Old Orwellian News
Winter 2016
Headmaster Adrian Brown, Nicole Brown and guests Half Century Club Lunch 2016
Leading Independent Coeducational boarding and day school 2½ to 13 Orwell Park, Nacton, Ipswich, Suffolk IP10 0ER Tel: 01473 659225 www.orwellpark.co.uk
2 Headmaster
Dear Old Orwellians, When we consider the achievements of our pupils last year, we can reflect on a very successful year academically. At the top of the school Year 8 again achieved 100% pass rate at Common Entrance and this is in the context of entry to a wide range of local and national schools, where competition for places is growing. In a year group of 43, 37 awards were achieved to senior schools, a record number of scholarships for the school. As I mentioned on Speech Day, this year we embark on a new 5 year strategic plan, which will look to take the school forward in a sustainable way. Pastoral care will be at the forefront, alongside teaching and learning. This duality is at the heart of the proposal to move the Middle School classes into one area in the stable block, giving greater unity and coherence to that part of the school. The Governors have also agreed to invest in the refurbishment and development of our boarding accommodation; boarding is at the heart of the school and is key to our future success, whether it be flexi, weekly or full boarding. We are also looking at parking around the school site, a key area as we plan the future development of the school. In addition to these three areas (boarding, Middle School and parking) we have identified the educational need for an indoor swimming pool and a Performing Arts Centre and we will be developing our plans for these two projects in the near future. Last term saw the introduction of our core values: kindness, collaboration, courage, spirit and respect, under the overarching value of integrity. These core values have been derived from whole school discussion and we will be exploring these with the children in the terms ahead as we seek to embed them into the fabric of school life. The Autumn term also saw the arrival of iPads in school for every pupil in Years 3 to 8 and we have been developing their use in the classroom and beyond. We were delighted to see so many of you at Orwellian Day last June and again at the Half Century Club Luncheon at the school in November; many memories were rekindled for those Old Orwellians who attended the Act of Remembrance on the school field. We were sad to hear of the death of Lord Jim Prior, former pupil and distinguished Chair of Governors; Lord Prior attended the Aldeburgh Lodge reunion at the Wentworth Hotel, Aldeburgh in August 2015, when he shared many stories of his time at school. Nicole and I very much look forward to seeing OOs from the 1990-2010 decades at the Reform Club in London in January.
Adrian Brown Headmaster
Contents: Word from the Headmaster Page 2 Sam Tuke Page 6 Lord Prior Page 3 History of Orwell Park Page 7 Memories Page 4 Future Events Page 8 Half Century Club Luncheon Page 5 Contacts Page 8 Hilary Cronin Page 6 2 3 Lord Jim Prior (OO 1936-1940)
During his time at Aldeburgh Lodge and then at Orwell Park, Lord Prior not only excelled on the field in both cricket and football, he was also a member of the debat-
ing society, receiving mentions in school magazines. He had a keen interest in natural history, winning the school botany prize in the summer of 1940 when Orwell Park was evacuated to Devon. He also took part in school plays and was a keen shot. He was joint leader of the Labour Gang at Orwell Park, which involved coordinating and carrying out manual JML Prior is listed in the Aldeburgh Lodge magazine as jobs around the school and grounds. The Gang not only having joined the school in the Summer term 1936 and made and carted hay from the grounds but also helped left at the end of Spring term 1941. He was thus one of with harvesting at Home Farm. They laid cinder paths, that select band who attended all four locations – Alde- picked fruit for the school and rolled and marked tennis burgh Lodge, Orwell Park, Hembury Fort House and courts. Bedstone Court. Following Orwell Park, Lord Prior went to Charterhouse He was born in 1927 in Norfolk. His father was a law- and then did military service in the Royal Norfolk Regi- yer and a director of Norwich Football Club and Jim ment, serving in Germany and India before going on to was a keen supporter of the club. This was reflected in Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he earned a first st his career at school which saw him captaining the 1 XI. class honours degree in Estate Management. It is in the Autumn term 1936 magazine that he receives Lord Prior reputedly said that he fell into politics, hav- his first mention for his prowess on the football field, ing had it suggested to him that he stand for the Lowes- the editor being of the opinion that in due course he toft seat when he was sitting on his tractor. He became would be a sound footballer. In the Autumn 1940 mag- the MP for Lowestoft in 1959, and when the Suffolk azine, the editor goes as far as to say: seat changed, he became the Member for Waveney in JML Prior (Captain) – Inside left. Can shoot well with 1983 until 1987, when he was made a life peer. either foot and has excellent control. A most unselfish Lord Prior’s political career: player, who has fed his forwards judiciously. Already an outstanding footballer, he will undoubtedly shine at Vice Chair, Conservative Party (January 1965- Charterhouse. His captaincy of the XI has been most July 1965) successful. Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (June 1970-November 1972) Deputy Chair, Conservative Party (July 1972- March 1974)