SOSASIBFORD OLD SCHOLARS’ ASSOCIATION Keeping in touch with former scholars INSIDE plus • SOSA helps create new News from the annual playground reunion • Sibford stalwart bids Former scholars farewell remembered • Bali Tree Fern Project AGM reports Annual Newsletter AprilSOSA 2014 Newsletter / 1 When Harry met Helen Observant viewers SOSA of an episode of BBC One’s For further information about Countryfile back in Sibford Old Scholars’ February may have Association spotted Old Scholar visit Harry Green lurking www.sibfordoldscholars.com in the Wyre Forest. To submit information for Harry (who was inclusion in the website contact at Sibford from Mike Finch 1943 to 1950) [email protected] is a member of Harry Green and Helen Skelton pictured on BBC the Forest Study One’s Countryfile programe For general SOSA enquiries, Group, described by reporter Helen Skelton as ‘a dedicated team membership enquiries or alumni of super-sleuth wild life detectives investigating the mysteries of information contact the natural world.’ Wendy Finch Harry has spent the last 20 years crawling around on his hands [email protected] and knees in the fallen leaves of West Worcestershire. And when To submit information for he met up with Helen, the pair began hunting for tiny creatures. inclusion in the “We’re looking amongst the leaves here for tiny little things SOSA Newsletter or called land caddis,” Harry told the former Blue Peter presenter. The Sibfordian magazine, “They’re curious little insects and the larvae live in small cases contact only a few millimetres long, made up of grains of soil and bits of Ali Bromhall leaf.” Community Development Harry went on to explain that while there are around 200 Officer species of caddisfly in this country, only one species lives on the Sibford School land throughout its whole life cycle. “They live amongst leaf 01295 781216 [email protected] litter which has to be fairly moist,” he told Helen. Asked if they could be found anywhere else, he gave a firm ‘no’ explaining that land cadis have only been found in the Wyre/Worcester area. Thanks to Ina Lamb for alerting us to Harry’s TV appearance. Become a fan of Sibford School on Facebook ... a great way to Stateside memories keep in touch with pupils past Former pupils might remember when Sibford played host to a group of visiting pupils from and present. Columbus School for Girls in Ohio. The visits were organised by Mary Bennett, FRONT COVER teacher in charge at Orchard Close, and the Old Scholars Edd Frost and Jude US girls would stay with our boarders. Canning; The new Elm Plaque; Last summer retired teacher Isla Owen Vulliamy at Oxford Vermeulen, who accompanied the girls on a United; Ed Coyte (with brother visit to Sibford back in 1989, called by the Tom and Prime Minister David school while on holiday in the UK. “Visiting Cameron); Amonn Al-Mahrouq; Sibford in 1989 was a really memorable Enjoying the 2013 reunion. experience,” she said. “Our trips were one Sibford School, Sibford Ferris of the highlights of the school calendar. The girls would study a Banbury, OX15 5QL Shakespearean play and then be brought to the UK so that they www.sibfordschool.co.uk could go and visit Stratford. I only came on one of the trips but I’ve always remembered it so it was a real treat to be able to come back after so many years.” Isla is pictured above right on her visit to Sibford. 2 / SOSA Newsletter Cheers Prime Minister! ormer Sibford School pupil showcase the success of the of creating growth and FEd Coyte (2001 - 2008), Prince’s Trust Charity, The employment for small business together with his brother Start up Loans Company and the wider UK economy as Tom, has become one of the and The New Enterprise we continue on the path to youngest brewery owners in Allowance and to mark the recovery. We were very proud the country. announcement that the to see our beer enjoyed by The 23-year-old is operations Government is to invest a The Prime Minister, especially director at Whale Ale, which further £69m into helping since we understand that he produces two beers: Pale support new British businesses. is a fan of British real ale. The Whale (3.6%) and Ruby Moby Whale Ale Limited was reception was held upstairs in (4.0%). one of just 10 companies a state room of Number 10 and The brewery, in Lower chosen to attend the event the Prime Minister was keen to Brailes, was established in from thousands of businesses pour his own beer and have a April 2013 after Tom and Ed currently supported by the taste.” secured funding through three three schemes. Pictured above: Ed (left) government schemes aimed Ed said: “We were delighted and Tom greet Prime Minister at supporting new British to be invited to No. 10 to David Cameron. businesses. meet with The Prime Minister, • STOP PRESS: In March Ed And in September, the along with a number of other was named ‘Young brothers found themselves at high profile individuals such as Entrepreneur of the Year’ a special reception held at 10 entrepreneurs James Caan and and Whale Ale Ltd was named Downing Street … where they Levi Roots, who are heavily ‘Midlands Manufacturer of entertained Prime Minister involved with these initiatives. the Year for those with a David Cameron to a pint of It was surreal to park our van turnover up to £1million’ in their own brew. outside the front door of No. the 2014 Midlands Business “Mr Cameron really enjoyed 10 Downing Street for most Awards. Ed said: “This Whale Ale,” said Ed, “and of the day! We also had to be is a fantastic honour for following his departure we quite careful whilst carrying me personally and for the had a crowd of ministers, casks of beer up the main business and will provide senior civil servants, Lords and staircase and into the state the perfect platform for our entrepreneurs all sampling our rooms!” continued growth. Our aim beer... It seems most people Added Tom, who is the has always been to produce are always keen for a free company’s finance director: something that is tasty, beer!” “We believe that these honest and fun and our The Downing Street schemes are absolutely customers have taken that reception was held to the right strategy in terms message on board.” SOSA Newsletter / 3 In the 2012 issue of SOSA Newsletter we featured an article about some amazing ecological projects being run by former pupil Michael Mesdag in the Galapagos Islands. Michael’s brother Sebastian (at Sibford School 1987-89) is also interested in ecological issues and is currently using a conservation project to help fund education for under- privileged children. Here he tells newsletter editor Ali Bromhall more about ... The Bali Tree Fern Project am currently living in Bali in So my wife, Ayu, and I I the middle of the jungle in decided to set this project a small remote village. I have up which would not only help always been interested in the us to start reforesting some conservation of nature and of the stricken areas of Bali also wanted to help children but also get the kids through in the area, so this project school. seemed to be a good way to do Basically, the father collects both. small tree ferns, which are Bali is a very fast growing now growing everywhere on country where little our land, and pots them. Once conservation for nature is the ferns are big enough to taken into account. Tree ferns plant in locations where they are native plants however, will be able to mature we they are getting fewer and ‘sell’ them for $3. The ferns fewer. Many hotel and villa are then planted in areas owners are pulling out big where they are now quite ferns from their natural rare. to nothing. Among the ferns habitat to plant in their Many people from abroad we have also planted local gardens, many of which then are buying the ferns over the trees. This is another project die due to stress. internet and donating money whereby we sell natural dyed One of the guys who works so that we can continue with t-shirts in our shop and, for for me as a gardener was this project. We have already each shirt we sell, one tree is always short on cash. His wife planted more than 1,500 ferns planted. That has now allowed left him with two kids and, and have so far raised $3,000. us to plant around 1,200 trees. basically, the three of them The youngest of the two We hope that we will be able live in bad conditions with his kids, Poo, started school in to inspire other people to take grandparents, who he also has July. Meanwhile, we have on similar projects and would to support. managed to make Gede, the like to thank everyone who has older brother, his own helped and supported us to room and pay all the date. school fees for this year. The photographs show SOSA would also like to the transformation of congratulate Sebastian and land that, just two years Ayu on another successful ago, had been cut back project … the birth of their daughter River in March 2013. Left: Sebastian and his wife Ayu plant out one of the ferns 4 / SOSA Newsletter Reunited at Sibford When Adriana Sanchez-Reyes a BA Hons in Business Studies was reunited with fellow and worked as a tour operator Sibfordian Carmen Polo Hung for Air Tours.