupils symptom free and enjoy all to take their learning online instead that Moreton has to offer. Chris Prosser joined Moreton in of in the classroom. But over all September 2018 to take up his these years, Gavin remained the Davina has been an incredible role as Head of Hockey Coaching. firm go-to man for passwords, all support to all of us in the Health He soon established himself as manner of devices failing to access Centre, and is a very special lady a valuable key member of the the internet, setting up multiple who will be hugely missed. We Sports department. Chris worked meeting rooms with mobile ICT kit, all send you congratulations and tirelessly to raise the profile and and being on the end of the phone best wishes on your retirement. standard of Hockey at Moreton and helpdesk when projectors and indeed he did this! For the first and printers systematically time at Moreton our U18, U16 and failed, just when teachers and U14 teams all won their respective pupils needed them the most! County Tournaments which meant they qualified through to We thank Gavin for always trying the Regional Finals demonstrating every option he could to help the breath of talent that Chris staff and pupils and we wish him has developed over the two all the best in his new role - he will be missed at Moreton.
The Moretonian 2020 61 The Making of a Moretonian
Molly Creaser Ogden reflects on her This has led me to co-ordinating The Historian, something I dismissed as not possible for me in first year at Moreton. September. I started and co-edit The Mad Scientist with two friends, just because we could. This year has When I started at Moreton I was shy, concerned been filled with St John Ambulance events for me, the about whether I could fit in and do well. Those whole time I have had support from all the staff at concerns were quickly stopped when I walked into Moreton. I led a debate team for The Jenner Society, tutor-time and Mr Dennison was wearing bright yellow the thought of debating used to terrify me, but at trousers and, rather than sitting on a chair, he sat on Moreton I feel supported enough to just give it a go. the desk for the whole meeting. I realised that there The opportunity of a dissection club is so valuable wasn’t a specification ‘to fit in to’ at Moreton, instead to me, not only because of the skills it has taught they were going to let me actually be me. me, but also the chance to be in a fun atmosphere with a teacher and friends, where we can ask biology One academic year later and I am almost questions that don’t fit into lessons! unrecognisable: I will confidently give my opinion to a group of people; I laugh and join in the fun in the The family and community aspect of Moreton cannot common room (a frequent topic of conversation is be ignored: Housemistresses who are always there which is the best biscuit for a cup of tea, normally for a chat, celebrating a friend’s birthday with surprise ending in a stand-off between the supporters of a cake, watching The Crown after a long day and custard cream and those of bourbons); I contribute in debating who is the best character (Tommy Lascelles), lessons; I have amazing friends who are always there running around the site at 9pm the night before World for a laugh and a chat. Book Day to ensure a friend’s Eddie the Eagle costume is perfect. At Moreton, you are told something revolutionary for an anxious girl, that This past year has brought out my confidence, taught me to smile and encouraged me that I can do this. In actually... you can do that, if you try. summary, it has made me a Moretonian.
62 The Moretonian 2020 A Tribute to Katy Tanner
Katy established and led the development office to where it is today and has run the Moreton Business Lunch held every spring which has become an extremely successful major event in the Moreton calendar with up to 600 delegates including OMs, parents, friends of Moreton and now favoured by local businesses to entertain corporate clients and customers.
As Foundation Development Director, Katy has been responsible for the furthering of major projects - taking the germ of an idea and seeing it through to the finish, none more so than the new Holroyd Community Theatre which has been complex in its design, business model and time tabling and I am delighted that Katy will continue as Chair of the theatre company.
Encompassing the increasing number of OMs and Friends of Moreton has been another success for Katy, arranging gatherings both at Moreton and in London and expanding the database so that communication and contact has been greatly advantaged.
This has led to the Old Moretonians being extremely supportive of the New Sports Pavillion which is another example of Katy’s achievements. Katy Tanner leaves us after 12 She along with her daughter Emily are of course OMs outstandingly successful years as whilst Jemina is in the Sixth Form at Moreton. We will Foundation Development Director miss Katy’s sense of fun at the Foundation meetings and we thank both her and James for the use of the at Moreton. She represents the Boardroom at Tanners which has been so much more very essence of a Moretonian central to members of the Foundation committee. with exceptional personal and We also thank both Katy and James for their help communication skills which have and support for Moreton over the years and wish resulted in her many successes them well with the renovation of their new home and gardens. On a personal note, I have enjoyed working and raising over £1.3m. with Katy immensely and would like to thank her for her professionalism in running the Foundation She has diligently built up the momentum of which has made my job as chairman a pleasure. fundraising and done it in a way which has never veered from the ‘Moreton Ethos’, however it hasn’t always been easy, I can remember a couple of Martyn Heath occasions when potential donors were difficult and Governor objectionable but she dealt with them graciously.
The Moretonian 2020 63 Housemistress’ Highlights
As Mrs Julia Hughes and Senior “She had an open-door policy to the office, which I fondly remember abusing by constantly walking in and Housemistress Mrs Isobel Parry prepare making myself comfortable around the desk, just to to retire after 43 years and 15 years say hello. In fact, since leaving Moreton in 2009, I have respectively. We look back at some of continued to make use of this offer and I have been back to visit for a little catch-up on multiple occasions! their highlights. “Mrs Parry was always supportive of us and genuinely Reflecting on Mrs Parry’s contribution to school life cared for all of her girls. On occasions when people Principal George Budd commented: “Over the years were homesick or feeling down she never faltered in Isobel has offered sound advice to both pupils and cheering us up again and making sure that we were parents in a kind and supportive manner, and above all doing okay in the subsequent days. in a warm and friendly way. She will be missed by all who have known her at Moreton, but we treasure the “ memories we have.“ She was a huge part of my Moreton experience and taught me a lot about Indeed, one of those who treasures her time with Mrs kindness through her caring ways. Parry is OM Katharine Hewett nee Hone (2009), who recalls: “It was an absolute pleasure to have her as a guest to our wedding last year and I know that my school “Mrs Parry was my first (and favourite) friends loved seeing her and Mrs Phillips again too. Housemistress at school. I believe we I really hope she enjoys her retirement. No doubt I will continue to impose myself upon her for our little joined the school at the same time and catch-ups, perhaps now in a coffee shop rather than consequently my year group had a the office.ˮ strong bond with her throughout.
64 The Moretonian 2020 Similarly, Mrs Hughes began her Moreton career Sharing some of her stand-out moments with Jemima establishing order and harmony, chiefly as House Davenport, Mrs Hughes commented: Matron for our various houses along the way. Mrs Davenport said: “I started at Moreton as a young resident matron in 1977, and eventually moved over to a daily position “Her support, lent to a myriad of running the Uniform shop as well as pastoral duties. Moretonians, throughout these years has “I had my son in 1983 and before long, I had a request been truly invaluable. With her warm to return on a part time basis, which allowed James to welcome at the start of every day and come with me, he was so spoiled by all the girls! possessing super organisation, with time “By 1986 I was running the Nearly New shop and for everyone, girls and staff alike - she working with Upper Sixth in Lloyd-Williams, which was so much fun and have remained with the Upper will be a hugely missed member of the Sixth for 28 years. Moreton family.” “When I first started, I was sent down to London on my own to escort the train back up with 50 girls at the start of term. I had managed quite well until at Shrewsbury I realised the carriages were splitting, I was charging up and down, making sure I had got them all together, with a teddy under my arms and a little girl hanging onto me (I wonder what she’s doing now?).
“Another fun anecdote was when we had a newly installed fire system linked to the fire station when I was resident in Gem House.
“As Senior Matron, I burnt the toast - imagine my embarrassment having to explain to the Head.
“The girls thought it was hilarious - when they were rewarded with a couple of fire engines filled with burly firemen...
“Moreton has been my life and I feel privileged to have had a long successful career and great times, and I will miss the interaction with the girls and staff who have kept me young at heart. Unfortunately age creeps up and there comes a time to say au revoir.”
The Moretonian 2020 65 A Room with a View
Sixth Form student Daisy Reeves is Indeed, Daisy is using her ʻdad's old paintsʼ for her art work, and ʻupcycling old clothesʼ for Textiles. undeterred in lockdown as she continues Finding joy in what we have at home and in nature, her education remotely, since social her Textiles teacher has encouraged her to look to distancing has been enforced she has the outdoors for ideas and Daisy has done just that. For her Alexander Mcqueen inspired piece, Daisy's returned to her family in Cumbria. influence is springtime flowers, which she has pressed and printed. Studying in a key academic year group and set to take her A Levels next summer, Daisy was determined Daisy's Classics lessons have also continued via to ensure she met the challenges of lockdown by remote learning. Daisy added: ʻThis continues to be embracing her school's online provision. Describing collaborative, just as it is in the physical classroom. herself as ʻsomeone who is not a technical geniusʼ she We take it in turns to read The Aeneid. These myths was initially cautious at the thought of virtual lessons come alive regardless of where we are; our teacher, on Zoom but says that with time ʻit got easierʼ. Mr Dennison inspires whether we are at home or in school. His sense of humour lifts our spirits.ʼ Daisy is described by one of her teachers as ʻa true creativeʼ and with this in mind it is easy to see why Whilst Daisy acknowledged the high calibre someone studying Art and Textiles for A Level may of academic provision she receives, she spoke have felt that online learning would pose difficulties. enthusiastically about the wider curriculum, reflecting on the wellbeing and pastoral care which continues However, with the support of her over Zoom. She describes this as something which teachers, Daisy has seen this as ʻunderpins Moreton Hall: an opportunity ‘to become more personal tutors, housemistresses, imaginative, expressive, colourful health care, learning support. There and creative.’ is on-going wellbeing guidance.’ Her Art teacher Mrs Mills confirmed: “Daisy has a It certainly seems that Daisy is determined to make joyful and experimental way of working, which is the most of the remarkable breadth a Moreton Hall usually supported by the mad array of materials we education affords. Her A Level education continues have in the Art block. Now Daisy is thinking outside even though she is physically distant from school. the box, but if she needs further guidance we will always provide a one-to-one Zoom session.ˮ
66 The Moretonian 2020 The Old Moretonian The Moretonian 2020 67 OM News 2020
The following news has been collated from OMs since September 2019.
1934 Rosemary Innes (Fell) for ages 6-9. I play with the 2nd narrow boats from Ellesmere to Rosemary celebrated her 103rd violins in the Studio Symphony the Lion Quays, moored there Birthday in August 2019. She is still Orchestra Belfast and also play and then visited Moreton with all in the nursing home where she has with a traditional Irish group.” the family followed by a delicious been living for the last 5 years and meal at the hotel, all in beautiful remembers with fondness her time 1959 Mary O’Brien sunshine. My grandchildren were at Moreton and enjoys looking at (Younghouse) highly amused when I showed the Centenary Portrait of Moreton. “We still holiday in Italy every them where I had to cut the grass June to September (hence why with scissors, for having a ruler I miss reunions!) In September fight. The new pavilion is fantastic 2018, our three children joined and I was fascinated to see my us for a week. No in-laws or team photograph up on the wall, grandchildren, just the five of from such a long time ago.” us - the first time we have been away together for 36 years!”
1959 Sue Tunstall (Woodcock) “In April 2019, husband Rob and I celebrated our golden wedding 1954 Anne Eastham in Singapore where we started our (FitzGerald) married life 50 years ago. We were “Last year, I celebrated 60 joined by our Australian family, years of marriage to my husband OM daughter Nicola Lambert Richard. We married in 1959 (Tunstall 90) and her family, and and our bridesmaids were Jess son Mark and family from the UK.” Malcolmson and Ann Mavie. The wedding was attended 1962 Sara Ayshford by Bronwen Lloyd-Williams Sanford (Healing) as well as OMs Katherine “Since moving to the country in Royston Brown, who was a 1997 when I married my husband, cousin, and Doreen Cameron.” I have become involved with village matters, in particular, our historic 1954 Sheila Reid Saxon church of St Eadburgha’s. I Sheila has recently performed am secretary of the Friends, and in ‘All About Eve’ at the Noel a member of the ladies’ cleaning Coward Theatre, London. team! I am also sometimes asked She has also reprised her role to read a piece at a special event as Mildred in the TV films and services. I am always nervous 1965 Jacqueline Gill ‘Murder on the Blackpool but I privately thank Bron for her Jacqueline is involved in politics Express’ produced by Jason Cook. coaching all those years ago.” in Shrewsbury and voluntarily runs the Shrewsbury Beaconsfield Club. 1954 Judith Taylor (Newell) 1962 Pamela Finlay (Pritchard) Judith has completed a “It is with great sadness I have 1965 Julia Scott-Barrett Memoir of Moreton 1949-54 to report the death of my “Well, I finally bit the bullet, for the OM Archives. If any sister, Sue Knibbs (Pritchard) sold my lovely old farmhouse OM would like a copy, please in December 2018. in Provence (with its olive trees, contact the OM office at swimming pool, fig tree and [email protected]. “I have now retired and would mulberry tree, cat et al) and love to hear from any OMs from left the house last October. As 1959 Dianne Andrews (Carson) my year and any near Cornwall.” I could not get into the new flat “I have written two children’s in Edinburgh until the beginning books about the Titanic 1964 Lorna Roper (Diggle) of November, I meandered my ‘Ebeneezer’s Titanic Adventure’ “I had a really special 75th birthday. way up France and thence and ‘Ebeneezer’s Titanic Hero’ We sailed along the canal in two
68 The Moretonian 2020 under the Channel to the UK. “I auditioned, was accepted, 1975 Charlotte Narula (Beech) It was an uneventful trip across and became a 22-year-old Charlotte has just completed a France, except for the woman undergraduate transfer student four year project; designing, project I knocked off her bike in Paris. with three more years to go managing and building a modern Luckily, she was in a hurry, to get a Bachelor’s degree. ‘case study’ house on the river. so just got back on her bike, So, my second University wagged her finger at me and was New York University, It has been entered for a RIBA disappeared into the distance. and what is now named the Award 2020 and is currently being I stayed with OM Alison Morton Tisch School of the Arts. photographed for an interior (Withington) in Hampshire on design book. It was also featured the way up and we were joined “At that time, the undergraduate in Enki Magazine in July 2019. for dinner by OM Sylvia Peile Drama department did not exist. (Herbert). Thence to London NYU opened the doors to the 1977 Carol Myott and spent one night with OM School of the Arts in 1966. “I set-up a company five years Vivien Thompson (Howard). ago making and selling flapjacks. “Undergraduate Drama was I started at home and now “Next was Solihull to visit OM only added at the end of our employ 14 people. I travel the Julia Truscott (Withington) and second year and I’ll omit that country selling at sporting events then my old Moretonians ran saga (same degree, no auditions, and agricultural shows.” out, so I had to slum it with different faculty - rage on our part, various other friends. What economics on the University’s). 1978 Alys Daye (Rowe) fun it was. It made my journey “My eldest son Bryan, is married back to Edinburgh and a new “However, I had rather a lot of with two sons, Dominic born in life that much more grounded credits, and I knew how to read 2016 and Arthur born in 2018. and less daunting, spending a catalogue. After a chat or two time with friends whom I have with the wonderful woman who “Next son Chris, is married and known for practically my whole later hired me as her ghost-writer, has a daughter, Hallie Rose, 2018. life. It was joyful and absolutely was my Maid of Honour and full of fun, pleasure and love. Godmother to one of our children, Daughter Emily has just graduated I received a Bachelor’s degree at from Manchester University in “Now I am installed in Edinburgh the end of my second year, and her Masters in Architecture with in a super flat, very close to the the Master’s degree at the end of Honours, top of the year and city centre, and on excellent the third, having taking graduate Silver Award while our youngest bus routes (have yet to figure level academics all three years.” daughter, Zoe, is studying law out the bus pass, which I don’t at the Open University.” think gets me on to the trams). 1968 Sarah Kearney (Rutherfoord) 1982 Lucy Czakan (Leslie) “It seems to have rained every “I attach a photo of the 50 year Lucy is working as a food day, but I find that remarkably reunion of our year 1968. We were technologist and innovator, with refreshing having survived last actually in touch with 28 of the Quorn microprotein, launching summer when it was never class of which 17 were free to meet it onto the market. It is now a less than 38 degrees for three in London at the Garden Museum multi-million-pound brand. and a half months. I have a in Lambeth in October 2018. It lovely spare room with its own was an extraordinary gathering Previously she was at Unilever, bathroom so will welcome filled with many hilarious and fond in the marketing department visitors at any time of the year.” memories of our time at Moreton.” for twelve years, working on famous brands such as 1968 Polly Brooks Walls, Birds Eye, PG tips and “I attended Wellesley College, Oxo, focusing on marketing entering the same fall in 1968, as and brand strategy, cultural OM Rosalee Karefa-Smart (1968). transformation and mergers.
“I took a leave of absence after two She also started her own years, did a semester at the O’Neill business in 2001, working with Theatre Centre (receiving credit corporates and entrepreneurs from Connecticut College). There 1970 Frances Girling in the SME sector, supporting I met a fantastic director/acting (Van den Bergh) them with personal leadership, teacher, Lloyd Richards, who was “We now have four grandchildren team and performance Head of the Acting Department, and continue to enjoy life in Devon. development and strategy. Theatre Program, School of the It’s a long time since we had a Arts, New York University. No, reunion - it would be good despite his name, this one-time to catch up again.” Tuskeegee Airman was not Welsh.
The Moretonian 2020 69 1998 Lucy Jellicoe and Seraphina. My sister Zoe “I have recently completed Hickman has also set up her my degree in District Nursing own company, specialising in obtaining a 2:1, and have also professional hair and make-up.” moved house with my partner and two boys and stepdaughter.” 2004 Katie Faith (Habershon) “I am now living in 1984 Loveday Ingram 1998 Fiona Marshall (Richards) Buckinghamshire with my Loveday has been appointed Fiona and Dan had their third husband Hugh who is a Salopian. the new Artistic Director child in October 2019, a little We have two children, Isabelle for The Holroyd Community girl called Willow. She is doted three, and Charlie who is one. Theatre which has recently on by her two older brothers. opened at Moreton. “I am currently studying to be a 1999 Joanna Wong (Wade) Personal Trainer which I hope to 1985 Sarah-Jane Joanna is living in Bristol and make work around the children.” O’Malley (Gibson) is married to Brian with two SJ returned to Moreton for the little boys. She is a Chartered 2005 Hayley Duffus (Jamieson) first time since she left. She caught Occupational Psychologist Hayley is married with one little up with Mrs Field (Miss Corner) specialising in leadership girl named Georgia. Another and Lulu Lewin (Hope 87)! through her business, Mokita baby is expected next year. Consulting Ltd. She specialises in the in-depth assessment and 2005 Henrietta Eyre development of business leaders Henrietta married Sara across sectors and around the Telahoun in August 2019. world. She recently enjoyed a spa day with OMs Laura Mortees 2005 Lucy Williams and Karina King (Champion). Lucy goes from strength 1987 Joanne Hayward (Morgan) to strength with her latest “I am the mother of twin girls 2002 Stephanie James (Dunn) collaboration with OKA. (now 14 years old) and live on Stephanie has recently returned the gorgeous island of Gozo, to Moreton, giving her expertise 2006 Gemma Cap Malta. I run a travel company.” and working with Mrs Peel and Gemma married in 2016 and has the Moreton Eco team, helping recently achieved a professional 1993 Hannah Pereira (Keith) to renew and replant the Walled certificate and banking qualification Hannah remarried last year Garden, very much keeping to as well as a Distinction in the and moved to Aldershot. the original planting plans of NEBOSH General Certificate espaliered apple trees. Stephanie is in Health and Safety. 1994 Mary South (Hill) working for her family horticultural Mary married Jason business, Frank P Matthews Ltd. 2006 Alice Stewart (Burden) South in May 2019. Alice is living in London with husband, Chris, whom she 1995 Helen Napoli (Wheeler) married in August 2018. She Helen is living in Highgate, North is a writer working on plays London with her husband. and film scripts. Previously her plays have been performed 1996 Georgina Stubbs on Radio 4. She has also been Georgie recently moved to working on a TV Drama Series Leamington Spa having retrained as in development with Studio21. a secondary maths teacher in 2018 and has just finished her NQT year. 2007 Joanna De Ritter (Wordie) She is enjoying being a teacher at Joanna started teaching German Kenilworth School. She has two and French at Radley College children, Archie (8) and Harriet (6). in September 2019. She has 2003 Hannah Hall (Hickman) two children – Olivia born in 1996 Mark Wright “After living and working in 2016 and Emily born in 2018. Mr Wright continues his voluntary London for six years, I moved to work with Church of England as Cheltenham with my husband 2008 Gabrielle Williams a licensed Lay Minister. He is also Edward who is a partner at a Gabrielle is an Assistant Head Chairman of Anglia Church Trust. law firm in Cheltenham. I set up of Year and teaching maths at As well as teaching Economics Hannah Hickman Creative Cake a secondary school near Sheffield. at Moreton, Mr Wright was Makers and now work from She is also coaching water polo the Chairman (and Founder) of my studio where we live. We at City of Sheffield Water Polo Moreton Enterprises 1984-1996. have two daughters Esmeralda Club and the North East
70 The Moretonian 2020 interregional team. She says: trauma unit. Isobel Parry, who “My U15 Sheffield Girls team was Katie’s Housemistress for won bronze at the National age four years in both Stables and groups and are 3rd in the country Pilkington, also attended. and my U14 North East Regional Girls team won the Inter Regional competition before Christmas so are now number 1 in the country as they are national champions.”
2009 Joanna Chavasse “Since leaving Moreton in 2009, I’ve launched Freckles, a Nanny agency based in Bath and have recently written a new course! The 2009 Charlotte Howard Junior Nanny Course is positioned Charli Howard has been for school leavers who are looking producing podcasts for BBC to venture into Nannying. The Sounds explaining how to be 2013 Miriam Chapman course is perfect for those taking sustainable and stylish, fixing Miriam is a qualified Social a Gap Year and who want to do a fashion while fixing the world. Worker working in adult mental season as a Ski Nanny, go travelling health and has nearly completed and pick up nannying work, or even her MA. She’s working in north go abroad to work as an Au Pair. It County Durham, meeting covers four key modules; children’s interesting people with very emotional health, family cooking, complex lives. She’s still playing paediatric first aid and baby basics. lacrosse and is in touch with many of her Moreton friends. “The Junior Nanny Course is delivered by experts in each 2014 Rose Brown field in a beautiful family home, 2012 Lilly Hedley After graduating from Manchester just outside Salisbury. It is Lilly published her first book ‘Our School of Art in 2018, Rose has certified and is delivered as a Isles: Poems celebrating the art set up her own business creating four day residential; running from of rural trades and traditions’. designer menswear in her studio Monday morning - Thursday in Salford with other creatives. evening. Students stay in the It was published by Pavilion house, in luxury accommodation. Books on 5th March 2020. Lilly She has also been taking part The course is limited to seven and partner Angus have been in charity fashion shows in students, ensuring each student working on the book for a few Glasgow, Manchester, London, gets the most out of it.” years and are incredibly excited Wolverhampton and Birmingham. by it. Lilly writes: “Angus has The show in Glasgow raised If any OM is interested, please written the poetry and I’ve created over £34,000 for the Simon contact: [email protected] over 50 illustrations to match. Community, Scotland. All of which are focused on the 2009 Alice Davies (Witter) celebration of rural trades and 2014 Georgina Latham Alice married Lloyd Davies, traditions - a passion for us both! “After a successful placement with founder of comic ‘Eatmypaint’, Sanofi Pharmaceuticals in 2016, in October 2019. She is “I’ve illustrated it using linocut I continued working for them currently teaching at Woodside prints, my mum taught me how to through my final year of university. Primary School in Oswestry. create art this way but I’ll always I accepted the opportunity remember Mr Edwards (the art/ of graduating straight into a history of art teacher) giving me managerial role in Zentiva which really warming encouragement was previously a Sanofi company.” to keep producing linocuts! It’s available to order on Amazon 2015 Hermione Bird and Waterstones but we’d prefer “I graduated with an English people to buy It from their and Philosophy Masters from local bookshop of course!” St Andrews in June. I decided to jump into something new and get into technology. I now 2009 Katie Hone (Hewett) work as a software engineer Katie recently married Dr Mike for JP Morgan Chase & Co and Hone. Kate is working as a although it’s very challenging, I’m paediatric nurse at St George’s enjoying the new experience.
The Moretonian 2020 71 I’m also in my second year of these unchartered waters together 2016 Lauren Bradburne studying Arabic which I’m using at such an unprecedented time. Lauren has completed to further my business skills. thirteen placements at BMW Always happy to hear from any Group mini-plant in Oxford Moretonian, old or current, if as a logistics planner. they’re interested in getting into tech or banking - or both!” 2016 Olivia Holroyd In February 2020, Olivia took 2015 OM Emily Slack part in the 25-day New Zealand Starting work as a doctor in Classic Car Rally with her father the midst of a pandemic… Bill, in a 1927 Bentley! They came At the start of the year, I had second in the Vintageant category. an exciting few months ahead, preparing to graduate from the University of Exeter Medical School and start work along with 2015 Emily Boulton around 7000 other doctors in Emily is currently working for Ascot August. However, with the Racecourse and has just finished COVID-19 outbreak, my medical her BMus in Music. She writes: “I elective placement in Rarotonga, am waiting for a couple of years Cook Islands, was cut short, for my voice to mature before I go and I was asked to return for a Masters at a conservatoire...” home by the University. 2016 Ceri Lloyd “I’m loving Ascot, I’ve been “I graduated from Oxford Brookes Over the coming weeks, it working for them since in June with a BSc in Mathematics was decided that we would be Royal Ascot and I’m now in and Business Management. I’m now graduating early, with the aim to their ticketing and fulfilment having a gap year where I’m living provide additional support to the department - basically all orders at home and earning money to go wonderful NHS at this critical that come in go through us!” off to Southeast Asia in February time. For me, the decision to for four months with a university graduate and take up a post as 2015 Katty Clarke friend. Then once I’m back I’ll try an Interim Foundation doctor Katty gains her commission and figure out the real world!” was all too easy – in the end, from the Royal Military Academy this is what we have been Sandhurst in April and has 2016 Sophie Mercer trained to do! joined the Royal Artillery. Sophie has graduated with a First Class from Royal Holloway, Although I was incredibly 2015 Holly Dempster-Edwards University of London. apprehensive on my first Holly has graduated from the day, the training I have received University of Oxford with a She is currently studying on over the last four and a half First-Class Honours Degree in the MA Acting (Company) years in Exeter and Truro has Modern Languages, achieving course at The Liverpool prepared me incredibly well spoken Distinctions in both Institute of Performing Arts. to deal with the demands of French and Spanish. She is working in a new team on a new currently teaching French and 2017 Tara Beasley ward. With a strong focus on Spanish at Concord College. Tara is currently working in clinical and communication skills Madrid teaching English as complimenting the excellent a foreign language. This is academic teaching, I felt equipped a 3rd year placement. to get stuck in to working life on the Paediatric ward, down in 2017 Polina Sokhina the Royal Cornwall Hospital. Polina recently contacted staff member Catherine Ashworth at I am now a couple of weeks Moreton. She wrote: “I started in, and have probably a twelve month placement in experienced the largest learning July at a company called VMware curve of my life, but I am enjoying (business cloud transformation finding my feet as a new 2015 Lisa Sheppard business, recently acquired by doctor. It may not have been Lisa is completing her final year Dell Technologies). My job title is how I expected my first few at London College of Fashion Virtual Cloud Network Marketing months of work to be, but I am and working part time for Harrods and Sales Operations Intern - overwhelmed by the support of whilst having recently interned quite long I know. But basically, my colleagues and that of the for Fabulous Magazine. She it’s working in the marketing and public as we muddle through is living in Chelsea, London. sales department for a single
72 The Moretonian 2020 product across the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa). I am responsible for a few projects Obituaries of my own as well as helping my manager on anything she does. I wanted to say a huge thank you to you both (Catherine Ashworth John Knight and Karen Booth). I feel that my business lessons and careers The Old Moretonians are saddened to report the death of John meetings at school have helped Knight at the beginning of January. John had been part of the me to shape my professional Governing Board since the days of Bronwen Lloyd-Williams. and business understanding. I The following is extracted from Jonathan Forster’s tribute to wouldn’t have gotten far without John when he retired last summer. your support and guidance at the beginning of the whole journey.” This is a momentous term at Moreton Hall... with the retirement of John Knight after 45 years unbroken service to the school’s financial and administrative management. Most of you will only know of John by reputation - a stalwart Chartered Accountant in Oswestry, of course - but as an advisor to four Principals and five Chairs of Governors. My own experience of John began in the summer of 1992 when as a soon-to-be appointed principal John telephoned to warn me of the impending arrival of the bank manager from head office in Cardiff. ‘They don’t want to close us down, do they, Mr Knight’? 2019 Hannah Locke I inquired in a jocular tone. Hannah stood as an independent parliamentary candidate for Shrewsbury in December 2019 A pause, a draw on his cigarette, another General Election. She focused on issues affecting young people. pause… ‘I don’t think so…’ Yes, Moreton’s finances were in a bad way and it is a testament to OM Staff Peter Phillips John Knight and key governors at the time that we were able to put Peter was delighted to together a rescue package that ensured the school’s financial security. catch up with OM Alison John is a quiet but very perceptive man, Sladden (Townsend 1974) during summer 2019. ‘the spectator sees more of the game than the players,’ and John has recently sat on the side-lines at Governors’ meetings and in private meetings with me. He has listened; he has cautioned; he has advised and the wisdom of 45 years absorption of Moreton and its values ensures that those who run the school on a daily basis, learn from the successes and failures of the past. John has been blessed by a very happy family life with Jackie, who taught drama brilliantly at Moreton for several years, and his four children including OM Joanna (1984) and Rebecca (2002) and numerous grandchildren. OM Staff Joyce Brown After many years working for Moreton Hall Joyce has decided to step down in order to take early retirement. We would like to thank Joyce for her many years of service to the school and wish her well for the future. Joyce is remembered fondly by many generations of Old Moretonians.
The Moretonian 2020 73 OM Josie Clacher (2018)
In August last year we lost our She lit our lives up with her goofy busy world, words are not always beautiful daughter in a freak smile, her bad and sometimes kind and the default setting can swimming pool accident in Mallorca slightly offensive accents and often be selfishness. But Josie while we were on a family holiday. her own version of time, which had all the time in the world to On a good day we can pretend was 30 minutes slower than listen to anyone about their sad that she is still away backpacking the rest of the world... stories, bad days, pet peeves around Asia with her many and even my awful puns. friends. On other days, as you can In recent weeks I’ve been fighting imagine, the Josie-shaped hole in this anger at what happened: why our lives is impossible to bear. her, why now, why ever. But I She was beautifully kind. know if she could see me, she’d So let us be there for each On what would have been Josie’s tell me to woman up and get on other, make time for each other birthday we welcomed friends and with conquering the world. and ourselves, for Josie. family to a celebration that we held for Josie here at home. The four So to help me with that here’s of us think that the words Beth a short handbook of lessons so spoke say so much about her: that we can ‘Josie’ our lives up a bit and keep her with us. 2: Feel lucky Josie was travelling through South All of us here are part East Asia this summer with friends. She was about to leave for a of a very special club: night out and couldn’t find her we are those who loved 1: Be kind shoes. So, being a problem solver, In a family full of strong-willed and decided that shoes weren’t that and were loved by maybe slightly short-tempered important and went out barefoot. our beautiful Josie. Clachers, a school full of quick- witted girls and actually just a
74 The Moretonian 2020 Let’s take that with us. Let’s“ carry her with us. Let’s dance longer, sing louder, laugh harder, be kinder, luckier and more loved for her, so in that way, she can live forever.
At a club she went to the toilet finally felt worthy of that love. She Josie always seemed to be dashing and when she came out, quote said she felt beautiful and strong through school, late as always enough to face anything. She loved for a lacrosse match or a drama you all, she felt loved and most rehearsal, in oversized trackies ‘There were these flip importantly, she loved herself. with a big pile of untidy files, flops, on the floor, throwing back her long hair and Josie left the security, friendship lighting up a grey day with her waiting for me!’ and support of Moreton in luminous smile. There just wasn’t Random flip flops found. Problem Summer 2018 for a gap year enough time to organise her life solved! The fact that the flip before going to Newcastle Uni. or to buy new shoes or to worry flops were three sizes too big is At her last speech day she was about her awful hand writing a minor detail and didn’t matter awarded the France-Hayhurst to Josie: she arrived back in the bracelet – it was the first prize that UK still wearing them. The point she had ever received in all of her as she was just too busy of this slightly bizarre story is years at Moreton, and we all joked living and laughing, that Josie didn’t waste her time about how she somehow always and yet somehow she on problems, she spent her time got what she wanted in the end. finding solutions and moving always managed to get on. She felt lucky, therefore she Over that year she demonstrated the right things done. behaved lucky, therefore she why she was a worthy recipient was lucky. Let’s acknowledge the of that bracelet as, in her uniquely That memory of our bubbly, problems we all have - it’s okay happy, warm, unstructured beautiful, chaotic girl we knew so to know they’re there - but let’s way, she revelled in so many well and loved so much is shared concentrate on finding a solution new adventures: working in by so many at the school – both and being lucky, like Josie. London, a ski season in Meribel, staff and her many wonderful and then three months in Asia friends – and will forever endure. before returning home to us. Josie may not be here to sit on those theatre seats to cheer Nell 3: Love It has been an extraordinary on in her Sixth Form years, but I wanted you all to know about privilege to watch our three girls what is left for all of us to know the last conversation that I had grow into such happy, capable, is that she was happy, know that with Josie. A conversation that interested and interesting young she knew that she was loved, hold has never happened before and women since Beth first walked her so close in our hearts, and I can only put it down to fate or into Moreton First in 2007. learn from her so that we can live a God or something somewhere. and grow with the light, love and She said ‘Beth, I love you.’ And I Our three feisty daughters’ names laughter that she brought us all. said ‘I love you too.’ and then she sit together on the front row of said ‘And I love me’. And I said ‘I seats in The Holroyd Theatre – a Rachel, David, Beth love me too’. She spoke about how fitting testament to the many hours & Nell Clacher fortunate we are to be part of such they, all three, have spent relishing a strong family, about how loved in the opportunities that the school she felt after this year of meeting has given them, the friendship and new friends and growing closer support that they have found there. to old ones, and about how she
The Moretonian 2020 75 OMs in Politics
OM Amanda Milling (1993)
In the February 2020 government reshuffle, Amanda was appointed to the Cabinet Amanda took the time out of her as Minister without Portfolio and Co- busy schedule to talk to us about her Chairman of the Conservative Party. journey from a tuck-shop running, lacrosse playing, Moreton schoolgirl to the politician she is today. When asked about the aspects of her career she enjoyed most, Amanda stated she loved the diversity of her career and the dynamic nature of her day to day life. Whether she is dealing with potholes in small communities or discussing infrastructure projects around the UK, “everyday is different”.
Amanda credits her “strong character” for ensuring her voice was always heard, that “clients took her seriously and acknowledged her recommendations” and her views were listened to on “policy change”. She recalled the mere 60 female MPs that were in parliament when she left school, as opposed to After Moreton, Amanda studied Economics and the 220 today: “It’s much better,” she stated, whilst Statistics at University College London. She then also recognising the importance of the female voice went onto a successful career in market research, and perspective in politics. So determined was she specialising for a large part in the financial services not to be overlooked that Amanda ensured she sector, and was a Director and the Head of Clients “always wore bright colours” whilst in Chamber at Optimisa Research. In 2009 Amanda was also as a physical means of drawing attention. elected a local Conservative Councillor in Lancashire. When Amanda first left university she did not aim to Amanda was first elected to Parliament in 2015, be a politician and definitely didn’t expect to be one! as the MP for Cannock Chase, and was re-elected Her fascination with politics grew from when she was at the 2017 and 2019 General Elections. In her a teenager helping a local councillor hand out leaflets. first Parliament, Amanda served on the Business, However, her “real fascination” for politics stemmed Innovation and Skills Select Committee which then from the 1992 general election, when she began became the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy “reading newspapers” to enhance her understanding Committee. In 2017, Amanda was appointed a of politics as a whole. Since then, she has been Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Foreign and unstoppable in her progression up the political ladder. Commonwealth Office Ministers, before being appointed an Assistant Government Whip in the Though, she credits a lot of her success 2018 New Year reshuffle. She also took part in the to being able to experience the world of Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme in 2017/18. business before entering into politics.
In July 2019 Amanda was appointed Deputy Chief Whip, before being promoted to the She credits Moreton Enterprises for Cabinet in the February. 2020 reshuffle when her business mindset, for teaching she was appointed Minister without Portfolio and Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party. her ‘adaptability’ and ‘resilience’. Having also studied Economics at the University Lower Five students Tarryn, Iris and Georgia have a of London, she described her courses and the keen interest in politics and current affairs so they entrepreneurial way of thinking as eye-opening, were delighted to have the privilege to virtually allowing her to view the world in a different light. interview Amanda Milling, Old Moretonian and Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party.
76 The Moretonian 2020 This added perspective ignited an interest in Amanda believes that education surrounding testing products, and further into her career, the lives and actions of the famous figures of policies. Her passion grew as she began striving for Britain’s colonial past is the way forward. change. Amanda realised she “wanted to influence policy, not test it”. Amanda wanted to make a Another current and hotly debated issue in this difference, to make an impact on Britain’s laws. current pandemic is whether or not schools should go back? Amanda believes strongly that it is in Amanda then went on to reminisce about her everyone’s best interest to ensure that children harrowing, and albeit mortifying, Spoken English return to school and following on from her beliefs competitions in Chester and Crewe (as many she wants to “make sure that no-one is left behind”. Moreton girls can relate to). However, although she does admit she didn’t especially look forward Amanda has always strived for diversifying politics to competing, she does describe the lessons as within the UK; she previously said “everyone advantageous and credits them for providing her with should have a home in our party”. And to those the confidence and ability to speak up and have her interested in pursuing politics, Amanda says, opinion heard. Additional skills (other than academics) she describes as vital in the world of politics. ‘You don’t need to study politics When questioned about the removal of statutes in order to pursue it [...] If you from public places following the BLM movement, she stated that she disagrees with the removal of are up for it, go for it!’ statues as ‘we can’t just airbrush our history away’.
OM Hannah Locke (2018)
At the beginning of November 2019 I had only recently from each candidate, and the format for the pre- returned from working abroad, my gap year ahead submitted questions and each candidate answering. of me still without a solid plan. When I found out Throughout the campaign I attended three of the four about the election the prospect of voting for the hustings events, one of which was on the radio. Two first time was quite exciting, so I was quick to start highlights of the campaign were the Climate Hustings looking into party policies and local candidates. I – a roomful of 400 people and very interesting and talked to a lot of friends about why they were planning important questions raised; and the Count – the to vote the way they were and was disheartened to coffee-fuelled finale, seeing each ballot carefully find that many were voting tactically. Tactical voting counted and being a part of an historical election. is a disappointing use of democracy, because it usually means voting for a party that doesn’t necessarily always represent what you really believe in.
‘I decided to run because I wanted to be able to vote for something I wholeheartedly believed in’ I wanted an alternative choice for MP that could genuinely represent constituent views without party influence. I also wanted to provide a comparison to remind people that politics isn’t a distant concept, that our MP represent us, and the House of Commons is assembled to represents everyone in the country.
With such a short political campaigning period it was a whirlwind of Hustings events, leafleting, and organisation. The first Hustings I attended I didn’t I learned a lot from running, both about politics and know what to expect. Before going in I met Dr Julia people. It was incredible to see how quickly the Buckley (Labour candidate) who introduced herself, campaign gained the momentum it did, and see the and kindly explained the whole event that I was so real, tangible evidence in the ballots at the Count that nervous about; the opening and closing speeches no one is too small to make a difference.
The Moretonian 2020 77 Life at Moreton 1949-1954
OM Judith Taylor (Newell 1954) reflects on her time at Moreton.
I wrote these memories down for my children but thought they might interest Moretonians, past and present. I offer them in gratitude for having been at Moreton Hall. I was very fortunate to be offered a completely free place at Moreton, even though it had nothing to do with my academic prowess.
My father, Professor Newell, later became the Library when Unfortunately, this was in Latin was American, my mother was the new dining room and kitchens and had 3 verses! It started: English. My father used to lecture were built. (The new dining room at Colleges, Rotary Clubs, schools had more room for our expanding on Anglo- American relations numbers, but it didn’t have the Gaudi plebs redemtionis and thereby came to give a charm of the old one.) Also, off Gaudi tantis aucta bonis lecture at Moreton Hall. Bronwen the hall was what was called Die beneficio. Lloyd-Williams, who liked to give the Reception room, beautifully Moreton an international flavour, panelled with a big fireplace. This I’ve no idea what it all means but heard that he had a twelve-year- was used for visitors to wait. have never forgotten it - or should old daughter, who was American- I say just the first three lines! at least I had an American Bron’s office and her Secretary’s passport! At that time there were were down a narrow winding Our uniform consisted of sky-blue girls from Persia, two Ethiopian corridor off the hall, and next to square neck tea shirts, with a blue girls (related to the Haile Selassie that Bron’s sitting room. This had a tunic, known as a djibbah, over the royalty), one from Argentina, from French window onto the big walled top. A wide belt was tied tightly Ireland, France, and probably more, garden, which Bron used to come at the waist, so that when you but no-one from the USA! So, she to the Gym for evening prayers. knelt the hem had to be about 3” was happy to let me fill that gap. above the ground. In the winter we wore thick blue stockings, which In the walled garden were held up with a suspender strawberries were belt and garters, leaving very grown and, in the draughty gaps! But we did have lovely warm polo neck jerseys summer, a special treat and super long woollen cloaks was strawberry teas. with a hood, which you swept around you when going between When the big new dining room classes. We loved those and I even was built Bron commissioned used mine later at university. an Old Moretonian, Denise Bates, to paint some murals. She Dormitories and Matron was there for at least a term, Ruby Pooley on scaffolding, and the result In the early years we slept in large Moreton Hall in 1949 was an impressive work, dormitories (dorms). We had little The school had only about 120 depicting very many fables space, with up to 12 beds, and just girls when I was there and it prided and sayings. These looked a bedside table in between. There itself on being a big family - small down on us as we ate at long was a locker for our clothes and enough to be a caring place, which tables. The Prefects room was wardrobes along the back wall. it was. The buildings consisted in the long cold corridor, off A communal bathroom, always of various stages of growth. The the entrance hall. One of their cold as I recall, and a Rota for a main part was the original old chores was to test new girls on twice weekly bath. We had to house with its elegant wooden the words of the school hymn. keep our own area of the room staircase, large dining room, which tidy. Matron Pooley put the fear
78 The Moretonian 2020 of God into me. I always thought friends came to wake you, sang I was tidy but I was never tidy Happy Birthday, present you with The worst ever evening enough for her. I was mortified your birthday stocking, and sat on was when she stopped the when she gave me untidiness your bed while you dipped into it. marks, which went into your entire proceedings and House and lowered their score, To go back to Matron, I got to looking straight at me by 3 marks. Order marks were know her, and liked her a bit said: “Judy Newell will even worse, they cost your House better, when I had measles. 6 marks - I never got order marks Matron was really kind. She you please stop biting as I was rather a goody goody. took pity on me and produced your nails!” some books- cowboy and Indian Matron was Norland trained and stories, which I read avidly. Needless to say, I wanted to fall wore a tight starchy uniform. She I think I strained my eyes and through the floor and just writing was short and brisk and swept blamed it on needing specs later. this makes my heart beat louder. into the dorm barking orders Mummy sent me some plasticine, Music and Drama at Moreton and pointing out some shoe or with which I enjoyed making a other out of place. She turned whole array of nursery rhyme Bron’s great strength was the off our lights last thing at night characters. Bron, who visited most quality of the music and drama and in the morning, she swept days, was so impressed with them in the school, which I now realise through again clanging her bell. she took them down to assembly was exceptional and has been to show the whole school! a lasting legacy for me. We had such a varied experience and Finding out which all through my life I hear music dorm you were in at the and would say to my children beginning of each year was of huge importance. “We used to dance to that at Moreton”. Of course, Clare (my closest friend) and I always hoped to We put on ambitious productions be together and occasionally we - some wonderful major works were. This was a joy indeed. - Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Orpheus and Eurydice, A Midsummer Night’s Dream etc. They sometimes took place in the front garden, with Bronwen Lloyd-Williams , entrances being made over the known as Bron, was a formidable wall from the walled garden. and striking figure, already middle My role in A Midsummer aged when I got there and she Night’s Dream was to crouch had a bad hip, which made her under the wall with several have a rather lolling stride. She other girls, all of us frantically was very keen on Greek style blowing soap bubbles every time dancing and was something of Ariel made an appearance. an Isadora Duncan character (the one who strangled herself In a production of The Tempest, on her own scarf catching in the Calaban was played by Sheila wheels of a sporty car). Bron wore Reid, who made her name on the taffeta skirts, with richly coloured When it was someone’s birthday stage, and on TV. Bron could be scarves and would sweep into a a couple of their friends would go a harsh producer but achieved room, carrying all before her. around all the dorms at bedtime good results. We did ballets and with a stocking and everyone danced to a wide range of music As we waited in the Gym for would put a little something in eg - Beethoven, Cesar Frank, Nut evening prayers the door was a bath cube, sweets, pencil etc. My Cracker Suite, Dvorak Symphony opened by the girl on door duty first term I had nothing to put in, no 8 and much more. In the - and we would hear the rustle of so I wrote to Mummy and asked Cesar Frank Violin and Piano her skirts just before she appeared her to send some things. I wasn’t Sonata the two soloists follow - I felt a shudder of nervous specific enough and she sent back each other and as dancers we apprehension. You never knew little plastic toys - quite unsuitable. followed each other’s steps. what she might come out with. I cringed. On your birthday your
The Moretonian 2020 79 Miss Dunstan was our ballet some fencing initially but when I teacher but we could see she went back years later the hedges was as nervous of Bron as were thoroughly established. we were. The Music teachers were more able to hold their Lessons and Teachers own - Miss Edwards and Miss The fifth form classrooms were old Inskip lived together in Weston Nissen Huts. They were too hot in Rhyn, the village up the back. the summer and very cold in the winter. The only form of heating was a circular free-standing stove Rosalie Inskip was tiny, in the middle. Unless you were with piercing eyes, but lucky enough to have a desk near she could keep order to it you got precious little benefit. with a mere look. In between lessons She was a very fine pianist and she accompanied the choir, I was in the choir and was quite we would all huddle which I got into, by audition, excited about it but alas, at the round it, warming last minute I was not well and quite early on. Miss Edwards our hands and feet. took us and we did some couldn’t take part. Costumes great works - my first Messiah, were created by Miss Cameron, Chill blains were very common- Pergolesi Stabat Mater, Dido (Cammy) our art teacher. She something you never hear of and Aneas. For these concerts’ had a room jammed with rails of now with central heating. But we members of the Oswestry costumes and you would be sent still huddled round the stove in Choral Society would join us. for to be fitted. Even if you were between classes and when the only taking part as one of many next teacher was spotted coming The Choir had to sing for the dancers, you still had your fitting up the path to the hut we all Sunday evensong and do an Introit, and heaven help you if you didn’t had to hurry back to our desks, (one lovely one was ‘Lead me turn up or damaged your costume. unless of course it was a teacher Lord’), the responses, led by the like poor Miss Evans, who taught choir, and also sing an Anthem. She was very fierce. RE and could never keep order. Our favourites were’ ‘How lovely are thy dwellings fair’ from Brahms There was a good stage in the Miss Cameron was my art teacher. Requiem, Jesu Joy, and other Bach gym but while I was at the school At first, she was quite scary but works. I loved the singing and Bron had a very impressive later I became very fond of her. ended up leading the Altos. The outdoor Theatre built, with tiered She could keep order with a start of my love of choral singing, seats, like a Greek amphitheatre flash of her eye though she could and the only thing I have to show and a raised stage with hedges use rather unkind sarcasm, and for Mummy’s longing for us to all round - of course they were was not liked by all. Because follow in her musical footsteps. only small at that time and I I enjoyed art I was allowed suppose there must have been to have ‘extra art’ lessons. One year we performed Purcell’s Dido and Aneas at Attingham Park and I danced as a Fury. Another time we combined with Shrewsbury Boys School to put on Orpheus and Euridice by Gluck.
There were great preparations, costumes and lots of wonderful dance sequences to learn, as well as the choruses.
80 The Moretonian 2020 It was just me and Clare so they became rather special times and we saw another side of ‘Cammy’ and learnt to respect and love her.
She was beautiful in a rather pre-Raphaelite sort of way and had an elegant poise and glided rather than walked.
She was a traditionalist and most of our subjects were very formal - for the A Level syllabus. We did still life, flowers, imaginative scenes and memory (drawing everyday The worst fate was to be chosen If anyone got a State Scholarship things from memory, like a bicycle, to do the French Bible reading to University the whole school or lawn mower). We also had to in Assembly. You had to go to got a Day’s holiday, like an outing do History of Art and it was mainly Granny Le Caer’s room to practice. to Lake Berwyn. Bron was very the Italian school - the ‘early men’ I had to read the passage ‘Knock keen to get her brighter students as we called artists like Duccio, and it will be opened ...etc’ to stay on for a 3rd year in the and then on to the Renaissance. 6th. You could take the Oxbridge exam in the autumn and gap At least I’ve never years had not been heard of. Cammy gave me a great forgotten the word Frappe! love for the subject and When my results came out I had Bron also took us for A Level introduced me to the great passed them all, albeit scraping English but she was rather through History, but it was good Piero Della Francesco. demanding and very keen on enough to get me into Birmingham all the classical references, of University to read Social Science. I Later in life I did a sort of which there were many, for surprised myself and everyone else pilgrimage to all his works on example in Paradise Lost. by getting a 2i and a place at the one holiday in Italy and was LSE to do my social work training. bowled over by his paintings, Sixth Form especially the Flagellation in Life in the sixth form gave Urbino. We had a French teacher, you a bit more freedom. I have so much to be Madamoiselle Le Caer. She was a wizened little old lady and I was thankful for my time so nervous of her that I couldn’t If you were lucky, you at Moreton, it gave ever remember anything. got a room to yourself, me a great start in life or one other person. and some wonderful Nowadays, it seems, all Moreton life-long friends. sixth formers have en-suite study rooms. Classes were much smaller. Instead of our former classes of about 12, we Edited excerpts from Judy were in groups of under 6 as Taylor’s Moreton Memoirs some of our contemporaries 1949-1954. For a copy had left school after O Levels. of the full article, please Moreton was not very academic email oldmoretonians@ in those days. But our year was moretonhall.com quite good, several girls got into University and two got into medical school - the Royal Free Hospital, where one of Bron’s sisters Kitty was the Principal.
The Moretonian 2020 81 Interview with Designer Rose Brown Taken from Fashions Finest SS20
OM Rose Brown (2014)
Fashion designer, OM Rose Brown (2014) has The six-look collection is a glowing series of blues, temporarily paused her capsule wardrobes in a bid coppers, silvers and metallics. It is outerwear heavy, to supply health professionals during the pandemic. mixed with shining leggings, scuba tops and salopettes. Looking to help her community and source She made her own fabric by bonding aluminium and materials ethically, Rose has created seven sets of copper onto cottons to create garments treading scrubs from donated sheets; twenty scrub caps the line between wearable and unwearable. and twenty scrub bags made from pillow cases; fifty donated masks for the elderly and volunteers, After graduating, she was selected and flown in a paper bag with information about the mask to China for the International Youth Design and a rainbow to put in their window. Last year, Competition (IYCD) in the Beijing Institute of Fashion Rose’s designs and career were highlighted Technology. She has also attended charity fashion in an interview for Fashions Finest SS20. shows with her collection in London, Glasgow, Manchester and Wolverhampton. She now has a As part of our celebration of new fashion talent studio space so that she can continue her work, in the run-up to London Fashion Week, we chatted with a new collection to be released AW19. to fashion graduate Rose Brown, as she prepares to showcase her collection at Fashions Finest SS20. Rose, how did you first get interested in fashion? When I was younger, I made clothes for my stuffed Rose grew up in the Welsh countryside and graduated toys by cutting armholes in a tea towel. I wore my from the Manchester School of Art in 2018. Her goal brothers hand me downs and cut them up so they is to create things that are truly never seen before, would fit me better. My school was very academic using unconventional textiles and concepts derived and so after getting As in Psychology, Biology and from the weird and wonderful place that is the inside Art, I knew I needed to be creative or I would be of her head. She strives to find out what it means miserable. In art class we were asked to make a to be truly different and to be it. shoe, I made a whole bodysuit. In my last art project, I painted my best friend in 2D, wearing something Her collection is called Aprés Lunar, which means weird. Little did I know at the time, that this was ‘After the Moon’. Taking inspiration from 1980’s skiers my very first design. and WW2 flight suits, it brings the excitement of adventure from the Space Race, back to the Did you always dream of becoming a designer? 21st century. The main inspiration is a light-art To be honest, no. I knew I loved art and that I installation by Christopher Schardt, which was was creative but I loved science too and was torn displayed at the festival Burning Man. The piece is between the two. But after weighing my options, called ‘Firmament’ consisting of a series of LEDs, I realised that your career should be what you love draped in triangular form across the sky. This and being in a laboratory was not. I get bored and inspired her angular pattern cut and her use of the creativity is what I live for. It excites me, it reflective materials that represent electric light. energises me. Making my ideas a reality is like an itch that needs to be scratched. Her realisation moment was when she was dancing on a table in the French Alps. It helped her to understand how skiwear can morph into party wear and vice versa. She had to live it, to make it. Each look has reflective properties that come to life under the flash of a camera, transforming the collection. Her metallic spacemen dance the night away, lighting up the slopes.
82 The Moretonian 2020 Where does the love for fashion come from? Name five things you cannot live without: I just love wearing beautiful things. I love to My cats, a notebook/phone, friends, coffee, experiment and cross the lines of convention. and camera. Why not wear a swimming costume as a top? Why not wear pajamas in the daytime? I like to Where do you see the brand and yourself going express my ideas in what I wear. Now that I can in the future? make things, I hope to find success in whichever way I can. I want to find my niche, find my path and I know it will reveal itself as I work. I plan to share my ideas with the world and introduce them I hope to make never seen before to the beauty inside my head that collections, that live on the runway. others cannot see. I hope to gain press, the spotlight and an appreciation When you first started, did you have any for my work. I want people to know who I am and see specific ambition? the quality and beauty that I can provide and to most When I was 19, my ambition was to go to uni, get importantly, wear it. a first, create something amazing, display my work on a catwalk, be famous and work for Hussein Chalayan. I wanted success. Three years later, my plans have changed but they follow the same path. One day I will create beautiful things and make a name for myself. Having recently got my hands on a studio, I am now able to show the world what I can do. New collections are imminent.
What makes a good design? It needs to tell a story and to work, visually. It sounds silly but sometimes it can take weeks to find the correct combination of details. There is no definition, if it looks good, it looks good. Can’t get more complicated than that.
How do you balance your career with your personal life? It’s important to work hard but to also spend time with friends and maintain relationships. I work in hospitality a few days a week and work in my studio in my spare time in Manchester. I work with eight other creatives, which is a healthy environment. I also make sure that I go to a few festivals a year with my friends from home, to not only have fun but to research trends. I also have two lovely cats and a dog at my home in Wales, which I try to visit every couple of weeks. I’m a country bumpkin at heart and need to touch base sometimes.
Who from the fashion industry do you find inspiring? I want the“ world to Hussein Chalayan has been my inspiration from day one (it’s been about 5 years now). I love how his work see what I can do. is totally unique and never seen before to quite an extreme degree. His narratives are fascinating and he pushes the boundaries of what can be worn on the human body. I always wanted to stand out and it was he who showed me that it can be done and that there is a place for it (and me) in the industry. Joshua Kane is another designer I have been watching for a few Model: @kofisharkey Photographer: @vickychambers years. He built his business from the ground up and I have always planned to follow in his footsteps.
The Moretonian 2020 83 Fighting the Blazes
OM Victoria Downer (1987)
My rural volunteer fire service has been Residents who drive to outrun a fire have died fighting fires since August, four months in these situations. The trees around and above earlier than expected. In the last five us were fully alight, the road was lost in fog-like months, 2.7million hectares have burned smoke, and all we could see was a world of angry with a combined perimeter of 19,235 km. red fire. As we punched through to the other side, a police officer’s face of horror and fear pretty On 19th December 2019, one fire forecast was dire. much said it all. If the weather played true, the Green Wattle Creek fire would experience flame heights higher than Once the fire moved out of our area, we regrouped forest trees and burning embers would land 15 miles at the village’s RFS station to fill the trucks up with ahead of the fire front. water and conduct crew welfare checks. There were a lot of hugs, black humour, and a huge amount Myself as the scribe, and a driver were assigned to of relief that we had survived the overruns and the the Sutherland Shire Strike Team leader who was onslaught. The rest of the 12-hour shift was spent in command of five trucks with a total crew of 29 chasing the fire as it moved onto the next townships. firefighters. Within minutes of arriving at our first tasked area, we were off like rally drivers going cross country and along roads, racing to intercept a fire The Balmoral Fire would be known wall running towards the small community of as a fire that just kept on giving. Balmoral Village. P.S. That evening, two volunteer firefighters were Each truck peeled off the road and crews set killed as their truck cabin was smashed in by a falling themselves up for imminent property protection. tree. We are unpaid volunteers by choice, it’s our With the few minutes we had spare, we watched passion and it’s the Australian community spirit. the fire front consume the bush and the trees, and the embers which created running fires in millimetre high grassland. As I looked around my heart plummeted. Four goats had been left behind in a small dry paddock without protection so there was me stomping around on embers and grass fires whilst the nearby Fire and Rescue crew turned their hoses around to take over.
In the command vehicle we drove up and down the one road, checking on properties and crews, reassigning trucks, and radioing “sitreps” up the chain of command. It wasn’t a comfortable experience; the road continually disappeared from our view, our faces felt the radiant heat through the windows, and falling trees seemed to be aiming for us.
At one time I thought I might not be going home when we were caught in a tunnel of fire.
84 The Moretonian 2020 The Moretonian 2020 85 Reunions and Events November 2019
1979-1980 Reunion
At the end of November, several of the leavers from After the show, we went over to the Lion Quays for a 1979 and 1980 reunited, to spend a very special nightcap (or 2!), then a ‘sleepover’ ready to go back weekend back in Shropshire. to school the next day.
We started off at the Lion Quays on Friday for a After a bleary-eyed breakfast, and a refreshing swim relaxing swim, then a quick supper and off to school or walk for the energetic ones, we congregated in the to see a much-anticipated performance of Chicago in Front Hall and were welcomed by our new Principal the newly opened Holroyd Theatre. What a challenge George Budd and other members of staff including to gather up the troops to get to the theatre on time! Miss Halsall-Williams, a treasured member of staff Worse than children! Some even arrived via the Stage! during our time at school, for a lovely drinks reception We all knew it would be good... but wow! It was followed by a delicious lunch in the Pavilion. Many incredible. Everyone was blown away with the talent. thanks to the catering staff for spoiling us!
After lunch, we were very excited to go on a Tour of It certainly competed with performances the School, for some, the very first time since leaving more akin to the West End! 40 years ago, accompanied by current VI formers who most likely became very bored of us saying...’ooh do I always wonder how the girls find the time to fit in you remember when... ‘and to see our old dorms... enough rehearsals during their busy everyday school many of which had gone and been replaced by much lives, to achieve such a polished performance. smaller rooms.
86 The Moretonian 2020 We were surprised to see that the Reference Library (The Marchant Gallery) is now a very smart common What a wonderful 24 hours. room for the Upper IVs. Memories came flooding We were looked after like VIPs, treated to a taste back....and it was nice to see the new additions as well of today’s Moreton whilst being able to relive our as the old. memories of our own experiences. Of course, the school looks a little different. But thankfully, the The dining room is one of my favourite places with ‘software’ and ‘feel’ of the school hasn’t changed and its 360-degree wall of proverbs painted by Denise hopefully never will. Rylands, mum of Ali who left in 1980.
The Moretonian 2020 87 F.A.I.R Carol Service, London December 2019
The Moreton Chamber Choirs performed pew in front of George Budd, the new Principal. at the third FAIR Carol Service in Chelsea, We met and talked to some of the Moreton London at the beginning of December. girls over mulled wine. They had to get back to Moreton that night as they were due to sing at the Sprinkled with wonderful music from the Moreton Oswestry rehab hospital the following day (where girls as well as humorous and thoughtful readings from celebrity actors including Dame Penelope Keith; this is fast becoming a very popular event with Old Moretonians. It is a fantastic opportunity to catch up with OM friends, celebrate the beginnings of Christmas while supporting the all-important charity F.A.I.R – Funding Autoimmune Research. The date for next year’s Service will be Tuesday 1st December 2020. OM Victoria Silvester (Lloyd-Davies 61) emailed after the Service:
we used to swim on a Monday – remember?). We were a small group this year for one reason or another but it was good that Sara (Healing), Victoria (Williams), Carol (Hosking), Morag (Thomas) Susan (Read), Judy (Thomas), and Winkie’s (Alison Simpson) husband all responded to my email about the Carol Concert.
“Here is a photo, (left to right) of Liz (Burniston), How are the rest of you? As we approach myself, Myffy (Thomas) and Jessica (Young) in our 60th anniversary (1961- 2021)...... ” Peter Jones. We met for tea before the F.A.I.R. carols and afterwards it was lovely because we If any OM would like to attend this year’s F.A.I.R all had supper together – joined by Jessica’s sister Carol Service, please email Gráinne Dennison Felicity – at Cote in Sloane Square. The Moreton at [email protected] for tickets. choir sang beautifully and by chance we sat in the
88 The Moretonian 2020
By Erin Hogan Erin By
cushion the fall of any debris if the house was bombed. bombed. was house the if debris any of fall the cushion
Bolsters first, then he placed the blanket on top, to to top, on blanket the placed he then first, Bolsters
But by then I was asleep. asleep. was I then by But thick blankets, which he placed on the tabletop. tabletop. the on placed he which blankets, thick
George pausing only to grab five bolsters and two two and bolsters five grab to only pausing George
the blackout curtains rippled and blew, and… blew, and rippled curtains blackout the two at a time, then crept under the sturdy oak table, table, oak sturdy the under crept then time, a at two
the midnight stars twinkled and glittered, and and glittered, and twinkled stars midnight the him gently. Together we made our way downstairs, downstairs, way our made we Together gently. him
I watched as the flurry twirled and spun, and and spun, and twirled flurry the as watched I anything, but he soon awoke when Herbie shook shook Herbie when awoke soon he but anything,
behind an oval of salt. Through half-closed eyelids, eyelids, half-closed Through salt. of oval an behind was sleeping. My brother George can sleep through through sleep can George brother My sleeping. was
into the pillow. A tear dried on my chin, leaving leaving chin, my on dried tear A pillow. the into then proceeded across to the next bed where George George where bed next the to across proceeded then
into the blanket, and sinking my head deeper deeper head my sinking and blanket, the into Tentatively, he peeled off the blanket, gave me a hug, hug, a me gave blanket, the off peeled he Tentatively,
I collapsed onto my bed, wriggling my toes further further toes my wriggling bed, my onto collapsed I
petrified as I felt. felt. I as petrified
trampled sludge, then muddy water - then - nothing. - then - water muddy then sludge, trampled He looked just about as as about just looked He
and cooling blazing debris, finally, slowly, creating creating slowly, finally, debris, blazing cooling and
on his shoulder and he flipped over onto his back. back. his onto over flipped he and shoulder his on helplessly taken by the wind, melting into puddles puddles into melting wind, the by taken helplessly
trembling, face in the pillow. I rested a cool hand hand cool a rested I pillow. the in face trembling, deep, and picking up again, a glinting blizzard, rushing, rushing, blizzard, glinting a again, up picking and deep,
by now. I opened the door to his room. He was was He room. his to door the opened I now. by trees and finally settling, masking the prints, once so so once prints, the masking settling, finally and trees
very light sleeper, so he was bound to be awake awake be to bound was he so sleeper, light very fine white powder whirling in the air, dancing between between dancing air, the in whirling powder white fine
My brother Herbert, or ‘Herbie’ for short, was a a was short, for ‘Herbie’ or Herbert, brother My quietened. The furious wind whipped up the snow, snow, the up whipped wind furious The quietened.
faces red and blotchy but at least the screams had had screams the least at but blotchy and red faces
already!” she murmured as she left the room. the left she as murmured she already!” windswept crowd battled against the wind once again, again, once wind the against battled crowd windswept
She patted my shoulder. “I guess Herbie is awake awake is Herbie guess “I shoulder. my patted She smudged, imperfect footsteps, and the last of the the of last the and footsteps, imperfect smudged,
stroking my head, “Go and round up the others.” others.” the up round and “Go head, my stroking The smooth, white snow was littered with twirling, twirling, with littered was snow white smooth, The
Mother heaved me back out. “Martha,” she said, said, she “Martha,” out. back me heaved Mother
I peered out into the snow. the into out peered I
Emily was stricken. She dragged me under the table. table. the under me dragged She stricken. was Emily
crystalline patterns of ice as as ice of patterns crystalline or if there was no time to flee outside. Poor little little Poor outside. flee to time no was there if or
there if there was no room in the main shelter, shelter, main the in room no was there if there
I hardly noticed the beautiful, beautiful, the noticed hardly I
crying. She was under the table - we went under under went we - table the under was She crying.
sister Emily had a salty mark on her cheek from from cheek her on mark salty a had Emily sister clambering into bed, I fled to the window. window. the to fled I bed, into clambering
emerged from the sitting room door. My little little My door. room sitting the from emerged opened the door to my room. But instead of of instead But room. my to door the opened
out of the room. “Robert! She shrieked. Father Father shrieked. She “Robert! room. the of out As if I could! I tiptoed up the stairs and and stairs the up tiptoed I could! I if As
Without a word, she grabbed my arm and led me me led and arm my grabbed she word, a Without
Mother, a grim and panicky expression on her face. face. her on expression panicky and grim a Mother, “School in the morning,” she said, “So sleep well now.” well sleep “So said, she morning,” the in “School
scarves. The door burst open, and I turned to see see to turned I and open, burst door The scarves. held us under for a few more minutes, then let us go. go. us let then minutes, more few a for under us held
squeezing them, swaddling them in blankets and and blankets in them swaddling them, squeezing
The sirens died away, and Emily quietened. Mother Mother quietened. Emily and away, died sirens The
and bustling mothers holding their children close, close, children their holding mothers bustling and
Ch.2 - Peace at last! at Peace - Ch.2 they screamed with tears pouring down their cheeks, cheeks, their down pouring tears with screamed they
towards the fire. Pale faces upturned to the wind, wind, the to upturned faces Pale fire. the towards
them pushed that wind the against struggling
you can’t feel jealous of somebody you love. love. you somebody of jealous feel can’t you desperately fighting to be the first one in and and in one first the be to fighting desperately
a sudden shake. Why, I loved my big brothers! And And brothers! big my loved I Why, shake. sudden a People were fleeing to the community shelter, shelter, community the to fleeing were People
I immediately quelled that feeling, and gave myself myself gave and feeling, that quelled immediately I
to the window and looked out. looked and window the to thought, at least they knew something different! But But different! something knew they least at thought,
a sudden pang of jealousy. It’s alright for them, I I them, for alright It’s jealousy. of pang sudden a But however cold it may be, I flew flew I be, may it cold however But
I looked across at Herbie and George and felt felt and George and Herbie at across looked I
window, half hidden by the blackout curtains. blackout the by hidden half window, only 8 and born into fear and sorrow of this kind. kind. this of sorrow and fear into born and 8 only
the coldest. Ice patterns formed on the glass glass the on formed patterns Ice coldest. the a sorry pile of rubble, and finally, I cried for myself, myself, for cried I finally, and rubble, of pile sorry a
my bed covers, I shivered. My room was always always was room My shivered. I covers, bed my proud landmarks and buildings, now no more than than more no now buildings, and landmarks proud
melancholy like ten wolves outside. Throwing off off Throwing outside. wolves ten like melancholy to run to, no-one to comfort them, and the once once the and them, comfort to no-one to, run to
eerily howling air-raid sirens, deep, intense and and intense deep, sirens, air-raid howling eerily thought of the people living on the streets, nowhere nowhere streets, the on living people the of thought
Aaaa-woooo! Aaaa-WOOOO! I awoke to the the to awoke I Aaaa-WOOOO! Aaaa-woooo! sobbing. I let a single tear roll down my cheek as I I as cheek my down roll tear single a let I sobbing.
the only sound was the gentle whimpering of Emily’s Emily’s of whimpering gentle the was sound only the
Ch.1 - Aaaa-woooo! - Ch.1 We snuggled into a rug that Father provided, and and provided, Father that rug a into snuggled We Bombs in the Night… the in Bombs
The Moretonian 2020 89 SPORT HIGHLIGHTS
This year, although it was unceremoniously cut short, there has been a lot of sport played. Every pupil in Years 3 - 6 (and even some Year 2s) played in regular competitive fixtures representing the school. The hard work and dedication of both staff and pupils has paid off, with notable successes against many of our local rivals.
Year 5 and 6 Swimming U11 Girls Hockey U11 Mixed Hockey Festival and Netball We played against local schools in North Shropshire and finished 3rd out of 10 teams.
U9 Girls Netball and Boys Tag Rugby Our swimmers did fantastically well at the County Prep Schools Swimming Gala where the Our teams had successful swimming was of a very high seasons and both teams standard, with club swimmers finished a credible 3rd in our being the heart of most of the Prep School Tournaments. other schools teams. We took one Year 6, one Year 5 girls’ team U11/10 Football and unfortunately due to illness the boys swam as individuals. We achieved several first and We have had fantastic sports second places in both individual matches during the Spring Term and relay events. The scores for both boys and girls. All girls were collated over the two year and boys have represented the groups with boys and girls teams school in several matches in combined. Had the scores been both Rugby and Netball with done by year groups, our Year 6 The Year 5 and 6 boys epitomised brilliant success against Adcote, girls would have won the County everything we hope to teach our Ellesmere, SHS Prep, Oswestry, Event! This success is testament pupils - commitment, dedication Prestfelde and Packwood. to our Swimming Programme at and sportsmanship. They had Moreton. These Year 5 and 6 girls some tough matches at the start Virtual Sport! and boys have been swimming in of the season, however persevered the swim squad for a couple of and played fantastically well The PE programme has continued years, often twice a week and have demonstrating in re-matches whilst everyone has been in shown tremendous improvement. against Oswestry, Terra Nova, lockdown. Each week all pupils Packwood, Prestfelde and from Reception to Year 6 have been set varying sporting activities Year 3 and 4 Swimming Ellesmere just how much they had improved and showed that to participate in whilst at home, The Years 3 and 4 swimmers had working to develop their skills and helping to keep them active and their first taste of a swimming working as a team really pays off! engaged. The response has been gala against other schools, hosted fantastic. They have undertaken by Prestfelde, where they swam weekly challenges such as creating brilliantly and had lots of fun! U11 Netball a bike obstacle course, learning The U11 Netball team came to ride or improve their bike 3rd in the Prestfelde Netball riding skills, keep ups, aiming at Tournament against a very and hitting targets, and creating strong field and lost out on 2nd a skills obstacle course. place by point difference. MORETON FIRST SPORT Physical Literacy in Infant PE Lessons Physical literacy is the development of fundamental movement and sport skills. These allow children to move confidently and competently in a wide range of physical activity and sport situations. Physical literacy also includes the ability to ‘read’ what’s going on in particular situations and to react appropriately. PE is an essential element of the curriculum. Lessons emphasise teamwork, coordination, fitness and a healthy life-style as well as key physical skills. Children are encouraged to work together towards a common goal and begin to learn to win with grace and lose with dignity.
In Years 1 and 2, children start to learn the skills which underpin the competitive games played at Moreton. This year, in addition to their PE lessons, all pupils in Year 2 experienced a weekly games session with Year 3, where the children have started to experience Rugby, Football and Cricket for boys; Lacrosse, Netball, Hockey and Cricket for girls.
Junior PE and Games Our view is that sport is all about games - and games should be fun! If a child and team try their best and work their hardest, but the outcome is not quite what they had hoped for, we look at the value in the process rather than focusing on the target that wasn’t hit. A heavy defeat doesn’t necessarily mean a poor performance, just as an easy win doesn’t mean a good performance.
We educate the children to try to look at performance rather than points! We encourage children to show initiative and to ask questions and we help them to be proactive and decisive. This is done through challenging them, educating them and holding them accountable for their actions.
for a wonderful future. wonderful a for Luck Good
Betty you wish we and First Moreton
to do with animals. with do to everything you have contributed to to contributed have you everything
like to be a vet or something else else something or vet a be to like
We‘ll miss each one of you and and you of one each miss We‘ll
new people and teachers. I would would I teachers. and people new
I am looking forward to meeting meeting to forward looking am I
opportunities and dilemmas unfold in the years ahead. ahead. years the in unfold dilemmas and opportunities
compass to show the way forward as adventures, adventures, as forward way the show to compass
we hope that each child carries a built in Moreton Moreton in built a carries child each that hope we
Having spent their formative years in Moreton First, First, Moreton in years formative their spent Having
Magic with them, as a guide for future experiences. experiences. future for guide a as them, with Magic
in the senior school, each one taking some Moreton Moreton some taking one each school, senior the in
some heading to new schools and some to Remove Remove to some and schools new to heading some
turn their gaze from Moreton First to their future; future; their to First Moreton from gaze their turn
An invisible bond will connect this class forever as they they as forever class this connect will bond invisible An Hermoine
lots of opportunities. opportunities. of lots
new people and there will be be will there and people new
Olivia I'm looking forward to meeting meeting to forward looking I'm
and The Great Escape! Escape! Great The and
First were the trips! I loved the beach beach the loved I trips! the were First
My favourite memories of Moreton Moreton of memories favourite My
Beatrice
would like to be a Vet. a be to like would
freedom. When I grow up I I up grow I When freedom.
forward to having more more having to forward
Harriet
Next year I am looking looking am I year Next
amphitheatre together. together. amphitheatre
always run up and down in the the in down and up run always
My favourite memory is when we we when is memory favourite My
Alexa
I found it very exciting. exciting. very it found I
and also when we moved up a year year a up moved we when also and Gethin
get to spend lots of time together together time of lots spend to get
with my friends at break. at friends my with
First is at Christmas because we all all we because Christmas at is First Moreton First has been playing playing been has First Moreton
My favourite memory of Moreton Moreton of memory favourite My My favourite memory in in memory favourite My
Saranya
Lilly Transition with my rabbit teddy. teddy. rabbit my with Transition
First is when I first came here in in here came first I when is First
going on a residential trip. trip. residential a on going
My favourite memory of Moreton Moreton of memory favourite My My favourite memory was was memory favourite My Year 6 Memories
Moreton First aspires to give every She enjoys her Science lessons, taught in the labs which are designed especially for exciting practical child the best start in life by allowing experiments. Isabella has also experienced the them to experience countless benefits of learning Latin, allowing her to understand different opportunities. the origins of many words particularly those used in the medical profession. Year 6 Leavers have been reflecting on their Amelie Marshal aspires to be a vet so she has enjoyed experience at Moreton First and how it has helped the recent topic of ‘Caring for Animals’ particularly to shape their future. when a vet came in to speak about her exciting career. Amelie is looking forward to next year where she Betty Roberts has been thinking about the many trips will join the Senior School and continue her studies she has been on - a highlight of hers was the Year 5 towards her dream. and Year 6 trip to the Great Escape where the pupils developed their teamwork skills. When Betty grows Year 6 are very grateful for the many opportunities up she aspires to be a dancer and Moreton First that Moreton First has provided them with and are has helped her to develop this skill by offering an looking forward to the next chapter. We wish them Eisteddfod activity where she works with fellow pupils all the best. who share her passion to prepare for a competition.
Isabella Gharagozlou says her ‘favourite memory of Moreton First is going to Stables on Fridays to have biscuits’. She feels that Moreton First has helped her to achieve ‘my’ dream of being a doctor by offering a wide range of subjects taught in state of the art, subject specific, buildings. We ll See You Again! Moreton First Year 6 Leavers are ready to move on but for each one it isn’t time to say ‘Goodbye’ rather ‘Au revoir’.
Having spent several years together this class will always be united by shared memories and experiences. There have been giggles, tears, new friendships, laughter and some sadness along the way. They have grown and learned together and their shared history makes them a team forever. During this period of lockdown, when our NHS are the true heroes, our children have continued to work to help the wider community. One Year 5 boy and his sister from Year 3 sold rhubarb from their garden and all of the money raised went to the NHS. Their mum said:
“We are beating COVID-19 one stick of rhubarb at a time!”
Furthermore, every Thursday night we all go out and clap for our carers and our key workers, some from our own Moreton community, who are all working hard to keep the country going during these challenging times.
We thank our wider community; we are thankful for our Moreton community which continues remotely on Zoom, but is still very much going and will continue because everyone is working together. Year 5 Community Spirit
Alone, we can do so little; together we can do so much. Helen Keller
During this time in lockdown, I think In Moreton First, working together as a community is not a new concept. One area in which Moreton First never have truer words been said children work as a community is when raising money than these words by Helen Keller. for charities. I find it very important to support local charities and to educate our children about these local As I sit here writing this during what is reported to charities on our doorstep. Earlier in the academic year, be one of the toughest times in British history since we met Liz Jermy from The Oswestry Food Bank. World War Two, I think about how in Moreton First we always work together as a community in The Moreton First children, including Year 5, were so many ways, none more than now. The Moreton told about the work of this amazing local charity First children, although young, have all worked and how they help and support local people in hard to adapt to remote learning, this new ‘normal’ the community. I know the Year 5 children were for all of us. This has by no means been easy, but humbled by the volunteer’s work and support of as a result of pulling together - children, parents this charity on our doorstep. This visit was followed and teachers - we have all made this work. up with the children all donating food to the Food Bank at our annual Harvest Festival, and importantly, The children have been quite simply amazing. Zoom understanding exactly where it was going. is a phrase a few months ago very few people knew of, but now it is how we communicate, how we help Of course, we work together in all areas of school life, each other, how we pull together to get through this from the classroom to the sports field. At Christmas, time as best we can; it is our new community hub. children and teachers took part in the first Moreton First ‘Santa Run’. This fun event was enjoyed by all, from Transition to Year 6. But most importantly, in the weeks leading up to the Santa Run, the children learnt all about The Movement Centre, a local charity based at Gobowen hospital. We were visited by staff from The Movement Centre who told the children all about the important work of the charity.
The children were clearly moved by their work and ended up raising a fantastic amount of money for them, over £1,000!
Moreton First is so much more than just a school for academic success. There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates' loot on Treasure Island.
Walt Disney Year 4 Reading
The benefits of reading are well- researched and can have positive impacts on learning across a wide variety of subjects, and it is an important indicator of future achievement (OECD research).
That is why encouraging children to love reading from an early age is vital. Reading is an important part of the school curriculum, whether it be in the form of a book study in English, or researching the Romans in History.
It is also imperative that children have access to a wide variety of books for their enjoyment. The more that you read, the We are lucky to have well-stocked libraries both in Moreton First and the Senior School, more things you will know. The for children to choose reading books from. more that you learn, the more
Being in Year 4 can be a jump up from previous places you’ll go. years, being taught by specialist teachers throughout the entire school campus ensures that the children Dr. Seuss are kept on their toes all day. So at the end of a busy day it can be both enjoyable and relaxing to sit quietly and hear the teacher read a good book.
Throughout the year, the class has chosen a new story together based on some key words and a paragraph from the first page. This has allowed them to put aside any preconceptions they may have had about the more familiar things that books are chosen for - the cover and the blurb - and choose a book based on the content of the story. This has enabled the children to access books that they may not have chosen to read themselves.
In just fifteen minutes a day, Year 4 has listened to seven books this year covering a variety of genres. Even after making the switch to Remote Learning, Mr Sutcliffe has continued to read a few chapters of a book every day via YouTube.
Year 3 Spanish Pen Pals
During the Autumn Term, Moreton When we received photographs and video clips of the children opening the letters at Silvio Abad, the First chose a new whole school children in Moreton First could not believe it! They theme: Spain. had waited patiently for the children to respond and were very excited when they received personalised The children and staff always enjoy learning about a letters answering their questions and telling them different country each year and undertaking ‘Holiday many new interesting facts about their pen pal’s family, Homework’ to share with their friends on return to school life and hobbies. school. This really helps motivate children to learn more about their chosen topic. Year 5 and 6 worked with Miss Sanchez, during their Spanish lessons, to write letters in Spanish to practise their written skills. This was an excellent opportunity for them and a real life task. Year 3 began their pen pal journey by learning how to write and send emails to develop their ICT skills. Miss Lopez said: “The children in my class were amazed by the efforts of the children at Moreton First, especially as they had written in Spanish. From the first moment, my pupils were keen to have an English friend. In my opinion, it has been an excellent experience for all the pupils. They could practise a different language, seeing the real life benefits of a new language which can result in a friendship. A foreign language should not be a barrier if we all try hard.ˮ
Miss Davies said:
“This was an excellent opportunity for the children to make comparisons with other countries, to discover what was similar and what was different.
“The benefits of pen pals abroad are significant. There We coordinated with Miss Maria Lopez, a teacher are opportunities and encouragement to display their from Silvio Abad School in Madrid, who was keen to best writing skills and to develop their reading skills, make links with Moreton First. She had previously in both English and Spanish. Hearing first hand stories taught at the school, in order to gain experience with helps them appreciate another person’s perspective. the English language and to learn about the cultural differences of a British school. “It promotes patience and the joy of anticipation to receive each letter. It develops social skills and We decided to embark on an adventure together, by empathy, and allows them the opportunity to find creating pen pals for the Juniors in the two schools. It common bonds for a true friendship.” was a delight to see the excitement on the children’s faces when we explained that they were going to write We are very much looking forward to sending and a letter and it would be sent to Miss Lopez’s class in receiving more letters on return to school. Spain for them to receive and respond to. Year 2 Natural Sciences
In the words of Albert Einstein, As pupils move to Year 3 and beyond, lessons take place in Moreton Hall’s outstanding STEM building. ‘The important thing is never These inspirational facilities open new possibilities to stop questioning.’ to our young scientists as they learn through being involved in exciting demonstrations led by This theory is embedded in our approach to Science Science specialists. at Moreton First. From their earliest days children are natural scientists as they explore their world. Play, for example with sand and water, enables them to test and evaluate their theories before they have the vocabulary to verbalise their ideas.
Science lessons are offered to every child in Moreton First. From Reception Class we facilitate learning through practical experiments and investigations. The children use their senses to keep questioning: what can I see happening? Does this substance feel different now?
Proud of what we can offer, we opened our doors earlier this year as we welcomed Year 2 and Year 3 pupils from across Shropshire and Wales to participate in Moreton First’s ‘Science Day’. Almost 300 children came together to experience a carousel of scientific experiments led by Biology, Chemistry and Physics specialists which captured the true essence of Science, Moreton style.
The children are encouraged to make predictions and record their findings through photographs and annotations. At Moreton First, we believe it is essential for children to be given the opportunity to learn through discovery and real life experiences both in the classroom and outside.
Learning new scientific concepts through enquiry based experiments enables the children to develop both their ‘critical thinking’ and ‘problem-solving’ skills. They are encouraged to ask questions. Art Gallery
101 The Moretonian 2020 Experiences outside the classroom may therefore as part of their computer coding teaching - all lessons seem more ʻauthenticʼ and grounded in reality and have highlighted the importance of outdoor education certainly some of the children in school have talked of and how it can be used across the curriculum. knowing that something is ʻrealʼ in the sense of Since that day Moreton First has developed two ‘believable through first-hand ‘Outdoor Learning’ areas. One next to our current Forest School site, and the second our ‘Outdoor experience rather than just being told.’ Classroom’ is just outside Moreton First. Pupils have thoroughly enjoyed using the areas and although they Perhaps then, reference to reality and ʻauthenticityʼ haven't been able to use them as much as we would is understood in relation to life beyond the have liked due to COVID-19, I know that when we go walled classroom. back to school, the children will be eager to go back outside and learn.
Moreton First has been offering Forest School activities throughout the school for a number of years now. Forest School is an inspirational process that offers all learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands- on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.
Earlier this academic year, the whole of Moreton First joined over 3 million children worldwide and took part in the ‘Outdoor Classroom Day’ movement, where all lessons were taught outside.
From designing and creating their own magical wands out of sticks and branches, to using coloured leaves Year 1 Outdoor Learning
Research from Lyons and Huebner as The outdoors is the ideal environment for experiential learning, because it offers unique opportunities to be well as Christian Hinton shows that creative, to move around, to be noisy and to take risks. healthier and happier children do better in school, and that education is The outdoors is full of special stimuli such as weather, sounds, smells and textures which can enrich and an important factor of future health. enhance a child’s learning environment. Lessons learnt outdoors, whether Maths, Science or Language, often But education is not just about lessons within stay with us for life. the four walls of a classroom. The outdoor environment encourages skills such as problem Being outdoors helps children focus, solving and negotiating risk, which are so important for child development. Casting our minds back to boosts creativity and imagination, and our childhood, many of us can remember vividly can simply be more fun. sensory experiences of exploring the world and experimenting. As an adult our happiest memories of When learning takes place outdoors it can have a childhood are of the joy of playing outdoors. Play is powerful impact on a child and usually means that not only central to children’s enjoyment of childhood, the whole class is excited to learn, and individuals but teaches critical life skills such as problem-solving, who feel inhibited by the curriculum, often thrive in teamwork and creativity. an outdoor environment.
However, this is not just about improving break times For example, handling different materials can be and PE lessons. Across the UK, teachers are getting beneficial in understanding their qualities. If they are children outdoors by delivering curriculum-based brought into the classroom, while the children may lessons in school grounds or local areas. A variety of learn about some of their features through direct subjects, such as Maths, Art and Science, are all being experience, they do not also learn where they occur taken outside. in the world. This then dips into our Literacy theme of Percy the Park Keeper stories and the children begin finding the basket of woodland puppets nearby and a park keeper’s hat and they begin acting out the stories. And while all this wonderful, creative play is happening, we are able to observe money skills, what the children have understood about growth and planting as well as story comprehension as the children communicate, take turns and learn to respect one another’s opinions.
We deliver the EYFS curriculum with a balance of traditional learning and child initiated play which tells us so much about each unique and wonderful child so every day is a fun day in school. Reception
In Reception we aim to provide Because we have a true understanding of each child, we plan our play provision to enhance learning. an environment that supports and encourages learning by creating a Our Role Play area changes each half term and we warm, affectionate atmosphere with link the theme to what we are learning. For instance, during the Spring Term we enjoyed learning all about high aspirations for the children. money and identifying different coins and adding different value coins together. Our Adult-Led Money As teachers, we observe and tune in to a child’s play Maths activity is now consolidated as they are buying and make individual plans to help each child learn to and selling items from our Garden Centre. become explorers, problem-solvers, risk takers and creative thinkers through our child led approach. This overlaps our topic on Spring and children are planting seeds and discussing what plants need to help them grow whilst they play cooperatively in a group.
Play consolidates learning and can become very sophisticated in both indoor and outdoor settings. In Reception, our child initiated time is invaluable for many reasons. We observe children. We find out their interests, how they socialise, how physical they are and we adapt our curriculum to suit their needs. The Importance of Playing and Learning Outdoors
As the first step of a child’s Encourages Independence educational journey, Transition The extra space offered by being outdoors gives Class has a huge part to play children the sense of freedom to make discoveries in making it an exciting one. by themselves. They develop their own ideas or create games and activities to take part in with their One of the many ways we capture the child’s interest friends without feeling like they are being directly is by learning outdoors. This may be walks through supervised. They begin to understand what they can the grounds, Forest School sessions and by planning do by themselves and develop a ‘can do‘ attitude, many varied learning opportunities, right outside which will act as a solid foundation for future learning. our classroom door. The importance of outside play in early years should not be underestimated, Understanding Risk offering many benefits to the children. Being outdoors provides children with more opportunities to experience risk-taking. They have the Encourages an Active Lifestyle chance to take part in tasks on a much bigger scale Children who learn to play outdoors are much more and complete them in ways they might not when they likely to continue to enjoy outdoor activities such as are indoors. They learn to make calculated decisions walking, running and cycling as they get older. Given such as ‘should I jump off this log?’ or ‘can I climb the number of gadgets and new technology available this tree?’ to us all, outdoor play is an extremely important factor in combating an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. The possibilities and benefits of outdoor play are endless and unlike an indoor classroom, there are Appreciation of Nature not the same space constraints allowing children to and The Environment shout and explore to their heart's content. Children learn to run, climb, pedal, balance, throw, dig, Learning in an outdoor environment allows children to grow, nurture, investigate, explore, discover, invent, interact with the elements around us and helps them experiment, talk, interact, make friends, create, to gain an understanding of the world we live in. They construct, make music, express themselves, hide, can experience animals in their own surroundings relax, imagine, dream, reflect, have responsibility, and learn about their habitats and life cycles. be independent, collaborate, be excited, energetic, adventurous, noisy, tell stories, find patterns, make Develops Social Skills marks and take risks. They will experience changes in the weather, nature and those who live in it Indoor spaces can often feel overcrowded to such as mini beasts and animals. It offers children children and naturally, they may feel intimidated opportunities to use their bodies physically by in this type of environment. More space outdoors engaging in activity with freedom of movement. can help children to join in and ‘come out of their The sense of freedom playing outdoors brings is shells’. Giving children outdoor learning experiences fantastic for a child’s development, both physically and offers them a chance to talk about what they have mentally, which has never been so important as now. done with their friends, teachers and parents.
The Moretonian 2020 106 business offers our budding entrepreneurs This awareness of financial literacy at such an early age exposure to potential benefits that will is a way in which we are able to link the content of reach far beyond these formative years. lessons such as Mathematics with real life experiences, giving it context. The pupils acknowledge their For Prep school children with busy timetables filled business experiences have taught them that money with academic lessons, sport, commitments to drama simply does not grow on trees. and music plus prep, setting aside a weekly meeting time can be difficult. The children soon realise that The idea of teaching entrepreneurship has been time management and the completion of tasks require explored in many forms. VentureLab is one example a sense of responsibility. They learn that sharing a that has spread to Britain from the USA. Founded collective responsibility to projects means developing in 2013 by a university professor, it provides courses resilience to set backs and avoiding the unpleasant to teach young people to be the next generation of consequences of letting others down. innovators and entrepreneurs through inspiration, experiential learning and mentorship. VentureLab are There were some heartfelt discussions when passionate in their belief entrepreneurship education individuals had to pitch their ideas and convince can change the world. the rest of the team that theirs was worth the investment of everyone’s time and efforts. The real Academic research papers have been conducted into life opportunity for persuasive language, persistence entrepreneurship education more recently in children and respect for the views and perspectives of others rather than young adults (García-Rodríguez, Gutiérrez- served to enrich every member of the team. Taño, Inés Ruiz-Rosa 2018). The results of this study showed that by being involved in business ventures When questioned, pupils reported that there is a significant increase in self-confidence in children and their own belief in the possibilities of the overwhelming lesson they learned what they can achieve. was the value of money. Just as our youngest pupils learn life lessons through They confessed that previously they had no their creative play in the home corner, whether a appreciation of how much time and effort it takes to make-believe house or pretend vet’s surgery, our older make money. pupils are learning far-reaching life lessons by being part of Mini Moreton Enterprises. They believe their future is bright and they mean business! At Moreton First We Mean Business
At Moreton First from the earliest There has been a variety of success and popularity. Some have made small profits whilst others have days of their education, we seek to enabled the children to proudly donate several give pupils real-life experiences with hundred pounds of reading material to the an age-appropriate awareness of the Junior Library. world beyond the classroom.
This awareness begins incidentally by learning through play via mediums such as the ‘Home Corner’. The importance of these interactions, when language, compromise and turn-taking are experienced, is well documented by pedagogists. Ostensibly, early reading, phonics and numeracy skills are the educational focus at this stage, yet it is the real-life skills of learning to communicate effectively with others, while developing self-confidence to take place in the world that is paramount for progress.
Here at Moreton First in the Junior years, we continue to show The Mini Moreton Enterprises team have extended our commitment to preparing their understanding of gaps in the market, by our pupils to find their place having to assess the feasibility and interest in a in an ever-evolving world. potential project. The children report that the easiest project to market was the running of a Tuck Shop for Juniors. Repeat business and word Through a holistic approach to education, we of mouth meant that advertising was minimal. strive to open countless doors of opportunity to each child. This can be illustrated clearly through A favourite project was Moreton First’s Christmas Mini Moreton Enterprises. This is our school-based chutney, all of which sold out within a day! The business, through which we encourage Junior pupils children particularly enjoyed this project as they felt to develop skills of entrepreneurship by taking on they were able to follow their ideas through every monetary projects from their inception to completion. stage. They collected the organic ingredients from our school vegetable garden and booked a cookery Witnessing the outstanding success of Moreton lesson with the school’s catering manager. He Enterprises operating in Moreton Sixth, the Junior taught them how to cut and prepare the vegetables children felt empowered to delve into the world and add spices whilst cooking the chutney. Using of business themselves. Thus with guidance, they recycled jam jars the business partners worked embarked on market research and evaluated the needs cooperatively to decant the chutney, seal and and interests of their peers. The projects that have prepare the produce ready for display and sale. been undertaken have reflected the varying needs of their immediate market such as sunhats, individualised Whilst counting profit and depositing money in Mother’s Day gifts, Christmas gifts, hoodies and the bank is exciting, we believe that Mini Moreton school equipment. Enterprises is about far more than just making money. The experience of being part of this child-driven Moreton First Awards Nominations
Infants
Achievement Award Gabriel Hanratty Citizenship Award Geordie Scott
Effort Award Beatrice Durham Sports Award Joshua Philbin
Lower Junior
Achievement Award Erin Hogan Effort Award - Year 3 Katie Dean
Effort Award - Year 4 Alina Muss Citizenship Award Elan Powell & & Rebecca Allen Jasper Jones- Clough
Upper Junior
Achievement Award Isabella Gharagozlou Achievement Award Jack Fearne Year 5 / Year 6 Effort Award Saranya Lalam Effort Award Rita Miao Grace Lloyd-Williams Beatrice Findley Year 5 / Year 6 Citizenship Award Citizenship Award Matilda Brooksbank Year 5 / Year 6 Music Cup Gethin Kelly
Sport Award Alexa Wilson & Amelie Marshall
Other
Library Monitors Ekaterina Rooney & Tobias Stubbs
School Council Lilly Griffiths-Mawle, Gethin Kelly, Beatrice Wilson, Members Georgiana Gharagozlou, Harry Fell, Beatrice Durham & Martha Butler Exploring the World of Science
Over 250 pupils from seven primary schools across the region joined Moreton First for a Science Extravaganza Day. The day involved a series of workshops, and hands-on demonstrations delivered by Moreton Hall’s specialist STEM teachers, to expand children’s curiosity across Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
The pupils took part in experiments and activities from witnessing chemical reactions, including making ‘elephants toothpaste’ and observing changes in physical properties when dissolving solids into liquids, to building bridge structures and identifying the vital organs within the body.
Highest Accolade Awarded at Chester Arts Fair
Moreton First pupils celebrated having been awarded ‘Overall Primary School Winner’ at the prestigious Chester Arts Fair. Thousands of visitors attended the weekend long event held at Chester Racecourse where Moreton First showcased a variety of artwork; from leaping tigers to textile puppets alongside 120 UK and international artists. Collectively over 3,000 pieces of artwork were on display including paintings, sculpture, photography, illustration, glassware, digital art, ceramics and more.
Festival of Literature
Moreton First pupils were spoilt for choice when an Autumn Mini Literature Festival for Years 5 and 6 was an opportunity to meet not one but two fabulous authors to hear all about the ideas behind their new books. The first author was the best-selling children’s author R J Palacio whose global bestselling ‘Wonder’ was also made into a major movie starring Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson.
Children’s author, Anna Fargher, continued to take the pupils on a literary adventure when she shared with them her first published book, The Umbrella Mouse. Moreton First pupils were immersed in the timeless tale of courage, resistance and friendship. Moreton First News Highlights
Linguists of the Future
Year 2 and Year 3 children from primary schools across Wrexham and Shropshire are developing a love of learning foreign languages thanks to a morning dedicated to promoting cultural and linguistic diversity.
Moreton First was delighted to welcome over 100 pupils from Penley Madras School and Whittington Primary School to a Modern Foreign Language Day. The pupils attended a carousel of workshops exploring familiar sayings and words in Welsh, Chinese, Spanish and French delivered by Moreton Hall’s specialist language teachers.
Artist Alina Recognised in Regional Competition
Moreton First pupil, Alina, was recognised in a regional art competition hosted by Weston Park, former home to the Earls of Bradford, and proudly had her work exhibited in the Granary Art Gallery.
Now in its fourth year, the Halls Young Artist Competition attracted over 250 entries from school children across Shropshire and Staffordshire. The theme for this years’ entrants was the Victorian Industrial Revolution. Pupils were tasked with using their creative flair across a variety of mediums including; paintings, photography, woodwork, printmaking, drawing and sculpture. Alina was awarded second prize with her interpretation of the theme ‘Queen Learning Urdu’ and was presented with an annual family pass to Weston Park. Specifically for us, Kundai Chipondene and Belinda Matthews, who were previous students of Mrs Ford, we hugely appreciate her encouragement, advice and support through our journey at Moreton. We wish you the best of luck for the future! A Tribute to Mrs Ford
Headteacher of Moreton First, Mrs Ford, began her work with the school in 2007 and she has contributed to Moreton First’s expansion ever since.
As she prepares for pastures new, looks like when going on amazing Some of the things that Mrs Ford Mrs Ford was kind enough to share fundraisers, like the Santa Run, said she will miss the most from some of her magic moments with our first MF Family Fun Run, the Moreton are, ‘the lovely people us. One such moment was the staff Mud Run, theme days like that she works with, being with the ‘celebration on the new attendance the MF Explorers Day or 1960's children, seeing former Moreton of 100 pupils within the school Flower Power Day, Friday Discos, First pupils do so well as they including a small glass or two of and the hilarious forfeit tricks we progress through the school, the champagneʼ. But, it is not just all play when teachers leave.ʼ beauty of Moreton’s setting, and of Moreton First in Shropshire that course the amazing Moreton food!’ she has seen grow; Mrs Ford was For years Mrs Ford has ensured to visit China to see Moreton the safety of many children by Upon Mrs Ford’s departure, Hall’s school in Pujiang and to be keeping calm and collected in she hopes the new headteacher part of its opening celebrations. stressful situations. This included will have lots of ideas and plans a time when Mrs Ford and Mrs for Moreton First since the Mrs Ford has had such a Firkins took a group of Year 6 school is still very young as it positive impact on Moreton pupils to a cottage in Wales for approaches its 20th birthday. First as one of her an activity weekend. When the She hopes that the assemblies alarms went off in the middle of will continue and share the same ‘greatest beliefs is that the night, she had to pretend she enthusiasm. But also that the next was unaffected in front of the headteacher continues her most childhood is precious children to make sure they felt safe important message of kindness. and there should always away from home. We’re sure this be a balance between quality of strength and courage Mrs Ford’s last and main advice to has travelled through with each the next headteacher would be ‘to protecting childhood pupil who has been taught by her. observe for a while and talk to lots and preparing children of people before making too many After many years at Moreton, changes as there may be good to be grown up.’ Mrs Ford will be moving on and reasons why things are as they are’. continuing elsewhere as she We are happy to say that Mrs Ford Her aspiration as a headteacher hopes to teach in the future. has had a huge impact on Moreton is to have influenced, ʻchildren at Mrs Ford mentioned that and her legacy will be remembered Moreton First to have enjoyed their teaching at Moreton First has for many years to come as she time at the school, whilst they are left her with the experience influenced each child for the better also prepared for the exit stage’. and supported pupils who have ‘that the beauty of transitioned through Moreton First. Looking back on Mrs Ford’s memories and experiences at being a teacher is that Kundai Chipondene and Moreton First, it is clear she you keep learning.’ Belinda Matthews spread this message very well as (Lower Sixth) she ʻremembers helping students That each year at Moreton First during interviews when going on she had learned ʻnew things radios about their eco-initiatives; about people, her subjects, preparing for PGL activity camp; herself, and ways to teach.’ and Mrs Knight’s group of children showing others what a fun time
Reflection
The end of the school year is Taking that path enabled me to be part of the wonderful Moreton team who have seen Moreton traditionally a time to reflect. First grow, extend and develop. The curriculum Reports are written to outline the opportunities have increased to learn both indoors year’s progress, whilst ‘Meet the and outdoors as we have looked beyond the building at ways to enhance the provision. We have been Teacher’ mornings help children to enriched by welcoming children from other countries look ahead to the next class or stage to share our journey. Looking even further; who could have imagined that the road would take us and sometimes the next school. over 5,500 miles to see a new Moreton school open for Infant children in Shanghai in July 2019. Meanwhile end of year awards ceremonies and celebrations acknowledge particular achievements. Moving through the school years is often compared to a journey. A journey, as children grow through experience and gather a wealth of knowledge as they travel along the way.
For teachers the end of term is a time to reflect on our own journey, as being a teacher we continue learning and adapting our teaching each year. This is just one of the reasons why it is such an exciting profession; no year group, no day, no class and no lesson are ever the same. All journeys are enriched by companions and I have been extremely fortunate in my Moreton It is particularly poignant for me this year as I have colleagues who have made working at Moreton decided to move on and see where the next path First a joy. Crossing paths with so many dedicated leads me. Over my time at Moreton First I have and caring teachers has been inspiring, illustrated been fortunate enough at times to teach English to perfectly by their determination to offer Moreton Year 6. During the Poetry unit, one poem that is First pupils the best educational provision possible always popular with the children is a Robert Frost through remote learning in recent weeks. poem about roads taken on a journey. As a class we would debate how the decision on which road Moreton First is on its own journey and I wish it to take on a journey could change a person's life. every success over coming years. The next academic year will see it reach a significant milestone - its I am so thankful that I answered a phone call one 20th birthday! Celebrations to mark this event cold February afternoon in 2007 when Mr Forster are planned for the year ahead. Past pupils will be rang me and asked me to do some part time supply invited to contribute, sharing their own stories of teaching in Moreton First. That phone call meant I how their time at Moreton First made a difference was able to follow a particular path that led me to to them and shaped them to be the person they meet so many wonderful Moreton families, children are today. Present pupils will enjoy all the festivities and colleagues. It has been a privilege to be part of and be part of the development of Moreton First. the journey of so many Moreton First children. That phone call also changed the lives of Megan And so the journey continues... and Emily, my daughters, as some years later they followed me to Moreton and enjoyed being Catherine Ford pupils here, finding their own paths of success. Moreton First Headteacher Scholarship | Gaiety | Humanity | Gaiety | Scholarship
116 The Moretonian 2020