Together
MARLBOROUGH
SPRING 2011
Making a Difference:
Service and Leadership at Marlborough
Meeting Dr Chris Stevens, Second Master designate
In Partnership:
Sharing Expertise and Opportunities
Uzair Qureshi, Captaincy and Teamwork
Master’s Welcome
SERVICE HAS ALWAYS been at the heart of the
College’s work and character. The names recorded
in the Chapel and the Memorial Hall call to mind
and memory those who left this
place and who rose to the challenges
laid before them, even if, in doing so,
they made the ultimate sacrifice.
Luckily, we live in more peaceful,
and affluent, times, and opportunities
for this generation of Marlburians are
plentiful, various and exciting. It is,
then, all the more important that we
cleave to the principles crystallised by
our Anglican culture and that we
recognise that the flipside of the coin
of privilege is compassion. This issue of Together
identifies some of the avenues for leadership and
service which we offer to pupils: it is genuinely and
refreshingly true that young Marlburians relish the
opportunity to venture beyond the cocoon of
materialistic comfort and that they enjoy, and gain
immensely from, the chance to serve others. We
are not about the promotion of closed elitism: we
are, however, serious about our commitment to
instil crucial values, principles and moral
perspectives – without being sanctimonious!
I hope that you will gain a sense of the joy of
service as well as the value of leadership from
these articles.
NICHOLAS SAMPSON, MASTER
In Partnership
THE COLLEGE CONTINUES to be fully committed to its partnership with the
Swindon Academy. Marlborough views this as essential on three fronts: to forge
a meaningful link between state and private sectors, to instil a culture of service
and leadership within our pupil body and to work with institutions of a very
different nature to broaden horizons at staff and pupil levels.
As part of our partnership four Marlburians visit the school every Wednesday
afternoon to help students with mathematics. The aim of this is to help
improve GCSE results for these Academy pupils. It is hoped that this project
could be expanded, to include other GCSE subjects.
The link with one of the two Academy primary schools (Alton Close)
continues. A group of Marlburians has been trained to work alongside primary
school pupils, helping them with reading exercises. Our pupils also have the
opportunity to assist with after-school activities. This venture continues to be
extremely worthwhile.
A contingent of Year 9 Academicians has had the opportunity to participate in
our Wednesday afternoon Combined Cadet Force programme. The course lasts
for the full academic year and the pupils are instructed by Marlburian NCOs.
They also have the opportunity to participate in our two Remove Field Days.
During a recent Year 10 pupil exchange our volunteer pupil exchangees
hosted Academicians for an entire day. Students were paired-up and
Academicians shadowed our pupils throughout lessons and co-curricular
activities. The day was a great success and our pupils displayed many fine
leadership qualities.
We hope to build on these initiatives and further strengthen the partnership
in years to come.
MR C S SMITH, SWINDON ACADEMY LIAISON
Just Click
FOR THE LATEST NEWS from Marlborough, visit
www.marlboroughcollege.org. Here are some recent
stories – look online for more information.
• The development of the campus in Johor Bahru continues
apace and ahead of schedule. The Master and Governors are
delighted to announce several appointments to high-profile
posts. These may be viewed by logging on and accessing the
newsletter section of the Malaysia pages.
• To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Chapel in 2012 the
College is recording a CD. It will be the first professionally
produced work that the College has put together in over 10
years. Further details will be available on
www.marlboroughcollege.org.
• The Penny Reading production of Arthur Miller’s
The Crucible was captivating and extremely sophisticated.
Illustrating the best and worst of human nature, the
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tendencies towards mass hysteria and ‘sheep mentality’
were portrayed impeccably by the cast. A full report by
Tilly Woodhouse (LI L6) can be found under ‘News
and Calendar’.
• In the Lent Term pupils participated in Maths, Physics and
Biology Olympiads. Overall, pupils gained 138 medals
across the age groups and these results represent the best
return for some time, boding well for the future.
Marlborough Together is produced by the Marlborough
Association and forms part of a suite of communications
material aimed at keeping you up-to-date with the College’s
vision. For more information about the work of the
Association or to comment on Marlborough Together, please
contact the Association Director, John Crawley (T: 01672
892477 E: [email protected]).
Making a Difference
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES (WAA) offer a
valuable programme of outreach activities that aim to
enable pupils to foster a culture of volunteering and a
willingness to give up time and effort to benefit others,
develop a sense of responsibility and compassion and to
be considerate, tolerant and respectful of people with
different backgrounds and values.
Many pupils work with young children at local
primary schools and with children in the homes of local
families. Assistance is provided at a school for children
with learning difficulties in Swindon and strong links are
being forged with the Swindon Academy. In the
Summer Term, Primary Club is organised for 100
primary school pupils who are entertained after school
with a wide range of outdoor games and activities.
In addition, pupils visit local old peoples’ homes, day
care centres and the Savernake Hospital where they have
the opportunity to share experiences with the elderly
and disabled.
A conservation group is involved in projects such as
replanting and the preservation of the natural habitat
around the river Kennet. Other activities include
‘Cooking for Charity’ and ‘Ceramics for Charity’. Older
pupils often assist with games coaching, recycling and the
production of a range of in-house literary publications.
Furthermore, the Global Action Group strives to raise
awareness of global issues beyond Marlborough.
This is an evolving programme, where new ideas are
constantly sought to engage and challenge the pupils.
MR S R HAWTHORN, HEAD OF WAA
Nurturing Leaders
THE CCF AT MARLBOROUGH is an Army contingent with a
membership of around 270 cadets. Although an old institution,
it is modern in outlook with very clear aims. The CCF seeks to
develop leadership, teamwork and self-discipline in the cadet, as
well as fostering an interest in the Armed Forces.
It is easy to have laudable aims but these must then translate
into tangible practice. The development of leadership and
teamwork could not be better illustrated than on a Field Day
held on Salisbury Plain on 30th March. Prior to the exercise
relevant training was provided for 6 to 8 weeks. Junior NCOs
from the Lower Sixth were then given a section of 5 cadets
either from Marlborough College Remove or Swindon
Academy Year 10. They then had to apply their map reading
skills by leading their team to 13 locations on the training area,
a tough physical challenge in itself. To increase the pressure
further, an enemy operated against them, their tactic being to
capture and then move cadets some distance.
On arrival at some locations the younger cadets also had to
undertake an assessed challenge which drew upon aspects of
their term’s preparation. By the end of the day, all teams had
amassed points and could be ranked from 1st to 18th.
It is in the provision of such an event that leadership is
nurtured. Action is required, driven by good knowledge, clear
thinking and physical effort. Responsibility is taken. Success
and failure are encountered.
MR N R CLEMINSON, HEAD OF CCF
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Charity at Marlborough
THE CHARITY THINK TANK (CTT) was set up in September
2009. It consists of eight Upper Sixth pupils who work
together to co-ordinate and plan the College’s Charity events
for the coming year. Each year, a Waterford Rosedale Scholar
from Swaziland – who is on a fellowship placement in our
Upper Sixth – joins the Think Tank to add a vital
international element to its vision.
The members of the CTT recently drew up a Charter,
outlining aims and responsibilities, which include everything
from selection of charities to the co-ordination of fundraising
events during the academic year. Selflessness in action is at
the heart of the CTT’s philosophy.
This term the pupils concentrated their attention on a day
of special events to raise money for a variety of charities,
alongside joining in the national celebrations for the Royal
Wedding on Friday, 29th April. The day, entitled ‘Royal
Friday’, built upon the remarkable success of last year’s ‘Super
Sunday’ which raised over £5000 for charities through
valuable pupil-led initiatives and activities staged within the
College. The main focus of the day was a Royal Fete in Court,
opened by the Brass Quintet playing the National Anthem.
The afternoon included a rich and varied programme of
fundraising, from stalls in the marquee to sporting
tournaments across the campus. Royal Friday was rounded
off by a special ‘Illumination’ performance in the evening
when pupils showcased their own musical and dramatic
talents on the stage of the Memorial Hall. Monies raised this
year will be divided between The Kempson-Rosedale Trust, El
Roi (a primary school in Kenya), SKRUM and Hope &
Homes for Children.
The Charity Think Tank’s role involves much more than
raising money. The promotion of charitable contributions
through individual, House and whole-school initiatives and
the raising of awareness are important. Through various
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In the Spotlight
events such as the Holocaust Memorial Day and the forthcoming
World Refugee Day, the CTT strives to bring about an
understanding of essential issues that affect us all. Marlburians
are encouraged to give as well as take and to contribute as well as
participate in their time here and are regularly provided with
formative opportunities to challenge themselves and make a
difference. Following the recent Lower Sixth Training Day, with
a focus on
teamwork and
leadership, each
member of the year
group was given £10
and challenged to
turn it into £100 for
Hope & Homes for
Children (a Wiltshire
based charity with a
global vision).
Here at
Marlborough, we
recognise that we
form a privileged
community and that
privilege entails
responsibility.
Springing from our
Anglican tradition
and our declared
commitment to
compassion, our
pupils are asked to look
beyond Marlborough and to understand their responsibilities to
broader communities.
MR R D A LAMONT, HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL
Dr Chris Stevens, Second Master designate
LIKE MANY CAREERS, I suspect, mine has an air of
inevitability in retrospect but I can honestly say
that I did not truly realise I had found my
vocation until I had been teaching on and off for
some twelve years. After leaving Tonbridge, gap
terms at Brambletye, a year as an English assistant
in Italy, eight years’ part time work in Sussex and
in Normandy for Ashdown House and extensive
university tutoring had punctuated
undergraduate and postgraduate studies in
Cambridge and Oxford. Looking back, I was
rather slow to realise that I was enjoying teaching
more than research, although I had certainly
never found it easy to walk past matches in the
Parks, whilst making my way to my Italian
renaissance manuscripts in the Bodleian!
My ‘formal’ school mastering began when I
came to Uppingham in my late twenties and
found myself called upon to contribute across the
whole range of my expertise and enthusiasms.
The highlight has been the opportunity to help
the boys in my boarding House through the trials
and joys of burgeoning adulthood.
Moving to Marlborough with my wife and three
young girls is a wonderful opportunity to help
shape the development of a school which I have
admired for some time. Having worked in
institutions that have sent pupils to, competed
against and received pupils from Marlborough,
I am very much looking forward to joining the
College community and witnessing at first hand
the fine qualities that I associate with its members.
5
OM Clergy
Remembering
Andrew
ANDREW CROMPTON (C3 1977-81) is
remembered as a brilliant scholar and classicist
during his time at Marlborough and was on
course to achieve a First Class Honours degree
at Balliol College, Oxford. Classics beak Clare
Russell, who taught Andrew, recalls: “Andrew
was the very best Classics student I ever had in
all my teaching career. He had great humility
about his talents – I still remember him and
mourn his loss to the world.”
Marlborough also instilled a love of climbing
and mountaineering in Andrew, a pursuit
which continued at university. However,
Andrew tragically slipped and fell to his death
whilst attempting to climb the Eiger in 1985,
aged only 21. This was just a few months
before completing his degree.
Andrew’s mother, Mrs Daphne Crompton,
very generously supported the construction of
the new Heywood Building, where a classroom
is to be named after Andrew and a photograph
and plaque, with a short biography, will be
erected in his honour.
Mrs Crompton explained that whilst
Andrew was not a huge fan of sports, he loved
climbing and also his time at Marlborough
College – a place she too loved as a parent. In
recognition of this, Mrs Crompton plans to
support the College further by helping with
the refurbishment of the climbing wall in the
Kempson Centre – a fitting legacy to Andrew.
“It gives me great pleasure to do something
for the school in Andrew’s name. I remember
fondly coming down at weekends to see him
and walking down the High Street together.
As a family we fell in love with Marlborough
on our first visit and so thoroughly enjoyed
our time there.
“It seems fitting to support the school, to
commemorate Andrew’s experience, as this will
ensure he is remembered for a long time to
come. I am so glad he is being remembered as
he gave a lot of pleasure to a lot of people,”
said Mrs Crompton.
6
THE FIRST OM CLERGY CONFERENCE held on Saturday, 19th March 2011
began with a service of Holy Communion in Chapel, addressed by the Rt Revd
Tom Butler, formerly Bishop of Southwark and now Bishop in Residence in the
College for this year. He spoke eloquently about the contribution a school like
Marlborough can make to the life of the wider society.
After coffee, The Revd Douglas Dales spoke about Christian education, its
nature and scope, as well as some of the challenges it faces in the current
educational and social climate. The current exhibition of photographs by
pupils of the valuable collection of old Bibles that the College possesses
provided an ideal backdrop to the pre-lunch reception in the Mount House.
Later, the Venerable Luke Miller, Archdeacon of Hampstead, and until
recently vicar of St Mary’s Tottenham, spoke in a vivacious manner about his
18 years ministry in a multi-racial area in London and of rapid social change.
He painted a very encouraging and inspiring picture of the growth of the
church there and paid tribute to the long and fruitful friendship with the
College. The occasion closed with a quiet service of evening prayer, basking
in the evening light that filled the Chapel.
THE REVD DOUGLAS DALES, COLLEGE CHAPLAIN
Charitable Funds
THE MARLBURIAN CLUB’S CHARITABLE FUNDS exist to assist OMs in various
circumstances and highlight how the Club is able to serve its members in the
areas below:
1. Assistance with College fees: Assistance may be made available to
ensure that, when OMs with children at Marlborough encounter some
unexpected severe hardship (sudden redundancy, severe illness or death),
their children can complete their education at the College.
2. Assistance with professional training expenses: Nowadays, more students
are studying for postgraduate qualifications which often involve periods of
study abroad. The Trustees have assisted OMs training to be doctors with
some of the costs of medical elective studies overseas and, recently, a
talented music graduate who had shown great initiative and determination
in his fund-raising was given a grant to enable him to undertake specialist
training abroad.
3. Assistance with gap-year plans: Pupils are invited each year to apply for
grants to help them, in their gap year, to undertake schemes which involve
an element of service to those less privileged than themselves. About
£5,000 is made available each year for this purpose (typical grants
averaging about £400), funds come from an endowment made by Judge
Edwin Konstam (LI 1884-87).
4. Constructive emergency assistance: Help is occasionally given to OMs
who fall on hard times and are in need of short-term help in order to get
them back on their feet. Such assistance is usually given in the form of a
one-off ex gratia payment for some very specific purpose.
Beyond the categories of personal grants listed above, the Club has been able
to give considerable financial help to the College, as a charity, making it
possible to undertake capital improvements which would otherwise have
been beyond its means. A recent example was the building of the Sixth Form
Social Centre known as the Marlburian Club.
MR T E ROGERS, MCCF ADMINISTRATOR
‘It takes courage and commitment’
SPORT IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE and it transcends all age
groups at Marlborough College. That language is better
understood with good leadership amongst the pupils. There are
a wide and varied number of activities that help develop a
pupil’s initiative and decision-making. Opportunities for
leadership are readily available in team sports where captaincy
of one’s peers and friends can create difficult decisions on and
off the pitch. A young leader needs to show courage in order to
get his team to interact to achieve a common goal and, in
doing so, earn respect. Leaving the captain to give the teamtalk at half time rather than the coach gives him or her a
decision-making and motivational experience.
Young leaders are identified and moulded at the College but it
is important that they are also encouraged to bring their own
personality and qualities to the job rather than try and be
someone they are not. Such qualities can be seen amongst the
Sixth Form on a Wednesday afternoon through coaching and
organising the Yearlings during Shell Circus. Physical Education
lessons with the Shell and Remove include a block of work on
Leadership and Team Building where a class of mixed ability
have to overcome some challenging tasks including ‘The Wall’;
leadership is necessary and prevalent throughout. Leadership
may not be just the role of the captain. Senior players, the pack
leader, the hockey goalkeeper also have important
responsibilities in helping to direct the team.
Uzair Qureshi, Senior Prefect in the Michaelmas Term, will
Personal Reflections
IN NOVEMBER 2010, after having completed the IB in
Swaziland, we applied for the exchange programme between
Marlborough College and our school, Waterford Kamhlaba
UWCSA. Soon after this, the Master invited us to join
Marlborough for six months of our gap year as Waterford
Rosedale Scholars.
Living thousands of miles away, we had no idea what to
expect at Marlborough, except for the inevitable cold
weather! Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed into
Cotton House where the pastoral care has been exceptional.
Marlborough has succeeded in making a large school feel like
a home where its students are incredibly well looked after.
be entering his second
full year as Captain of
the Cricket XI having
taken up the duties
towards the end of the
2008 season whilst he
was in the Hundreds.
Tactical knowledge and
communication skills are
crucial aspects for a
cricket captain and he is
solely in charge out in
the middle when faced
with fielding and
bowling changes. It
involves dealing with a
pressurised environment where unselfishness, empathy,
patience, humour and enthusiasm are significant qualities. At
any one time a cricket captain has to be a tactician, motivator,
psychiatrist, actor, PR officer, diplomat, agricultural
consultant, father, and agony aunt.
The great American football coach Vince Lombardi
described sporting leadership as “the ability to direct people
but, more importantly, to have those people so directed accept
it” – quite a task for the captain of a Yearlings sports team.
MR N E BRIERS, DIRECTOR OF SPORT
We joined the Upper Sixth and took a mixture of several
classes ranging from Pre-U English to A-Level Politics. Within
the first few weeks we soon realised the sheer amount of
opportunities available. We had seen an RSC performance of
‘King Lear’, our first ever Shakespeare production, played in
several lacrosse matches and heard Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles
comment on the situation in Afghanistan amongst a torrent of
other activities.
Marlborough days are always full and adjusting to evening
classes as well as Saturday school was difficult at first. However,
we soon realised how much we were learning not only from the
talented staff but from the students as well. Marlborough strives
to encourage its students to reach their full potential. This is
achieved through giving the students the tools they need in
order to find the right answers themselves.
Furthermore, we have seen incredibly multi-talented
Marlburians shift effortlessly from the classroom to the sports
field to music recitals. This has encouraged us to broaden our
own skill set by trying new things, such as fives and mountain
biking. The unusually long Lent Term has tested our southern
hemisphere stamina, making our experience at Marlborough
undoubtedly challenging but nonetheless fulfilling and
extremely exciting.
LIZETTE DOS SANTOS & SARAH NODDER (CO 2011),
WATERFORD ROSEDALE SCHOLARS
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Lt General Sir John Kiszely (OM) and
current Sixth Former (and Army
Scholarship winner) Sarah Morris on
the CCF, Army and life at Marlborough.
Then & Now
Lt General Sir John Kiszely KCB MC DL (B2 1962-66)
HAVING RECENTLY RETIRED from the Army, I look back on
my time at Marlborough with fondness, gratitude,
inspiration and amusement. My life in uniform started in a
modest way – playing a side-drum in the CCF band. How
come? Well, the CCF was, I think,
compulsory; I was an enthusiastic
member of the College orchestra; the
band had a good reputation; and all
my contemporaries in the orchestra
decided to join up. There being
limited demand in a marching band
for my instrument – the double bass
– I took a vacancy for unskilled
labour in the percussion section.
The rest is history.
I am not sure that my CCF experience played an entirely
decisive role in my decision to join the Army, but certain
aspects may have had their subliminal influence. The band
(percussion section apart) was a jewel; and we took great
pride in its high standard and the teamwork that
contributed to its success. We also participated as
individuals in wider CCF activities – training exercises,
physical challenges, Corps camp and, memorably, visits to
Army regiments around Salisbury Plain: an eye-opener to
an impressive institution and an exciting profession.
Marlborough encouraged enthusiasm and accepting a
challenge, in whatever sphere, and placed considerable – in
retrospect, remarkable – responsibility and leadership
demands on the shoulders of its pupils, whether as a prefect,
Head of House, captain of a sports team or leader of some
other extra-curricular activity such as the CCF. I found that
inspiring; it certainly influenced my decision to join the Army,
and my readiness to assume greater responsibility within it.
There are, and always have been, a significant number of
OMs in the military profession, and notably successful
within it, too. In my experience, most of them have one
thing in common – a mark that Marlborough has left on
them, perhaps a reflection of the ethos of the College itself.
It may be rose-tinted spectacles, but in my view it is that
they are blessed with admirable and justifiable selfconfidence without it straying into arrogance. It is a rarer
quality than it deserves to be. And if that is, indeed, the
ethos and influence of Marlborough, long may it continue.
8
Sarah Morris (MM U6)
HAVING ALWAYS BEEN a tomboy and enjoying a love of the
outdoors, it is no wonder the CCF attracted me in my
Remove year. Always one to challenge myself, I relished the
idea of joining in with assault courses and midnight
expeditions on Salisbury Plain.
The CCF offers so many opportunities; I will never forget
our crack team of girls for the ‘Penhale Challenge’ in the
Hundreds; this assault course was a real test of physical
endurance; just finishing made us all so proud of our efforts,
which led to us winning the trophy!
The Sennybridge Camp is infamous and dreadful tales
had been passed down by older cadets of enormous blisters,
dreadful living conditions and lack of sleep. In some cases,
these were not tall tales, but truths; but being a group and
getting over these hurdles together made this experience
one of the best for personal development.
In the Lower Sixth a small group of cadets had the chance
to go to Gibraltar. This week-long experience was eyeopening. We were introduced to the Royal Navy
Contingent, shown their bomb-disposal unit and were also
given a high-speed introduction to the new SBS powerboats!
I decided I would like to join the Army in the Hundreds,
opting for the Sixth Form Scholarship that would take place
that April. Having completed all the necessary interviews I
was then selected for Westbury – a two-day intensive mix of
academic and physical testing. I heard a few days afterwards
that I had been awarded an Army Scholarship and a place at
Sandhurst. It is through the CCF that I have been
introduced to military life and practice, made some great
friends and had experiences I will never forget.