BROMSGROVIANS connected BROMSGROVE’S ALUMNI MAGAZINE ISSUE 1 2014/15 Chairman’s Welcome Welcome to Bromsgrovians Connected, the new magazine for Old Bromsgrovians. It’s designed to provide news about OBs, young and old, and information about achievements and upcoming events. We have chosen, as our logo, the martlet, which is the small bird on the School crest. In heraldry, Future Old Bromsgrovians: The Heads of School 2014/15 with the Headmaster, Peter Clague the martlet signified someone who had to make their own way in the world through hard work The first word... and perseverance. The modern What a privilege; the first word of the To compensate, I am currently interpretation is of a ‘constant first edition of this wonderful new working on a strategy to enhance the quest for knowledge learning magazine for Old Bromsgrovians. I have School’s collection and display of its and adventure’. Both of these had the great pleasure of speaking with memorabilia and to ensure that we are great descriptions of today’s many alumni since I took up the post of capture and preserve the stories of Bromsgrovians who, you’ll see, are Headmaster in September. For those I those who have passed through this pursuing their dreams all around haven’t yet met, that’s me in the photo great School. Most of those tales and the world. And the martlet bird has above – for once, I’m the short bloke! items associated with School life come further links to the School - our OB from Old Bromsgrovians, so I relish the cricket club was formerley called Amongst the myriad of challenges opportunity to meet many more of you that face any new Headmaster is the in the years to come. The Martlets. need to quickly become conversant with the School’s history. In the case I hope you enjoy reading about your of Bromsgrove’s five centuries, that’s PETER CLAGUE contemporaries, and those from quite a task. Fortunately I have had HEADMASTER outside your own time, and will send the great benefit of being tutored by us your news. the redoubtable Deputy Headmaster, whose knowledge of the School’s past HANS ROSTRUP is encyclopedic. However, as you may CHAIRMAN be aware, Mr Bowen will retire in June after 34 years of loyal service. At which An extended version of The Chairman’s stage, I shall be on my own. Welcome is available online at www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk IN THISTHIS ISSUE: ISSUE: The The year year in photographs… in photographs… The Theinside inside story… story… News About from your you… era… A Level, IB, BTEC and GCSE Pupils celebrated their superb exam results over Picture This… the Summer. 87% A*, A & B at A level, 38 point average for IB and 88% A* to B A LOOK BACK AT THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2013/14. at GCSE. School For Scandal was the School’s major production of the year. The same play was performed by pupils in 1926, when the cast was decided by committee! We were delighted to welcome back so many Old Bromsgrovians Remembrance Day 2013 was a and Friends of the School to poignant reminder of what sacrifices Commemoration Day this year. Old Bromsgrovians had made during Particularly special as it was the war years. At Pre-Prep, pupils outgoing Headmaster, Chris commemorated former pupils with a Edwards’ final ‘Commem’ after ten years of dedicated service. poppy, each inscribed with a fallen The dining room, opened in 1964, is currently undergoing soldier’s name. a refurbishment programme which will see a complete transformation of the whole building. Once completed our new Dining Hall will rival the best in the nation. Housman Hall has undergone a complete transformation throughout 2013/14, with the official re-opening of the House taking place in November 2014. You can see in the photograph opposite that it is almost unrecognisable from how it looked just 12 months ago. The Matthew Taylor Observatory was officially opened on Our Day Houses are now scheduled 29th June 2014. Matthew Taylor generously funded the to undergo a refurbishment Observatory for the benefit of pupils at the School. programme, ensuring that they match the very high standard of accommodation offered in the boarding houses. Handel’s Messiah was the Choral Society’s major performance of the year, performed in Routh Hall. Bromsgrove School partnered Launched in 2014, to coincide with the with the Bromsgrove 100th Anniversary of the Great War, International Young Musicians’ Mr Bowen’s Book and Presentation ‘A Competition (BIYMC), where History of Bromsgrove School at War they held their four-day 1914-1919’ proved to be an instant hit. competition in Routh Hall. New performing initiatives began, such as the Sixth Form Recital and Informal Concert Picture This… Series in the Old Chapel. EXTRA-CURRICULAR HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2013/14. As 2nd Deputy Head (Co-Curricula), Paul Mullan is responsible for the extra-curricular activities that occur at Bromsgrove School. Here, he gives you Thirty-eight pupils have received their Gold Duke some highlights from the 2013/14 of Edinburgh Award since September 2013, with academic year. a further seventy-seven gaining Silver and 149 awarded Bronze. The U18 girls finished 4th in the indoor Our Chapel Choir sang Evensong at hockey National Finals. Bromsgrove is proud to Gloucester Cathedral and the Chamber regularly host National Finals and competitions in Choir took an overnight trip to St David’s. the Arena. The School was delighted to host Colonel Bob Carruthers OBE and his team, who conducted our Biennial Review, the CCF “Outside of the classroom equivalent of an Ofsted inspection. pupils take enriching 160 pupils undertake Bromsgrove Service every week, and they have access to a wide variety of voluntary opportunities seriously” activities from charity shop helpers, language learning mentors, support mentors for international pupils, gaining Sports Leader awards and Pupils continue to successfully achieve working alongside SEN pupils at RADA awards, and in 2013/14 pupils a local school. gained a number of Silver and Gold. CAS Projects have offered IB students the opportunity to organise events, such as the one for local residential homes. During the last academic year, the Upper Sixth European Youth Bromsgrove School is Parliament team won the National currently ranked 4th best Finals and represented Great Britain. independent school for A Senior team also won the Three sport, awarded by School Counties Debating Competition. Sport Magazine. Informal lunchtime debates continue to attract good audiences. Our senior cricketers won the regional Chesterton Cup, played at New Road, for the second year running. Housman Hall Lupton Helen Wicks (née Fisher, 01-07) completed her degree in applied About You theology and is working for Woodlands Church, an active Church in Bristol. FIND OUT WHAT OLD BROMSGROVIANS FROM YOUR ERA ARE DOING NOW. Helen is a youth worker and is happily married to Martin Wicks - a GP trainee. Former Housman Hallians might like to Prep School Hazeldene follow the Housman Hall blog, written by current students. You can read all of the blog posts on the School website at www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/ housman-hall-blog.aspx Harry Heath (96-12) appeared on University Challenge in September Joanne Shum (05-07) competed in the 2014 with fellow students from Exeter, Asian Games, as part of the Hong Kong Lyttelton where he is currently studying History. National Water Polo team. Although Richard Hemingway (57-62) her team lost - they are classed as Credit: Richard H Smith recently wrote to us enquiring about an “amateur” team because they are Mr Bowen’s book and gave us a little working or students – whereas the other We are delighted to hear that former bit of background to his connections to teams are professional athletes. Joanne Prep School pupil Rufus Norris (1975- Bromsgrove: Richard’s parents came trained with the team for two hours per 1978) has been chosen as the new from Bewdley and both his father and day. Director of the National Theatre from We were delighted to receive these younger brother were at 2015. We wish Rufus the very best and photographs from Emory Winship Bromsgrove, as well as a grandfather look forward to following him in his new (71-72). One is of the Gordon House Rosemary Flint (00-05) has taken on and a couple of great uncles. His role. Hockey Team and the other is of a few the role of Art Technician at School and father’s cousin Kenneth Hemingway cricketers sitting next to the Pavilion. If is thoroughly enjoying life on the other died in WW1 in 1916. Guy Jarrett was Elmshurst you’re in the photographs, please let us side of the pupil / staff divide. Rose Richard’s mentor in the Classical Sixth. Will Fisher (98-07) is currently working know. appeared on the BBC One quiz show for ITV based at Southbank. After Pointless in February 2014. Richard went on to read Mods and Maxime Cox (04-13) spent time with studying ancient history at St John’s Greats at Worcester College Oxford. He prospective medics at Bromsgrove College Durham, Will worked at the keeps in touch with a number of OBs in September. Maxime is currently BBC for a brief spell before getting a and they reguarly get together in studying medicine at St Hilda’s College, prestigious graduate trainee production London for mini-reunions. Oxford. Max Schwahn (08-11) is keen to reinstate the German OB Committee. Oakley If you are interested in connecting with Max, and other Bromsgrove Alumni in Mengmeng Yan (05-08) graduated in Germany, please contact him by email January 2014 with an MA (Distinction) at [email protected] in English Literature from Durham, and is now currently undertaking a PhD in Nikita Hertz (formerly Enotov, E 06-09 the same subject.