N ew Head for Hawford, OV Artists, Stephen Cleobury concert & a tribute to Cecil Duckworth Announcement of New Head at King’s Hawford The Headmaster and Governors of The King’s School, Worcester are delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs Jennie Phillips as the new Head of King’s Hawford, one of Worcester’s leading 2 – 11 Prep Schools. Jennie will join in April 2021 from Monmouth School Girls’ Prep School where she is currently the Head. She was appointed from a dynamic field of sitting Heads and Deputies, and was the unanimous choice of the Headmaster, Governors and the staff who met her. Jennie was educated at Oxford High School, and read Education at the University of Exeter. A keen hiker and swimmer, Jennie is married to Eddie and they have two daughters, Amelia and Daisy, who are all excited about the move. Reflecting on her appointment, Mrs Phillips said, “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the team at King’s Hawford. The school has a wonderful warmth and a sense of community which is clearly held dear by parents, staff and pupils alike. I very much look forward to getting to know the school community and building on the excellent work of Mr Jim Turner, whilst working closely with Mr Richard Chapman, Head of King’s St Albans, under the Head of our Foundation, Mr Gareth Doodes. We will work together to provide parents with the choice of two outstanding, vibrant Prep school learning environments with high aspirations, that prepare our pupils well for the next step in their journey as they move on to King’s Worcester at the age 11.” The Headmaster of the King’s Foundation, Gareth Doodes, celebrated Jennie’s appointment. “Jennie Phillips was the outstanding candidate throughout the process and will bring drive, energy and an abundance of enthusiasm to King’s Hawford. A natural communicator and a passionate educator, Jennie is also the first female Head in our Foundation’s near 500 year history. Such a milestone is something about which we are extremely proud, and I’m looking forward to working with such an inspiring leader in the years to come.” Art Department welcomes back OVs Over the last few weeks, the Art department has been pleased to welcome back OVs. Lockdown prevented the annual end of year Upper Sixth exhibition in the summer term, but we have been able to display some of the work by last year’s leavers in the Sir Terry Frost Gallery in the department. Alex and Ellen Alex Ward (Cl 13-20), Ollie Berlet (W 13-20) and Ellen Copeman (Cr 13-20) all came in to view their own personal exhibitions and, although it wasn’t the usual full-scale exhibition, their work still looked very impressive and reflects the maturity and ambition with which they approached their personal project. Ollie OV Izzy Jamous (Br 06-13) has also been in the department, helping out with Art lessons. After completing a degree in Business, Marketing and Branding at Copenhagen University, Izzy worked as a Publishing Manager for Raconteur, working exclusively for The Times newspaper in London. Izzy She is now exploring a change of career and wants to move into teaching, so some work experience in the department has given her a useful insight into the profession and has also been much appreciated by the Art staff. In other OV news, Lily Stringer (Br 13-20)’s sculpture, ‘Wrapped’, is currently on display at the Royal Academy in the Young Artists’ Summer Show. The sculpture was part of her Lower Sixth artwork in which she explored how objects are altered when they are repaired, wrapped and tied, and was one of the few pieces chosen from over 17,700 entries. The show will reopen on December 2nd and has been extended into the New Year. Stephen Cleobury Tribute Concert On Friday 20th November it was wonderful to listen to a special BBC Singers programme of choral music in memory of their late conductor laureate, Sir Stephen Cleobury CBE (Ch 58-67). Stephen was also Director of Music for the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge and had an incredible musical career as a conductor, organist, composer and choirmaster. This special concert was pre-recorded at the Maida Vale studios and introduced by his widow Emma Cleobury who, along with the BBC singers, chose the music to reflect Stephen’s life and interests. The programme included a range of choral pieces including Elgar’s Go, song of mine, Britten’s Hymn to St Cecilia and The Shepherd’s Carol by Chilcott. You can listen to the full concert here. It was lovely to learn more about Stephen’s life, the music he enjoyed and to listen to so many inspiring performances. Tributes to Cecil Duckworth CBE We were saddened to hear of the death of Cecil Duckworth who many OVs will remember. He will be very much missed and our thoughts are with Cecil’s family at this difficult time. Cecil started the very successful Worcester Engineering Company in 1962 which was he later sold to Bosch. Following his retirement in 1996 he dedicated a great deal of support and financial investment to Worcester Rugby Club, now called Worcester Warriors. With Cecil’s support the club rose through six divisions to the Premiership where they have remained since for the majority of seasons. Cecil was also President of Worcestershire County Cricket Club. Cecil set up the Worcestershire Duckworth Trust in 1998, a charity which helps to relieve poverty and promote conservation. He was one of the original benefactors of Acorns Children’s Hospice and a trustee of the Wooden Spoon Society, supporting disadvantaged and disabled children. Cecil was awarded an OBE in 2004 for services to rugby and the community. He was appointed a CBE in 2013 for his charity work. The following OVs commented; Almost 27 years ago I had the pleasure of attending a lecture by the Late Cecil Duckworth CBE in the John Moore Theatre. It was a Lecture on tenacity, which contained wisdom and sage advice that can only have come from a man with a great wealth of experience. I left with the words etched on my mind – keep going, through adversity comes strength and if you’re tenacious enough you will find a solution. Little was I to know that those words were to serve me well in my ambition and determination to serve the City. In 2018 I had the honour of becoming the 1st citizen of this great City. I was inaugurated as Mayor and had the honour of Cecil Duckworth’s company at my table. We talked at length and I reminded him of his words of inspiration all those years ago, it was a special and profound moment that we shared and cherished. For all Cecil’s business achievements, his British Empire medals and award of honorary Freeman, his true legacy cannot be quantified. His passion, and love and the gift he gave was priceless. He literally gave warmth, hope and inspiration to thousands. Rest in peace Cecil may your joyous smile and legacy live on in the City. Jabba Riaz (Br 91-96) In all my dealings with Cecil Duckworth over the years, the thing that struck me the most was his humility. He was equally at home talking to anyone, no matter what their role, background or position. Worcester was lucky to have him and I suspect we will not see his like again. Rest in peace Cecil. Russ Mason (Hon OV) Sometimes in life, if you are really fortunate, you meet impressive, inspiring, dare I say incredible people that you will never forget. I was lucky to spend time with Cecil as our President at Worcestershire County Cricket Club, he was all these things. Rest in peace Cecil, thank you for all you’ve done for so many people and our County. Fanos Hira (Os 80-87) I first met Cecil back in 1996 not long after he had become fully involved with Worcester Rugby Club at a time when Rugby Union was becoming professional. He offered me the opportunity to achieve a boyhood dream of becoming a professional sportsman, something I am sure Marc Roberts (Hon OV) chuckled about, and something that I will always be eternally grateful to him for. Since then, and until the last time I saw him at a function in his honour at the end of last year, he was always a gentleman. Whenever I saw him or randomly bumped into him he always took time to stop and talk, ask about the family and seem genuinely interested in how you were doing. He was a man that led from the front, I remember seeing him one night in the early days collecting glasses in the bar at the rugby club at the end of an evening, some people in his position would have left them for the staff to collect but not Cecil, he wanted to be involved and be part of the team. He has done a huge amount not only for WRFC (Worcester Rugby Football Club) but the local community and charities, he will be sadly missed by many across all facets of the county. To do him justice in a few words is tough, all I can say is he was a true gentleman, a leader, a pioneer and most of all a people person that never forgot anyone. RIP Cecil, thank you sir you will not be forgotten. Duncan Hughes (Os 84-91) 20/11/2020 .