‘The Ellesmerian - 2000 Contents Common Room Notes ‘Speech Day 2000 House Note Lower School... 14 New Starters Chapel Notes Musical Diary. Drama vs rvs 20 cr... 22 Ellesmerian Travels... 2 Girls SpOTt sen 28 Fifth & Sixth Form Art... 30 Boys Sport 32. Lower School Sport 45 Old Ellesmerian Chronicle see AG Page 1 VOLUME CXIT DECEMBER 2000 Captains of School Head Gist: RE Walker Head Boy: § Suliman School Prefects CL Bean KS Chums AL Conway Wallace EJ Edwards NM Eisenstein PM Griffiths EL Grosvenor DIMillier LH Howitt-Dring CN Lipson GHF Maxfield SH Packham GP Rogers BGB Savage SA Woodward Sacristan CLBean Assistant Sacristan A Rydgren The Editor would like to thank the following: Bill Newbould, Kirsty Savage, Anna James and Cliff Davies.The éllesmerian - 2000 In July we bade farewell to David Walker, ‘who had served the College ina wide variety ‘of areas for some thirty years. David was head ‘of Chemistry throughout this time, but he also served as Senior Tutor, Head of Careers, and master i/c O.T.U. We must not forget Angela, ‘who taught Chemistry alongside David for a number of years. They will be dividing their time between Ellesmere and their lovely house in France, so we will hope to see them at College from time to time in the future. We also said goodbye to Louise Crossley, ‘who ran the Drama for three years; to David “Arkieson, head of Biology for two years; and toRoger Gee, ourmostrecent assistant Director of Music. Louise has gained promotion, David's career has changed direction, and Roger has packed away his keyboards in ‘exchange for a cours in boat building. Other notable departures during the last academic year were Kishani Goonewardene and Campbell Barr, cur 1999 antipodean gap students, Stuart Spiers, along serving member ‘ofthe music department, and John Harvey, our Assistant Bursar and Clerk of Works. John moves to a larger department at Shrewsbury School, after many years at Ellesmere during ‘which have witnessed unprecedented growth in our buildings and facilities. Happily, John remainsassecretary ofthe OE club, sowe look forward to his continued association with the school he first joined in 1974 Mary Smith, who originally ook temporary leave of absence to start a family, decided not toretur to teaching so we say farewell to her and to Jerry, and wish them well in their life together in Ross on Wye. In her absence we were helped by Martin Richards and Lisa van Kalken. Last year also marked the final year as head ‘of Lower School of Carolyn Newbold; she will now have more time to devote to her role a Senior Mistress. Also changing jobs is Philip Wood; after seventeen years atthe helm ‘of Wakeman, and then Wakeman-Lambart he is becoming Senior Tutor. We congratulate Philip on his recent marriage to Pat Pantin. Also married during the last year were Andy Jones and Sophia Ashworth; they are now the ‘Ashworth Jones's ‘We welcome as replacements and additions to the staff Tom Gareh as head of Chemistry, Leslie Kent as head of Biology, Neil Price as hhead of Lower School, Antony Baldery as assistant Director of Musi, Sharon Owen and Marie Hennessey as additions to the PE and Lower School staffrespectively,andto Richard Boswell as head of Drama. Another weleome addition o the fulltime teaching staffis Debbie Clewiow, who extends her role in the IT department, We have already enjoyed the company for ‘two terms of Anna James and Alex Thorpe from Australia, and Richard Bray from St Kentigem’s in New Zealand, They are now nearing the end of ther stint, and we hope that they will take away warm memories of Ellesmere, ifnot its weather! Finally, into John Harvey’sshoessteps Alan Mancais. We wish him well as he walks the tightrope that seems to be the lot ofthe Clerk ‘of Works. We in the Common Room will support him all we can, Shortly before Christmas last year Sue, the wife of John Vernon, our recently retired chaplain, lst her fight against cancer. Sue had remained cheerful and at peace throughouther illness, and with her passing the College lost a ‘good friend. Many of usattended the funeralin the parish church; to John andall the family we extend our deepest sympathy at their sad los. ‘We were also saddened by the more recent death of Jean Sutton, wife of Keith, Bishop of Lichfield and Visitor to the college, and also mother of Andrew, who was a member of ‘Woodard House a few years ago, DAVID WALKER Although David began his teaching career in Durham, he spent the greater part of it at Ellesmere; this is where he and Angela shared ‘most of their married life (to date), and where their children Charles and Sarah grew up and spenttheirchildhood, Davidcame toBllesmere as successor in the Chemistry department to Malcolm Howe hhow many readers’ memories stretch back that far, I wonder? In those days and for many years thereafter Chemistry was housed where part ‘of Woodard is now to be found (that explains the strange marks on the dayroom wall!) ‘There David presided, with a succession of ‘number 2's Vernon Howard, Chris Foyston, Jill Oldfield, Hazel Davies, David Cooper all, benefitting from David's knowledge and experience. Only in the last decade did the department move tits present home at the top cof Hodson block. During ths time a number of very able pupil, from Mark Vincent to Emma ‘Snow, explored the delights of Chemistry with Page 2 COMMON ROOM NOTES David, moving on to distinguished careers in the subject after leaving schoo: this above all clse delighted David and helped him to retain his enthusiasm and love forthe subject during times of change. Formany years David was also Senior Tutor andhead of Careers. Inthis dual role hebuilton the knowledge he brought with him to Ellesmere, demonstrating his command of a hhuge and complex, but also vitally important, area. He helped to guide countless pupils through the minefield of University application, ‘and to find places for those who discovered in ‘mid-August each year that they had not quite ‘made it into their first choice institutions. Each year there was alsothe Sth form (year 11 toour younger readers) careers convention, which required much detailed planning, invitations to an army of speakers, and finding replacements for the inevitable last minute ‘cancellations. Another long lasting appointment was as headoftheO-T.U.,andthe overall management ofthe Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme, In this role there were inevitable rewards and ‘disappointments, but through it all was seen clearly David's great love ofthe outdoors, and itwas always fun tobe part ofthe team, be itin the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales or North Wales. Revent years have seen David involved with the Gold group andtheircanoe expeditions fn the rivers of France, and it was with one such expedition that David rounded off his, long career as a schoolmaster. For years David ran the 6th Form club and bar; he also presided in similar fashion in the Common Room. Elsewhere he was a stalwart supporter ofthe Chapel, although he was also heavily involved withthe parish church, as _member of the PCC there. David was also a regular on the Ist XV touchline, and he was always on hand to serve drinks to the teams after the match. In the earlier days he ran an enthusiastic cricket 3rd XI and he performed valuable service as umpire to the Common Room team for many years As is mentioned elsewhere, Angela was a part-time member ofthe Chemistry department for some years. Throughout their time at College she and David have been delightful company and generous hosts. Recently, they have spent much of their holiday time at their delightful house in France, gradually gettingit into shape - often with the help of College friends. They will now divide their time between their two properties; the other is in Ellesmere, so we do not expect to lose touch. ‘We hope they will enjoy a long and happy retirement together. KISThis year saw the departure of two of the College's most tireless members of the Bur- sar's staff CARETAKER - MONICA GRAINGER. Monica arrived a the College in 1987 with her Inusband Les, who had just been appointed Caretaker. Sadly, he died within year but Monica rose tothe challenge and took on the role of Caretaker and Cleaning Supervisor herself until her retirement in April 2000. However, she did not simply take up anine to The éllesmerian - 2000 five job. Instead she became very involved in the life ofthe College helping out at just about ‘every function, either behind the bar or flower arranging, hanging decorations or clearing up afterwards, Added to this the fact that she also ‘began unlocking the College atthe unearthly hourofSamand locking upagain from9.30pm shows how tireless she was in her efforts to provide the very best support to the College. ‘Werwish her wellinherretiementat Woodbury Exeter LOUISE CROSSLEY Louise joined the school as a Drama and Eng- lish teacher in September 1997 and was pro- smoted to Head of Drama shortly after. It was in this role that she directed a diverse and challenging variety ofplays forthe Middle and Upper School, ranging from this year's visu- ally and dramatically impressive A Midsum- ‘mer Nights Dream to the more contemporary Stags and Hens. She was also involved in several Lower School productions, including the Pied Piper of Hamelin which she both ‘wrote and directed. Her own performing skills were often in evidence (particularly at Com- ‘mon Room functions) and not least in the Common Room play, The Real Inspector Hound. Aside from teaching English and A’ Level ‘Theatre Studies, Louise introduced GCSE Drama to the school for the first time whilst ‘aching and coordinating the school’s exten- sive ESB programme. In addition to ths, she played an important role in Girls’ Games and ‘Third Form 0.T.U, and was a much valued Lower School Tutor. Louise has left to take up the post of English ‘and Drama teacher at Red Maids school in Bristol. All those who knew Louise during her time at Ellesmere College wish her happiness and success with this new challenge. DS ARKIESON DSA cameo Ellesmere tobe Head of Biology in September 1998 from QEGS Blackbur, following a career in both the RAF and Navy as an air affic controller Inaddition tohis workin the Biology depart- ‘ment, he was a tutor in Talbot and part of the ‘Nankivell eam. He naturally became involved with CCF and took over the running of the Navy section as well as helping with the sailing club where his qualifications as an RYA Pow- erboat and Dinghy Instructor proveduseful. He hhas now moved on to take up a post as Educa tion secretary of the Institute of Biology. ‘PIAS Roger Gee's report can be seen on p.18 St Aidan’s farewell 10 Monica Grainger ASSISTANT BURSAR - JOHN HARVEY. It can truly be sai that John has been a this College both: man and boy until his departure for greener? pastures at Shrewsbury School. Having spent his childhood asa pupil atthe College John returned here as Clerk of Works in 1988 where he worked all the hours available either fn the College estate or work- ing behind the scenes organis- ing innumerable functions. ‘Add to this his additional du- ties as Secretary to the OES and manager of the Cwn Penmachno outdoor centre then itis hardly surprising that he only slept for a few hours cach night! John will undoubtedly bere- membered for two especially outstandingachievements. The first was his management of the College refurbishment, an enormous undertaking by any standardand which was recog. nised by his promotion to the post of Assistant Bursar. The second must be the OE's Mil- lennium Bal that turned out to besuchanoutstanding success and set standards that will be difficult to beat. We wish him every success in his new post John Harvey with his daughters and dog, Pebbles. Page 3