SUMMER 2016: ISSUE 40 Thank you for taking the time to catch up with news of the old school, and with each other. May I also express my sincere thanks to Lucy Sheehan for the work she does to keep the College and our alumni in contact with each other, and also to Nick Henderson as the President of the OA Society. Nick and I have been discussing ways in which the College and OAs can work more closely together, to ensure that OAs are able to stay in contact with each other as well as with the College. Welcome 1 Headmaster & OA President’s Welcome Class of 2016 Letters 4 The College Farm Cars and Motorbikes Hidden on Campus The Medals of Richard Oscar Rippon College Plays & Productions Sport and Social 6 David Gibbs Astro Opening & Hockey Vets’ Luncheons Match Report Networking Drinks Sports Society Reports Reunions OA Day World of Ardinians 18 OAs Abroad Careers Ardinians in the Arts: Ones to Watch OA Cricketers Ardingly Today 34 Ardingly Life Into the Woods Astronomy at Ardingly Ardingly Solar Archives & Memory Lane 44 140 Years of Steepo Diary – Lent Term, 1949 Pupil no.1 Where Are They Now? Ardingly Motors Tributes Welcome This year we enjoyed a vibrant OA Day on Sunday 26th June. Inspired by Mark Keatley Palmer, OAs of all vintages drove into the College with cars of similar or even more ancient vintage. For this and future years we merged OA Day with the Companions’ Day – the Companions being former staff. This led to many surprise reunions, as teachers realised that their pupils of yesteryear had grown into responsible middle age, and OAs realised that their teachers might have been human after all. Like a fine wine, the relationship between a pupil and teacher improves with age, so I do encourage you all to come back to the College when you can to rekindle old friendships with each other and your former teachers. Meanwhile the College is in excellent fettle. In particular, we celebrated two Firsts. The first-first was the double-double! In other words, winning the Independent Schools Football Cup and League double for the second time in successive years. The second First was becoming the first school from Europe – not just the UK but Europe – to design and build a solar-powered car and complete the Darwin-to-Adelaide Bridgestone Solar Challenge. Two wonderful achievements for us to cheer. Building work also continues apace on the campus, with two new girls’ houses opening in September, and work due on the Science Faculty and the Old Gym. If you would like to visit or get back in touch with us, please do contact Lucy Sheehan, and we will look forward to welcoming you to see what has changed at the College or to one of our events. Ben Figgis Headmaster WELCOME FROM NICK HENDERSON Nick Henderson (E 1975-1080) making the day the success that it was, and to Ben Figgis, the Headmaster, for his hospitality and his commitment to supporting and encouraging relations between the Alumni and the School community. The immediate goals of the society this coming year are to continue to build up and reinvigorate the individual sports clubs and to further promote, through continued networking events and mentoring, opportunities for the OA community to support each other in their careers and vocations. Vital to achieving these aims is the need to make sure that we maintain up to date information for as many OAs as possible. To that end, please be sure to sign up to the OA Website (www.oldardinian.com) if you have not already done so. That way, and in conjunction with Lucy Sheehan (JS, K & WG 2004-2011) who has responsibility for the Alumni office at the School, we can keep you appropriately informed of OA news and events and the website is Liz Pocock (C 76-78), welcoming Nick Henderson (E 75-80) into the role. a great resource for reconnecting with OA friends you may have lost touch with. Dear OA, Before signing off, I want to say a big thank you to Liz Pocock (nee Gray), the outgoing OA President, who dedicated a great deal of time It is really pleasing to be able to report that, despite the best efforts and commitment to The Society in her record breaking five year term of the weather, OA day on the 26th June was a real success with a and, during which, she has made a real difference. Thank you, Liz. great turnout. The Cricket, though reduced to a shorter game, still managed to go ahead with the school 1st XI managing to achieve Finally, if you missed OA day this time round, come next year: we another victory against the OA’s. I guess it just goes to show that would love to see you outstanding physical conditioning, superior athleticism and peerless team talent aren’t always enough to secure victory! I particularly want to thank Lucy Sheehan, who put a tremendous amount of work in to 1 Welcome WELCOME ‘CLASS OF’ 2016 HEAD GIRL Ellie Haines (JS, K & WG 2009-2016) Ask any Ardinian to recall one of their first memories and without a doubt they will recount the trauma of entering the chapel for the first time. Hundreds of heads turn as the trembling Shell pupils huddle together making their way down the aisle to the stool where the Sorting Hat lies. At least that’s what we imagined. Years later the very same Shell pupils emerge from the archway - some seemingly unrecognisable - from that very first day, and that’s not just the suits talking. But how has this transformation occurred you may ask? In my opinion it was a simple decision, a decision to take part in all that Ardingly has to offer. Whether it be playing sports or singing in the choir, I would not be in the position I am today without the chance to branch out, try new things and to stray away from my comfort zone. Ellie and Matt Having started as a full time boarder it became not just a school to me but also a supportive and caring home, a place that encouraged me and indeed all its students to make the most out of the education provided. This is an education which does not just teach so that we could pass our exams, but one that helped us to become conscientious, well rounded people with our own ambitions and goals. I can confidently say that Ardingly has helped me to develop into the person that I am today. Despite the deadlines, the exams and the stress of this final year, I can safely say that I am going to miss it here. 2 Welcome HEAD BOY Matt Price (C & WB 2011-2016 ) Adelaide, having competed in the World Solar Challenge in Australia, as the first ever European school to participate; and, hearing the final On my first day at Ardingly, we were encouraged to whistle sound in the MK Dons Stadium and the cheer from the incredible open as many doors as possible, making the most Ardingly supporters, as the 1st XI football squad won the ‘double of everything that is on offer to us at Ardingly. double’, as League and National Cup Champions. Closely followed of course by Lovat’s callovers in Godwin and Tuesday night Nesquick At that time I had no idea of the vast number of doors that would parties in the red floor brew room! present themselves and how my Ardingly experience, as an academic Our future starts in our past and as we choose a and as a person, would be enriched by opening them. We are extremely fortunate in the wide ranging extra-curricular opportunities available to direction to take, leaving the comforts of Ardingly, us, and the incredibly committed and talented staff who give their time we cannot be sure what lies ahead. Wherever that and expertise to provide them. path leads, I will always value hugely my years at As a proud ambassador for Ardingly at hugely Ardingly; friendships made, lessons learned and varied events, from The Dorchester Hotel to McLaren opportunities taken. Technologies, from Prep Schools to Northern Territory As Piglet said, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying Government House, I have been able to spread the goodbye so hard.” I look forward to proudly joining the ranks of the word that we are a school with a vision and courage; OAs, and returning to take part in events and matches... especially OA Football and Hockey! forward thinking, student empowering and ambitious. It is extremely difficult to select highlights from my five years at Ardingly, I have made so many good friends and have so many amazing memories and stories to tell (and some I probably shouldn’t!) but I think it would have to be two events from my final year; crossing the finish line in 3 Letters FROM DAVID KELSEY (E 1946-1950) ON THE COLLEGE FARM With regard to your query in the Summer 2015 edition of the Ardinian, I certainly remember helping on the College Farm whilst at school between 1946 and 50. Dusty Miller, the maths master, was in charge. I was allowed to drive the Ferguson farm tractor as I was a farmer’s son. I especially remember harvesting potatoes on the 9 acre field below the school buildings. If I remember rightly, they were badly frosted during the hard winter of 1947 and we had to eat blackened potatoes at meals in the Hall during the Spring term.