The Old Newburians’ Association Autumn 2011 Celebrating the new St. Bartholomew’s School * St. Bartholomew’s ‘Ad Lucem Project’ - 5 years in the making by Stuart Robinson * School Sport - Mike Hart looks back over 42 years * Finding Bertram Evers - Alan Metcalfe * Sword of Honour Hero John E. Y. King - What happened over Korea October 2011 From your President Dear Fellow Newburians, I feel very honoured to have been your President for the last three years. Three exciting years which included the two day Reunion in 2010, where former pupils and staff gathered together to take a last look at the Luker and Wormestall buildings, and the official opening of the new St. Bartholomew’s school, in March this year, by Sophie, Countess of Wessex. As a result of the ‘Reunion’ and my plea in 2009, the ONA was able to present a cheque for over £2,000 to the school. This money was put towards the cost of the new cabinets (pictured below), in the heritage area, which display some of the school artefacts. The centrepiece being the Cranwell Sword of Honour and the bronze plates engraved with the names of the dead of two world wars. The beautiful stained glass window, made to commemorate the Queen’s visit on 26th May, 1972, is also displayed here. I hope another reunion will be held, in the not too distant future, to enable you all to see them and the school photographs, newly framed and mounted in the school hall. The new floodlit, all weather, multi-sport area is now complete and in use. The AGM and Luncheon will be held on Sunday 27th November, when Trevor Coles will be installed as your new President. Please join me in wishing him an enjoyable term of office. Finally, I would like to thank each and every member of the ONA committee for their support and friendship over the past three years. Best wishes to you all. Ann Maisey President 2009-2011 What sets James Cowper apart from other leading accountants and business advisers? As well as our professionalism, flexibility and comprehensive range of skills and services, it’s our ability to look at the broader picture. This fresh thinking can develop your business in ways you may never have realised possible, and help you achieve real success. BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING AND INSOLVENCY Newbury London Henley Mill House 28 Ely Place North Lea House Overbridge Square London 66 Northfield End Hambridge Lane EC1N 6AA Henley-on-Thames Newbury RG14 5UX Oxfordshire RG9 2BE Tel: +44 (0)1635 35255 Tel: +44 (0)208 2422088 Tel: +44 (0)1491 572565 Oxford Reading Southampton PAYROLL Willow Court 3 Wesley Gate Latimer House 7 West Way Queen's Road 5-7 Cumberland Place Botley Reading Southampton Oxford OX2 0JB Berkshire RG1 4AP SO15 2BH Tel: +44 (0)1865 200500 Tel: +44 (0)118 9590261 Tel: +44 (0)2380 221222 Registered to carry out audit work and regulated for a range of investment business activities [email protected] by the institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. www.jamescowper.co.uk House of Commons London, SW1A 0AA 8th August 2011 I am delighted to hear that The Newburian is being revived and send you my best wishes for its successful future. Everyone connected with St Bartholomew’s knows that it is a very exciting time for the School. The extraordinary design of the new building allows the School to build on its great traditions and good name so that it can be fit for the future. It should go without saying that St Bartholomew’s would have continued to be a highly successful school if it had remained in the old buildings, but the stunning new building gives it a wonderful boost in an age when education is changing. Competition to equip young people for the workplace of the future comes from across the globe. St Bartholomew’s has embraced this challenge and will continue to prosper as a result However, with change it becomes ever more important to keep the School community together. The 1350 members of the Old Newburians’ Association, the current cohort of pupils, their teachers, the parents and all associated with this excellent school need to keep in touch. The Newburian will be that link and I wish it well. Richard Benyon MP Member of Parliament for Newbury Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries Dear Old Newburian 2010-2011: a year to remember! In November 2010 the school moved into its wonderful, purpose built accommodation. Immediately, students and staff embraced new learning opportunities afforded by the new facilities. These include media and IT suites, dance and drama studios, specialist design rooms and extensive sports provision. We left behind the leaking roofs but brought with us the values and traditions so important to St Bart’s: our House system, The Remembrance Service, our inspirational motto ‘Ad Lucem’, our commitment to supporting every individual to achieve of their best. The Official Opening in March by HRH the Countess of Wessex was a marvellous celebration of all that the school has to offer to our students today. In an exceptional year, our Year 13 achieved truly exceptional results. The pass rate for A level was 99%, with 77% of the grades at A*-C. 10% of the A level grades were at A*. The Value Added has been recognised as being in the top 10% of Sixth forms nationally. Four students gained a place at Oxford or Cambridge, many others have taken up offers to study medicine and veterinary science. The Sutton Report this summer recognised the high percentage of students from St Bart’s who go on to the top universities . At GCSE, against every measure, our results were the school’s best ever! 86% of our students gained five or more A*-C grades; 72% gained at least 5 A*-C including English and Maths. The new English Baccalaureate ranked St Bart’s in the top 4% of state schools nationally; this is a testament to the quality of the curriculum which our students are offered. Thanks to the dedication of staff, the support of parents and governors and students’ sheer hard work, the examination results improved in 2011, the year of the move. Once again, we have celebrated exceptional sporting achievements including our U13 boys winning the Berkshire Football Championship whilst our senior first Lacrosse Team performed extremely well at National Schools again this year, taking them to the 35th best U19 Lacrosse Team playing in the country. Our links with China have continued to develop. Students in the Sixth Form took their GCSE and achieved excellent results; a study group visited us for a week in the summer term; the teacher exchange programme saw Judith Fisher living and working Shanghai for two terms, whilst two Chinese teachers worked with us in Newbury. In September we returned to outstanding outdoor sports provision with the completion of Phase 2 of the Ad Lucem project: the Multi Use Games Area and synthetic turf pitch. Already, these are greatly enhancing school sport whilst attracting increased community use. The only remaining aspect of the Ad Lucem project is the completion of the Fives Courts; we look forward to having 3 covered courts which will enable us to host matches at St Bart’s. Sophie,Sophie, Countess Duchess of Wessex, formallyformally opensopens thethe newnew St.St. BartholomewsBartholomews SchoolSchool onon 30th30th MarchMarch 2011 2011 It is fitting that the generous donation from the ONA has been used to help fund the heritage displays in the new Reception area. I do hope that Old Newburians will visit and see the way in which windows from the Wormestall Memorial Hall have been incorporated into the panelling in our new building. We are especially grateful to Ian Campbell, Chair of the Governing Body for the past 20 years, for his tremendous contribution to the ongoing success of the school. Ian has seen the various changes of status, from the amalgamation of the two grammars, to comprehensive, Grant Maintained and Foundation and most recently to becoming an Academy in September 2011. This latest designation in the school's long history will help to maintain the best possible provision. It will afford new opportunities for us to further develop in the best interests of the students in our school. Ian Peddie, formerly Chair of the PA and very experienced member of the governor body, has taken over as Chair. Best wishes for the year ahead Christina Haddrell Headteacher Exploration & Discovery Hayriette Machin - A Level Student 2011 This page is kindly sponsored by Newbury’s Oldest The Empire Cafe Established Cheap Street, Newbury. Tea, Coffee Proprietor Wendy Berkeley (Robinson) 1953-1960 and Cake Shop - and still baking on the premises. The Search for Bertram Evers If I should die. Think only this of me: That there’s some corner of a foreign field That is for ever England. In that rich earth a richer dust concealed ....... The Soldier ............Rupert Brooke Curnock, Davis, Evers, Patterson. Very familiar names to the many pupils educated at St. Barts. The four were all outstanding scholars in the years prior to the start of ‘ the war to end all wars’. All four enlisted voluntarily, to fight for King and Country in France. All four were killed on the Somme. When famed headmaster Sharwood Smith named the four school Houses in their memory they had no known graves. The remains of Davis were returned to England in later years by his family and his grave can be found beside the chapel in the newly re-opened Newtown Road cemetery. But of Curnock, Evers and Patterson there was no trace.