Summer term: Week 8 News 14th June 2019

A note from the Headmaster

You will see an eclectic mix of stories below, in this week’s newsletter. In particular, please can I draw your attention to two charity reports: one describes the excellent work of Hereford House boys, in a series of challenges to fundraise for charity; the other shows the Walker family handing a cheque to Cancer Research , following a number of events over the course of the year. I’d also like to congratulate our eleven boys playing representative county or national . You will see a report on this below. On Monday this week we hosted Glamorgan County Cricket Club in school, for their match against Essex, and we are so proud that our partnership with Glamorgan continues to thrive.

Our internal examinations commence this week, and I wish the very best to all boys sitting these exams.

Top stories KAYAKERS TAKE TO WHITE WATER IN THE SUNSHINE During half term sixteen students and three members of staff attended the annual camp in Langollen

A group of older “experts” spent two days on the National White- water course on the Tryweryn, training for their expedition to the Alps in July.

The intermediates and beginners enjoyed the gentler gradients of the River Dee at Mile End Mill. They learnt how to surf standing waves, extricate themselves from “stoppers” and “pour-overs” and generally improve their rivercraft.

Some boys were disappointed that only Olly was allowed to attempt the Serpents Tail rapid at Corwen but that is a level to work at for next year. The sun smiled on a successful and enjoyable trip.

Many thanks to the staff for giving up their time for this fantastic trip and well done to all of the boys involved. HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA PIMMS O'CLOCK MSRC 1869-2019

Friends of Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools, Partners & Family all warmly welcomed!

Saturday 6th July from 4pm “Pimms O’Clock”

MSRC Rowing gazebo pitched on the Cricket Ground during the Tea Interval

£10pp to cover catering costs

Entry via special commemorative badge in celebration of 150 years of MSRC

MSRC 1st squad of 1969 are rowing the regatta course – along with a second VIII comprising mainly OM Henley winners during the Luncheon Interval

Click on the image to book a ticket for this event

We look forward to seeing you! HEREFORD HOUSE RAISE MONEY FOR CANCER RESEARCH This year, twelve third formers from Hereford House chose Cancer Research Wales as their selected charity and, in doing so, supported the ‘Tom Walker appeal’.

The boys in the House have a long tradition of fundraising and, again this year, pulled out all the stops to raise £1250.

Particular mention must go to: Hugo for amassing £300 by completing a triathlon; Conor for collecting £183 after finishing a gruelling 7km ergo; Ned for raising £121 by conquering 3 welsh peaks; Archie for adding £140 by walking from Ross to Monmouth and finally to Alex for raising £115 with a 10km run.

Pictured is Sam on his 30km bike ride. SCHOOL RAISES £10,000 IN MEMORY OF TOM

The family of a caring Monmouth School for Boys’ pupil have handed over a cheque for £10,072.01 to Cancer Research Wales.

The money was raised by the school and is part of a remarkable £100,000 appeal fund in Tom’s memory.

Tom’s family estimate that “thousands” of people from Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools and the wider community have supported the project in the name of the 13-year-old, who died last June.

The £100,000 raised will go towards a new three-year PhD research post into acute myeloid leukaemia.

Tom’s dad, Tim, said: “The amount of the cheque – over £10,000 – covers everything done directly by the staff and pupils at Monmouth School for Boys over the last year. Many of them and their families have also taken part in and made donations to other events that, including this, have raised over £100,000 for Tom’s fund at Cancer Research Wales. “This has been an amazing community effort involving thousands of people. And as a family we have also had a huge amount of support from the school and its leadership. Thank you.”

Fund-raising will continue with further individual and school-led events planned, including the second Swim for Tom scheduled for 12th January 2020. JUNIOR TEAM QUIZZES ITS WAY TO THE NATIONAL FINALS Following its success last term against schools from the local area, the Junior Quiz Team competed on Saturday June 8th against Clayesmore School of Dorset, to see who would proceed on to the national finals as winner from the South-West region.

The match was hosted by Downside School near Wells and the Monmouth team consisted of Year 8 boys William, Sam and Alfie, plus Gwyndaf from Year 7. Monmouth got off to a quick start, helped by the team’s ability to answer first on the starter ques- tions and so win the right to answer the subsequent sets of linked bonus questions. The topics ranged widely - capital cities, writers, wildlife, scripture, film, definitions and science all featured. Clayesmore rallied half-way through the 30 minute session but never quite caught up and towards the end our four fonts of information pulled comfortably ahead, winning by a margin of 610 points to 380. They will now contest the national finals on June 23rd as one of the nation’s top 8 junior general knowledge teams.

COUNTY REPRESENTATION FOR CRICKETERS The school are delighted with the progress some of its cricket- ers have been making in representating both county and coun- tr y. There are 11 boys playing representative age group cricket across Gloucester, Wales and the Glamorgan Academy. Harry and Joe have both represented the Glamorgan Academy team this summer. Sam and Michael are both members of the Gloucester U.17 squad. All four of these boys are a year young for their age groups. Theo, Hugo and Harry have represented Wales U.15’s in their white ball campaign and Henry and William have done the same for Wales U.14’s. Gus has been selected for the Gloucester U.13 team where he has performed consistently with bat and ball and Roahn has played for the Wales U.13 team where he has batted in the top three. RAIN DOESN'T DAMPEN SCHOOL AND COUNTY CRICKET COLLABORATION HEAVY rain ultimately had the final word on Monday but it failed to dampen the relations between Monmouth School for Boys and Glam- organ County Cricket Club.

It was the first time the school had hosted a Glamorgan Seconds match since 1996 and Essex were restricted to 198-6 from 50 overs in the Second Eleven Trophy South Group fixture.

Old Monmothian Jeremy Lawlor played for Glamorgan and year 11 pupil Harry Friend, who is part of Glamorgan's Academy, carried out the 12th man duties.

Friend, a talented opening batsman, was chosen for Glamorgan academy after scoring a remark- able 2,037 runs, including five centuries, in 2018. The home side also featured Newport all-rounder and Usk's South African pace bowler Mika Ekstrom, who bowled four overs for 18 runs.

Glamorgan's chief executive and director of cricket, enjoyed their trip to Monmouth, despite persistent rain preventing any play after the lunch interval. The duo spent time chatting to headmaster, Dr Andrew Daniel, and batting coach Steve James, an Old Monmo- thian and former England and Glamorgan opener.

The match illustrated the exciting partnership between Monmouth School for Boys and Glamorgan.

It was launched last year when the school played in a flagship match against a Wales youth team at Sophia Gar- dens and the cricketers at Monmouth School for Boys are looking forward to returning to Glamorgan's head- quarters for the 100-ball Welsh Schools Day on Wednesday June 26.

The school's picturesque Sports Ground will also be the setting for Glamorgan Seconds' three-day friendly against Worcestershire, starting on Tuesday August 27 (11am).

IRONMAN FINN TOPS CLASS IN LANZAROTE A former Monmouth schoolboy put in an outstanding performance to win his age category in the gruelling Club La Santa Ironman in Lanzarote.

Old Monmothian, Finn Arentz, showed remarkable determination and will- power in hot and windy conditions to complete the event in 9:56.01 to fin- ish 33rd overall out of 1,363 athletes.

Finn, a pupil at Monmouth School for Boys between 2012 and 2016, had pre- viously topped the 18 to 24 age category at Ironman Wales 2018. And he is preparing to compete in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, which takes place in October.

“The age-group win was an added bonus but, with the Kona slot already in the bag, the main priority had been to put in a performance of which I could be proud,” he said. "I am happy to say that I can put a big tick in that box."

Huge congratulations to Finn and good luck at the World Championships. COMING UP AT THE BLAKE THEATRE: Live on Our Big Screen National Theatre Live: Fri 28th June 2019 Small island 7.00pm Andrea Levy’s Orange Prize-winning novel Small Island comes to life in an epic new theatre adaptation. Experience the play in cinemas, filmed live on stage as part of National Theatre Live’s 10th birthday. The play follows three intricately connected stories. Hortense yearns for a new life away from rural Jamaica, Gilbert dreams of becoming a lawyer, and Queenie longs to escape her Lin- colnshire roots. Hope and humanity meet stubborn reality as the play traces the tangled history of Jamaica and the UK. Click on the image to buy tickets for this event A company of 40 actors take to the stage of the National The- atre in this timely and moving story.

Please note Small Island will not be a live broadcast. It will have been filmed in front of a live audience and re- leased on Blu-ray to our theatre.

Running Time: 170 approx minutes including interval BBFC Certificate: 15 Tickets: Adults £16, Concessions £15, Students £13

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Calendar Dates

School Examinations: Years 7 - 10, 12 Friday 14th June 7.30pm - 12am FOMS Party in the Pavilion B1 EAL Preliminary Examination (Gloucestershire University, Cheltenham) Depart 9am, return 4pm 10am - 12noon Associated Board Theory examination (Blake Theatre) Boarders' Activity: 6.30pm - 11pm Years 9 - 13 Cinema (Newport) Saturday 15th June Cricket: v Sir Thomas Rich’s School: 1st XI (H) 11am U14A & B, U12A & B (H) 2pm U13A & B (A) Depart 12noon Rowing: Reading Amateur Regatta: 1st VIII & J16 VIII Sunday 16th June - School Examinations: Years 7 - 10, 12 Monday 17th June 9.30am - 4pm First Aid at Work Course (Sports Club) School Examinations: Years 7 - 10, 12 Tuesday 18th June 4.20pm - 5.20pm Calendar Planning (Conference Room) 1pm – 3.45pm Sports Day (Years 7 – 10) 2pm - 4pm Year 12 UCAS afternoon 1 (MG Year 12 and 13 Study Areas, Wednesday 19th June S23, S24 and S25, Careers Library) 4.20pm - 5.20pm Joint Steering (MB) Literary Festival event for Year 12 pupils from MB, MG and MCS 2pm - 4pm Year 12 UCAS afternoon 2 (MG Main Hall) Thursday 20th June 7pm - 8pm Assessed Performance: Year 10 GCSE Musicians (Music School)