THE OLD DRAGON 2018 · ISSUE 7 Old Dragons Record a CD of Verse Educating for Global Competence Pioneering Science Arduus ad Solem: Networking OD News and Events again at the launch of a book called ‘On Courage’ featuring accounts of wartime courage, including the biographies of the three ODs who were honoured with the Victoria Cross. As well as keeping up with ODs, the current Dragons have also kept me very busy this year. With the support of their families and teachers, our A Block won a record number of Scholarships and Awards to their senior schools this year. We have welcomed a number of external visitors and speakers to the School through our Spectrum programme, at Sunday Service and of course our guest of honour at the Dragon Sale, Cressida Dick. I look forward to my weekly visit to the Pre-Prep where the children have been enjoying their new outdoor facilities Dear ODs and Music pod practice rooms. Children from Reception to A Block have participated I would like to start by thanking you for your very warm welcome into the in plays, musicals and concerts and we have also celebrated sporting success in many Dragon community. I am very grateful indeed for all the kind support that spheres, including girls’ hockey, national my wife Lucy and I have received throughout our first year, from Dragons swimming, girls’ and boys’ cricket, and young and old, and from Dragons near and far. On every occasion I have Rugby Sevens. met an OD, a former Dragon teacher, or former Dragon parent, their Looking to the future, the Governors affection and loyalty toward the School has been truly remarkable. They and I commissioned a school-wide survey of parents, pupils and teachers this term, have also passed on many very valuable ‘pearls of wisdom’. Indeed, on the results of which will shape our School many occasions meeting ODs, especially at our recent ‘Golden Oldies’ Development Plan. We also passed a lunch, I have been able to learn something new about our famous history, Regulatory Compliance Inspection from from recollections of games of marbles and ice skating in front of School the Independent Schools Inspectorate in House, to memories of swimming in the Cherwell. which we were found to be compliant in all areas. We already have new subjects on the curriculum such as coding and we are I have also met many prospective Dragon sporting symmetry, about which our pupils exploring new languages. I am also delighted parents this year and it is clear that the in Upper School can feel justifiably proud. to share with you that we have secured reputation of the Dragon remains strong I have also enjoyed attending OD planning permission for a new Music and and far-reaching. I have particularly reunions in London, at which I have met a Performing Arts School. The architect’s enjoyed looking back at some of our archive fascinating array of former Dragons working images of this bespoke building, which will photographs and I see many similarities in many different walks of life. Some of our be built next to the Lynam Hall, are available between the pupils of yesteryear and specific networking events have had a theme on our website and a fundraising campaign today’s children. There might not have been such as technology or property, whereas for this exciting endeavour will begin in iPads or mobile phones when the Dragon others have been broader in their appeal. earnest in the academic year 2018-2019. was founded and it might not have been I do hope that the Arduus ad Solem network Thank you once again to those of you possible to go on a school exchange trip to is something that you also find valuable. who have offered me your kind wishes in New York or Japan, but most importantly, We very much value your connection to person, as well as those of you who I have not our founding values of kindness, courage the School and are very grateful that you yet met, but have contacted me personally and respect have not changed. Similarly choose to stay in touch and participate in life to wish me well at the School. To those ODs the ambition of families to provide a truly at the Dragon. I also know from first-hand I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, I inspirational and broad education for their experience how inspired the children are by do hope that our paths will cross and to those children, equipping them not just with meeting ODs and hearing their stories. We ‘new ODs’, reading this magazine for the first skills for senior school, but for their lives are always grateful for the generosity of ODs time as they head to their senior schools, beyond, remains at the heart of the school. who are able to spare the time to do this, so thank you for your contribution to such a One of my very first OD events was please do get in touch if you think you might happy and memorable first year as custodian also one of the most memorable. I was be able to help. of the Dragon. As I was told on my arrival, fortunate enough to be able to welcome One particularly inspiring occasion ‘Once a Dragon, Always a Dragon’ and I can back to the School for lunch in October, last term was the return to school of assuredly affirm that this year has proven this our unbeaten Under-13 Rugby team Frances Houghton OD, a four-time World to be true! of 1952. It was a real pleasure to meet Champion rower and winner of multiple the team and they also proved to be Olympic medals. Frances launched our new With all best wishes inspirational role models for our 2017 boat and in doing so, encouraged a whole Under-13 Rugby team, who achieved the new generation of rowers onto the water. same unbeaten feat this season. ODs were also remembered on two poignant Equalling the boys’ success, our Dragon occasions this year – once at a memorial girls Under-13 1st VII hockey team won all service for the life of OD Leonard Cheshire 12 of their matches. It provided a wonderful VC, which took place at Stowe School, and Crispin Hyde-Dunn THE OD Headline News Contents 1 A selection of news highlights the last year… Old Dragons Record a CD of Verse 2 CONTENTS Educating for Scholarship Record Danny Gill Global Competence 4 It was a year of tumbling records, After 24 remarkable years of doing and not only on the sports field. This good, Danny Gill has moved on from Science 6 year’s multi-talented A Block won 55 the Dragon. He started as Director scholarships to many of the country’s of Sport, taught English and became Book Shelf 8 top senior schools. Academic awards the first Director of Social Impact. were particularly plentiful alongside In Oxford he established regular OD News / 12 a healthy range of Sport, Music, Art, events with the Blackbird Academy Drama, DT and All Rounder awards. Trust; he became a leader in school Announcements Social Impact programmes and led experiential Dragon trips to South From the Archives 15 Rugby Invincibles America and India. He leaves a The 1952 1st XV ‘Invincible’ Dragons remarkable legacy and has inspired OD Events & Reunions 16 returned to support the current U13A, and supported many ODs now a team that, like them, enjoyed an working in social action around the Obituaries 18 undefeated season (U13B also went world. See page 4. undefeated). There was a great Diary Dates 20 camaraderie between campaigners young and older. Perhaps this crop of OD Poetry CD OD Merchandise / 21 rugby greats will return for a reunion To raise money for the Dragon Sale, Contact Us in 2082 to cheer on a future Dragon well-known ODs from the fields 1st team. of arts, media and sport gathered in London to record a selection of poems from The Dragon Book of Rhino Swim Verse. Read more about the recording In November C Block ‘swam the of this unique CD on page 2. channel’ in a sponsored relay in the school pool. They completed the required total of 1,416 lengths in a Community Events fraction under the target of one hour. From SoHo New York, to the They raised over £3,000 for ‘Rhinos Stationers’ Hall, London, there have Without Borders’, a remarkable charity been outstanding OD reunions and that has airlifted 100 rhinos from events this year. Read more on areas of poaching to the safety of the page 16. Okavango Delta. A Block also raised over £3,000 in a sponsored run for water charities, each form carrying 20 litres of water for 6km. See page 4. Dragon News Crispin Hyde-Dunn Throught the Year In his first assembly, Dr Crispin Old Dragon news features Hyde-Dunn, 11th Headmaster of the regularly on the Dragon School, spoke of the Dragon as a Community Facebook Page: ‘world of opportunity’ a ‘pioneering, facebook.com/DragonSchoolOxford. imaginative and inspirational’ school Forthcoming events and other and affirmed the Baugh dictum ‘being news can be found in the kind will always remain at the heart of community section of the school the school… if you are happy, you will website: dragonschool.org/community. do your best’. Continuing the best of We also post to LinkedIn: linkedin. Dragon traditions, Crispin has proved com/company/the-dragon-school- a very popular and energetic leader of oxford/ and Twiter: @thedragonschool. the School.