Ardingly
Annals
2015
ARDINGLY annals 2013
CONTENTS
The Editorial Team
Headmaster
Ben Figgis
Editor
Paul Ryan
Photography
‘The Ardingly Paparazzi’
Design and Production
www.mercerdesign.co.uk
ARDINGLY annals 2015
3
EDITORIAL
5
RESULTS
16
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
34
THE ARTS
40
CHAPLAINCY
44
TRIPS & SOCIETIES
52
ACTIVITIES & SERVICE
60
HOUSE REPORTS
74
VALETE
100
SPORT
140
ARDINGLY SOCIETY
1
EDITORIAL
Because every effort is made to ensure that
the Annals is printed, ready for distribution
at Commem, the vast majority of articles
need to be written by the start of the Trinity
Term. It doesn’t work quite like that, of
course – for the first week or so of that term,
certain members of the teaching staff hide
around corners when they see the editor
approaching, for fear that he will remind
them once again of articles that need to be
submitted. This game of cat and mouse can
become wearisome and, contrary to the
general feeling in the Common Room, the
editor doesn’t actually enjoy the nagging.
People are, as a rule, very happy to write
about what they and their pupils have been
doing around the College and further afield.
It would be odd not to be proud of what
we achieve corporately, and in the pages
that follow this, there are reports of a huge
amount of which to be proud. Inevitably, the
biggest news headlines over the course of the
year have gone to our sports teams and their
exceptional run of success across a broad
sweep of disciplines, but there have been
individual and collective successes in myriad
areas of College life, and much to celebrate.
The reason for the persistent badgering of
colleagues is, of course, because they are
very busy. An establishment like Ardingly is
not just somewhere that lessons are taught
from 9am until 3pm; this does happen, of
course (and long after 3pm, too), but those
people who teach so successfully are also
the coaches who lead first teams to national
victory in the ISFA Boodles Cup, and to
county success for Sussex Hockey. They
are, however, also the people who coach
Under 14 C and D teams, people who will
never lift the really prized trophies but
whose enjoyment of the game is as great
as anybody else’s. They might also be the
people who conduct orchestras and choirs,
who mentor students as they work on their
creative writing, who help budding artists
paint or sculpt new works, who stand back
and don’t interfere as nascent playwrights
devise and perform new drama pieces of
their own, who train CCF cadets, or who
assist students in countless other ways
that, though they might not be assessed by
examination boards, truly make Ardingly the
exciting place it is to work and study. They
need to be reminded to submit their articles
because they are too busy actually getting on
with doing rather than reporting.
ARDINGLY annals 2015
And so there is much going on at the
College, and the following hundred or so
pages will give some detail about much
of it. What they can’t do, though, is tell a
full story of the College as felt by any of
its members. The generic Remove student
who does reasonably well at her work
and sings quietly in Choir, plays Hockey
enthusiastically but not particularly well, and
enjoys doing a bit of tribal dancing during
ArtsFest; her name may well not feature in
this publication, but her contribution as a
member of the College community could
be every bit as important as that of a First
team captain, particularly if she is a good
and loyal friend who listens to and simply
spends time with others who are in need.
It is to recognize such people, and their
quiet contribution to the College, that the
Pelican Award was instituted two years ago.
Though their contribution is less public and
therefore less obviously celebrated in such
publications as this, they are no less valued.
Speaking of valued people, as Commem
comes around, so we see a number of our
community leave Ardingly. Inevitably, the
Upper VI move on, and we wish them
every success as their journeys continue
beyond our gates. And in addition, quite a
few support and teaching staff also move
on. It can be uncomfortable to see that the
number of teachers leaving us is in double
figures but, as a dynamic community, we
would worry if people didn’t move on. And
of those leaving in the course of the year,
three are moving on to Deputy Headships,
and two more to Assistant Head positions,
and others are moving on to be Head of
Department in other schools, or simply
moving on for other good reasons. In
addition, sadly, Maureen McDonnell, the
longest-serving member of the Common
Room, fell ill earlier in the year; though we
all hoped and prayed for her recovery and
return, it was not to be, and she died during
the Easter vacation. Requiescat in Pace. We
are glad of and grateful for the contribution
made by Maureen, and indeed by all these
people while here, and look forward to the
future with excitement.
It is good for the Headmaster, after a year
here, to be able to appoint more of his own
staff, and to start to put his own plans into
action. It is a long time since the College
had no construction work going on; at the
time of writing, the second All Weather
Pitch is nearing completion, and it seems
very likely that, this time next year, the
Science Block will be in the midst of some
serious renovation. The next year or so will
also see significant changes in curriculum,
with the advent of the new GCSEs and A
Levels. With a new Head of Middle School,
and new heads of four departments starting
in September, things are certainly not
standing still on the academic front. Nor
are they elsewhere; with the appointment
of a new Director of Marketing, and
Housemaster in Hilton, as well as the
creation of the post of Head of Boarding,
after a year in post, Ben Figgis is certainly
putting his own stamp on the strategic
direction in which the College is heading.
On Maundy Thursday, the Church recalls
the disciples celebrating the Passover with
Jesus, shortly before his betrayal. While
preparing for the meal, Jesus astonishes
his disciples by washing their feet. Showing
humility as he served them, he said ‘A new
commandment I give unto you, that you love
one another as I have loved you’. As much
of the copy for this edition of the Annals
was being gathered, the General Election
was fast approaching, and all the major
parties were vying with each other for our
votes, largely with promises of how much
more money they would spend on necessary
services, whilst somehow taking less in
tax. They were all trying to appeal to our
baser instincts in the hope of winning our
loyalty afterwards. In the news, meanwhile,
was the terrible devastation wrought by the
earthquake in Nepal. It is ironic that one of
the trips planned to replace the Ardingly in
Africa expeditions following the difficulties
in that continent, is to visit the Himalayas,
and to work with and for the people in a
remote village in that region. It is regrettable
that, for obvious reasons, it does not seem to
be safe for the trip to go ahead as originally
planned, but the intention is there to go to
some other place in the region, and to work
for others who do not share our privileged
lifestyle. And it is this collegiate spirit, be it
in the Himalayas, The Gambia, or even on
our own doorstep, that makes Ardingly the
community it is.
Beati Mundo Corde
3
RESULTS
ARDINGLY annals 2015
5
UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS OF THE 2014 LEAVERS
UK
OVERSEAS
Bath Spa Charlotte Makepeace
Leeds Metropolitan
Sam Adams
Oxford Brookes
Nikolai Dmitriev
Barcelona
Ramon Forn
Brighton Ross Vasani
Johnny Lee
Liverpool Hope
Kate Jones
Plymouth
Hannah Brand
Ella Trevelyan
Steph Bland
Dalhousie
Lucas Peixoto
Bristol
Poppy Madaras Smith
Tom Badger
Buckingham
Tin Chon
Cardiff
William Godfrey
Emma Donald
Durham
Matthew Bishop
East Anglia
Thomas Storer
Edinburgh
Abigail Hosier
Louis Maret
Sophie Sutherland
Daniel Wydra
Emmanuelle Dahan
Exeter
Oscar Baker
Emma Elgee
Louisa Fink
Jonathan Jacoby
Georgia Kinahan
Ryan Tin
Pippa Whitehouse
Mitchell Wong
Emily Andrews
Lampeter
Edmund Claoue
Leeds
Kendal Moir
London: Goldsmiths
Paula Weber
Francis Pilgrim
London: KCL
Patrick Cook
Dario Giner Garcia
Michael Holmes
Philipp Uebis
Abbie Bosiger
London: LSE
Vin Cheah
London: SOAS
Katrina Marina
London: UCL
Garm Chi Ho
Kateryna Karpenko
Oliver Altman
Manchester
Ed Christmas
Anna Urquhart
Manchester Metropolitan
Justin Kreule
Eva Child
Newcastle
Seb Masters
Oliver Wilson
Nicola Jackman
Nottingham
Chi Shum Sam Ng
Ellie Gordon
Oxford
Ann-Kathrin Henning
Amelia Elwin
Portsmouth
Timi Ademulegun
Reading
Poppy Durkan
Royal Holloway
Thomas Gibbens
Victoria Nambi
Chin Chan
Sheffield Hallam Jack Haydon
Southampton
Thomas O’Dell
Imogen Smith
Charlie Southwood
Laurence Haines
Sussex
Lizzie Gough
UWE
Thomas Medlicott
Warwick
Nikki Miller
Westminster
Sergej Radovic
Amanda Chan
Art Foundation
Phoebe Hardwick
Drama School
Marcus Monsell
Drexel
Rose Grieve
Duke
Jules Frost
Germany
Daniel Frank
HKU
Tsz Yan Sharon Chan
HKUST
Yan Shun Kan
Han Kin Kwok
Institute Margoni
Siena Hutchinson
James Madison
Jack Floydd
LETAS
Max Bennett
Leuven
Leon Van den Avenue
Melbourne
Natasha Lankester
Munich
Richard Deyhle
NYU
Jessica Francis
Alma Pannier
Shannon Joshua Jones
Toronto
Anne- Sophie Guislain
Harriet Köttering
Zagreb
Jennifer Forster
6
ARDINGLY annals 2015
EXCELLENT EXAMINATION RESULTS
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
38 or more points
41
Ann-Kathrin Henning
Louis Maret
39
Vin Cheah
Roselyne Grieve
Philipp Uebis
38
Abigail Bosiger
Jennifer Forster
Juliet Frost
A LEVELS
Three or more As and A*s
5
Justin Ho Jonathan Lee A* in Biology, Chinese and Mathematics and A in Chemistry and Physics
A* in Mathematics, and Physics and A in Biology, Chemistry, and Chinese
4
Dario Giner Garcia
A* in History and Spanish and A in Economics and French
3
Oliver Altman Matthew Bishop Hazel Chon Patrick Cook Emma Elgee Thomas Gibbens Eleanor Gordon Jonathan Jacoby Kateryna Marina Nicola Miller Mitchell Wong A* in Mathematics and A in Further Mathematics and Physics
A in Business Studies, Economics, and Psychology
A* in Mathematics and A in Chemistry and Chinese
A in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
A* in English and Religious Studies and A in History
A in Economics, History, and Religious Studies
A in Business Studies, English, and Psychology
A* in Economics and German and A in Mathematics
A* in Russian and A in English and History
A* in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics
A in Chemistry, Chinese, and Mathematics
ARDINGLY annals 2015
7
GCSE
Ten or more A* and A grades
8
12
Milo Thursfield
Miguel Rodriguez Ruiz
11 A* and 1 A
10 A* and 2 A
11
Anna Elwin
Madeleine Moore
Cameron Millar
Louis Evans
Svenja Landwehr
Natasha Walker
Laura Rodemer-Bernardo
William Castle
Eleanor Haines
11 A*
11 A*
9 A* and 2 A
8 A* and 3 A
8 A* and 3 A
8 A* and 3 A
7 A* and 4 A
6 A* and 5 A
4 A* and 7 A
10
Sophie Coles
Jasmine Hay
Sophie Belcher
Joseph Cass
Charlotte Childs
Florence Ertl
Alexander Hodgins
George Southgate
William Ward
Katharine Hughes
Ka Chun Lai
Samuel Cutler
Harriet Lindsay-Stewart
Zara Shams
Ellen Eade
10 A*
10 A*
9 A* and 1 A
9 A* and 1 A
9 A* and 1 A
9 A* and 1 A
8 A* and 2 A
7 A* and 3 A
7 A* and 3 A
6 A* and 4 A
6 A* and 4 A
4 A* and 6 A
4 A* and 6 A
4 A* and 6 A
3 A* and 7 A
ARDINGLY annals 2015
MUSIC EXAMINATIONS
GRADE VIII
Alice Ertl
Simon Walton
Amelia Elwin
Grace Wood
Jack Waller
Orla Badger
Anthony Yiu
Cello, with Distinction
Violin, with Distinction
Singing, with Merit
Violin, with Merit
Violin, with Merit
Flute
Piano, with Distinction
OTHER DISTINCTIONS
Tom Hopson
Alice Ertl
Eleanor Haines
Laura Crooks
Luke Smith
Patrick Moore
Thomas Hindle
Emilie Robinson
ARDINGLY annals 2015
Grade 7 Flute
Grade 5 Organ
Grade 5 Singing
Grade 5 Trombone
Grade 4 Drum Kit
Grade 2 Drum Kit
Grade 2 Drum Kit
Grade 1 Flute
9
DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARDS
GOLD
SILVER
Tim Price
Caitlin Bateman-Champain
Jesse Lee
Molly Adam
Eleanor Haines
Francesca Sprules
Ferdinand Boucher
Sam Guerard
Isabelle Price
Luke Smith
and the following recent leavers:
Georgia Long
Georgina Barry
Will Hand
Charlie Southwood
10
and the following recent leavers:
James Harvey
Joshua Jones
Cameron Millar
Kieran Mulligan
ARDINGLY annals 2015
PREFECTS, SACRISTANS & CAPTAINS 2014-15
Head Boy: James Price
Head Girl: Jessica Van Droogenbroeck
Deputy Head Boy: Ed Jobling
Deputy Head Girl: Michaela Green
Senior Sacristans: Sam Cunningham, Maxine Higenyi
Prefects: Harry Ames, Caitlin Bateman-Champain, Alexi Demetriadi, Alice Harvey,
Sammi Jackman, Ashleigh John, Ben Kay, Jesse Lee, Franziska Lordick, Benedict McConnell,
Lewis O’Shea, Grace Pangrazi, Tim Price, Luka Reisch, Cara Rocks, Carlos Sandin, Fergus Wood
HEADS OF HOUSE
Aberdeen: Ashley Johnston
Crosse: Joe Cass and Matt Price
Hilton: Sam Cutler
Mertens: Jake Freeman and Ben Ernst
Neal: Megan Fudge
Rhodes: Joe Copp
Toynbee: Holly Hill
Woodard Boys: Ties Lind
Woodard Girls: Promise Joshua
SPORTS CAPTAINS
(Easter 2014 – Easter 2015)
Cricket: Ross Vasani
Boys’ Tennis: Will Godfrey
Girls’ Tennis: Maren Hegger
Sailing: Philip Binns
Football: Alex Summerfield
Girls’ Hockey: Cara Rocks
Boys’ Hockey: Alex Waters
Netball: Tiah Mason-Windett
Basketball: Miguel Rodriguez-Ruiz
Cross Country: Sean Pontikos
Rugby: Fergus Wood
Fencing: Josh Hardy
ARDINGLY annals 2015
11
SCHOOL COLOURS AWARDED 2014-15
Academic (Full)
Eloise Alikhani
Jasmin Atkins
Philip Binns
Franziska Lordick
Benedict McConnell
Constantin Mueller
Lewis O’Shea
Matt Price
Tim Price
Ella Rainbird-Earley
Luka Reisch
Jon Shoesmith
Milo Thursfield
Kasper Verkammen
Aubrie Willifer
Academic (Half)
Harry Ames
Sophie Belcher
Ciara Branagan
Rebecca Chee
Sophie Coles
Anna Elwin
Florence Ertl
Jasmine Fu
Jasmine Hay
Maxine Higenyi
Thomas Hindle
Rebecca Holmes
Adam Housby
Svenja Landwehr
Chris Lau
Maggie Lee
Michael Makepeace
Cameron Millar
Madeleine Moore
Patrick Moore
James Price
James Ritchie
Theresa Saacke
George Southgate
Emily Spiers
Johannes Studier-Fischer
Andrew Telford
Jessica Van Droogenbroeck
Grace Wood
12
Culture (Full)
Edward Jobling
Franziska Lordick
Sean Pontikos
Tim Price
Ella Rainbird-Earley
Carlos Sandin
Culture (Half)
Will Castle
Anna Elwin
Florence Ertl
Michaela Green
Ellie Haines
Maxine Higenyi
Sammi Jackman
Benedict McConnell
Cameron McEwen
James Percy
Grace Wood
Sacristan (Full)
Sam Cunningham
Alexi Demetriadi
Jake Freeman
Maxine Higenyi
Thomas Hindle
Sammi Jackman
Patrick Moore
Maxwell Pierce
Polina Popova
James Ritchie
Sacristan (Half)
Toby Brann
Edward Draycott
Henry Gould
Eleanor Haines
Patrick Jacobs
Alexandra Kwiatkowska
Patrick O’Brien
Francesca Sprules
Eamon Tamimi
Andrew Telford
Thomas Tweedie-Smith
Harry Ward
Service (Full)
Caitlin Bateman-Champain
Luka Reisch
Carlos Sandin
Service (Half)
Sam Cutler
Alexi Demetriadi
Sophia Fossali
Edward Jobling
Ben Kay
Grace Pangrazi
ARDINGLY annals 2015
Sport (Full - Basketball)
Preston Ng
Adam O’Dell
Miguel Rodriguez Ruiz
Sport (Full - Fencing)
Katharine Hughes
Sport (Full – Football and Hockey) Matt Price
George Southgate
Sport (Full – Football and Rugby)
Fergus Wood
Sport (Full - Football)
Jonah Adomakoh
David Bonilla Rasmusson
Toby Cassidy
Louis Evans
Oscar Haynes Brown
Chris Holman
Michael Makepeace
Oscar McConnell
Conor Meegan
Matt Penfold
Alex Summerfield
Teddy West
Sport (Full – Hockey and Netball) Cara Rocks
Sport (Full - Hockey)
Charlotte Childs
Tim Finnerty
Alexa Morgan
Tim Price
Alex Waters
Sport (Full - Netball)
Tiah Mason-Windett
Bethany Tyson
Sport (Half - Basketball)
Nikki Lam
William Tam
Sport (Half - Cricket)
Sam Rattle
Harry Rollings
Sport (Half - Fencing)
Michael Awang
Oli Clark-McCullagh
Josh Hardy
Maxwell Pierce
Polina Popova
ARDINGLY annals 2015
Sport (Half - Football)
Dominic Adomakoh
Eddie Davis
Louis Evans
Giles Gill
Oliver Pleasants
William Smith
Sport (Half - Hockey)
Toby Ayre
Ciara Branagan
Rebecca Chee
Sophie Coles
Louis Evans
Alex Hodgins
Hannah Kohli
Michael Makepeace
Immy Waters
Phoebe Workman
Sport (Half - Netball)
Alice Burke
Charlotte Childs
Sammi Jackman
Sport (Half – Rugby and Basketball) Paul Bortnowski
Sport (Half - Rugby)
Jesse Lee
Andy Mackay
Viktor Nave
Lewis O’Shea
Carlos Sandin
Sport (Half – Running and Triathlon) Florence Ertl
Sport (Half - Running)
Sean Pontikos
James Price
Andrew Telford
13
‘EAT OUT, EAT WELL’ GOLD AWARD
Ardingly College has become the first organisation in Mid Sussex to be presented with an ‘Eat Out,
Eat Well’ Gold Award for providing a wide choice of healthy meals.
Launched in 2014, the scheme exists to ensure that people have healthy and nutritious meal options,
whether they are eating out, buying a takeaway or having lunch at work.
Ardingly College Catering Department is delighted to be the first recipient of this Gold Award for
the Eat Out, Eat Well scheme. ‘Dining at Ardingly’ work tirelessly to ensure the food that is provided
is nutritionally balanced and reduced in sugar and salt. When preparing meals, catering staff ensure
that meat is grilled rather than fried, vegetables are steamed to retain vitamins and dressing is not
automatically added to salad. The result is delicious and nutritionally balanced meals like Grilled
Salmon with Couscous, Sweet Chilli Pork and Sweet Potato, Babycorn and Spinach Curry.
As well as constantly reviewing cooking methods and recipes, the Department also provides detailed
allergy information as well as nutritional information to help customers with food allergies and
people with conditions, such as diabetes, to make the right menu choices.
Mid Sussex District Council is taking part in the Eat Out, Eat Well scheme to promote better
nutrition and to increase the number of healthier food choices available to local residents. The free
award is open to every food business that caters for the public and will be assessed and managed in
Mid Sussex by the Council’s food hygiene inspectors.
14
ARDINGLY annals 2015
ARDINGLY annals 2015
15
DEPARTMENTAL
REPORTS
16
ARDINGLY annals 2015
ENGLISH
This has been a year of change in the English Department. 2014 saw
the departure of four English teachers: Andy Smith, Cat Ward, Ed
Poynter, and Alix Scott-Martin; and the arrival of five new members
of the Department: Rebecca Allen joined Ardingly from the British
Museum; James Hope from Dartford Grammar School; Simon
Stubbs from Internationella Engelska Skolan, Täby, Sweden; Sarah
McLarin from Caterham; and Louise Porter from Sevenoaks. Louise
Porter is also Second-in-Department. Jennifer O’Neill taught in the
Department in the Trinity Term, and then went on maternity leave.
THEATRE TRIPS
One of the great pleasures of being a student of English is that you
get to go to the theatre a lot. And if we have a chance, we try our
utmost to take students to see productions of the plays they are
studying. This year, Shell students went to see a stage production
of The Woman in Black at the Theatre Royal in Brighton. This trip
was perfectly timed to coincide with students completing their
study of the novel in class, during which they had practised writing
in an atmospheric style and shot their own scary film trailers. The
atmosphere at the theatre was appropriately dramatic, and all present
agreed that the nail-biting production was the perfect balance of fun
and frightening: a ghostly woman floating through the audience, a
closed door opening suddenly and unexpectedly, an empty rocking
chair, and the eerie feeling of abandoned Eel Marsh House are
powerful memories of an excellent evening in the Theatre. English
staff accompanying the trip found it quite difficult to sleep that night
– but Shell students, I was told, were much tougher than that.
There was a Sixth Form trip to see Middleton’s The Changeling at
the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, with Hattie Morahan as Beatrice
and Trystan Gravelle as DeFlores. The production was entirely
lit by candles and in period costume, allowing students to get
an authentic feeling of a seventeenth-century indoor playhouse.
The Changeling’s disturbing, violent, and sardonic grandeur were
beautifully accentuated by the interplay of light and darkness, and the
production felt Caravaggesque on occasions. What stood out most,
however, was Middleton’s grotesque stage humour, which only fully
comes to light when the play is experienced in performance.
The Shakespeare Society organised a trip to see the RSC
production of Henry IV, Part Two, at the Barbican, one of
Shakespeare’s less frequently performed plays. Jemima Christie
and Julia Mannes had given an introductory lecture on the text to
the Shakespeare Society, so students went well prepared. Anthony
Sher was outstanding as Falstaff, and students particularly
enjoyed the performance of Oliver Ford Davies as Justice Shallow,
knowing that, only a few weeks later, they would be able to quiz
him on his role at the Ardingly Shakespeare Conference.
On 13th May, Mrs Porter took her Shell English class to see
the National Theatre’s acclaimed production of The Curious
Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Having studied the novel
by Mark Haddon in the Michaelmas Term, this theatre trip was
an end-of-year treat; the group was impressed and moved by the
imaginative and stunning staging of the protagonist Christopher’s
autistic mind.
Forthcoming theatre trips include a Lower Sixth trip to see The
Merchant of Venice, starring Jonathan Pryce and his daughter, at
the Globe Theatre in London. Judging by the reviews, this should
be a real treat.
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT EVENTS
The ‘season of mist and mellow fruitfulness’ was very much a time
for Poetry in the English Department! There was the National
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17
runners-up, Mr Savage and Miss Porter, whose heady and intoxicating
dancing display wowed all onlookers. I seem to remember that, as I
left the party, a well-dressed man in a white dinner-jacket leant over to
me and said, ‘What a roaring success, old sport!’
On 4th November, all A2 English Literature students were escorted
by Mrs Porter, Mr Hope and Mrs McLarin to the British Library’s
ground-breaking exhibition, Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination.
They participated in a workshop in the exhibition itself that
highlighted the history of the genre and how it continues to resonate;
as Angela Carter stated, ‘We live in Gothic times’. All students will
take their final English examination on Elements of the Gothic in
the summer and this exhibition has proven invaluable throughout
the year, in preparation for this. Favourite exhibits were a Victorian
vampire slayers’ kit, a copy of The Yellow Book referenced in The
Picture of Dorian Gray and pages from Mary Shelley’s manuscript of
Frankenstein. The group finished the evening with a civilised meal out
together, overlooking the Gothic architecture of St Pancras Station.
Poetry Day, which saw the College’s walls plastered with favourite
poems, many on the theme of Memory, and students bursting into
classrooms unannounced, disrupting lessons for a few minutes to
read out a poem of their choice – just to remind everyone about
what’s really important. There was also a recitation competition.
Students memorised poems of their choice, and the best were
selected to perform in front of a panel of judges, which included the
Headmaster, Father David, and Head of English, Markus Klinge.
The standard was exceptional, but in the end Luca Williams was
selected as the 2014 winner for his recitation of a very imaginative
and touching poem written by his friend.
As part of the Word War One Commemoration Week, there was
a poetry reading on 16th September, with powerful and moving
renderings of poems by Owen, Sassoon, and many others; the
commemorations also included some readings of anti-German and antiEnglish propaganda poems, just to remind students that, while some
poets captured the horror and pointlessness of the war in haunting
words, others were guilty of inciting hatred and vicious nationalist
fervour; among these some very illustrious writers on both sides.
In October 2014, sixteen creative writers spent five days on an Arvon
creative writing course at Lumb Bank, Ted Hughes’s Yorkshire
farmhouse. This excellent and highly-acclaimed course was led by
two published poets, Caroline Bird and Cliff Yates, and saw students
immerse themselves in intensive writing and workshopping sessions
each day, culminating in a performance of their poetry at the end
of the week. The course also featured an evening reading by one of
Britain’s foremost poets, Simon Armitage. The setting of the course,
close to Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire, was spectacular, and when
students weren’t writing they were walking, reading, playing the
piano, and cooking communal meals in the beautiful old farmhouse.
This was truly a week to remember, and we hope that it will be the
first of many Ardingly trips to Arvon.
The Great Gatsby is undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary texts
of American literature. Loved for its enigmatic, corrupt but also
strangely naïve and innocent central character, it is also famous for its
depiction of frivolously decadent and highly superficial society parties.
In an attempt to delve deeper into the spirit of the novel, Miss O’Neill
organised a dress-up Gatsby evening. It involved dressing up as your
favourite character from the novel, drinking (non-alcoholic) cocktails,
and learning how to Charleston. I will never forget the crazed and
frivolous, yet stylish dancing competition that followed the lesson. It
was won by James Percy and Zara Shams, whose 1920s cool on the
dancefloor was simply unsurpassed. Nor will I forget the unfortunate
18
A particular highlight of the Lent Term was the Fifth trip to Jane
Austen’s Cottage and to Chawton House, the home of her very
wealthy brother, in Hampshire. It was great to see where Jane Austen
lived, under what conditions she wrote, and where she revised Pride
and Prejudice for publication. You could even stand next to the (very
small) table on which she wrote. Students were treated to a lecture
on Jane Austen’s life, her family, and her works; they got to handle
real Regency objects mentioned in Pride and Prejudice, making it
much easier to visualise the finer details of Austen’s novel. For me,
however, the highlight of the trip was the Regency dance lesson in
full period costume. We had already arrived with a group of polite
and well-spoken Fifth Form students – but what a transformation
there was when they put on Regency tailcoats and Empire Line
gowns. And when they tried their hands (and feet) at an English
Country Dance, I am sure I heard someone say: ‘What a charming
amusement for young people this is, Mr Darcy! -- There is nothing
like dancing after all. -- I consider it as one of the first refinements of
polished societies.’
National Literacy Day on 5th March was celebrated in style this year
at Ardingly, with the English Department joining forces with the
Library to provide the School with an array of activities throughout
the day. The English Department organised a Harry Potter Reading
Relay in the Chapel, which involved reading Harry Potter and the
Philosopher’s Stone continuously, with staff members and students
taking the ‘baton’ for a fifteen minute slot. Teachers also surprised
their students by dressing up as characters from the infamous novels.
Student feedback tells us that they would love to do something
similar next year, as the event celebrated the importance and pleasure
in reading for recreation.
Ben Fowler, a PhD student from Warwick, visited the English
Department this year to give a lecture on Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda
Gabler. This seminal piece of European theatre forms part of the
Language and Literature course for three IB groups, all of whom
were invited to attend this enlightening lecture. Ben focused his talk
on putting the play in the context of the broader European theatrical
tradition, linking it to the works of writers as diverse as Brecht,
Chekhov, and Sarah Kane. The lecture was a great success, and gave
students a new understanding of how Ibsen has come to be seen as
the father of European realism.
On a not-so-balmy evening in May, intrepid staff, students, and
visitors braved the winds on the terrace to listen to performances of
poems featured in The Wonderful Bird. This year, Ardingly’s poetry
anthology featured the poems of the sixteen writers who attended
ARDINGLY annals 2015
the Arvon trip in Autumn 2014. It was a fabulous opportunity to
hear their work performed, and a fitting celebration of the creativity,
talent, humour, and style demonstrated by all the poets involved.
THE SHAKESPEARE CONFERENCE
March 2015 saw the third Ardingly Shakespeare Conference, entitled
‘Rule and Misrule’. It turned out to be an exceptional success. The
Shakespeare Society was delighted to welcome, as keynote speakers,
two of the UK’s greatest Shakespeare scholars. Professor Michael
Dobson is the Head of the Shakespeare Institute at StratfordUpon-Avon, and a towering figure in Shakespeare scholarship. He
treated students to a lecture entitled ‘Order and Disorder Across
Shakespeare’s Genres: Comedy, History, Tragedy, Misrule’. In an
engaging lecture, ranging widely across Shakespeare’s entire oeuvre,
he also presented some of his recent archival research, allowing
Ardingly students to be at the cutting edge of research. Emeritus
Professor Ann Thompson of KCL, longstanding convenor of King’s
College’s MA in Shakespeare Studies, offered a keynote address
entitled ‘‘You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said’: Have we
heard it all?’ in which she offered a close reading of Hamlet’s ‘To be
or not to be’ soliloquy. The purpose of her address was to disentangle
the speech from all the various myths that have come to surround it,
and to look at this famous soliloquy with new eyes. The third keynote
speaker was Robert Stagg, who is currently completing his PhD at
the University of Southampton. His address was highly engaging,
erudite, and energetically presented, and focussed on Shakespeare’s
use of the words ‘rule’ and ‘misrule’ in King Lear, Hamlet, Troilus and
Cressida, Macbeth, and Anthony and Cleopatra.
The three keynote speakers were joined later that day by the
distinguished Shakespearean actor Oliver Ford Davies. A long
standing member of the RSC, Mr Davies is a familiar figure
on television also, having appeared in numerous Shakespeare
adaptations, Star Wars, Games of Thrones, Jonny English, and
Midsummer Murders, etc. He is also the author of two books on
Shakespeare in Performance. Listening to his comments on creating
Shakespearean characters and on the various productions he had
starred in was highly enlightening and very entertaining. He also
talked about his current research project, centred on daughters in
Shakespeare, once again allowing Ardingly students access to current
trends in Shakespeare scholarship.
There were also nine paper panels scattered throughout the day,
allowing students and teachers to present their own research papers
on Shakespeare. There was a total of 72 papers in three concurrent
panel sessions. It was very nice to see so many students and teachers
approaching Shakespeare from an interdisciplinary perspective. There
were papers entitled: ‘‘Bard in the USSR’…. Looking at Shakespeare
in Russia during the Soviet period’, ‘‘Where Be His Quiddities
Now?‘ Shakespeare and the law.’ ‘Shakespeare and Medicine’,
‘Shakespeare on the Brain: Why Shakespeare lights up your brain in
an MRI scanner’, ‘Richard III and Joseph Stalin: separated at birth?’,
‘Shakespeare and Child Protection’, and many, many more.
Papers were offered by: Rebecca Allen, Christopher Ashcroft, Jasmin
Atkins, Michael Barbour, Arthur Barnard, Sophie Belcher, Emma
Blythe, Jane Blythe, Philippa Boltze, Jessica Butcher, Anna Burke,
Jo Caddick, Joe Cass, Jemima Christie, Sophie Coles, Anna Elwin,
Ludovica Ganni, Lucy Gonnella, Vanessa Gunn, Eleanor Haines,
Jessica Hatfield, James Hope, William Inglesfied, Jenny Kibazo and
Flo Warnholtz, Markus Klinge, Hannah Kohli, Olga Krasnenkova,
Illya Kvaratskheliya, Annie Lancaster, Justin Laleh, Father David
Lawrence-March, Danila Lazebnik, Anthony Lovat, Jake Lund,
Sarah MacLarin, Talia MacPherson, Daniel McLean, Julia Mannes,
Helene Meddings, Imogen Mellor, Patrick Minny, Max Moser,
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Madeleine Moore, Chris Parke, Emily Pite, James Percy, Louise
Porter, Becky Rogers, Tal Rosenbaum, Emily Roser, Richard Savage,
Catriona Schofield, Alix Scott-Martin, Zara Shams, Sam Sheridan,
Phil Stapleton, John Storey, Eamon Tamimi, Andrew Telford, Lewis
Thomas, Milo Thursfield, Sara Toth, Katrina Toner, Lavi Troiani and
Vicki Lee Domenech, Catherine Turner, Molly Walker, Katherine
Ward, Mark Watson, Will Ward, Grace Wood, and Simon Woodhall.
The Proceedings of the Shakespeare Conference will be published in
the Trinity Term.
INITIATIVES
The Trinity Term saw the launch of the Grammar Topic of the Week.
On Mondays every week, students receive an email about a specific
grammar topic, complete with explanations and examples, something
specific and grammatical to focus on for the remainder of the week
(and beyond). Topics so far have included: ‘less/fewer’, ‘number/
amount’, ‘Apostrophes’, ‘it’s/its’, ‘Commas in Relative Clauses’, ‘US
or UK’, ‘I or me’, ‘who or whom’. The English Department has also
developed its own grammar app, the Peligram (at www.peligram.
co.uk) using PHP, Javascript and MySQL, which allows students
to test their grammatical knowledge through a large database of
exercises, all devised in the English Department.
SOCIETIES
The Shakespeare Society met fortnightly throughout the 2014-2015
school year to learn about and discuss plays by William Shakespeare.
This academic year, we focussed on the Lancastrian tetralogy:
Richard II, Henry IV, parts 1 and 2, and Henry V. There were fierce
debates about whether Henry was a national hero or a war criminal.
Other texts discussed included: the Roman plays Anthony and
Cleopatra and Cymbeline, As You Like It, and Romeo and Juliet and
the Merchant of Venice. The latter two are also currently taught as
part of IGCSE and IB courses respectively.
The Trinity Term saw the inauguration of the Ardingly Opera
Society. Students looked forward to an introductory talk by Father
David on Giuseppe Verdi’s La traviata, to be followed by a visit to the
Royal Opera House to see the current production. We are hoping to
hold regular meetings, and endeavour to see one opera production
per term in the future. Dr Johnson may have defined opera, in his
Dictionary of the English Language, as an ‘an exotic and irrational
entertainment’, but the English Department feels that Frances
Burney’s Evelina (currently taught in Lower Sixth) captures the
essence of opera much more successfully: ‘I wish the opera was every
night. It is, of all entertainments, the sweetest and most delightful.
Some of the songs seemed to melt my very soul.’
Ardingly’s literary society, LitSoc, meets every fortnight to discuss
literature of all kinds. This year discussions have focused on a
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variety of writers, including Thomas Hardy, Günter Grass, Martin
McDonagh, and Caroline Bird. This lunchtime session is a relaxed
and informal time to talk about books, poems, and plays, and it is
aimed at students who have chosen to take English at Sixth Form
level, as well as any other interested parties.
Journalism is offered by the English Department as a Monday
activity. Students this year have practised journalistic writing of many
kinds, as well as partaking in fascinating discussions around the
nature of investigative journalism, the difference between print and
broadcast journalism, and the ethics of the media.
One of the English Department’s newest societies, Feminist Society,
has proved a great success since its formation in 2014. The aim of
the group is to promote debate and dialogue on subjects related to
feminism and gender equality, both at home and at an international
level. It has been attended by dozens of students and several members
of staff throughout the year, and the scope of the conversations and
ideas shared has been extraordinary. The society’s three Upper Sixth
chairs, Jasmin Atkins, Ashleigh John, and Maxine Higenyi, have
done an exceptional job of leading the sessions, and it has been a real
privilege to watch this student-led society flourish from week to week.
A revived Creative Writing Club showcased the wealth of creativity
in the Middle School, taking in everything from twitter short stories
and non-linear narratives, to personification poems and modern
myths. Of the regulars, Theresa Saacke led the way with a series
of brilliant character studies, while rising stars Phoebe Holder,
Catherine Ritchie, and Amy Hitchens from Remove, and Elisa
Bernardo-Chavez from Shell, all showed enormous potential.
Film Club also returned, with a core of cinephiles led by Max Moser,
James Percy, and Will Ward eager to offer all manner of insights
and wild theorising. While the year began gently with dysfunctional
family road movie Little Miss Sunshine, later screenings focused on
human obsession, most memorably in the case of Samuel Fuller’s
caustic B-movie classic Shock Corridor and Kathryn Bigelow’s intense
docudrama The Hurt Locker.
What a busy year it has been. But we are already looking forward
to next year; with the fourth Ardingly Shakespeare Conference, a
creative writing workshop in the West Country, and a residential trip
to the Shakespeare Centre in Stratford-Upon-Avon in the offing, it is
promising to be another exciting year.
Markus Klinge
MATHEMATICS
The strength of our Department lies wholly in the hands of the
dedicated staff – their expertise, dedication and genuine love of
the beauty of Mathematics, along with their individual attributes
(dare I even say ‘charm’?) bring a wealth of talent and experience
to Ardingly students. To begin our annual report, then, we will
look at the personnel of our team. Though Paul Robinson had
only started at the College in September 2013, he stayed just one
year after a tough decision to re-locate to be nearer his partner
(now his wife). It is notoriously difficult to attract experienced
Mathematics teachers, so we considered ourselves very fortunate
to have an application from a Mr Reg Massad. Reg came to us with
a huge amount of experience, from a vast range of schools and as
an IB examiner and, as someone who leads revision sessions at the
Easter School at Oxford University, we welcomed his experiences
and wisdom to the Department. An Australian, he is no stranger to
travelling around the world and working in exotic places. Indeed,
when his application arrived, it came from Kazakhstan, where he
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was teaching at an international school. He has taught his classes
this academic year with enthusiasm and with an international
spin. And so it is with regret that, after just one year, we bid
him farewell. We will miss him in the Department, not least his
willing availability almost daily at the drop-in clinic, and his work
collaborating with our Prep School, preparing our Years 8 and 9
team for the Junior Mathematics Team Challenge. We wish him
and his family every success in their future ventures, and thank him
for his contributions to College life this year.
Andrew Middleton was appointed Deputy Head of Mathematics
in the Michaelmas Term. He proved himself to be such a great
appointment to the management of the Maths Team we are
delighted that he will be leading the Department from September
2015, with Nicola Burns moving on to be the Head of Middle
School. Beyond that, we happily report that the rest of the
Mathematics Department are here to stay. We really are a team,
and I appreciate the contribution of each and every teacher in this
large department – not least in helping with our daily Mathematics
Clinics. The fantastic support Mrs Amy Kelly offers in the
Learning Support Department serves to make us look even better
still. With the Mathematics staff updates now covered, allow me to
now divert to the accomplishments of our students.
In the Sixth Form, all IB students study Mathematics and, in
addition to this, we are a very popular subject for AS and A2 level
– not to mention those that are brave enough to follow the Further
Mathematics A level course. This means that we are lucky enough
to be able to teach around 75% of the Sixth Form. Numbers look
to be remaining high for next year, not least following on from the
success of our current top set Fifth Form who took their IGCSE
in January. 25 out of 27 students achieved their A* early with
an impressive average of 90% across all of their papers. Special
mention here must go to Alice Ertl in Remove who sat the paper a
year and a half early and scored nothing less than 100%.
Ardinians continue to take part in the UK Mathematics Trust team
and individual challenges. Every level of certificate (Gold, Silver
and Bronze) has been presented over the year for the individual
challenges, and their recipients will be listed in the ‘For the Record’
publication. Notable performances include Gold certificates (placing
students in the top 6% nationally) for the Senior Challenge for Jon
Shoesmith, Dhriti Oza, Kasper Verkammen, Philip Binns, Earnest
Tang, Benedict McConnell, and Milo Thursfield. Gold certificates
for the Intermediate Challenge went to James Ritchie, Johannes
Studier-Fischer, Toby Brann, Tom Cunningham, and Sophie Crooks.
In team challenges we have had varied success this year. Our senior
team of Milo Thursfield, Jacky Lai, Tim Price and Jon Shoesmith
ARDINGLY annals 2015
came eighth out of 21 teams at the regional final at Lancing College.
Our Year 10 team came fifth out of 16 teams. The team of Alice Ertl,
Caroline Smith, Luca Demetriadi and James Thorne were actually in
leading position until a rogue round of Origami was thrown into the
mix. Better luck next year! To end the team challenges, we recently
sent our mixed Prep and Senior School team of Sophie Bosiger and
Eddie Castle, Sophie Crooks and Tom Cunningham to compete
against 24 other local schools. They dominated throughout and took
first place. This means they now travel to London in June to compete
against the other 90 teams that will also have won their regional
rounds. Thanks must go to all the staff that have given their time to
train the teams throughout the year.
Masterclasses have also been held again this year to share with
the students our inherent love of this subject. Back in December,
we were delighted to welcome former Ardingly teacher, Peter
Joseph, back to the College to run a session on Derangements,
The Logistic Sequence and The Pigeonhole Principle for our
Further Mathematics students and HL IB students. Then a month
later, on a frosty January morning, 78 students from local schools
descended upon the department for an entire day of Mathematics
– can there be a better way to spend a day? The Year 7 students
learnt about Pascal’s Triangle, played Diffy, saw how Russian
multiplication was linked to Binary numbers and discovered the
Königsberg Bridge Problem. With a ‘relay’ round after lunch to get
everyone’s hearts really racing, a great day was had by all.
Mr Utting’s STEP classes have continued to be popular this year,
with separate sessions having to be held to cope with the demand
from our Lower and Upper Sixth students. These sessions will be
particularly crucial in the preparation for two of the Upper Sixth
that currently hold university offers for top institutions that hinge
on favourable outcomes of the STEP.
SAT preparation classes, held weekly by Ms Burns, have also
proved useful for the handful of students intending to go ‘State-side’
for their Higher Education.
It has been an excellent year for the Department, with new blood
and exciting events. We hope for similar success next year.
Nicola Burns
BIOLOGY
We were sad to see Will Matthews leave at the end of Trinity Term
2014, as he headed off to teach down in the West Country, with a
new addition to his family. After celebrating the Department’s best
ever academic results in both Middle School and Sixth Form, the
new academic year started in grand style in the mud.
Following the huge press interest in the discovery of a new
dinosaur fossil bed in the grounds last year, the Biology
Department kicked off with two dinosaur dig Citizen Science
events, funded by generous grants from the Geologists’
Association and the Society of Biology. We got Biology Week
2014 off to a great start on Sunday 12th October, when we were
joined by around 100 people, including local experts and experts
from Imperial College. The finds were taken off to the Natural
History Museum for analysis, and I am pleased to report 17
individual identifications have been made including: Ornithocheirid
pterosaur tooth, Thyreophoran (armoured) dinosaur tooth, teeth
and scutes from a dwarf crocodile cf. Theriosuchus, and other
species of beetle, shark, fish, gastropods, bivalves, ferns, and
conifers, among others. The full report will be published in the
near future for those interested in the site.
ARDINGLY annals 2015
Biology careers are varied, and we were delighted to welcome Dr
Patrick Romano from Deallus Consulting who came to talk to
our Sixth Form students about ‘a professional’s journey in Life
Science: from the bench to the boardroom’ on 13th October.
Shortly after, Mr Lovat took a class of students just around the
corner to see the Wakehurst Millennium Seed Bank for our now
annual trip. We are so lucky to have this global resource for plant
knowledge right on our doorstep. What better way to study seed
banks and the scientists that work there than to visit during a
Biology lesson?
Isabelle Price’s entry for the 11–18 category in the Society of
Biology’s ‘BioArt Attack’ competition was nominated for the
People’s Choice Award; this was an opportunity to explore
communicating a scientific message through an artistic output, and
her impressive ‘eye model’ deserves special mention here.
Miss Gall and Mr Lane took a group of Sixth Form students to
see a human cadaver prosection at the University of Brighton’s
Anatomical Teaching Laboratory again this year. This experience is
part of the preparations for application to Medical School, which
has been most successful this year, with four students gaining offers
to study Medicine and a fifth to study Dentistry. Full details on the
Medical Societies are reported elsewhere.
The British Biology Olympiad was taken by 15 of our enthusiastic
Lower Sixth Biologists this January. The Olympiad was designed
to challenge students and test their A-level Biology knowledge
and beyond. Tasha Walker, Victoria Barros, and Isabelle Price
each achieved the Commended Award. Our top scorers for the
Olympiad were Jack Bojan and Miguel Rodriguez Ruiz, who both
achieved Highly Commended.
A total of 81 students in Remove had an opportunity to take part in
the online Biology Challenge this year.
We welcomed Miss Taslima Miah into the Department for the
Lent Term, a Biomedical graduate from Sussex University who was
a wonderful addition to the Department and who, among many
other tasks, co-wrote and presented our contribution to this year’s
Shakespeare Conference on 9th March, The Worst Diseases in
Shakespeare’s Time, as well as ably organising the first ever evening
for parents of prospective medics, dentists and vets.
The Trinity term saw a return of Wednesday evening ‘lates’ at the
Royal Institute with a keen bunch of students headed by Miss
O’Connor and Mr Lovat stopping off at Buckingham Palace for a
photoshoot, before attending A Night of Fire and Ice, considering:
Could fire-breathing dragons ever exist? What really happens when
royalty inbreeds? And can you actually crush someone’s skull
with your bare hands? They joined comedian Helen Keen and Ian
Simmons for facts, jokes, and demos to explore the ‘science’ of
Game of Thrones.
Two spectacular trips finish off the year: first in June our annual
visit to the rocky peninsular of Dale, in South Wales. Here Lower
Sixth students enjoyed the delights of the seashore and famous
saltmarshes. Finally, following an initial visit to Darwin’s family home,
Down House in Kent, a privileged group led by Mr Lovat and Miss
O’Connor will fly to Quito in Ecuador, journeying on foot and by
canoe through the Amazon, carrying out conservation work deep in
the jungle, facing their fears in deep, dark caves, out wild swimming
and, to top off the year, the Biology Department will follow Darwin’s
footsteps in the Galapagos Islands, meeting the famous finches, giant
tortoises, blue-footed boobies, and marine iguanas on these impressive
smouldering volcano, cactus and lava-strewn islands.
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Finally, our Remove beer, cider, and wine brewing has been as
successful as the academic success enjoyed this year.
Jane Blythe
CHEMISTRY
The Chemistry Department has had another great year. The
number of pupils opting to study Chemistry at AS and IB level
continues to be high, with the proportion of IB Chemists opting
for the demanding Higher Level course seeing an increase on
previous years. We have also had a large number of pupils opting to
choose Chemistry for their IB Extended Essay, with topics ranging
from methods of obscuring DNA evidence at a crime scene to
controlling the elasticity of bouncing synthetic putty.
Results at IGCSE, AS, A2 and IB continue to be strong. AS and
A2 Level results were very pleasing, the best the Department has
ever achieved. IB results were also very good, with an increase in
the proportion of the top grades over previous years. GCSE results
showed an increase in the proportion of the higher grades over last
year, which is very gratifying.
The Department entered the School’s Spectroscopy Challenge,
run by the RSC, which is designed for Sixth Form students and
involved spending time at the University of Sussex analysing
spectra – this provided a great experience of university level
science. Once again we entered a very large number of candidates
into the Chemistry Olympiad with some fantastic results: Gold
Award – Benedict McConnell, Silver Award –Miranda Schaap,
Bronze Awards –Tristan Inglesfield, Jacky Lai, Miguel Rodriguez
Ruiz. These results truly are excellent, since very few entrants
nationally receive these awards. Once again, we entered the Royal
Society of Chemistry’s Top of the Bench Award. The competition
was exceptional this year, we hosted our regional heat and were
significantly ahead of the other schools, winning by six points. Due
to the large number of schools entering the competition, there were
five other regional heats running alongside. The school with the
highest overall score out of all of these heats progresses to the next
round and we were unfortunately beaten by one school, and by only
two points. We look forward to re-entering next year.
Miles Porter
PHYSICS
It has been a very active year, again with increased numbers
studying Physics, a trend that has been maintained for the past
five years. It is also a year where we have looked at the teaching of
Science and our Science facilities. This has involved a period of
consultation with major companies, other schools, universities, and
research institutions. It is so important that our facilities allow us to
continue to teach and inspire tomorrow’s top engineers, scientists,
and medics.
Our results for last academic year were impressive, with a record
number (three sets) sitting the triple award Physics IGCSE with
70% achieving A* and 30% A grades in Physics. This achievement
of 100% A to A* is a testimony to the hard work of the
Department. In the Dual Award Sciences, where all three sciences
are studied for two IGCSE grades, the students achieved 87% A*to
B grades. We also run two small groups sitting the Additional
GCSE course. The first group is for those that find science
challenging and hence need slightly more guidance in allowing
them to achieve their true potential. The second group is called
the Pre-IB class where we use this GCSE as a foundation to enrich
and hence equip our students for the rigours of the forthcoming
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IB course. In this group these results were impressive with 93%
achieving A* to A grades.
This year we had a record number entering the Physics Olympiad,
with 26 students entering the AS /IB Challenge and Jacky Lai
achieving a Silver award. In the GCSE Olympiad there were 56
entries, with Patrick Moore achieving silver and 15 students
achieving Bronze awards.
At the time of writing, we are awaiting the results for two of
our students who were nominated by the School, Jacky Lai and
Matthew Price, to enter the Cambridge Physics Challenge.
The Headstart scheme for placing Lower Sixth students in
universities for a trial week has been well supported. Each year there
are over 3000 applicants for 1000 places, and Ardingly students
have obtained six top places at seven top Russell Group Universities
on courses from computing, engineering, and life sciences.
In teaching we continue to improve, with new initiatives such as
being able to use sensors with students’ own devices. I am also
delighted that our technician Rachel Chilton, who is just finishing
her teacher assistant qualification, has been extremely active in
Physics and Chemistry classes. This is of huge educational benefit
to our students. In addition, as part of the Remove programme of
work, Mr Sayers has instigated a project which involves building
a radio from scratch, combining the two big Physics topics: waves
and electricity.
The extra-curricular enrichment opportunities given to students
are very impressive. This year we have undertaken many trips, with
perhaps the most impressive a trip by 42 of our Upper and Lower
Sixth to CERN, journeying underground to CMS to view this huge
feat of engineering prowess.
There are so many activities supplementing the curriculum,
including work placements at the Mullard Space Laboratory and
Invensys; attending the Big Bang finals at the NEC for computing
(raspberry Pi processors); displaying our old Solar Car at the
McLaren Motor Show in Woking; frequent visits to Cambridge
University and many industrial firms.
I am particularly pleased with the activities of the newly formed
Ardingly Physics Society which operates under the kind guidance
of Dr Zharkov. The Society meets at least once per week during
term time. Here the students give talks on areas of interest, and
outside speakers are invited to lecture on the more interesting
aspects of Physics, including The Standard Model and Astronomy.
It is the students’ presentations that are the most rewarding to hear.
Their enthusiasm and knowledge continue to impress. Mr Sayers
has also started this year an App Club which is open to students
from the Preparatory and Senior Schools. This is key to hone the
computing skills of our students.
The two major strands, the Ardingly Solar Car and Astronomy,
are discussed elsewhere. We should, though, re-emphasize their
importance of stretching and inspiring our students. At the time of
writing, our entry has been accepted in preference to others into
the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge for October 2015. The solar
team has signed a major sponsorship deal with the international
medical company Elekta. We would also like to acknowledge
gratefully the help of so many parents, including the firm Binns
Lincoln Ltd. It is the personal involvement and enthusiasm of John
Binns and Ian Haines, coupled with the overall management skills
of Matthew Price and his teams of students and retiring Head of
ARDINGLY annals 2015
Business, Luka Reisch, that has helped make this project a reality.
In September the new observatory will be opened by our old friend
Br Guy Consolmagno SJ. The observatory is powered by solar
panels and equipped with the latest 14” reflector. This gives us
the chance to do real research and hopefully continue to inspire
students through from the Pre-Prep to the Senior Schools. This is
a wonderful opportunity that only happened due to a very kind
donation.
On a personal note, our Department greatly misses the guidance,
knowledge, certainty, wisdom, and energy of Ms McDonnell, who
passed away over the Easter holidays.
Andrew Spiers
BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS
The highlights of this year have to be our inaugural residential trip
and a fantastic ‘Take a Risk Ardingly’ final.
The trip took place during the October Long Leave and was
led by Karen Maurice-Jones, Sam Shelley, and Georgina Dore.
The group primarily went to visit institutions of the European
Union, including the European Commission and the European
Parliament, but they also went on a guided tour of the Bank of
Belgium Museum and had a first-hand experience of large scale
production at the Audi factory. They were also privileged to have
the Vice President of the European Commission join them for
dinner one evening. The trip was an excellent addition to the study
of Economics, particularly for those students entering their second
year of the Economics courses. Following on from this successful
trip, Miss Dore and Mrs Maurice-Jones are now organising a
joint Politics and Economics trip to New York, Washington, and
Philadelphia, to take place in October 2015.
In February and March of 2015 the annual ‘Take a Risk Ardingly’
competition took place. This seemed to progress even better this
year, with two business mentors in each team, advising students on
a business idea. The process culminated in a very well presented
final on 18th March, attended by three judges and an audience.
The teams presented their business ideas and tried to persuade the
judges to invest in them. The winning team, Mai Tai, developed an
idea for an online customisable tie company. Their presentation,
business plan and sound business thinking really impressed the
judges. ‘Take a Risk’ refers not only to the risk involved with starting
a new business but also the risk some of the students take in doing
something very new for them, engaging with adults from industry
and also standing in front of an audience to present their ideas.
The Economics Society continues to be strong, organising two
trips to London this academic year to see speakers. The students
have also arranged other various events and discussions throughout
the year. They created a display about the economics of World
War I to complement the Department display about the life of
Thomas Beard during the War. He had been a student at Ardingly
during the end of the War, and commented on life here in one of
the College publications (Argent, 1995). Having found business
success in the Second World War by selling beds, he went on
to leave a substantial legacy to the College. It is after Thomas
(Richard) Beard that the Department block is named. Later in the
year the Society produced an open display on Budget Day, to help
educate other students about the impact of the day on them.
Inspired by the success of the Economics society, students in the
Lower Sixth set to work creating a Business equivalent, and had
numerous meetings during the year to discuss and debate issues in
the news. We look forward to seeing them develop next year.
The Department continues to supervise a wide range of IB
Extended Essays, with particular highlights being: Luka Reisch’s
essay measuring the impact of the car scrappage scheme on the
German economy; Harry Ames’s analysis of competition in
the music industry; Jessica Van Droogenbroeck’s evaluation of
the impact of the Millennium Development Goals; and Kasper
Verkammen’s essay on the effect of the standard of living of the
emergence of commercial peanut farms in a region in Senegal.
The Investor Challenge competition again gave students a chance
to build a portfolio of investments from £100,000 of virtual money.
Working as a group, the students used real-time stock market
information to buy and sell shares and unit trusts to try to build the
value of their portfolio from October to February. The College’s
winning team was The Sock Exchange who made £21,427.70 over
the time, outperforming the ‘expert investors’ by over £16,000.
Congratulations go to the team: Sophie Belcher, Antonietta Ninni
Riva, and Philline and Florentine Warnholtz.
Sadly, we end the year saying goodbye to Mr Sam Shelley, who has
been an invaluable member of the Department since September
2011. He regularly attracted praise from his students in both
Economics and Business, and will be really missed. There is a full
report on this in the Valete. In September, we welcome Mr Robert
Arnold to the Department.
Daniel Davies
DIVINITY AND PHILOSOPHY
The D&P Department’s year began on an extremely positive note
in Michaelmas with the publishing of some excellent examination
results, at GCSE, AS, A2 and IB levels. Of particular note was
Emma Elgee who, over the three years of GCSE and A Level
exams, scored an extraordinary 597 out of 600. There were many
ARDINGLY annals 2015
23
successes across the board, and it was also a great pleasure to see
several students going on to study our subject at university, such
as Danny Wydra at Edinburgh and Kathryn Welsh OA at Oriel
College, Oxford. This year, a further seven pupils are hoping to
go on to study Theology or Philosophy at university next year.
As the D&P Department has expanded in recent years, so has its
extra-curricular provision. Sophos and the Divinity and Philosophy
Reading Group have both continued to grow, with discussions on
an astoundingly wide range of philosophical and theological ideas.
Our Journal, Logos, has also remained extremely popular, with this
year’s Foreword very kindly written by the Archbishop of York,
and articles written by many students on subjects as wide ranging
as free will and facial hair! After copies were sent out, letters of
thanks have been streaming in from across the country (and the
Vatican), showing just what a great achievement such a publication
is. We also continued to teach Classical Hebrew this year, with
Austen Waite taking it on as an extra timetabled lesson and making
great progress, before hopefully studying Theology at university
after a gap year. In addition to all this, the Snow Prize, Ardingly’s
theological essay prize, has further increased in popularity since
its establishment in 2013, and last year’s prize was won by Milo
Thursfield in convincing style.
As a Department of seven it is inevitable that there will
occasionally be some staff changes. While we very much look
forward to welcoming Catriona Rees back from maternity leave,
we will also be sad to see Simon Dungate go, after his appointment
elsewhere. He has been an extremely popular member of the
Department in his year here, and has helped to cement our
reputation at Ardingly as a group of teachers who are quite
obviously engrossed by our subject. In his place, however, we are
very pleased to welcome Thijs Kolks from Shoreham Academy,
who I’m sure will be an equally admired teacher and who brings
with him a great deal of experience of teaching Philosophy. I will
also be leaving at the end of this year, and my successor will be
appointed shortly after the time of writing, but with an excellent
field of candidates I have no doubt that Divinity and Philosophy
will continue to be a leading Department at Ardingly College,
demonstrating just how important we believe that our subject is in
creating a truly liberal education.
Daniel McLean
GEOGRAPHY
It has been another busy and exciting year for the Geography
Department. The ever-increasing popularity of the subject has
continued to be evidenced this year, with 75% of Remove and Fifth
students having opted for Geography combined with increasing
numbers in Sixth Form. At the time of writing, the number of
Shell students choosing Geography as one of their GCSE options
is incredibly high and so we look forward to another busy year of
teaching. Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, the 2014
examination results were strong. This was particularly the case
with regards to GCSE, with a record figure of 60% of students
gaining an A* or A grade. Furthermore, 75% of IB students were
awarded a Level 6 or 7, and a third of the A Level cohort gained
an A grade. These results are testament to the dedication and focus
on achieving academic excellence of both the students and the
teachers in the Department.
Outside the classroom, the Geography Department continues to be
very active in running educational trips and visits. In September, all
Lower Sixth IB and AS level Geographers travelled to Malham in
order to undertake three days of human and physical fieldwork, ably
led by Dylan Bennetts. This trip allows students to gather primary
and secondary data on changing land use in CBDs and urban heatisland models with which they can complete either their Internal
Assessments (for IB students) or coursework-based examination
questions (for AS students). Many thanks must also go to the
rest of the Department who graciously travelled up to deepest,
darkest Yorkshire. As a Lancastrian, I know only too well about
the downsides of this… Remove GCSE students also travelled en
masse for a three-day field-trip to the Dorset coastline in May 2015
in order to gather data for their Controlled Assessments. My thanks
go to all 80 students, and staff, who behaved impeccably, and to the
weather which proved to be on our side throughout the trip.
In an extra-curricular sense, Annabel Hawkins and Tom Caston
led a mixed Fifth and Upper Sixth trip of 35 students to Iceland in
October 2014. All of the students and staff who went on this trip
found it to be a powerful, awe-inspiring and incredibly enjoyable
experience. Particular highlights included being able to view a
spectacular show of the Northern Lights on two occasions, which
for many is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Furthermore, the
opportunity to sample traditional Icelandic culture and foods in a
Viking village was also an experience that few are likely to forget.
This trip will be running again in October 2015 and we look
forward to another similarly exceptional time.
The Geography Society continues to grow from strength-tostrength. This year it has been ably led by Upper Sixth Geographers
Jess van Droogenbroeck, Jesse Lee, and Sam Guerard. Students
from all year groups have attended weekly sessions held on
Thursday lunchtimes, during which student presentations are
provided on a range of topics that are either relevant to course
content, university interview practice, or a wider interest in
Geography. Next year, the Society will culminate their efforts with
the creation of the inaugural Geography Society Review which is a
particularly exciting development for the Department. This will be
a student-led review incorporating a range of academic articles, trip
reviews, Geographical timeline of the year and spectacular images
– so watch this space.
This year has also been one of change within the Geography
Department. Paul Lilley and Mercy Dennis-Smith left at the end of
the last academic year to pastures new. We wish Paul all the best on
his new venture at Sevenoaks School and to Mercy in completing
her PGCE at Sussex University. Both provided an exceptional level
of dedication to the Department and are losses to the Common
Room as a whole. After nine years at the helm, Dylan Bennetts
decided to jump ship from academic to pastoral management,
having assumed the position of Head of Woodard Boys. Dylan
has been an excellent Head of Department over the past decade at
Ardingly and I know that all of the Department, past and present,
wish to thank him for his sterling effort and dedication to the job.
24
ARDINGLY annals 2015
It comes as no surprise that he has shown the same steely attitude
in his new role. Joining as Head of Department half-way through
the academic year is never ideal, but I must thank the Department
for making the transition from KCS Wimbledon an easy one.
Particular thanks must go to Dylan Bennetts who has provided a
great deal of support and advice, along with completed schemes of
work, tests, Department budgets and trip forms. This year has also
seen the addition of Julia Cook, who joined the Department on a
part-time basis from Worth School where she was a Housemistress
and teacher of Geography and Learning Support. Her level of
enthusiasm, application and dedication to the role has been
phenomenal and I am very pleased that she will be remaining with
us next year. In particular, Julia has been exceptionally helpful in
ensuring that all GCSE students have completed the write-up of
their Controlled Assessment in time for the Easter deadline, and
my thanks go to her for this. Furthermore, Clare Jackson returned
from maternity leave on a part-time basis, and her energy and
passion for the subject is highly valued within the Department. On
top of this, the Department also moved to a purpose-built office
space on A Corridor over the Easter holidays, creating a tangible
Geography ‘environment’ in the top corridor of the New Wing.
Despite these exciting changes, we must also say goodbye to
Annabel Hawkins and Tom Caston. After eight years at Ardingly,
Annabel leaves us to take up the position of Assistant Head at
Charterhouse. She has provided an exceptional amount of value
to both the Department and the College as a whole during her
time here. The list of achievements and roles that Annabel has
held at Ardingly is seemingly endless, most recently as Head of
Middle School. However, I would like to thank her especially for
the role she has played within the Department, in particular her
help with creating and running the annual trip to Iceland, helping
to develop schemes of work and sharing exciting and novel ways of
teaching course content – she will be dearly missed. Tom Caston
is moving on to Framlingham College in Suffolk as Deputy Head
Pastoral. His tenure as Head of Hilton, Staff Formation and,
more importantly, as a member of the Geography Department
over the past five years have been marked by excellence. Tom is a
charismatic, energetic, and thought-provoking teacher who never
fails to get the best out of his students. I am incredibly thankful for
his contribution and wish him and his family all the best for their
new life in sleepy Suffolk.
We look forward to welcoming Miss Clarissa Goodwin next
academic year, who is joining from KCS Wimbledon. A graduate
from Birmingham University and an exceptionally keen and
talented sportswoman, I am sure that she will be a fine addition
to the Department. Along with changes in syllabus for GCSE, A
Level and IB all being introduced over the next 18 months, another
exciting and challenging chapter awaits the Geography Department
– one which I am sure will read very well.
Chris Quayle
HISTORY
The History Department has had another very busy and splendidly
successful year. It began with outstanding IB, A Level, AS level
and GCSE results. These maintained and, in some cases, improved
upon the very high level of success from previous years. A select
few highlights include the 100% Level 7-5 results from all of our 16
IB students. Our A Level results (from our largest cohort ever, 29
students) also uncannily repeated last year’s superb 80% A*-B and
our AS results (from our second largest cohort at AS, 30 students)
improved from 2013’s 76% A*-C to 80% in 2014. The greatest
improvement, however, was achieved by our 79 GCSE students
ARDINGLY annals 2015
(again, our largest cohort ever) who improved upon 2013’s record
of 54% A*-A rate to reach a magnificent 66% this year; this during
a year when, on average, the results dipped by 1% nationally. The
cherry on the academic cake was the further success of Ann-Kathrin
Henning securing her place at Oxford University to read History.
The glow of academic success was quickly followed by the History
Department playing a significant and leading role in the College’s
very important World War I commemorations – more on that
elsewhere in this edition of the Annals.
Later in the Michaelmas Term, and to considerable acclaim,
Volume 3 of Timeline, the College’s History and International
Relations Journal, was published. The theme for this issue was
‘War and Conflict Resolution,’ and once again it contained a
tremendous range of articles covering topics as diverse as the
Congress of Vienna (1814-15), to the threat from Privatised War.
Student editors, Thomas Gibbens, Alexa Morgan, and Thomas
O’Dell marshalled the student contributors very well. There were
excellent book reviews from governor, David Gibbs, and member
of the Department, Chris Parke. Similarly, we were fortunate
once again to have so many students as well as distinguished
contributors such as historian Richard Van Emden and member of
the Georgian government, Mr Dzebisashvili, write such interesting
articles for the Journal. Volume 4’s theme, in this year of important
anniversaries (e.g. Magna Carta 1215), is ‘Law and Justice’, and it
will be published in December 2015.
Despite the continuity of academic success and excellence
promoted by the History Department, nevertheless, it too has
also experienced significant change this year. At the start of 2015,
Robert Robinson left the College to take up the Deputy Headship
at Rossall School and was replaced in the department by James
Mitchell. This young, vibrant and popular teacher has fitted in very
well within the Department and with his students. Sadly, there
will also be further personnel changes in September 2015 with the
Head of Department, Matthew Jennings, taking up the Deputy
Headship Academic at Woodbridge School and Samantha Bowen
becoming the Head of History at The British School of Brussels.
They will be replaced by Messrs Jerrit and Cox and Miss Lane who
will be joining the staff in September.
But while the resurgence in popularity of studying History has
its good, general reasons, the rapid growth of interest in Ardingly
25
is due in no small part to the diversity of learning activities
both within the classroom and, especially, outside it. For that I
have the dedicated team to thank, namely Mrs Bowen, Father
David, Miss Dore, Mr Mitchell, Mr Parke, Mr Robinson, and
Mr Stedman. Their teaching continues to be stimulating, and the
range of learning activities excellent. I was intrigued to see a Sixth
Form class summarising their learning of a Pre-WWI German
Constitutional change with a Facebook update, and another
producing a stop motion video, while a third took ‘selfies’ to reflect
upon perceptions of Twentieth Century events and how they may
differ; how imaginative are our students and staff.
Never ones to dwell in the past, the History staff have quickly
embraced the Digital Archway with a fully interactive series of
pages that provide not only useful educational tools but also
interesting and quirky sites of interest. Our regular features of
animated History videos of the month are also as popular as the
monthly polls. In our continual efforts to keep it real and have our
finger on the pulse, the History Department has fully embraced
the Twitter Age. So why not follow us on @ArdinglyHistory and
join the growing history community. Our IT-savvy lessons have also
embraced other electronic devices, with students regularly using
their devices for historical enquiry and producing creative and vivid
displays of their learning.
With the Shell ‘Inquiring Curriculum’ completing its fourth year,
those studying History had an excellent chance to research a topic
on the Inter-War Years in depth. Their presentations and projects
were an excellent advertisement for the value of independent
enquiry. Students explored a very wide range of topics, from the
growth of Hollywood to the success of the Bolsheviks in spurring
on the Russian Revolution. Some of their work is on display in the
History classrooms and the ‘A’ floor corridor.
Lastly and most importantly, let’s focus on the achievements of the
Senior School History students themselves. Many students have
produced excellent displays of their learning throughout the year.
Nevertheless, Scholar Awards were presented to students in most
year groups, and the citations below list some of the elite few and
their work.
June 2014: Scott Pardaihle-Galabrun for excellent research and
planning in his Shell project
June-October 2014 - exceptional research about Old Ardinians
during the First World War:
• Chris Ashcroft about L. H. Higgett
• James Greenwood about F. M. Hobbs
• Toby Brann about H. C. Naylor
• Matthew Burke about A. A Denyer
• Harry Samra about F. Bradford
• Joe Cargan about C. Tollemache
• Ella O’Hare about P. R. Shannon
• Lucas Williamson about W. H. Evans
Mr Davies wrote about the Reverend Crosse and Thomas Beard,
Mr MacLean about several Old Ardinians, and Mrs King about
Gus Dietrich and many more Old Ardinians. A special mention of
gratitude goes to Mrs Grover, Miss Dewing, and Miss Baker from the
Art Department, for their superb collation and presentation of all the
materials in the WWI display as well as the creation of the Flag.
•October 2014 – William Ward for his well-researched essay on the
First Crusade
•November 2014 - Josh Hardy for his very well-researched and
written essay on the Angevin Church
•January 2015 – Emily Spiers for scoring 100% in her GCSE
History Mock examination
26
•February 2015 – Aubrie Willifer for her outstanding essays on
Weimar Germany
•March 2015 – Lisa Bräutigan for excellent historical enquiry
•May 2015 – Luca Williams for his excellent paper delivered to the
History Society on the failings of International Law.
So the study of History at Ardingly has been vibrant. In class,
students have broadened their learning through progressive means
and have continued to achieve excellent results. The study of History
has taken students out of the classroom to fascinating places and
events, and involved them in thoroughly enjoyable debates, quizzes
and plays. If children’s education is primarily about enrichment then
the History students at Ardingly are wealthy indeed.
Matthew Jennings
FRENCH
This year has been a busy one for the French Department and,
thanks to the wide experience of the staff, we have been able to
offer more courses than ever: A level, IB for non-native speakers
as well as for native speakers at both levels, Standard and Higher,
on top of the usual GCSE and IGCSE. The demand for French
remains as high as ever and classes are now bursting with talent
and motivation.
A level students have been studying France under Occupation
for their historical topic; they have learnt about what it was like
to live at that time, as well as brushing up on their historical
knowledge. For their cultural topic, they have studied one of the
most famous film directors, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, probably best
known for his film Amélie.
IB Higher Level students have found themselves challenged by the
study of French literature: a novel by Philippe Delerm, La première
gorgée de bière, has really pushed them to their limits but, in their
own words, studying books in the target language is much more fun
that they thought; they never thought they had it in them to study
entire works in a foreign language but they did.
Technology has been key to development of the Department with
the introduction of mobile devices, including a mobile Language
Lab. Students have had access remotely to the Language Lab
which means that they no longer need to be in the Department
to complete work online. This has revolutionised the way they
complete their work such as recording their speaking or completing
interactive activities anytime and anywhere. The Language Lab is
due for refurbishment and, hopefully, a new and more practical
layout will be in place for September 2015.
Finally, we will sadly say goodbye to Mlle Vignard, who is off to
Zambia, to become the IB Co-ordinator at the International School
of Lusaka. She will be greatly missed by students and staff, as
her contributions to the Department and the College in general
are too many to fit in this page. Ms Pascale Lariven will be her
replacement; she comes from the International School of Rome
where she was Head of Department for many years.
Nathalie Johnston
GERMAN
With the twenty-fifth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall
this year, there has been an additional dimension to the cultural
studies within the German Department both in lessons and in
terms of trips. There was an increased focus on the nation in the
media from which students really benefited, as it prompted them
ARDINGLY annals 2015
Other events this year have included a visit from the Onatti
Theatre company, who put on the play Meine neue Schwester
for students both in the Senior and Prep School, a student-run
cake stall for International Day, and students of GCSE German
succeeding in a national vocabulary learning competition.
Georgina Gräfin-Kerssenbrock achieved a ‘Genius’ certificate for
her achievement. Special mention should also go to Toby Cassidy
and Hannah Cullis who also took part in the Vocab Express
League of Champions.
There is definitely a lot to be involved in when studying German at
Ardingly; not only is there the advantage of having real German,
Austrian, and Swiss students to practise the language with in many
of the Houses, but pupils learning German are keeping up links we
have with a school in Munich (Pater-Rupert-Mayer Gymnasium),
who enjoy exchanging emails, photos and keeping up-to-date with
what is going on here and vice versa.
Katherine Ward
SPANISH
This has been a busy and exciting year for the Spanish Department.
The greatest change has been in staffing with Mrs Bishop and Ms
Purslow being ably replaced by Ms Marcos and Ms Gómez, both
bringing their own style to the teaching of their native language.
Next year we are looking forward to welcoming Ms de Salles as a
new, dynamic and full-time member of the Spanish team.
to consider the role of the Germany we know now in the wider
world. Of course, Germany’s fascinating history made up a large
part of this and we began the year by hosting a film screening of
All Quiet on the Western Front as part of the College’s extensive
World War I commemoration programme.
At the end of January, a group of Sixth Form students travelled
to London to see the exhibition Germany – Memories of a Nation
which was held at the British Museum. Students saw original
objects that signified different periods of Germany’s past, such as
Grete Marks’ ‘degenerate’ vase, a Bauhaus cradle, Napoleon’s hat,
an astronomical clock from 1596 known as the ‘smart phone of its
day’, the Luther Bible, original drawings by Dürer and Tischbein’s
famous portrait of Goethe, and many other original and significant
exhibits. Although we were slightly miffed to have missed bumping
into Angela Merkel, who visited the exhibition the day before we
did with David Cameron, we enjoyed going for a meal afterwards
at local German restaurant ‘Herman ze German’, where students
were able to practise ordering their food in German and trying
Currywurst and other such ‘delicacies’.
This year also saw 26 students take a day trip to Berlin to visit
a Christmas market. On Sunday 7th December at 5am they
began their quest to see the sites of this great city and sample
the amazing array of foods on offer at the markets. The whistlestop tour of the main sights included the Brandenburg Gate,
Checkpoint Charlie, parts of the remaining Berlin Wall and
the Holocaust memorial. The group went inside the German
Parliament building, saw the TV tower and made their own
chocolate at Ritter Sport Chocolate World, before going back to
the market at nightfall to enjoy the Christmassy atmosphere and
entertainment.
ARDINGLY annals 2015
We have been busy catering for growing numbers undertaking
Spanish at GCSE, and are pleased with the high proportion of
those Shell learning Spanish from scratch who are opting to do this
next year, very likely connected with our investment in the latest,
most engaging resources for this group. Growth is also in evidence
at Higher Level IB (B), with ten students currently being taught
in two separate classes. We are delighted that next year we will be
expanding our range of courses to include an IB course (IB A)
aimed at native Spanish-speakers wishing to study both Language
and Literature.
For non-native Sixth Formers, there have been options this year
to study various short stories and novels (IB), and for the A level
students to immerse themselves in the work of one of the great
contemporary Hispanic film directors, Guillermo del Toro. Two
of his greatest and quirkiest films are set during or just after the
Spanish Civil War, tying in neatly with a depth study on this
fascinating period of recent history which not only still affects
Spain, but sheds light on other contemporary conflicts.
The introduction of iPads in the Lower Sixth and Shell has allowed
us to make increasing use of technology as a means of encouraging
creativity and independent learning. In the same vein we have this
year introduced a personal subscription for AS and A2 students to
the Kerboodle website so they can access course material as they
please, including audio and video, and revision tools such as an
online vocabulary tester.
The Lent Term International Day provided the opportunity for
a Hispanic stall whose ‘Menú del Día’ (including Argentine
empanadas and Spanish turrón) was enough to tempt the most
reticent Prep School student to say ‘por favor’ and ‘gracias’ as
they laid into the spread. Native Spaniards and other keen carvers
laid set to slicing the ‘jamón serrano’, while the braver elements
tried the bitter South American ‘maté’ tea sucked up through
a traditional silver straw. Others taxed their brains on quizzes,
revealing an impressive knowledge of the geopolitics of the Spanish-
27
speaking world, and wide-spread enthusiasm for increasingly
mainstream Latin and Spanish music.
Next term will see a repeat of the very successful six-day Fifth and
Sixth Form trip to Córdoba in Southern Spain, where students
will enjoy home-stays with Spanish families, morning lessons, and
meetings with their Spanish counterparts, and be able to take in
the sights, sounds and stories of this vibrant and historic city, in the
warmth of the Andalucían Autumn.
Jemima Edell
CLASSICS
The Classics Department has been doing its bit to make sure that
Ardingly pupils fulfil the ideal model of an Athenian citizen: ‘Kalos
Kai Agathos’ – translated roughly by Remove Formers as ‘Fit and
Clever’. Classics students are now enjoying their lessons in the new
Department classroom overlooking the Terrace and Nine Acre,
in the South School wing. A plethora of maps, books, and posters
are all on display to show off the influence of the Classical World
around us. The Department’s online presence is gaining followers
via the dedicated pages of resources on the Digital Archway and
Miss Ambler’s active Twitter feed. Students are moving towards a
24/7 culture as they start to use Apple technology more regularly to
access ‘flipped’ resources and use software for studying Classics.
The outgoing Head Girl, Amelia Elwin, took up her offer to study
Classics at Merton College, Oxford and has had a whirlwind first
year studying the Epic poetry of Virgil and Homer in the original,
alongside fast-track learning of Ancient Greek. Along with Poppy
Madaras Smith, who is taking a gap year working in Italy, these
two IB Latin pupils made up the excellent 100% Level 7-6 score
for the Department. The three Upper Sixth students studying
A2 Classical Civilisation gained 100% A-C scores in their A2
modules. Congratulations are also well-deserved for the stunning
performance of all A-B grades gained by the Lower Sixth AS
Classical Civilisation set in their modules on Athenian Democracy
and Imperialism. Lewis O’Shea scored 98% and Sam Cunningham
100% in the second module, which gave them a virtual A* at the
end of their first year of study. Classical Civilisation is so often
selected as a fourth option at AS, and yet after scoring their best
or equal best grades in this subject, all four students continued at
A2 and thoroughly enjoyed studying Roman Imperial History. Now
Lewis has an offer to read Law at Durham, Sam to read Medieval
and Ancient History at the University of East Anglia, Nancy Scully
to read Classics and Russian at Leeds, and Josh Hardy to read
Philosophy at Exeter. Our one AS Latin student, Philip Binns,
topped off these excellent results, and deserves whole-hearted
praise, not only for gaining a solid A grade in what was his fifth
AS option, but also for receiving an offer to read Natural Sciences
at Cambridge. Philip was given a Loeb of Roman History from
the Department as his Commemoration prize, as he wanted to
continue reading ‘fireside Latin’ even though he was dropping it for
A2, understandably to concentrate on his four sciences.
The Fifth Form GCSE results were an improvement on the
previous year: 100% of the set achieved A* - A grades in Latin,
and 100% A* - C grades in Classical Civilisation. The current
Lower Sixth and Fifth Form sets will be looking to post similar
grades this year, and we wish them all the best on results day this
summer. After re-enacting the assassination of Julius Caesar last
year, the current Fifth Form got to play with swords again but also
trial ‘flipped learning’ resources as they studied the tragic story
from The Aeneid of Nisus and Euryalus by watching pre-recorded
lessons on the set text. In class they then focused on discussing and
writing about themes of storytelling, youthful heroism, immortality
in poetry, and the futility of war, especially poignant during the
ongoing commemoration of World War I. A special mention also
goes to William Castle, who is valiantly pursuing the full two
years of A Level Latin on his own, and has used his knowledge
of studying Ovid’s version of the Greek myth about the downfall
of the Theban King Pentheus at the hands of Dionysus from The
Metamorphoses to inform his AS Level Drama performance of
Euripides’ Bacchae – a fantastic example of cross-curricular work!
The Shell posted an exceptional set of results to gain their WJEC
Latin Language Certificate at the end of Year 8. Overall, the set
achieved 100% A* - B grades. A special mention goes to Sophie
Crooks and Tom Cunningham, who achieved 100% in both papers,
and Ben Belcher, who achieved 100% in one paper. Along with
fellow Scholar Fabian Gordon, these four Academic Scholars are
now learning Ancient Greek and also joined older Classicists to
watch the Oxford Greek Play of The Furies by Aeschylus performed
by undergraduates in the original Greek with subtitles. Shell Latin
pupils all performed the Winter Solstice Roman Saturnalia Rites to
learn about the importance of ritual in ancient religion. The current
Remove Latin set are going from strength to strength as they finish
the Cambridge Latin Course and now embark on set texts for the
Literature components. Special commendation goes to Alice Ertl,
Karen Mak, Luca Demetriadi, and Caroline Smith for scoring A*
grades in the Shell Summer Latin examination. Alice continues
to study Classical Greek GCSE off timetable and is now reading
stories from the epic and history genres with Mr Storey.
In Classical Civilisation, the Fifth Form have been studying the
inspiring and vividly told stories of mythological metamorphoses
in Ovid and writing coursework on Sophocles’s play Antigone with
Mr Storey, which they then watched at the Barbican Theatre with
Juliette Binoche in the eponymous role of this highly-acclaimed
new production. Meanwhile the Remove set, encouraged by our
enthusiastic and creative PGCE placement teacher, Mr Walch, have
28
ARDINGLY annals 2015
been enjoying weekly debates on the importance of Athenian and
Spartan Society, as well as giving presentations on Greek Gods or
drawing their depiction of a Greek sacrifice, such as Scott PardailheGalabrun’s artistic pottery design. This GCSE is a real gold mine
of a subject, which the pupils always enjoy and thrive in, and we are
always trying to promote the study of the Ancient World to Shell
pupils, so if you are a Classics evangelist do spread the word.
The current Lower Sixth set of keen Ancient Greek Historians
are looking forward to studying the Persian Wars and Alexander
the Great next year, after studying Athenian Democracy and
Imperialism this year. They were most animated when they slipped
into role-plays, in the form of Newsnight style interviews, where
they took on the characters of Pericles and Cleon, the leading
statesmen of the Fifth Century BC in a democratic debate over the
politics of power. Now in our own election year, they have been
able to make explicit links between, say, the Syracusans and UKIP
with their racially-motivated manifestos, or highlight similarities of
ideology in the imperial ambitions of both the Athenian and the
British Empire states and their leaders.
At the end of June, the Department teamed up with the Art
Department to take Classicists and Artists to the British Museum’s
Defining Beauty Special Exhibition, which tells the story of how Greeks
shaped into form philosophical ideas of the perfect human body at
the very height of their imperial power and domination over the rest
of the Classical Greek World. They also met Sam Moorhead, who is
an ex-Head of Ardingly Classics Department but now working at the
Museum curating Roman coin hoards. To finish 2015 in appropriately
dramatic style, the Classics Department welcomed renowned
academic author and classical theatre director, David Stuttard, to host
two days of workshops on Greek Drama for ArtsFest 2015.
However, we must sadly say ‘vale’ to Mr Storey, who is leaving in
order to take up the post of Head of Classics at Downside School
from September. He has contributed an unfathomable depth of
expertise and time into teaching and inspiring Classics students
from Year 6 to Year 13 in their studies, both in and out of the
classroom. We all wish him ‘Bona Fortuna’ for his move and the
pupils, I know, will miss his classroom card tricks and satirically
dry sense of humour.
So from September 2015 the Classics Department welcomes in
a real Greek, who has studied Classics at Aristotle University in
Athens, and has been teaching in the UK for a few years already.
Passionate about and well-versed in classical languages and culture,
as well as football, Mr Gavrilis will no doubt take up the mantle of
inspiring the next cohort (or should that be phalanx?) of Classicists
at Ardingly College. We are looking forward to this Greek and the
gifts of intellect he will bring.
Mary Ambler
ART
Ardingly Art Department is a place that nurtures and encourages
independence, individuality, and skill. Henri Matisse once said,
‘An artist is an explorer. He has to begin by self-discovery and
exploration of his own procedure. After that he must not feel under
any constraint.’ We want this creative confidence to embed itself
within our Art students, in order for them to feel free to take risks
and explore sometimes impossible ideas within their projects.
With Art, we can make the impossible possible. Metamorphic
paper dresses, glass painted landscapes and metallic ceramic forms
emerge from the heads and hands of our artists. Knowledge and
strong technical skills underpin this freedom, but every unique
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facet of the students we teach is encouraged out of them, resulting
in varied, exciting art. We achieve excellent results on the GCSE, A
Level and IB courses, hosting frequent exhibitions of work in our
purpose-built gallery. The large Department floods with light and
the industrious, visually rich environment encourages all students
to develop and refine their ideas to a fluent level. Our annual
trips to galleries and overseas support this understanding and
appreciation further.
In the Michaelmas Term our Fifth and Sixth Form Gallery Trips
took us to the contrasting Victoria and Albert Museum and then
the groundbreaking Saatchi Gallery in London. The students
benefitted from a chance to explore freely, discovering works of art
and artefacts that could embed within their diverse units of work.
In March, the Sixth Form overseas trip took us to New York, where
the environment, fantastic galleries, atmosphere and experience
gave a huge boost to the appreciation, knowledge and portfolios of
the IB and AS students. We took in the iconic view from the Empire
State Building and across to Lady Liberty and worked from the
masterpieces housed in The Met, MOMA and The Guggenheim. It
was a truly creative and exciting visit for all involved.
The 2014 examination results were very pleasing. The GCSE gained
100% A*-C, with 69% A* and A grades. The A Level groups also
produced a high percentage of top marks, with the AS cohort
gaining 80% A grades. As usual our course structure and outcomes
were highly praised by the examiners, who consistently comment
on the diversity and personal nature of our students’ work. The IB
cohort did particularly well in 2014 also – getting all level 6 and 7
marks (the top range). The percentage of students in Visual Arts
gaining a level 7 is reputed to be as low as 2% internationally – so we
were very proud of the fluent, mature and exciting art the students
made for their final exhibitions of work in March.
Professional company ‘The Bigger Picture’ came to Ardingly Art
Department in January to work on an intensive afternoon of art
analysis with the Lower VI IB group and A Level Art students. The
three-hour masterclass introduced students to the skills and tactics
involved in ‘reading’ and understanding art work, and being able
to articulate their responses in a clear and fluent manner. With the
introduction of the new essay component to the Visual Arts course 1516, this will help all candidates to put together exciting investigations
into art from various times and cultures for their submissions in
March next year. We have also had a fantastic Careers talk in April
from Jem Ryan, course leader at Brighton Art Foundation; helping
students to unpick a lot of the fallacies about careers in art and to
understand the process of preparing portfolios for interview on to
further Art education. The cliché of an impoverished artist feverishly
working in their garret was dispelled with his knowledge of the myriad
of routes art can lead to in the creative industries.
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year we have many moving on again to prestigious courses, such as
Central Saint Martins.
We have had a large number of exhibitions this academic year.
The Whole School Art Competition was based on the theme of
‘Creatures’ in November. In total, 128 artists contributed to the
show, making beautiful pieces with media as diverse as papiermâché, pencil, print and paint. First placed and highly commended
were chosen from four College categories: Pre-Prep, Upper and
Lower Prep, and Senior. From Pre-Prep first prize went to Elfie
Noble of Year One with her beautiful feathery beaded owl, and
Donatella Misra of Year One was commended. The Prep School
was split into Year 3 to 5, and Year 6 to 8. A commended prize
for Lower Prep went to Keira Donnelly-Sallows of Year 3 and
first prize went to Sam Greenyer of Year 4 for his wonderful scaly
crocodile collage. The Upper Prep commended position went
to Millie Warren and in first place with an impressively scary
monster sculpture was Year 8’s Rowan Duncan. Judging the Senior
Category was incredibly hard as the work was diverse, beautiful
and varied. After much consultation and deliberation, the Senior
School commended prize was awarded to the hauntingly intense
drawing produced by Fifth former, Georgina Gräfin-Kerssenbrock.
The first placed winner was chosen due to the intense detail and
intricate use of pattern and design presented on a confident eyecatching scale, and was the work of Matthew Bedford in Remove.
The evening of Wednesday 5th November brought the 2014
Private View of Ardingly Staff Art to the College. A wide range
of staff from all areas of the School contributed their visual arts
work, leading to an exciting and impressive show. Students have
seen the hidden talents of their teachers, and colleagues have been
impressed by everything produced.
The evening of 19th March saw the triumphant end of course
exhibition of art work from the current Upper VI IB Visual Arts
Students. Laura Penfold, Promise Joshua, Sophia Fossali and
Carlotta Bulgari displayed their year and a half of work in the
Galleries beautifully, using the space to display their sculpture,
painting and mixed media works to great effect. The evening was
attended by a large number of friends, staff, parents and governors
who, without exception, were impressed by the range and quality of
work on show. The thought and intention behind the art this year
was very meaningful, and hard-hitting cultural issues were explored
alongside deeply emotive personal experiences. Discovering
the layers of meaning in the work added a new element of
understanding to many of the audience, spelling out the intensely
personal artistic journey the girls have been on. With futures
ahead studying Art, and the positive experience of developing their
creativity behind them, the four girls have gained a lot from the
time they have spent in the Art rooms. We wish them well.
The Final Art Exhibition of the A2, AS and GCSE students’
portfolios drew a crowd of parents, staff and guests from other
schools in May. They were all treated to a magnificent display,
showcasing the truly diverse range of styles and use of media by
Ardingly’s very talented artists. As Head of Art, I was proud of
everything the students had achieved, with it shining through in
this vibrant, energetic final Art show. The increasing willingness
of students to take risks and think outside the box is leading to
some extraordinarily advanced and exciting work, all underpinned
by the crucial development of strong drawing and painting
skills. Their confidence to make mistakes and develop ideas
with perceptive, sensitive investigation makes leading the art at
Ardingly an absolute joy.
Einstein once said, ‘Creativity is intelligence having fun’ – and the
creation of art work at Ardingly is always an enlightening, uplifting
experience for everyone involved. This is what we aim to instil in
our students, and give to them as they progress into their futures
outside Ardingly’s walls.
Claire Grover
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
Designers and the continuous developments in technology are
forever changing the world we live in. Whether it be the latest
Apple gadget or major global companies re-branding themselves,
design and technology impact almost every area of our lives. In
this rapidly changing environment, the Senior School Design
Technology Department continues to thrive and equip students for
ever-changing roles and responsibilities in the world.
Students continue to enjoy the manufacturing and hands-on side of
the subject. Remove students completed a new ukulele project which
saw them design a ukulele based on a 20th Century design era. Much
to their delight, each student then made a working ukulele, learning a
whole variety of hand skills as well as using the Department’s varied
Computer Aided Design and Manufacture technology.
The annual DT Exhibition in October was again a thoroughly
enjoyable event where all examination work was displayed for the
whole College community to appreciate. This included a beautifully
simple, yet elegant piece by Jacob Patterson-Yates which was singled
out for a Special Award at the Young Craftsperson of the Year
competition 2014. Also on display was work from the very talented
current Upper Sixth group, which boasted intricate folding chairs
and oak furniture. All work was supported by the students’ portfolios,
which explained the design and development process they had each
We have many moving on to Art Foundation Courses and Degrees,
with many former Art students staying in contact and keeping us
updated with their successful time studying creative subjects. This
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cryptically. Pairs of characters take it in turns to play out their
own little scenarios, each unrelated to the previous and with the
contextless absurdity of a Beckett play. But each scenario takes a
different facet of a digital native existence and points out its futility.’
Term started with rehearsals for Joan Littlewood’s classic play with
songs, Oh, What a Lovely War. 35 students worked indefatigably
throughout the term both on and off stage to create their own
version of Littlewood’s great play whilst respectfully acknowledging
the young Ardinians who lost their lives between 1914 and 1918.
The production was supported by old Ardianian, Emma Elgee,
who worked tirelessly in the Drama Department ensuring the cast,
creative team and administration ran smoothly. The production was
proud to raise over £700 for The Malala Foundation and Combat
Stress through ticket sales and interval donations.
During the Michaelmas Term IB students performed a short and
powerful piece of Banraku puppetry, fusing the classical Japanese
theatrical tradition with music from Stephen Sondheim’s Pacific
Overtures. Grace, elegance and beauty in twelve very moving
minutes. The Upper Sixth IB created a tragic-comedy based on
fairy tales, whilst exposing the often uncomfortable realities that
lurk beneath the surface.
gone through before settling on their final designs. Some of this work
led to students being awarded full marks in the controlled assessment
element of the course – a huge achievement for these students
(this amounts to at least 50% of their course depending on which
level they are studying). Brunel University, arguably the top design
university in the country, has made generous offers to two students
to ensure that it secures these talented youngsters. I look forward
to watching their careers, alongside others going to study Design at
higher education, progress and develop.
We are fortunate to have London nearby and continue to make
use of the wealth of design and technology opportunities available
there. Sixth Form students spent a study day at the Institute of
Education listening to and learning from world-class product
designers including Wayne Hemingway. The Remove students
will also shortly be visiting London to attend Brunel University’s
graduate exhibition and complete research for their forthcoming
Controlled Assessment task.
The Department continues to go from strength to strength, helping
to solve students’ design ideas and dilemmas with industrystandard software and machinery which itself is being expanded
and improved upon as technology develops. No doubt the next
academic year will prove to be as exciting and challenging, and I
am looking forward to all that it brings.
Gwilym Batchelder
DRAMA
The year started with our Edinburgh Fringe show One Green
Bottle performing at C venue. The play was written specifically
for the cast of ten students by former Royal Court writer Nick
Cassenbaum. Tim Bano, a theatre critic who gave the show three
stars, described it in these words:
‘Dig beneath the surface and Nick Cassenbaum’s weird play has
a great deal to say about modern life, but it is said obliquely and
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The Lent Term saw the Sixth Form play Beyond Therapy staged
in the Drama Studio. A cast of seven rehearsed and performed
Christopher Durang’s hilarious play about love, life and uptight
New Yorkers. Meanwhile Sean Pontikos took the ‘drama’ to the
‘screen’ in his short film Café. Filmed over a day at the local
Ardingly Café, he told a tale that Mike Leigh and Hitchcock would
be proud of – coffee will never be the same again.
GCSE examinations followed shortly at the end of term with a
great array of talent and plays. We saw extracts from; Anthony
Neilson’s farce The Lying Kind, Dennis Kelly’s plays DNA and
Osama the Hero, Flies and Infant by Oliver Lansley. Students did
a stunning job of tackling themes, characters and ideas that truly
reflected the struggle to understand ourselves and the world in
which we live.
Upper Sixth students performed their A2 devised pieces, looking
at the relationship between our virtual and real selves. Both short
plays explored themes of identity, communication and loneliness.
In the meantime students went to see a number of productions
over the year including the West End play about our greatest writer
Shakespeare in Love. We also went to Brighton to see the emerging
theatre company Kill the Beast’s play The Boy Who Kicked Pigs and
in the Lent Term Othello by Frantic Assembly.
During the year we were fortunate to have workshops with theatre
maker Will Dickie who put Lower Sixth through their paces in
preparation for their practical performance of the Bacchae in
Trinity. Following Kill The Beast’s performance in Brighton the
company came to College and worked with the Sixth Form in
developing physical approaches to theatre making.
In the meantime, ArtsFest 15 will be welcoming back Sam Elwin
with a show about refuge and home. Whilst further afield OA Jojo
Macari has been performing in A level Playing Field at the Jermyn
Street Theatre.
We are also delighted to be premiering A Very British Childhood at
the Pleasance Theatre for the Edinburgh Festival this year. On a
final note a number of our young people have applied for drama
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and film school along with Freya Thursfield and Aidan Murphy
being accepted for National Youth Theatre’s summer course. We
wish them luck and will keep you posted during 2016.
Ben May
MUSIC
It has been another busy and successful year in the Music
Department, with lots of high quality music-making taking
place in every area. After the usual organisational flurry at the
start of the year, the first informal concert took place on 22nd
September, including some splendid performances from senior
scholars. The annual Orchestral Day on 29th September was
another outstanding event, with a large number of local schools
represented, all expertly directed by up-and-coming conductor
Jonathan Lo. A notable new feature of the calendar are regular
Lunchtime Concerts given by music staff - the String Trio
Concert on 8th October and the World War 1 Remembrance
Concert on 11th November proved inspiring events. The House
Music Competition in early November was also another highly
enjoyable event, demonstrating the depth of talent in the College.
The Chapel Choir and Schola Cantorum have had an excellent
year, first shown at the Southwark Cathedral Evensong on 15th
October, and later at the Remembrance Concert and the carol
services. A highlight for me was the choir singing for Mass at
Westminster Cathedral on 22nd November, which included
the premiere of a new anthem by Stephen Hough. The annual
VOCES8 Choral Day on 6th November was another packed event,
continuing our long-term collaboration with this outstanding
ensemble. The concert and class by the celebrated Allegri String
Quartet on 17th November proved extremely valuable for our
string players and chamber groups.
The Lent Term was also full of musical highlights, not least the
concert by the Rose Wind Trio and friends, including a beautiful
performance of Mozart’s Quintet. The choir sang Evensong at
Chichester Cathedral on 11th February, and this was repeated
later in the term with VOCES8, both excellent occasions. We
were treated to a marvellous evening concert on 5th March given
by violinist Lisa Ueda and pianist Daniele Rinaldo, prior to their
Wigmore Hall debut in April. Another highlight for me was the
concert given by the Gould Piano Trio, who gave the very first
performance in the Music@Ardingly series back in 2008. This
event was particularly notable, because it was in the presence of
composer James MacMillan, whose new Second Trio was included
in the programme. James also gave a highly informative GCSE
composition class earlier in the afternoon. Other notable events in
the term included the ever-popular Cabaret Night and the Spring
Concert, where all the soloists and ensembles excelled themselves.
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The biggest musical event of the year in the College, the House
Singing Competition in February, was another close contest,
with some outstanding performances, not least from the winners
Woodard Girls.
The Trinity Term proved another hectic one, including the annual
Singers’ Concert and an informal concert. Ardingly provided
seven finalists in the Woodard Musician of the Year competition,
again the highest number from any Woodard school. Notable
concerts included sell-out ones given by VOCES8 and The Sixteen.
All in all, a wonderful year.
Robert Costin
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The Department started on a high this year after our best ever
IGCSE results with 64% of our students achieving A*-A grades and
100% A*-C. Our A level students achieved their predicted grades
and a couple went on to study Physical Education at university.
With the vast fixture programme at the College, the PE
Department managed a day out with the AS and A2 PE students at
the Sport Science labs at the University of Brighton. Sport Scholar,
Charlotte Childs, was put through the dreaded VO2 Max test,
whilst Jamie Butt completed a blood lactate test. All students were
able to experience the environmental chamber in the afternoon,
where we looked at the effect of pre-cooling on the body prior to
exercising in high temperatures and humidity. This is something
our talented students may have to experience in real life, with the
future Olympics in Rio and Football World Cup in Qatar.
This year we welcomed Rebecca Hughes to the Department as
Helen Lewis’s maternity cover, and we are delighted that she is
going to remain as Head of Girls’ Games at Ardingly College. As
usual, with the nature of games and PE in such a busy school,
Rebecca has been completely thrown in at the deep end, especially
with all the sporting successes the College has achieved this year
and the organisation that goes alongside these events.
We also say goodbye this year to Neil Gutteridge, the Director of
Co-Curricular Activities and valued member of the PE department,
teaching A2 Exercise Physiology and PE since his arrival seven
years ago. We wish him well in his new role at Rugby School.
Alex Hill
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THE ARTS
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OH, WHAT A LOVELY WAR
DECEMBER 2014
When Joan Littlewood’s ‘play with songs’, Oh, What a Lovely War,
opened at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East in March 1963, it
prompted the historian, AJP Taylor, to declare in a lecture delivered
a few weeks later in Oxford that it ‘does what the historians have
failed to do’ in that it provided ‘a striking demonstration of what
the war was about.’ A member of the first night audience, the
celebrated comedienne Barbara Windsor, wrote of the premiere
production that, ‘What Joan Littlewood did that night was to make
us realise that this was the most horrendous war ever.’
A major element in Littlewood’s triumph was the artificiality of
her staging, with the horrors of the trenches and the stupidity
of the generals transmuted into a pierrot-inspired ‘end-of-thepier show’ that utilised one of the most basic human emotions
– that of laughter – as a vehicle for the horrific realisation that
what one found funny was the bleakest of human tragedies –
mankind’s tendency to want to blast itself into the maelstrom
of conflict under the façade of patriotic fervour and misplaced
self-righteousness.
Alas, much of the tenacity of Littlewood’s original vision of the
piece was greatly reduced, and some would say lost, in the rather
anaesthetised film version of the stage play that appeared in 1969,
and which is probably the interpretation of the piece known to
most people today.
This new production of the piece, directed by Ben May and Clair
Ballantyne, certainly eschewed the anaesthetic with a quite inspired
conceit that set the piece, at least superficially, in a classroom of
a school somewhere in Sussex, beginning in the Chapel under
the War Memorial with a contemporary Ardinian apparently
researching the lives of various Old Ardinians, all of whose names
were to be inscribed on the memorial. As he read out the names of
twenty-two of them, ‘schoolboys’ careered through the Chapel into
class; the twenty-third name, that of Frank Hobbs, Head Boy in the
Summer of 1914, elicited ghostly footsteps.
ARDINGLY annals 2015
The audience moved into the ‘classroom’ of The Under and the
‘Class of 1914’ arrived for the day’s lessons. After a very few
minutes the audience were no longer watching schoolchildren
playing soldiers but ghostly spectres reliving the horrors of the
trenches, impotent generals allowing the slaughter of thousands,
the ‘women of Britain’ sending their men to certain death
and soldiers themselves passing from patriotic jubilation to
disaffection and dismay. With theatrical genius, school desks and
chairs were transformed into trenches, military transportation,
society ballrooms and General Staff rooms; the spectral
schoolboys into soldiers, generals, politicians, nurses and society
ladies. Images of the horror of the trenches, records of casualties
and images of war, both the Great War and more recent conflicts,
and its economic impacts, were flashed onto screens/chalkboards
in the ‘classroom’ until at the very end the eighteen-year-old
Second Lieutenant Frank Hobbs in his officer’s uniform, in a
picture taken weeks before his death, smiled down upon us as we
left The Under.
Within such a taut ensemble of actors it would be well-nigh
insidious to single-out individuals, but at risk of upset, stalwart
Upper Sixth members of the theatrical fraternity at the College
must be mentioned for their contributions to this and previous
productions: Harry Ames, James Eagles, Michaela Green,
Maxine Higenyi, Sammi Jackman and Ed Jobling, all of whom
will be leaving the College at the end of this Academic Year. The
musicians, under the direction of Robert Costin, attacked the
period songs with customary élan. The décor, stage management
and technical presentation were, as usual, impeccable, with the
whole company as one presenting a production that had every
member of the audience lost for words, as the palpable pause
before the standing ovation on the last night bore testament not
just to the power of Littlewood’s play but, in this concept, above
all to the totally committed vitality of a star ensemble.
David Lawrence-March
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CABARET
2015
The annual Cabaret is a pre-fabricated event whose speedy
assembly into the highly successful and polished unit that is
presented to an elite audience towards the end of the Lent Term
belies the hard work that has gone into the construction of its
constituent parts over the weeks and months before. Resources
have been booked and reserved, repertoire has been investigated,
tested, and prepared, diaries are cleared, paperwork is filled in
and many, oh so many emails are sent. Wondrously, from these
disparate elements, a really happy and fulfilling event emerges, like
Aphrodite from the Aegean, fully formed and ready.
By six o’clock on the evening of Saturday March 21st 2015 the
Under looked fantastic, the floor space dominated by large circular
tables beautifully decorated with flowers and lit by candlelight
reflected off the polished silverware. A dedicated team from the
Friends of Ardingly had worked hard to create all this to give the
performance the quality setting it deserved. By 6.45 the nervous and
excited performers had assembled and the audience were arriving,
all dressed in evening wear. It is always such a key element in the
success of the evening for the performers to have their friends in the
audience, and it was great to see that Miss Gall and Mr Bennetts
had both booked tables for the interested Upper Sixth to watch and
lend enthusiastic support to the performances of their peers.
The evening traditionally starts with an upbeat Jazz Band number
to call the audience to order and then Ties Lind and Alice Burke,
the confident and assured comperes, welcomed the audience
and began to introduce the evening’s items. Compering is such a
difficult role, much harder to do than it appears; the Cabaret has
been very lucky in its presenting duos over the years and Ties and
Alice were no exception. Rebecca Smith was the first solo item and
sang All the Way You Are with her usual lovely tone and sincerity
of performance. The close harmony of the Jazz Singers was a
really successful element of the evening, lending contrast to the
instrumental and solo items, and they sang three songs, Over the
Rainbow, Angel Eyes and Summertime with real blend and musical
polish. Mr Costin is full of admiration for these singers and had
prepared them to great effect. Michaela Green gave her upper
register a workout with the contemporary Chandelier and showed
her real control of technique as well as the individual colour of her
voice. As always, the wheeling of the years sees the departure of
Cabaret favourites, and Michaela will be much missed next year, as
will Sammi, Maxine, Rebecca, Ella, and Carlos, veterans of at least
two or three previous Cabarets.
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Grace Wood sang really beautifully and created real atmosphere
with her choice of song Autumn Leaves; what a talent she has.
Anna Elwin (the last but not least of four Elwins to have performed
in this event) and Eleanor Haines sang the Vaudeville classic
Me and My Shadow and projected the song with intelligence
and humour. Alex Davies sang a very unusual, slowed down and
melancholy version of the Grease classic You’re the One that I
Want. This was very haunting and effective; I’m so glad that Alex
was recommended to me and only wish I’d heard of his talent to
be able to ask him to sing in previous Cabarets. In only the second
time in my experience a brother and sister combination (Charles
and Kathryn Austin anyone?) took the stage, and Constance and
Ed Jobling brought the house down with their version of Anything
You Can Do; Constance in particular demonstrating spectacular
breath control suggesting hours spent pearl diving or perhaps
extensive chasing after hockey balls. Ashley Johnston is a great
find, performing her own wistful songs with massive assurance and
musicality and finding spare energy and composure to chat to the
audience while microphones were being arranged. Ashley is a huge
talent and only in the Fifth Form, so she will be a fixture for the
next two years. Who better than Carlos Sandin to take the big slot
to end the first half and, with the backing of the mighty Jazz Band,
this great performing personality, walking stick and all, swept us
irresistibly to the interval with Ain’t That a Kick in the Head.
After a fantastic main course and dessert prepared and served by
the Friends and the Ardingly Catering Department, Alice, Ties,
and the Jazz Band started off the second half. Will Castle really
threw himself into Paparazzi; it is great to have such confident
and accomplished male singers, and it is good to know that I can
count on Will for Cabaret 2016. The lovely Florence Ertl sang
I Don’t Know Why and cast a real artistic spell with her delicate
vocals. Michaela and Alex relished the opportunity to sing the duet
Full Fat, a more than purely musical association as the compères
commented. Maxine Higenyi chose the perfect vehicle for her
talent in the Carol King classic You Make Me Feel and sang with
total vocal and emotional maturity. This was a real favourite with
the audience and was a highlight of the evening. Sammi Jackman
looked and sounded fantastic with Get Here and Mr Paddy Jackman
was delighted that he had ‘got there’ from Twickenham well in
time to see his talented daughter sing in her last of three Ardingly
Cabarets. This brought us to the final song of the evening and a
really great singer, Ella Rainbird Earley, joined with the Jazz Band
for I’ve Got You Under My Skin. Ella is among the most talented of
all the singers I’ve heard in eleven Cabarets and we’ve been lucky to
have her available for two of them. She has a great musical future.
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Throughout the evening Stephen Smith, Robert Costin and Max
Kenworthy were accompanying and conducting with great skill,
and Ashleigh John was tirelessly bounding up and down between
items re-arranging microphones as Stage Manager. Julian Hewings
had put in an extraordinary amount of work in preparation for
the Cabaret at a very busy time of year for him and he supervised
the sound and lighting from the back balcony. The Cabaret is
so dependent on these talented and professional people, and
I’m always so grateful. Iona Mackay Bulger had masterminded
the organization of all the behind-the-scenes arrangements with
great skill and foresight. And thanks once more to the wonderful
performers who give so much energy and commitment to their
moments on the stage; thanks and gratitude to those who move
on to greater venues and to those who will be the lynchpins of the
future Ardingly Cabarets.
Chris Parke
CHOIR VISITS TO SOUTHWARK,
WESTMINSTER AND CHICHESTER
One is never completely sure what the Chapel Choir is going to
sound like after a change of personnel and a long summer holiday,
and this year was no exception. However, it has proved one of the
most successful in recent memory, owing to the hard work and
commitment of the sixty students. The Chapel Choir leads the
worship in the College Mass every week, but beyond this primary
role it also regularly sings in prestigious venues, this year in London
and Chichester.
The first external visit, in mid-October, was to sing for Evensong
at Southwark Cathedral, always a popular destination in the
heart of London. The choir rose to the challenge in some
demanding repertoire, including canticles Wood in D and the
wonderful anthem Like as the Hart by Herbert Howells. This
was followed in November by our second visit in recent years
to sing for Mass at Westminster Cathedral. The choir sang
magnificently, fully embracing the challenge of the Stephen
Hough anthem Just as I am, which was especially commissioned
for this occasion. They also gave an inspired performance
of Rachmaninov’s beautiful Ave Maria during Communion.
The Evensong at Chichester Cathedral on 11th February also
proved another memorable service in our ‘local’ cathedral,
with the choir singing beautifully in music by Smith, Stanford
and Howells. The anthem was a particular highlight, with a
performance of real intensity and expression.
Robert Costin
HOUSE MUSIC
THURSDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2014
We were delighted to welcome Mr Nick Parrans-Smith, Director of
Music at Eastbourne College, to adjudicate this year’s House Music
Competition. This is a highly anticipated annual event and the
behind-the-scenes preparation was as frenzied as ever, particularly
from the innovative Woodard Boys. Our visitor was not to be
disappointed. There was a wonderfully eclectic mix of programmes
and every House presented a well-balanced and well-prepared set.
As ever, the adjudicator’s job was very difficult indeed, and the
standard this year was particularly high. Mr Parrans-Smith made it
clear how close this year’s competition was, noting that all the Houses
fell within seven marks. He specifically noted some particularly fine
performances: Rhodes’s rendition of Under the Bridge by Red Hot
Chilli Peppers; Neal’s House Ensemble conducted by Grace Wood
singing Hey Soul Sister by Train; Crosse House, expertly introduced
by Matthew Price, opened with a fine performance of Skyfall played
by the consistently strong House Jazz Band; Aberdeen had lots to
offer, with strong contributions from Ashley Johnston on guitar;
Toynbee’s solo stars were Monika Stadelmaier, Jessica Hatfield and
Phaii Tarasansombat and their ensemble combinations proved to be
decisive; James Ritchie underpinned the Mertens set with his splendid
’cello playing and choral direction; Hilton offered some excellent solo
acts including Johannes Studier-Fischer’s Chopin Nocturne and Sam
Cutler’s Riptide; the Woodard Girls vocal ensemble of Ella RainbirdEarley, Franziska Lordick, Michaela Green, Sammi Jackman, and
Maxine Higenyi performed an amazing version of White Winter
Hymnal by Fleet Foxes that involved complicated body percussion to
great effect; Woodard Boys were very strong contenders for the top
prize, with high-quality performances from pianists Alberto Vianello
and Jack Kei, but the ‘Wukaleles’ ukulele ensemble plus guests was a
huge crowd pleaser.
After much deliberation, however, the prizes went to Franziska
Lordick for her performance of Doppler’s Fantasie Pastorale Hongroise
(best individual performance), and Toynbee (best overall House).
HOUSE SINGING
THURSDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2015
As usual, the Flecker Hall was the venue for the annual House
Singing Competition and we were very pleased to welcome
The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor at St Paul’s
Cathedral, as the adjudicator. Our distinguished guest was treated
to a plethora of musical treats; the standard across the board was
very high and this made his job all the more difficult. There was
a tremendous atmosphere in the auditorium and, as ever, the
competition was fierce as each House geared up to present their
musical case. Once again, this was an ‘open song’ competition, so
there was no theme stipulated, and as such there was another good
variety of song styles.
Aberdeen: Shake It Off (Taylor Swift)
Crosse: Does Your Mother Know (ABBA)
Hilton: Wake Me Up (Aloe Blacc)
Mertens: Ho Hey (The Lumineers)
Neal: Rolling In The Deep (Adele)
Rhodes: California Dreamin’ (John and Michelle Phillips)
Toynbee: Waka Waka (Shakira)
Woodard Boys: Hooked On A Feeling (Mark James)
Woodard Girls: Uptown Funk (Mark Ronson)
After some very honest and insightful feedback from our esteemed
adjudicator, the prizes went to Mertens (best boys), Neal (best girls),
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and, for the second year running, Woodard Girls (best overall).
Expertly directed by Maxine Higenyi and with a very clever and
effective use of a looping machine by Ella Rainbird-Earley, Woodard
Girls were worthy winners. Congratulations to all Houses and staff
for a fantastic and very enjoyable House Singing Competition.
Max Kenworthy
FAURÉ REQUIEM CONCERT
FRIDAY 14TH NOVEMBER 2014
Another musical act of remembrance was offered in the Chapel on
Friday 14th November – the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré.
Under the direction of Stephen Smith, the Prep School and
Senior School Chamber Choirs joined forces for a very moving
performance of this masterpiece. The collaboration between the
two School Choirs is a splendid sight and they blended together
very nicely. This was a wonderful opportunity for the students to
appreciate such an important work and to enjoy its rich textures,
beautifully constructed melodies and colourful harmonies.
The Requiem in D minor, Op. 48, was written between 1887
and 1890 and is the best known of Fauré’s large works. A short
piece lasting only 35 minutes, it consists of seven movements;
most famous is the central soprano aria Pie Jesu, which was
exquisitely performed by Sixth Form student Ella Rainbird-Earley.
The baritone solos that feature in the Offertorium and the Libera
mei were performed by Josh Edwards, a lay clerk at Southwark
Cathedral, and for added colour in the Sanctus and In Paradisum,
Martin Palmer provided some melodic interjections on violin. The
whole piece was accompanied on the organ by Max Kenworthy.
Max Kenworthy
WOODARD MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
On Saturday 9th May, in the finals of the Woodard Musician of
the Year were held in the prestigious venue of St John’s Smith
Square, London. Five Ardingly pupils took part: Abigail Horton,
Alice Ertl, Monika Stadelmeier, Franziska Lordick, and Cameron
McEwen (Laura Crooks and Jack Kei unfortunately had to drop
out of the final). In total, thirty finalists were selected from over
100 entrants from potentially all the Woodard Schools, so this
was already a significant achievement. Ardingly has a fine record
of success in the competition, having won both the Junior and
Senior Prizes in the past.
All the Ardingly students performed to the highest musical and
technical standards, and they were a great credit to the College.
Ultimately, Abigail Horton, the Prep School Head Girl, won the
overall Junior Prize with a beautiful Debussy piano performance.
This was a highly significant achievement and thoroughly deserved.
Robert Costin
STEPHEN HOUGH
29TH APRIL 2014
Stephen Hough is without doubt an A-list celebrity of the musical
world – he is one of the world’s leading concert pianists and also excels
as a writer, painter and composer. It was therefore a very exciting
prospect and a huge privilege to welcome him to Ardingly College to
give a concert as part of his very busy international schedule.
His programme was predominantly a Romantic selection –
including works by Brahms, Debussy and Schumann – but also
featured his own Piano Sonata No. 2 (notturno luminoso). Mr
Hough’s cool, composed entrance was greeted by rapturous
applause from a capacity audience, and his playing from the outset
was as crisp and clean cut as his appearance (an all black tunic
evoking an image not unlike a Bond villain).
The first half of the concert included Brahms’s Seven Fantasias Op.
116, which features energetic Capriccios and reflective Intermezzos,
each of which is in a three-part form; followed by Debussy’s
Estampes (meaning ‘engravings’ or ‘prints’), a set of three brief
pieces: Pagodes, La soirée dans Grenade and Jardins sous la pluie. Mr
Hough is a musical architect and such an intellectual performer that
one can hear every musical line and nuance very clearly.
The second half opened with his Piano Sonata No. 2 (notturno
luminoso) – an extraordinary piece that was quite mesmerising.
The piece is through-composed and in ABA form, featuring
three musical ideas: one based on sharps (brightness), one based
on flats (darkness), and one based on naturals (a kind of blank
irrationality). His own programme notes were useful in interpreting
the work, but there were definite hints of Messiaen, Brahms and
even some jazz harmony here – Hough’s imaginative and cerebral
creativity, together with his clever use of the soft pedal (even in forte
passages), made for a very thought-provoking and unique sound
world. Schumann’s Carnaval followed – a series of 21 tableaux,
a masked ball in which one character after another takes centrestage. This was a masterful demonstration of how to showcase not
only his own incredible skill and virtuosity, but also the qualities
and subtleties of the instrument. Hough can play with humour,
aggression, and bravado, but it is his wonderful ability to play so
softly and so sensitively that particularly tickled my aural senses.
After a torrent of applause and two brief encores, the great man
slipped away as stealthily as he came. A sensational concert.
DAVE NEWTON TRIO WITH
HEATHER CAIRNCROSS
25TH JUNE 2014
Dave Newton is one of the finest jazz pianists in the business –
he has been voted the best jazz pianist in the British Jazz Awards
eleven times, and has recorded and toured extensively with
numerous jazz greats, notably Stacey Kent and Alan Barnes.
As part of Ardingly College ArtsFest 2014, he teamed up with bassist
Tom Farmer, drummer Matt Skelton and vocalist Heather Cairncross,
whose uniquely versatile voice has allowed her to sing successfully
at the highest level internationally in many musical genres. She is a
former member of The Swingle Singers, has worked with Stephane
Grappelli and Steve Reich, and has appeared at some of the world’s
top concert venues performing as a member of – and soloist for –
Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s Monteverdi Choir.
MUSIC @ ARDINGLY
38
A capacity audience in The Under was treated to a selection of
songs primarily from the Great American Songbook, a term used
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many Mozartian characteristics: dancing rhythms, elaborate
codas and delicate textures. The quartet play with an immaculate
certainty and bring much to the performance with their physical
gesticulations – there is a clear, almost telepathic understanding at
all times. They are exciting to watch as well as to listen to.
Shostakovich’s Quartet in F minor No. 11, Opus 122 has seven
movements, played as a continuous whole. It is a much shorter
piece than the Beethoven, no less adventurous, but packed full of
menace and tragedy. F minor was used by Baroque musicians to
signify death and to express great sorrow – this piece is dedicated
to the memory of Vasili Pyotrovich Shirinsky, a close friend
of Shostakovich. Shostakovich himself was recovering from
neurological treatment at the time of writing. The Allegri foursome
helpfully played main themes and other musical points of interest
to look out for before the performance.
to identify some of the most important and influential American
popular songs of the 20th century, such as Skylark (Hoagy
Carmichael), Embraceable you (George Gershwin) and Some other
time (Leonard Bernstein). The odd standard was also thrown into
the mix: a highlight for me was Don’t get around much anymore
which was played as a jazz waltz – an unusual but extremely
successful interpretation.
Newton oozes sophistication at the keyboard and the resources at
his disposal are seemingly limitless – ideas pour from his fingers
effortlessly. His lightness of touch is so refreshing and even the
most dazzling passagework is made to sound easy. It is his excellent
judgement, however, where often ‘less is more’ that makes him such
a standout musician.
Cairncross’s voice is so suitable for the genre: her sonorous tone
is as clear as a bell and every syllable is so articulate. She achieves
incredible control and has the capacity to adjust to any style – we
had a delightfully eclectic mix of ballads, fast Latin, rumba and
swing numbers. Her warm interaction with the audience was
perfectly pitched.
For the second half, the Quartet were joined by Ardingly Head
of Keyboard, Vicky Yannoula, for a performance of Dvořák’s
Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major, Opus 81. Composed in 1887, it
is generally regarded as one of the masterpieces of the form along
with those of Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Shostakovich. The
work is something of a tour de force that includes some wonderful
elements of Czech folk music as well as a dazzling array of intricate
passage-work for all players. The third movement, marked as a
‘Furiant’, is a fast Bohemian folk dance, and this was performed
with real energy and verve – the fortissimo passages were
surprisingly powerful and genuinely exciting.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable concert and a very well-chosen
programme.
Max Kenworthy
There is a clear understanding between Newton and Cairncross,
and they complement each other perfectly – the empathy between
the pair is so natural and makes for a very cohesive musical union.
Having the bass and drums was an added luxury and both Tom
Farmer and Matt Skelton supported brilliantly.
This was a world class jazz performance and I can’t wait to hear
them again.
ALLEGRI STRING QUARTET
MONDAY 17TH NOVEMBER 2014
It was a great pleasure to welcome one of the foremost chamber
groups in the country, the Allegri String Quartet, to Ardingly.
Celebrating their 60th anniversary in 2013, the Allegri Quartet is
the oldest chamber group in Britain. Following a very informative
and useful workshop with some Senior School musicians during
the afternoon, the quartet treated a good-sized audience to three
chamber works by Beethoven, Shostakovich, and Dvořák in an
evening concert in the Under.
The first half of the concert featured quartets by two titans of
the genre – Beethoven and Shostakovich, who wrote sixteen
and fifteen quartets respectively. The quartets of Ludwig van
Beethoven are highly acclaimed, and Nos. 1-6, Opus 18 are
thought to demonstrate his total mastery of the classical string
quartet as developed by Haydn and Mozart. No. 5 in A major is
very definitely inspired by Beethoven’s predecessors and displays
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39
CHAPLAINCY
40
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THE CHAPLAINCY
The offering of worship continues to undergird the life of the
College: the daily celebration of the Eucharist during term time,
and quite often during the holidays, the recitation of the Daily
Office, and the availability of the Chapel of St Saviour and,
especially, of the Crypt Chapel as places for prayer, stillness, and
reflection, provide essential elements of the Christian foundation
at Ardingly, that undergirds all we strive to achieve here. On
some days the congregation at the voluntary celebrations in the
early evening may range from Shell pupils to parents and staff,
with pupils as readers, servers and Eucharistic ministers quietly
exercising their sharing in the Christian witness of what is truly
a Eucharistic Community. Unfortunately dry rot was discovered
in the Crypt Chapel during the Easter holidays, necessitating its
closure. Hopefully the fumigation, cleaning, and reconstruction
will be completed by the end of term. If all goes according to
plan, Bishop Lindsay should be able to rededicate the Crypt
Chapel on Commemoration Day.
At the end of the Academic Year we shall bid farewell to our
Provost, Bishop Lindsay Urwin OGS, who is returning to his
native Australia, to the Archdiocese of Melbourne, where he will
have a particular brief to the many church schools there. Over
his many years of association with the College and the Southern
Region of the Woodard Corporation he has exercised a ministry
of loving care and concern to all in his charge; as my ‘boss’ I owe
him an immense debt of gratitude for entrusting the Chaplaincy
at Ardingly to me nearly seven years ago. He leaves with all our
prayers and best wishes, and heartfelt thanks.
The music in Chapel, under the direction of Robert Costin,
continues to enhance our worship with a growing number of
singers in the choir, both pupils and staff.
Fr John Thackray, the Chaplain of King’s School, Rochester;
Canon John Twisleton, the Rector of Horsted Keynes and
Father David.
The Senior Sacristans this year have been Sam Cunningham
and Maxine Higenyi, assisted by Maxwell Pierce as the Deputy
Sacristan. The other Sixth Form Sacristans have been Alexi
Demetriadi, Jake Freeman, Eleanor Haines, Sammi Jackman,
Polina Popova, and Andrew Telford; Thomas Hindle, Patrick
Moore, and James Ritchie, the Principal Under Sacristans; Raphael
Adomakoh, Toby Brann, Lisa Bräutigam, Edward Draycott,
Charlotte Fischer, Henry Gould, Patrick Jacobs, Aleksandra
Kwiatkowska, Patrick O’Brien, Thomas Tweedie-Smith and Harry
Ward, the Under Sacristans; Tom Cunningham, Michael Joyner,
and Owen Mordecai, the Junior Sacristans.
By the time this article is published, the College Sacristans will
have provided the serving team for the National Pilgrimage to
the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham for the fifth consecutive
year, this year being particularly poignant as it will be Bishop
Lindsay’s last National Pilgrimage as Administrator of the Shrine.
The dedication of the Sacristy team, not only at the solemn
celebrations in the Chapel of St Saviour, but also day-by-day in the
Crypt Chapel, is quite unsurpassed. The Upper Sixth Sacristans
continue to assist at the Prep School Mass each Friday, taking
on the responsibility for training the Prep School Sacristans.
They and the other Sixth Form College Sacristans have also
served as Eucharistic Ministers. We send all the Sacristans who
are leaving the College this year with our prayers and blessings
for their continuing journey of faith, thanking them all for their
contributions to the life of our College community of faith.
Father David Lawrence-March
Preachers during the Academic Year have included: our Provost,
Bishop Lindsay; Canon Brendan Clover, the Senior Provost; Fr
Gavin Williams, the Chaplain of Westminster School; Fr Richard
Bolton, Priest-in-charge of Holy Trinity, Winchmore Hill; Fr
James Francis RN, the Chaplain of HM Naval Base, Portsmouth;
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41
CHRISTIAN UNION
The Bible is the most revered book in the world; it is also the most
reviled. Millions of people turn to it every day to find inspiration
and direction for their lives, yet for 2000 years no other book has
been so hated, vilified and attacked. Many have lost their lives
defending it, in some countries it is banned. Yet for many people
the Bible is neither loved nor loathed; it is nothing more than an
ancient religious document that raises lots of questions. Today,
many would say that science has taken the place of explaining the
world and our place in it. Ardingly CU is a time to explore these
issues and many more.
Every Friday lunchtime a group of students have met with
Christian staff to discuss what the Bible has to say on a huge host
of different issues. The group have a lovely lunch together in the
Old Ardinians’ Room, and a silly game is often played, before
the group look at the Bible together. The atmosphere created is
a vibrant, friendly place where no question is ever frowned upon.
It is a place for students to come and hear what the Bible says
about the world we live in, and for them to then make their own
decisions based on the facts they have heard. It is a huge privilege
to be involved, in this small way, in helping students to explore the
Christian faith, often for the first time.
42
The group is a diverse one with some professing Christians and others
turning up to listen. They have again been blessed with wide ranging
support in the form of speakers from local pastors, youth workers,
chaplains, and other members of the local community. We express
huge gratitude to all those who have given of their time to come and
speak to the group. Special thanks must go to the following churches:
Cuckfield Baptist Church, Lindfield All Saints, Christchurch
Haywards Heath, and The Titus Trust. This ministry would be much
harder without their support, but thanks must also go to the faithful
group of parents who pray for the group and bring cakes each week.
Numerous students have again signed up this year to go on a
Lymington Rushmore Holiday, camps where students can try their
hand at all sorts of different, fun activities but also explore the
Christian faith with other teenagers from around the country.
It is thrilling to see God at work in a whole host of different ways
across the Ardingly College community. I trust God will continue
to work in their lives and lead them wherever they may go.
‘Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do
not see.’ Hebrews 11:1
Gwilym Batchelder
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43
TRIPS &
SOCIETIES
44
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HISTORY SOCIETY
The History Society has had a very busy and fun year. With weekly
meetings at Wednesday lunchtime enhanced by the regular addition
and consumption of cake, the society’s popularity, not surprisingly,
has grown and grown.
The range of topics and activities covered has been extensive, from the
reality of the Vikings TV series to the quality of interactive displays
in museums. Discussion has been engaging, lively and interesting.
Some of the highlights have included a fantastic talk by our friend and
regular speaker, Mr Robin Nonhebel (another Medieval Historian)
talking about the unfair reputation of King Aethelread ‘the Unready.’
Some were even convinced by his hypothesis that the reputation is
unfair. Many students have presented their studies to the society too.
Among them have been Maxwell Pierce. His fascinating illustrated
talk was the first of many, and among the best of the rest was Luca
Williams and his discussion about the failings of International Law
and International Organisations. Many in History Society have
contributed to ‘Timeline,’ the College’s History and International
Relations Journal, and this year has been no exception. At the time
of going to press there are a broad range of fascinating topics being
studied and ultimately written about around the theme of ‘Law.’ We
look forward with interest to the next issue of Timeline, Volume 4, in
Michaelmas 2015.
History Society also went overseas in October, as the students
and some of their parents joined staff on a fascinating trip to the
battlefields of the First World War in Belgium. This was more than
just a History trip, it was a cathartic experience too, as students
were able to visit not just the sites of battle where Old Ardinians had
fought but also the final resting places for seven of those who fell.
And as Mr Jackman, Mr Boucher, Marcus Howe, Georgina GräfinKerssenbrock, Henry Hinder, Cameron Elder, and Maxton Gearing
and others wrote special plaques or laid wreaths or read poems or
ARDINGLY annals 2015
citations from battalion war diaries, all were deeply touched by the
sacrifices made by their forebears. It was a special moment for all.
Back home in Blighty, the History Society has also played host to
a very interesting range of events. The first of these was our annual
Medieval Debate, this year on ‘Who should be King of England in
1066.’ The strengths and weaknesses for each of the four contenders
were fiercely contested by our Lower Sixth Medievalists and their
precocious but highly talented opposition, the scholars from
Hawthorns Prep School. For the first time in four years, the Medieval
Debate ended in a resounding victory to Ardingly 4–0. There were
excellent individual performances from Christopher Ashcroft and
Anna Elwin, but the team performance of the evening went to
James Percy, Jake Freeman, and Max Reynolds who entertainingly
argued against the candidacy of William, Duke of Normandy.
Congratulations to all for debating so well. Incidentally, after all the
debate speeches and questions, and despite everyone knowing what
came next in British History, the audience still overwhelming chose
to vote for Harold Godwinson to become King, proving that we still
can’t help but admire a gallant loser.
In May, a German TV production company visited the College to film
one of its episodes for a documentary series entitled ‘The Germans.’
The purpose of this series is to explore attitudes towards Germans and
Germany, and whether they have changed much in the last one hundred
years. A round-table discussion was filmed, as were various student
contributors to that discussion. Further interviews were conducted
with Mr Jennings, Dr Klinge, Miss Ward, and Mr Figgis. This whole
event demonstrates not just the value and importance of the study of
History, but also the real risks that ‘misunderstandings’ can pose to
social harmony. As an international school, committed to developing
greater understanding and improving international relations, this was
an exciting opportunity that was seized by our students from across the
globe. We look forward to that episode’s transmission.
45
The culmination of the History Society’s exciting calendar of
events was the recent Inter-Prep School History Challenge in June.
Each year, teams of Prep School History enthusiasts (from ACPS,
Hawthorns, Brambletye and Great Walstead) battle it out in a
University Challenge-style quiz competition. The range of History
questioned was very familiar to them but also encompassed some
extra topics to test and ultimately help identify who really were
the most knowledgeable team. Previous winners have included
Hawthorns, Cumnor House and Great Walstead.
And so the History Society has had another exciting year, reaching
out to other schools and exploring tough historical questions, as well
as its own School’s past on foreign fields. Consequently, it has been a
very memorable and important year, and nearly everyone agreed that
the coffee cake was very good too.
Matthew Jennings
HISTORY BATTLEFIELDS TRIP
In October 2014, approximately thirty students, staff, and parents
went to the First World War battlefields near Mons, Ypres, and
Passchendaele, organised by Mr Jennings. We visited many different
places, including the Tyne Cot Cemetery, the Passchendaele Museum,
and the place where it is believed the last British soldier was killed
outside the town of Mons on the Eleventh day of November 1918 at
two minutes before the armistice at the eleventh hour.
This year is the centenary of the first use of chemical weapons on
the battlefield. The German forces used Chlorine gas near Ypres in
1915 against Allied troops and, tragically, it proved hugely effective.
Being able to go on these same fields where soldiers fought was
a great experience and very moving for many of us. When we
visited Essex Farm cemetery, where many of the first victims were
treated following this first gas attack, including the famous poet,
John McCrae, we saw the grave of one of the youngest soldiers to
die in the First World War, Private Valentine Joe Strudwick aged
15; it shocked us all. Realising that he was as young as some of
the students on the trip, that he was the same age as many of the
Remove students, and even younger than myself and many others….
and yet, he was allowed to enrol and went to the Front. Well, it was
terrifying to think about his experiences and especially what he must
have felt. This was a grave which I will not forget, nor will anybody
on the trip.
As part of the tour, we also went to the Menin Gate at Ypres and
heard the Last Post; that night, there were additional pieces of
appropriate music played by a band of massed bagpipers. This was
the first time I had heard it, and I found it very moving. We then
afterwards searched amongst the lists of the 54,896 soldiers whose
names are recorded on the walls of that mausoleum for three old
Ardinians, who served during the Great War. We found them, left
a cross and a message of remembrance as close as possible to their
places on the plaques and silently paid our respects. At two other
cemeteries, Essex Farm and Tyne Cot, we did the same at the graves
of four further Old Ardinians. This whole experience was both
emotional and memorable for young and old on so many levels. I
think that even if my generation aren’t directly affected by this War,
we can still relate to it and remember all those who fought during
those four years.
I want to finish with a question, posed by a student at Menin Gate
as we reflected on the sacrifices by our Old Ardinians and all the
other soldiers in that conflict, one which has no ‘right answer’ and
yet we keep trying to think of one: ‘What was it all for?’
Ferdie Boucher
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SOPHOS AND THE DIVINITY AND
PHILOSOPHY READING GROUP
Sophos, the Middle School D&P Society, has continued to flourish
this year. After James Ritchie handed over the presidency to Luca
Demetriadi at the beginning of the year, we have held meetings on
an extraordinarily wide range of topics, from the nature of Love to
a discussion with a Benedictine monk about the idea of religious
vocation. After we watched excerpts from the film Die Große Stille
about Carthusian monks in the French Alps, and I mentioned the
Sophos members’ enthusiasm to the Carthusians at Parkminster,
the UK’s only Carthusian monastery, the community very kindly
sent a package of cards, pictures, and a book of poetry written by
one of the monks, which has been added to the D&P library. With
such a vast area of study to address, the possibilities for Sophos
meetings are huge and so I have been extremely grateful for the
pro-active way in which many members have suggested topics for
discussion, helping the Society to be both varied and relevant to
its own members. I hope that it will continue to expand under new
leadership next year; onwards and upwards.
The Divinity and Philosophy Reading Group, for Sixth Formers,
has been equally successful this year, and it has been a particular
pleasure to welcome an increasing number of students who do not
study our subject but are nonetheless interested in the DPRG’s
discussions. Over a glass of wine and lots of cheese, we have
tackled some really rather complex philosophical and theological
ideas across an extremely broad spectrum of intellectual history,
and on each occasion the DPRG has risen to the challenge.
We also managed to do a little advertising this year. During the
International Day fair we ran a stall to highlight the different
nationalities of the figures whom we have studied over the past
three terms. To do so in a particularly DPRG way, we gave out
cheese from those same countries along with quotations from the
works discussed, and were extremely pleased to hear that, with the
Spanish Department, we were jointly awarded the prize for the best
stall. Again, I hope that the DPRG, now a long-established part of
Sixth Form life at Ardingly, will flourish long into the future.
Daniel McLean
ART ACTIVITIES
Pupils have been offered a range of activities this year from
silkscreen printing, machine stitching, and hand beading to clay
sculpture. Pupils have learnt new skills, gained knowledge and
understanding of different techniques and processes, and expanded
their creative minds and imaginations.
2014 marked 100 years since the start of the First World War. In
commemoration of the British and Commonwealth soldiers who
lost their lives in the War, artists Paul Cummins and Tom Piper
designed and created 888, 246 ceramic poppies which progressively
filled the Tower of London’s famous moat. The spectacular display
formed as an evolving installation called ‘Blood Swept Lands and
Seas of Red’. In remembrance of all those who served and fell in
battle, Ardingly pupils created their own version of the sculptors’
symbolic flower. Pupils learnt how to design, mould and carve their
own personal and individual clay poppy, before glazing them with
bold, vibrant poppy red. The collection of sixteen poppies will be
displayed in the History Department alongside Rupert Brooke’s
famous World War I poem ‘The Soldier’.
Ardingly pupils have had a fantastic and rare opportunity to work
closely with our Sculptor in Residence, Andrew Brown, who is
known for his highly accurate, detailed and intricate figurative
work. ‘My interest in sculpture lies in the depiction of humans
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and animals in all their complexity of form and expression, and in
capturing the subtlety of their moods and movements’.
Andrew has won a number of prestigious awards, including ones
at the Royal Glasgow Institute and the Royal Scottish Academy
Summer exhibitions. He has also completed a number of large scale
public commissions including ‘The Good Samaritan’ statue which
sits, pride of place, at the front of the College.
Andrew has worked at Ardingly since 2013, developing sculptural
pieces with pupils in wax, clay and bronze. This year, pupils have
worked closely with him, creating detailed studies of animals working
from books and his real life dog. Pupils have developed key skills
moulding, scoring, impressing, and carving into clay, producing some
outstanding examples of three-dimensional sculpture.
Victoria Dewing
ECO-SCHOOLS
This year, the Eco-schools team has comprised a very enthusiastic
group of students. One of the main tasks of the group is to educate
the Ardingly community in recycling and energy saving. Milo
Thursfield spent a morning dressed in a green morph suit making
a film for the Eco-schools assembly in June. The idea is that ‘EcoMan’ teaches the students (and staff) the right way to recycle.
William Inglesfield has been our cameraman.
Molly Adam and Anna Elwin have been instrumental in designing
the new energy-saving stickers which are going up around School.
These are based on the World War Two blackout posters, to
coincide with the 70th Anniversary of VE Day.
Clare Jackson
MODEL UNITED NATIONS IN MOSTAR
On 13th March, ten Lower Sixth Ardingly students embarked on
one of the College’s most exciting trips in recent years: a three-day
Model United Nations conference in Mostar, Bosnia. After the
flight to Sarajevo and a coach journey through the mountains to
Mostar, students were met by friendly representatives of UWC
Mostar, the host school. Students were each given a country to
prepare beforehand, and split onto three councils: the Security
Council, dealing with the issues in Sudan; the Doha Round,
dealing with free trade; and the World Health Organisation,
dealing with the Ebola outbreak. After the first day of debating
and discussing was finished, the Ardingly delegation enjoyed a tour
of the beautiful old town, rebuilt after the war, and experienced a
fantastic social evening organised to encourage delegates to meet
new people from other schools. Students from schools played
international music in a Eurovision style concert, after which there
was a disco, complete with Bosnian dance tracks. During the trip,
the students also visited a mediaeval monastery in the mountains,
and were treated to a traditional Bosnian meal in the heart of
Mostar’s old town. Congratulations to Andrew, Milo, Joe, Anna,
and George, who all received prizes or honourable mentions for
best delegates. Finally, special thanks must be extended to Dennis,
for being a true martyr throughout the trip in his translation of
Bosnian, and most importantly to Mr Savage and Mrs MauriceJones, for organising and taking the trip.
Milo Thursfield
ASTRONOMY CLUB
We live in the golden era in which great astronomical discoveries
happen on a week-to-week basis. This is why it is important for our
College to develop our academic and educational outreach work
even further.
With the future in mind, the Astronomy Club is building a new
observatory to allow for long-term research and projects across
all age groups. IB and A-level Physics students will be able to do
their Internal Assessment investigations and Extended Essays in
Astronomy and Astrophysics.
The new observatory is located on the darker side of the campus,
behind Hilton and Mertens Houses. Currently, the concrete
base is being built. The Observatory will have the newest 14”
main telescope, and a number of smaller instruments. Combined
with remote access to the iTelescope.Net commercial network
of telescopes, it will help Ardingly astronomers to learn about
the Night Sky and to acquire new skills for the future. The new
observatory will open doors from 10th September 2015, and the
grand opening is scheduled for 22nd September.
At Ardingly, the Pre-Prep, Prep, and Senior Schools are all involved in
using the telescopes. This year, all Shell students have had a chance to
visit the Old Observatory as a part of their curriculum studies.
Outreach projects are also underway at the Observatory, with visits
from local schools such as Balcombe Primary, and East Grinstead
Scouts. We have tried to develop the Observatory as a hub which
is accessible to all. Next year we will continue our outreach
programme into the local communities.
On 20th March, half of the College gathered on the Terrace to
witness the solar eclipse. The astronomers had some special solar
telescopes and cameras ready to observe and record the event.
It was a very exciting time, but unfortunately clouds covered up
the sky, and thus only photometric data recorded by Mrs Rachel
Chilton allowed us to ‘see’ the eclipse.
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sessions on the natural history of the honey bee, on bee anatomy
and on bee husbandry, and we also looked at bees in cultural
history; one of my favourite sessions was on bees in poetry.
One of our most dedicated astronomers, Philip Binns, had this to
say: ‘Astronomy is a very hit and miss affair; clouds are the most
major annoyance possible, and bad forecasts the second. However,
when Astronomy does hit, it hits solidly. If you know what you’re
looking at, take a step back, and think about what it actually means,
it’s rather awesome. I’ll give an example; if you observe Venus,
you see it as a small yellowy-orange ball but occasionally you’ll
see vivid flickers of red and blue from seemingly nowhere. Now,
everyone’s seen a prism splitting up white light. Think that, except
with an atmosphere of an entire planet. Millions of kilometres
away. Regardless of the science though, it’s always quite relaxing to
talk whilst standing around a ‘scope. Astronomy has had some very
successful social events, showing Prep school children the basics
of observing and in fundraising for a new 14-inch telescope and
observatory which will be built over the summer at Ardingly.’
Igor Zharkov
BEEKEEPING
This has been another mixed year for the Beekeeping Society.
The highlight of the year was, undoubtedly, the honey harvest.
The yield in the autumn of 2014 was low – and had been partially
diminished by judicious sampling throughout the spring and
summer months. We did manage to bottle some honey, however,
and every beekeeper could take home two jars as a reward for
a long year’s work. The honey this year had a subtle elegance,
marked by the rich flavours of late summer.
In Spring 2015, there were again substantial losses of bees, as
three colonies had failed to make it through the winter. Going
out at the beginning of the beekeeping year to find that hives you
have looked after all year have turned into mass graves is always
a dreadful moment in a beekeeper’s life. Such is the world of
beekeeping today – bee deaths are very common, and it is our job
to keep going and to do everything possible to maximise our bees’
chances of survival.
Winter beekeeping activities this year included wax extraction and
candle making. We managed to make a range of wonderful tea
lights, some scented and coloured, but most natural, and students
all took some of these back home with them. There were also
A special mention should be made of Michael Awang (Upper
Sixth), our most experienced beekeeper, who will be leaving
Ardingly at the end of the academic year. Michael joined the
club when he was in Shell and continued beekeeping, with great
enthusiasm, throughout every year of Senior School. This is all
the more extraordinary, because Michael is allergic to bee-stings
and suffers from delayed anaphylactic shock. The first time he was
stung, his head ballooned to the size of a double football, and he
had to take three days off school to recover. And yet his love of
bees prevailed, and he continued to be one of the central figures
in the Ardingly Beekeeping Club. We were quite careful to avoid
stings after this first experience, but for Michael beekeeping was
very much an extreme sport! Well done, Michael. I hope you keep
up beekeeping in the future.
Honey Labels – like the labels on bottles of Chateau Mouton
Rothschild, Ardingly Honey labels are specially designed every
year and crafted by one of our beekeeper-artists.
Markus Klinge
THE BIOMEDICAL (MEDICINE,
DENTISTRY AND VETERINARY) SOCIETY
AND JUNIOR MEDICAL SOCIETY
We have been delighted to hear how last year’s medical school
successes are enjoying their first years at Bristol, University of
Buckingham, and King’s College London Medical Schools.
This year a dedicated set of six Upper Sixth students have
successfully navigated UCAS applications and rounds of interviews
to receive the most offers to Medical School and Dentistry received
by a cohort at Ardingly College in recent times, including offers
from: Cambridge, King’s College London, University College
London, Southampton, Leeds, and most recently Bristol.
Continuing last year’s superb start to Junior Medical Society, Lower
Sixth Formers Laura Bernardo and Ferdinand Boucher have taken
the lead and ably took Middle School students off on their first
trip on 17th September to a Surgical Skills Workshop at the Royal
College of Surgeons’ Hunterian museum. All had great fun, viewing
the unique museum’s specimens collection and trying their steady
(and not so steady) hand at suturing.
For our second trip of the year we were invited by Mathew
Billingsley, editor at student BMJ, to the first ever student event at
the BMJ careers fair. Nine students, Miss Bowen and Dr Blythe
attended; and we headed to the business design centre in Angel,
Islington on the evening of Friday 17th October 2014.
We were treated to a series of ten short talks from medical
admissions tutors (Imperial College and St George’s), junior
doctors, medical students etc. This gave an exceptional overview of
the necessary process and preparation required.
Upper Sixth students found the interview advice particularly
helpful, whilst it was also helpful to have other people reiterate
that practising for the November BMAT exam is extremely
important. Lower Sixth Formers found that they could relate
to the experiences of the presenting current medical school
students, who were highly personable and whose enthusiasm was
encouraging. Comments from the attending students included, ‘It
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was useful to have an idea about next year and the requirements,
meaning we have the time to research and plan for when it’s
our turn’; ‘It was also encouraging hearing that not getting
into medical school first time is not the end, and that it’s not
uncommon to reapply more than once, as well as learning that
determination and tenacity are core qualities for a doctor’.
Our most sought-after trip of the year to view a human cadaver
prosection at the Leaf Anatomy laboratory, University of Brighton
took place on the 19th November. Maria Young, Course Leader and
Principal Lecturer commented ‘(our) students were all fantastic:
really engaged and enthusiastic.’ Despite one fainting, none were
deterred from their desire to study Medicine or Veterinary Science.
Biologists who led the trip, Joan Gall and Richard Lane, were
equally enthralled and interested in this unique experience. Deciding
for or against a medical course which uses human bodies donated to
teaching and research as a teaching tool is an important factor when
choosing a course in Medicine.
November onwards was spent on intense interview practice, and we
were delighted to welcome the expertise and brilliant preparation
from Professor Helen Smith (BSMS). Assisted by the D&P
Department, Human Resources personnel and parents, Dr Blythe
also conducted Multiple Mini Interviews and longer traditional
individual interviews for the Upper Sixth students to prepare them
for the experience ahead.
We were privileged in the Lent Term to be joined by a Medical,
Dentistry, and Veterinary intern, a recent BioMedical graduate from
Sussex University, Miss Taslima Miah, who immediately set to work
with the Lower Sixth, preparing them for the UKCAT examination.
On 31st January, both Senior and Junior Medical Society students
attended an EPOC Medical careers conference, led by Dr Spiers
and Miss Miah to UCL.
We were excited to have a visit on 27th February from Old
Ardinian Patrick Cook who is currently in his first year at KCL.
Students were entertained and inspired by his descriptions of
experiences and his passion for studying Medicine. Whilst parents
Mr and Dr Shoesmith kindly presented the ‘parents’ perspective’
in our first evening event for parents of prospective medics,
dentists and vets, the evening was attended by around 40
parents, and was also broadcast live online for parents overseas
on 21st March.
Eight members of the Mid-Sussex Dementia Friendly Group
visited for lunch on 30th April, and students had the opportunity
to talk to people from the local area living well with dementia. A
short presentation from Tim Wilkins of The Alzheimer’s Society
was a useful introduction to the different forms of dementia, and
concluded a most enjoyable afternoon for all concerned.
We are looking forward to a visit from members of a Sussex
Hospital Nursing Team in the near future, who are returning once
again to enlighten our students about the multidisciplinary work
doctors are involved in, and the role of nurses in the care of patients.
This has been a year of focused preparation and exploration at
the forefront of scientific and medical advances; the challenge of
application remains exceptionally demanding, but the aim is to
ensure our students are fully prepared for this challenge should they
decide they wish to take it on.
Jane Blythe
DEBATING
It has been an exciting year for Debating, with success in
competitions and also a wonderful Inter-House Debating
competition.
Milo and Freya Thursfield took part in the English Speaking
Union’s Schools Mace. They reached the Regional Finals of this
prestigious competition, having battled their way through two
previous rounds and seeing off strong competition from other
local schools. The Regional Final was held in Salisbury on 11th
March. Freya and Milo argued that ‘Infant vaccinations should be
compulsory’. Their progress in the competition qualified them to try
out for the England Schools Debating Team.
We also entered a team for Debating Matters this academic year.
The team consisted of Milo Thursfield, Anna Elwin, Carlos Sandin,
and Dhriti Oza. However, we were knocked out early when we
proposed: ‘The UK must embrace the use of fracking’.
‘The Pen is Mightier than the Sword’ was the motion for a
wonderful debate in the first week of Lent Term, during Assembly.
Chaired by Milo Thursfield, it featured teams made up of Dhriti
Oza, Andrew Telford, Freya Thursfield, and Alec Watson. This
motion was used in commemoration of World War I – it was, in
effect, a reenactment of the same debate that took place in the
College in 1914. It also served to launch the Interhouse Debating
Competition for the year in a hope of inspiring a whole new group
of young debaters. The competition involved nine weeks of prelims
and 21 debates. In total, 66 students took part as members of the
teams, and many more in the audiences. Some of the most effective
motions this year were: ‘This House wouldn’t bother voting in the
UK General Election’, ‘This House believes it is always better to
talk to terrorists’, and ‘We shouldn’t label people as evil’. The Senior
Competition was won by Crosse House, with a team made up of
Lower Sixth boys Max Moser, Alex Hodgins, and Jasper Marshall.
The Junior Competition was won by Aberdeen, made up of girls
from Remove and the Fifth Form - Freya Thursfield, Emily Batley,
and Annika Hilgert. The new Shell competition was also won by
Crosse, with Fabian Gordon, Michael Joyner, and James Dolder
winning their debate.
Four special prizes were awarded at each venue for best participant,
who may or may not have been one of the team members. They were
Ashleigh John, Ashley Johnston, Isaac Goodwin, and Charlie Amos.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
We put forward a record number of teams to this year’s Rotary
Public Speaking Competition. A Chairperson, Speaker and Vote of
Thanks made up each team. The students involved were Thomas
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Hindle, James Ritchie, Olga Krasnenkova, Thomas Cunningham,
Benedict Belcher, Sophie Crooks, Milo Thursfield, Alexander
Hodgins, and Holly Hill.
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AND UK
GENERAL ELECTION PARLIAMENT
It has also been an exceptional year for the Model United Nations
(MUN) group. The delegates took part in Benenden MUN, London
Oratory MUN and also the weekend Crisis Simulation at Christ’s
Hospital School. Then, in March they attended the Model United
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Nations in Mostar, Bosnia. This was a fantastic event for the students
involved who were able to work with other young people from across
the world in a series of model crisis simulations faced by the UN.
Milo Thursfield and George Southgate were named Best Delegates,
and others received awards in their individual committees.
On 7th May the students modelled the UK General Elections,
campaigning for election as candidates and holding their own hustings
during assembly. The College then had a ballot among Senior School
Houses to determine which candidates would be elected.
Daniel Davies
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ACTIVITIES
& SERVICE
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CAS 2015
The Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) Programme forms part
of the compulsory Core of the International Baccalaureate (IB)
Diploma, with the Extended Essay and the Theory of Knowledge.
This year, however, fifteen A-level students have also completed
the IB Core, and more than thirty AS students have signed up to
do the IB Core alongside the L6 IB students. The aim of the IB
CAS programme is to provide an alternative outlet to academic
study and, where possible, to educate students about life beyond
the classroom. Ardingly College’s activities and games programme
provides ample opportunities for students to complete their CAS
programme, but the students are also encouraged to achieve CAS
hours outside College.
This academic year saw the development of an additional
Monday activity in the Senior School, the Woodland Craft and
Conservation activity. Fiona Ricketts from the Prep School
and a Forest School leader, and Simon Cowley from It’s Great
Outdoors have run weekly sessions involving clearing brambles
and invasive species in the woodlands surrounding Ardingly, as
well as maintaining footpaths. Among other exciting activities,
the students have learnt how to cook on a fire, put up a tepee, and
created a rope bridge for a new Forest School area.
Many CAS students have also been involved in the Ardingly
tutoring programme, including some of our foreign students who
offered to support Fifth Formers preparing their French, Spanish,
or German GCSE Controlled Assessments during lunchtime
clinics in the Modern Languages Department.
Last December, with the invaluable help of both the Grounds and
the Catering teams, as well as the involvement of our Gap students
and CAS students who marshall the event, Ardingly College
hosted the Chase the Pud Run to raise money for the British Heart
Foundation.
This year once again, several CAS students had the opportunity
to work with children with disabilities during Discovery Fun Days
ARDINGLY annals 2015
organised by Broadbridge Leisure Centre. These days allow the
children to take part in a huge range of activities in a safe and
supportive environment. The Ardingly student volunteers assisted
in all of the activities, including setting up the soft play obstacle
course, supervising as the children explored the sensory room,
and helping them to have fun with food and arts. The volunteers
were an extra pair of watchful eyes and were essential in keeping
children safe while on the trampoline and bouncy castle.
Finally, while they are not run as part of the CAS programme
specifically, many students find their most powerful CAS
experiences when they plan, prepare for, and travel on the
annual international trips to Kenya, The Gambia and Ghana.
Sadly these trips had to be cancelled this year. They are to be
replaced, however, by new trips to Ecuador, India, Greece, and
the Solent, focusing on community service, action or creativity.
These projects are enormously valuable as they help the students
to develop a more global outlook, and build real confidence in
their sense that they can make a difference. The skills, confidence,
and maturity that students will gain in these unfamiliar and
challenging environments will feed back significantly into their
CAS programme.
Nathalie Vignard
CHARITY
The Good Samaritan statue, gazing fixedly down on passing
vehicles every morning, extending its bronze arm in a silent
gesture of support, is a constant reminder of the moral and
personal necessity of charity. As Winston Churchill said, ‘we
make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we
give.’ In a busy academic year with pressure on ever-improving
examinations, UCAS applications, and sporting prowess, it is
important to remind ourselves of the wider social context in
which we live our hectic lives, and of how Ardingly College itself
was built upon charitable instincts and ideas. The obligation of
‘service’ is a central pillar to College life and, with this in mind,
the whole College community was invited to vote for a charity
53
to support. As a College we selected Macmillan Cancer Support
and a fund to support victims of the Bosnian Floods, alongside
our commitments to the Ardingly in Africa projects. Everyone
in the senior school has sadly been affected by cancer this year,
and Dennis Kurtalic’s (Lower VI, Hilton) grandparents are on
the ground in an area of Bosnia still recovering from devastating
floods in summer 2014.
Highlights of the year included The Great Ardingly Ice Bucket
Challenge, and we are grateful to Messrs Caston, Jennings,
Curran, and Crook for being ice-bucketed (be that a verb) for a
good cause. We supported charities related to the school play
and raised money on their behalf. We had Christmas candy
canes and a hugely successful shoebox appeal that, through local
charity Link-to-Hope, saw gifts directly into the hands of Syrian
refugees in Bulgaria. The International Day involved a celebration
of the multicultural dimension of our national and College
community. There was food, music, costumes, poetry, and more
food. There have also been myriad cake sales, pizza raffles, and
stamp collecting. The poppy appeal raised £587. The Yorkshire
Three Peaks Challenge team are embarking on a sponsored twelve
hour 39.2km hike in the Dales during the summer, and we have
a special one-off home clothes day appeal for the victims of the
Nepalese earthquake. Overall, the college raised an incredible
£21,000 during 2013-2014, but being charitable means more than
a financial bottom line. It is a state of mind and a way of life, and
the Ardingly College community should be proud of all they do to
help build a better world.
Anthony Lovat
ARDINGLY IN AFRICA
THE GAMBIA
This year took twenty-two Lower Sixth students to four different
schools in western Gambia, including St John’s School for the
Deaf. The trip’s aim was twofold: to engender a passion for
Science in students whose only experience of it had been through
theory from behind a desk, and to provide much-needed resources
for the students’ continued education. On both counts the trip was
a success yet again.
As a developing country in Western Africa, The Gambia shares
many of the issues suffered by neighbouring countries, including
relatively poor quality state education. The literacy rate in
The Gambia lies just under 50%. Ardingly students have been
visiting schools in the country for over a decade, with the aim of
supporting pupils’ education and providing teaching materials and
facilities. This year, students helped to renovate the school hall
in St Martin’s, Kartong, a school with which Ardingly has a longstanding link. The new building will also serve as the Village Hall
for future events, such as the upcoming Kartong Village Festival.
Soon after arrival, teaching in St Martin’s began and proved an
unfamiliar but welcome challenge to all involved. It was quickly
discovered that many modifications were necessary, but after
overcoming a little initial hesitancy, Ardingly students took to
their lessons with gusto, egged on by the enthusiasm of their
Gambian counterparts. Topics ranged from First Aid and Malaria
to Combustion and the Solar System.
Ages and abilities varied widely between students and, in addition,
each school possessed its own character. This required the
adaptation of lessons from day to day, which Ardingly students
undertook with care. No school, of course, required such radical
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re-evaluation of methods as St John’s School for the Deaf. At first
apprehensive, Ardingly soon discovered that there was little to
worry about. With the help of a whole host of eager students, sign
language was quickly picked up. Where this failed, mimes were
employed to often-hilarious effect.
Teaching aside, all Ardingly students were struck by the openness
and warmth with which they were received by the Gambian
communities they visited. It was often surprising to witness
the level of integration between the Muslim and Christian
communities in The Gambia, to the extent where two different
prayers were spoken at the start of each school day.
Students also had the opportunity to experience a little of the
culture, cuisine, and way of life of The Gambia. A chance to visit
the market place in Banjul was a particular culture-shock; haggling
technique took a while to perfect. An example of Gambian food
was supplied in the form of fish Benechin: a one bowl meal
composed of fish fillets on a bed of rice eaten using the hands. It
was unanimously declared delicious. Additionally, one night spent
at the beach resort, Sandele, culminated in an introduction to
traditional Gambian drumming and dancing in which inhibitions
were quickly forgotten and everyone took part with abandon.
A great deal was achieved over the fourteen days spent in The
Gambia. From the forging of cross-culture friendships and the
birth of future teachers to the pure joy and unbounded curiosity
expressed by a small child playing with a model racer, the Gambia
trip was an enlightening experience for all parties involved. Our
best wishes to those Gambian students whose interest was, with
any luck, cultivated towards further education, as well as those
currently in Ardingly who will be preparing for future trips.
Benedict McConnell and Theo Farmer
GHANA
The Ardingly in Africa Ghana project’s objectives are to support
a group of some of the most vulnerable individuals in Ghanaian
society, and to educate the Ardingly students lucky enough to visit
this vibrant country by broadening their horizons, realising their
potential, and expanding their ambition to make the world a better
place. The second Ardingly in Africa trip to Ghana 2014 brought
together children abandoned by their families and living on the
streets of Bolgatanga, Northern Ghana, with a group of seventeen
Ardingly students in a genuine collaboration and mutually
educative experience. Friendships developed during that short
time have been sustained and, as I’m writing this a year later, I am
pleased that Alexi Demetriadi will be returning to Bolgatanga this
summer after his A2 examinations. He will work to maintain these
contacts and to learn more of the Ghanaian cultures and ways
of life by working alongside members of TangaCulture, an NGO
dedicated to supporting the education of the most vulnerable
street children and promoting their culture through teaching music
and the performing arts.
We in the West are reared on tales of darkness from Africa, and
many students landed with instinctive trepidation and fear. The
truth is that Ghana has a booming economy, a corruption index
lower than many EU countries, a fully democratic government, a
free press, and a welcoming and trusting population of talented
and hard-working polyglots. Having said this, for those students
who have never witnessed absolute poverty at first hand, the sight
of beggars on the street and children in rags and bare-footed is
rightly shocking.
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The first week was spent exploring the history, economy, and
culture of Ghana, including food and marriage customs, colonial
slave-trading forts, and close encounters with wildlife – some
baboon and elephant encounters being especially close.
The second week was spent in Bolgatanga working alongside the
street-children. For two short and precious years between 2009
and 2011, this unremarkable town roughly the size of Crawley,
was my home while on a VSO voluntary placement coordinating
higher level Science teaching at the regional level for the Ghana
Education Service. The project we support is a grass-roots one
where every penny goes directly to where it is most needed. The
Ardingly students worked alongside the Ghanaians to produce a
concert in the centre of town promoting the benefits of educating
girls as well as boys. Attended by over 1000 people, this was the
culmination of a week of collaboration and cultural exchange.
Every Ardingly student contributed through dance, singing,
instrumental performance, and acting. The event was introduced
by a national DJ and featured Atimbila, a local music star and
celebrity. Our visit made the national press, taking up a full page in
the national newspapers, and Ardingly students were interviewed
live on local radio.
In April 2015, Iona Bulger (Alumni and Events Manager) and
Katrina Bulger (Games Teacher and Assisstant Housemistress
of Neal House) returned to Bolgatanga to help work in a
government school attended by many of the street children we
support. Although the Ardingly in Africa project in Ghana was
understandably cancelled in 2015 due to fears of Ebola spreading,
we expect this precious long-term link to be re-established in 2016.
For more details please see www.ardinglyinghana.weebly.com.
Anthony Lovat
KENYA 2014
Kenya 2014 saw many firsts in the history of the trip. Firstly, was
the notable but unavoidable absence of Gesa Paulfeierborn who
is somewhat a celebrity in the part of Kenya we visit. Secondly,
the group flew down the Rift Valley in 12-seater planes rather than
sitting in a minibus for six hours – a wonderful experience which
gave them a fantastic overview of this outstanding geographical
feature, and also ensured that they made quite an entrance at Gilgil.
The group had bonded superbly before touching down in Kenya,
as a consequence of various events including activities which
saw them raise over £10,000 between them. The main feat
accomplished was a ‘cross Africa equatorial swim, bike, run
challenge’ completed in the College swimming pool, on static
bikes, and by running round the reservoir, covering some 3,750km.
This saw some students swimming a challenging 10km (400
lengths of a 25m pool) in one sitting. As a result of this impressive
fundraising, the group were able to leave an extraordinary legacy
touching many hundreds of poverty-stricken Kenyans. The group
built an adventure playground at a Restart Centre for rescued
street children in Gilgil, a town in the semi-arid Great Rift Valley.
The joy this will bring to many children for years to come cannot
be underestimated.
The team also spent time at Ndogo Primary School which
Ardingly built in 2008 through ‘The Kariandusi School Trust’, set
up by Old Ardinian, Harry Vialou Clark. Many hours of lessons
were taught, classrooms decorated and stocked, and much fun was
had socialising, playing games, and getting to know some of the
wonderful Kenyan children.
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The trip was truly memorable and life-changing for all concerned.
Friendships were forged and memories made that will undoubtedly
last a lifetime. This trip is an example of real charity: it is costly for
all that go, not in a financial sense but in a sense of hard work and
sacrificially giving of one’s time, energy, talents, and emotions. It
is to be hoped that the trip will help the students fortunate enough
to experience it to live their lives differently.
Huge thanks must go to the staff who gave up their time and
expertise during the trip. They were: Joan Gall, Dale West, and
Gwilym Batchelder.
Those students who went were:
Harry Ames, Caitlin Bateman-Champain Carlota Bulgari, Alice
Burke, Samuel Cunningham, Alexander Davies, Sophia Fossali,
Michaela Green, Moritz Hagemann, Maren Hegger, Samantha
Jackman, Ashleigh John, Jesse Lee, Ties Lind, Paula Mira, Alexa
Morgan, Lewis O’Shea, James Price, Luka Reisch, Cara Rocks,
Carlos Sandin, Jessica Van Droogenbroeck, Austen Waite
Gwilym Batchelder
COMBINED CADET FORCE
The Contingent has had a busy, challenging and exciting year.
Immediately after Commem., a small band of keen Cadets set off
for their annual training camp. This year we had been allocated
Crowborough, a mere 10 miles away as the crow flies. Led by
Michael Tweedie-Smith and Tom Gibbens, to whom we were saying
our reluctant farewells that week, the Cadets were keen to take the
opportunity to march to camp, something of a unique experience
in the modern world. In high spirits, despite the poor weather, they
covered 25 miles over two days, camping in the wilds of the Ashdown
Forest along the way. The storm cleared, and the five days on camp
were glorious. The Training Team had prepared a fast-paced and
enjoyable package, which culminated in a joint exercise with Sherborne
School CCF – pupils from both schools gaining considerably from the
teamwork and interaction during the week. Despite being a very small
Contingent, Ardingly won the Map Reading competition, and came
fourth in the overall rankings for the year.
In August, Molly Adam attended an Army-sponsored rock
climbing course, thoroughly enjoying the experience and challenge
of working with Cadets from both the CCF and ACF across the
country. These courses, offered through CCAT exclusively to
Cadets, provide exceptional training in a wide variety of outdoor
activities and, as in Molly’s case, count towards a Duke of
Edinburgh Gold Award.
September saw the Country, the College, and the Contingent turn
their thoughts to remembrance as we marked the centenary of
the start of the Great War. It was a great honour for the Cadets
to parade in memory of all those who gave their lives in that
conflict. On Veterans’ Day the Contingent was presented with a
new Banner – the equivalent of a Regimental Colour – by Brigadier
Max Marriner, QCVS, CBE, OA, who later gave an address to the
College on his experiences as Commander of British Forces in
Iraq, and the state of the world in which our pupils are going to live
and work. The old Banner has been laid up in the Crypt Chapel.
Shortly before Michaelmas Long Leave, a small platoon of
Cadets undertook a blank-firing exercise on Longmoor Training
Area, living in the field for thirty-six hours in a tactical harbour,
and conducting a series of challenging patrols. Led by Sam
Cunningham, the Senior Cadet, the platoon drove back the enemy
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forces and saved the day! Highlights of the exercise included a
very effective ambush on a track junction in the dead of night
and a dawn assault on a well-prepared enemy position. The bread
and butter of infantry training is always a highlight of the Cadet
programme, and it is very rewarding to see them work so well
together as a team under such unfamiliar conditions.
Later in the term, Sgt Botley, the School Staff Instructor who
served previously in the Army Air Corps in Germany, arranged for
some of our Cadets to visit the School of Army Aviation at Middle
Wallop. Assuredly the highlight of the trip, and – for some Cadets
– of the year, was being taken for a flight over Salisbury Plain in a
Lynx helicopter.
In the New Year, an intrepid group spent an exciting Sunday
morning exploring the hidden world beneath our feet in Bedlam’s
Bank Mine, just north of the M25, under the expert supervision
of a caving instructor. All who participated found the experience
educational, physically demanding, and enjoyable. Following
on from this introduction to caving, it is hoped to organise
future trips to natural caves further afield. Later in the Lent
Term a significant number of Cadets spent a day honing their
marksmanship skills on the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer
on Longmoor Camp. They zeroed their weapons, completed the
standard package of shoots at simulated distances of 100m, 200m,
and 300m, and concluded with a series of scenarios in which all
of their prior training was put to the test. All agreed that hitting
moving targets at a substantial distance was a lot more difficult
than it seems to be in video games or movies. Particular mention
might be made of Tom Hindle whose accuracy across the whole
day was outstanding.
Rounding off the year, early in Trinity Term, the Contingent
was reviewed by Colonel Robert Lambert, ACF, in its Biennial
Inspection. After a formal parade on the South Quad, Colonel
Lambert had the opportunity to discuss with pupils their
experiences of the CCF over a light lunch. In the afternoon he
enjoyed a ferocious demonstration of a Section Attack on the
Headmaster’s Field, led by Ellie Haines and Maxwell Pierce;
witnessed the training of the Field Gun Team on the Upper,
with which he was extremely impressed; and visited the Range,
where some of our best shots were practising their skills. Colonel
Lambert addressed the Contingent, remarking on the commitment
and professionalism of Cadets and Officers alike, and promoted
Sam Cunningham to the rank of Cadet Warrant Officer Class 2.
Ardingly College CCF is a small contingent, but all of the Cadets
have shown a real enthusiasm for the training that has been
provided over the course of the year, and there is every reason to
anticipate that it will continue to grow from strength to strength.
John Storey
Contingent Commander
DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD
GOLD CANOEING EXPEDITION
On 22nd August, after a long and relaxing summer holiday, and
a day after GCSE students collected their excellent results, eight
Fifth Form students and one Lower Sixth Former set off to Wales
to complete over 120km in four days in canoes on the River Wye.
We set up camp at Whitney on Wye on the Friday night, and set
off the next morning to begin our Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award
expedition. Teamwork and coordination were of prime quality as
we navigated the meanders in our boats of two. Fran Sprules and
Ellie Haines took it turns to canoe solo – and did so excellently.
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After two days of almost tropical weather, the Monday brought
heavy downpours and we had to coordinate stops on river banks to
bail the water out of our canoes. Despite the weather on Monday,
we passed various other river users: some more canoeists, kayakers,
plenty of swans, and even a rowing regatta. On the Monday
evening, whilst mooring our canoes at the final campsite jetty,
Molly Adam had an unfortunate encounter with the river water…
The miserable weather continued throughout most of Tuesday but
didn’t dampen our spirits – partially thanks to Jono Long and Joe
Copp’s ‘inspirational’ music.
Just before lunch on Tuesday, the last day, we were lucky enough
to fit in some extra canoe skills at the rapids at Simon’s Yat with
our wonderful assessor. Tim and Matt Price were the first of many
to fall victim to the icy waters, as they frantically attempted to
traverse the grade 2 rapids upstream – Bear Grylls, eat your heart
out! – while Madeleine and I opted to stay safe and dry keeping
to the edge. When we arrived at Monmouth, all nine of us were
relieved to learn that we had passed.
Canoeists: Sophie Belcher, Madeleine Moore, Eleanor Haines,
Fran Sprules, Molly Adam, Jono Long, Joe Copp, Matthew Price,
Timothy Price.
Sophie Belcher
DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD
GOLD HIKING EXPEDITION
Since the last report on DofE, two Gold hiking expeditions have
taken place.
The first one was in August 2014, just before the official start
of the new School year. This was the practice expedition in The
Lakes region, ably led by Mountain Leader John Storey. The
expedition entailed hiking in Wild Country over a period of
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four days, with the last night being a voluntary camp in the wild.
Uncharacteristically for that time of the year, the expedition
started in freezing weather and high winds which certainly tested
the mettle of the hikers. Fortunately the weather turned for the
rest of tour, and the candidates only had to contend with the
toughness of the route that they chose to follow.
The second hiking expedition was to Snowdonia – the actual Gold
Award assessment expedition. This was ably led by Mountain
Leader Gwilym Batchelder. Again the candidates experienced
some incredibly inclement weather and were required to change
their route for safety reasons, to avoid the high winds that were in
the mountain at the time. The candidates were divided into two
teams and each had a task. One team’s mission was ‘Fine Dining in
Snowdonia’, where the candidates ate exotic foods in hiking tuxedos.
The other team’s mission was ‘To write a song of our experiences
and critique them’ and this was rapped all the way home.
The following members took part in these expeditions: Harry
Ames, Caitlin Bateman-Champain, Alice Burke, Neil Jones, Ben
Kay, Jesse Lee, James Price, Carlos Sandin, Jon Shoesmith, Beth
Shoesmith, Lewis O’Shea and Rebecca Smith.
To date Caitlin has been awarded her completed Gold Award.
SILVER AWARD
Since the last report on D of E, one Silver hiking expedition has
taken place.
Over the first weekend of the Easter Break, fifteen keen hikers
took off from Ardingly College and hiked to Heavens Farm to
spend the first night of their Silver Practice Expedition.
Many of these young hikers had never hiked that distance before
and spent their first day getting accustomed to a heavy pack and
their hiking boots. They carried everything, including tents and
food, for their three day adventure. On the first day they missed
the designated path, and extended the walk by about two miles.
Nevertheless they arrived safely at Heavens Farm.
Famous quotes: ‘Oh, the pain!’ (Imogen), and ‘I have got this far –
I am not giving up. Definitely!’ (James).
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Participants were Orla Badger, Emily O’Shea, Rachel Beaven,
Ciara Branagan, Caroline Smith, Imogen Pierpoint, Phoebe
Holder, Caitlin Hodgson, Phoebe Workman, James Richie, Harry
Samra, Chris Palmer, Katie Meagher.
Thanks to Mr Stubbs, Miss Allen, and Ms Paulfeierborn for their
help in making this happen.
Patrick Minny
SERVICE – ROTARY CLUB
On Monday 23rd March, Caitlin Bateman-Champain and Lucy
Dowell were awarded Youth Community Service Awards by the
Haywards Heath Rotary Club at their annual awards dinner.
The awards are presented in recognition of young people under
the age of 25, who on a voluntary basis give their personal time
and commitment to supporting people and worthy causes within
the community.
Caitlin teaches swimming to able-bodied and disabled children.
She also is a regular visitor to our local sheltered housing
community in Ardingly village, Priceholme, and has struck up
a friendship with a blind gentleman named Geoffrey whom she
continues to visit when she can.
Caitlin has been very active in raising money for Ardingly in
Africa. She personally organised a quiz night, raising £1000, and
participated in a 24-hour triathlon with fellow members of the
Kenya team. She was the Middle School Head of Charities before
she came into the Sixth Form. Caitlin also organised Red Cross
First Aid training for 200 students in the School. She has a very
altruistic and caring nature and is a deserving recipient of the award.
Lucy works for PHAB, a charity group that holds activities for
disabled children through to adults to promote equality in the
community. She has also been doing volunteering work in a local
charity shop and has been involved in organising fundraising
activities at School, for example, a bake sale for Cancer Research
UK. Lucy is generous with her time in her volunteering work, and
enjoys the rewarding nature of the work she does with both PHAB
and in the charity shop.
Clare Jackson
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WORLD BOOK DAY 2015
This year the Library and English Department celebrated World
Book Day a little bit differently to normal. On 5thMarch students
discovered Ardingly staff dressed up as witches, wizards, muggles,
and Hogwarts pupils, all in the name of Harry Potter. Hagrid led
the English Department, Filch patrolled the school corridors
looking for naughty pupils, and Dolores Umbridge ruled the
Library with an iron hand (and some cats). In the Chapel, the allday Harry Potter readathon ran non stop, to the delight of pupils
and staff and who dropped in to listen. Students had a chance
to win the Caught Reading competition by taking pictures of
themselves reading in unusual places. And posters around school
displayed staff ‘blended’ into book covers. Meanwhile bunting
adorned the school and classrooms, made up of book covers
created by students with their own artistic interpretation of their
favourite books. Needless to say, much fun was had by all, students
received £1 book tokens, and reading was suitably the centre of
attention for the day. Happy World Book Day 2015!
Sarah Fox
Head Librarian
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HOUSE
REPORTS
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ABERDEEN HOUSE
At the House Dinner I talked to the girls about becoming
empowered and successful young women. We all look up to strong,
independent women. But how do we become them ourselves?
It’s easy to give in to feelings of self-doubt and to back down from
challenges. But that’s certainly not what being a strong woman is all
about. To be a strong individual, you need to know yourself, trust in
yourself and your talents, be prepared to work hard at things that
you do not find easy, and not give up.
Here are some inspirational quotations by some of the strongest
women in history that will, I hope, inspire and empower the girls in
the future.
‘I could not, at any age, be content to take my
place by the fireside and simply look on. Life
was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept
alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn
her back on life.’ - Eleanor Roosevelt.
‘You may encounter many defeats, but you must
not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to
encounter the defeats, so you can know who you
are, what you can rise from, how you can still come
out of it.’ - Maya Angelou.
I looked at these quotations and thought how apt this was and how
this related well to what we try to achieve in Aberdeen. I have been
Housemistress for just over four years, and in that time the girls in
Aberdeen have never ceased to surprise and impress me. Angelou’s
words seem to be true for all of us, and particularly for the girls,
from Shell to the Fifth Form.
Shell is never an easy year: coming into a new school, having to
make new friends, getting to know new teachers and routines, but
this year’s Shell have been outstanding, quickly realizing what
it means to be part of the House. They have settled in so well to
College life. When asked to highlight their favourite memories from
this year, they mentioned the Aberdeen Dinner and the Christmas
Chinese meal, where they had lots of fun and games as well as
dancing. Meghan Kalvey must be mentioned here – her dancing
performance at the House Dinner was truly amazing, and loved by
all. They mentioned the Inter-House Debating, Hockey and Netball
competitions, along with the House Plaits that were part of the
uniform for the sporting events. We really have some promising
new sportswomen in our House this year. One of the most poignant
memories for most was their first day and their first meeting. I hope
that they go on to make friends for life and continue to get the most
of the wonderful opportunities that Ardingly and Aberdeen House
have to offer them.
The Remove have entertained in every way, and have certainly kept
me busy over the year. Their memories were similar to the Shell,
winning the Inter-House Hockey and Netball Competitions. They
also loved the Christmas party, House Dinner and the Aberdeen
Curry Night. They were proud to see Sophie Lewis play for the First
VII Netball team, along with Isabelle Childs and Alex Malzer playing
for the First XI Hockey team. Annika Hilgert, Olga Krasnenkova and
Isabella Karcher all took some of their GCSEs early.
The Fifth Form, who took up the reins from last year’s Fifth with
ease, quickly found their feet, and have led from the front. The House
Prefects were wonderful, taking the responsibilities on with maturity
and energy. Special memories for the Fifth included decorating the
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Christmas tree, and
having fun learning to
dance. They loved going
to the ‘all you can eat’ restaurant
in Crawley. They also enjoyed seeing the film
Mockingjay and going to Nandos. They loved working hard for the
House song, working with Ashley and Rachel. They also mentioned
working hard at the Inter-House Netball, where it really was close all
the way through the different games.
Achievements – there have been masses of achievements…
Academic
This year, as with last, the House has achieved many things. The
girls continue to work really hard academically, and have retained
the Academic Cup in both the Michaelmas and Lent Terms – well
done indeed. All the girls in the House have attained their Bronze
Merit Award, most have also attained the Silver, and Sophie Crooks
has managed to gain her Platinum Award as well as spending several
weeks in hospital, recovering from a serious operation. It must also
be said that so many of the girls have been studying in their second
language, working hard to grasp the fundaments and doing so
admirably. They support each other and never cease to impress.
Sport
What success we have seen here. Emily and Laetitia have organized
and motivated the House in every Inter-House event. They have
been confident in team selection, and with their choices, and did an
amazing job as Heads of Sport. Emily, Laetitia, and I even discussed
team select via Skype, which was a first for me.
Aberdeen retained the House Hockey Cup and won the Netball
and Tennis Cups. I loved watching the girls all give their all on the
pitch, and it is always great to see so many of them playing with
such energy and commitment. I would also like to mention the
girls who played in the National Hockey Finals: Rebecca Chee,
Lisa Brautigam, Laetitia Ehler, Emily O’Shea, Issie Childs, Sophie
Lewis, Alex Malzer, Issie Malzer, and Freya Thursfield. This
massive number of girls represented the South of England, Sussex,
and Ardingly College at one of the biggest sporting events in the
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independent schools’ calendar. The time and commitment they gave
to training and playing did them proud, and to come fifth in the
Country is simply huge for a small school like Ardingly.
The House Steepo was also a great event, with everyone getting
involved. The House Swimming Competition was another excellent
event, with a team of eight working hard to narrowly lose to Neal
again, but we are getting closer. It is always great to see people
stepping outside their comfort zone.
As for individuals…
I have already mentioned Emily and Laetitia, but want to thank
them for their support and organization.
Rebecca Chee, an unsung heroine. She has played some amazing
Hockey this year, and only narrowly missed out on being selected
for HiPAC, but hopefully the inspirational words of Maya Angelou
will make her realize her talents and to not give up her dreams.
A small yet select few of you have played Hockey or Netball for the
County or above, which in itself is a tremendous achievement, and I
look forward to seeing you continue to develop.
Freya Thursfield – for stepping up into a huge arena in the
Nationals. Freya only plays Hockey at School, so to play so well
against opposition of whom many play for England was a huge
achievement.
Music
As you will appreciate, being the Head of Music is a difficult and
challenging role. She has to plan and organize rehearsals, and deal
with people talking or wanting to be playing on their phones when
you ask for quiet, a job that most adults would struggle to do. But I
have to say that both Rachel and Ashley have done a truly great job
at motivating pulling the House together. The House Singing and
Music competitions were fun, and the girls were truly excellent in
the House Song. I would also like to thank Miss Crowe for helping
with song selection and organization. Well done to all, we were
extremely proud of you.
Many of the girls play in the Orchestra and sing in the Choir too. It
is also lovely to see you perform in public. Special mention should
go to Catherine Ritchie who plays the harp, often with an adult
orchestra in Chichester; she is always a treat to hear.
Drama
And now the girls who performed in the College Drama
productions this year; it always great to see them performing on
stage with poise, elegance and sophistication. Well done again to
Freya, who, has been selected from among over 4000 applicants to
join the National Youth Theatre over the summer.
And so to the leaving Fifth Formers who sit GSCEs this summer;
once they are done you will move on to pastures new, and your time in
Aberdeen will come to a close. You will leave behind you friends that
you have known, but I hope you will also take with you some cherished
memories of the happiness you have known whilst you have been here.
I want to leave you with a quote from Dr Sheila Murray Bethel: ‘One of
the most courageous things you can do is identify yourself, know who
you are, what you believe in and where you want to go.’
I wish this year’s leavers strength, happiness and much success in
their next new ventures.
Aberdeen prizes
It is always difficult to single out individuals, but it is important to
celebrate successes great and small. Many of these prizes recognize
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the achievements of the Fifth Form and their contribution to the
House over the past year to three years.
Aberdeen Sapphire: An award given that recognises a Fifth Former
who is a non-native speaker who has endeavoured to make an effort
to mix with everyone within the House regardless of language.
Maggie Lee
Aberdeen Diamond: An award to be given to any Fifth Former
who has made the biggest impact on the House atmosphere, being
friendly to all years and who has integrated totally. This person will
have taken the opportunities on offer at Ardingly College, getting
involved in numerous areas of College life.
Laura Totterdell
The Cup of Friendship: An annual award in the form of a trophy
which is made to the girl who has shown the most sense of fun and
friendship in the House.
Emilie Nilsson
The Housemistress Cup: An annual award presented to the Fifth
Form student who has contributed most to the House and / or has
set an example to the other students during her time in Aberdeen.
Emily Spiers
House Colours:
These are intended to be recognition of success and application
in a girl’s life at Ardingly. All girls are eligible to be considered for
their House Colours and they are worked towards over time. They
are awarded at the discretion of the Housemistress, in consultation
with House Staff. They can be awarded for a variety of reasons
– academic, sporting, dramatic, musical and for demonstrating
maturity, generosity, and responsibility in the House. Those awarded
House Colours are given an engraved crystal and their achievement
would naturally be noted in their records and references to
universities and employers.
Ashley Johnston, Emily O’Shea, Emily Spiers, Laetitia Ehler,
Rachel Beaven, Olivia Lloyd-Seetim, Quiana Higgins, Emilie
Nilsson, Eva Kanchelskis
The Aberdeen Award: An annual award in the form of a Crystal
perfume bottle which is made to the girl from Shell to Fifth who has
best exemplified the values of the House.
Emily O’Shea
The Aberdeen Dragon: An annual award which is made to the girl
who has best exemplified the values of the House (usually a Fifth
Former). Her name will be put on the board in the House’s entrance
hall. It recognises the values of integrity, commitment, giving one’s
best, whatever one’s ability, being loyal to the House, its staff and
members, making the most of opportunities, and thereby setting
an example to others. It is intended that the recipient reflects the
example of what it means to be an ‘Aberdonian’.
Ashley Johnston
Kate Newson
CROSSE HOUSE
This has been another great year for Crosse House, as we have
excelled in our academic, sporting, and musical endeavours, and
have shown what a fantastic bunch of people we have in the House.
The first day of term involved meeting the new Shell students who,
despite being quiet to start with, have grown into a pretty lively
group and have definitely added to the atmosphere of Crosse.
The culmination
of everyone’s hard
work on the sports
fields in the first
half of term, along
with regular House
training sessions,
is of course Steepo,
and spirits were again high this year in Crosse
House. After the traditional face-painting and rousing music, a
sensational speech from Alex and George – reminiscent of the
great Al Pacino – inspired the Juniors to head off, soon followed
by the Seniors. After some fantastic runs from Cam Elder in
the Juniors and Harry Bartley and Toby Cassidy in the Seniors,
Crosse emerged victorious, finally bringing home the Steepo Cup.
This was a great achievement, the first time that Crosse has won
since we first joined the House four years ago, and the first of
many successes this year for Crosse as a House. Everyone made an
incredible effort to perform and do their best, regardless of their
ability, which was very much appreciated.
The House Music competition, which was ably organised by Joe
and Will, included a wide range of performances, from jazz and
classical to some more contemporary pop, providing something
for everyone. Despite strong solo piano performances from the
reliable Cam McEwen and new talent Lucian Wisniewski, as well
as the Crosse House Jazz Band, Crosse relinquished their hold on
the Winner’s Cup. The breadth of talent on show throughout the
year groups, though, was very impressive and looks promising for
future years.
House Football is always a cagey affair, with both individuals
and Houses out to prove a point, and Crosse was in no way an
exception to this. In the Senior competition it was crunch time
from the first whistle, and everyone knew that whichever House
won the first game, Crosse or Mertens, would be set for the trophy.
Despite a courageous and talented display from the players, and
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good support from those on the sidelines, it was just not meant
to be. The home-grown young talent of Crosse was defeated by
the formidable strength of the Mertens XI. There was still hope
in the Junior competition, however, with young talent such as
Harry Jones, James Haddon, and newcomer Josh McGrath in
the squad. Crosse has had a history of good performances in the
Junior competition, but this year may go down as one of the best
ever; without conceding a goal, the team destroyed the opposition
in three games of complete dominance, with goals from James
Haddon, Josh McGrath and Joe Walker, among others, and a
string of first class saves from Akshaj Krishnan.
Another sporting event introduced last year on the House calendar
was House Badminton, and Crosse, led by the unbelievably
talented previous winner, Jonty Russ, quickly became the
bookies’ favourites. Crosse went into the competition with high
expectations, and certainly delivered the results (although Harry
would say that he didn’t do much, only stay out of the way). After
a number of high tempo, intense matches, Crosse House showed
their prowess and staked their claim to the title, hopefully a sign of
good things to come in the future.
Crosse is traditionally strong in the House Hockey competition,
and this year was no different, taking clean sweeps in both the
Junior and Senior events, with neither team losing a game and
the Seniors not conceding a single goal. In the Juniors there were
strong performances from co-captains James Thorne and Oli
Downes, along with the physical Adam Mitchell and great keeping
from Adam Sowton. In the Senior team, the Upper Sixth of Ben
Kay, Tim Price, and Alex Waters played their last competition
for the House, playing exceptionally well and leading the team to
three convincing wins, ably supported by our next host of talent in
the Lower Sixth and Fifth Forms.
It is not only in sport where Crosse boys perform well, and the
House Singing Competition certainly proved this. Will Castle
led the weekly rehearsals, assisted by the prefects, and did a
fantastic job of motivating the boys, which at times can be rather
challenging. The weeks of hard work certainly paid off as Crosse
gave a fantastic rendition of Abba’s Does Your Mother Know,
which, despite the enthusiastic singing and well-rehearsed dance
moves, went mistakenly unrewarded.
Many boys in the House have also been on stage this year in
GCSE Drama performances, school plays, and short films, as
well as outstanding concerts from the College Orchestra and Jazz
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band, where Crosse is also well represented. These were wonderful
events to watch, and it was impressive to see the number of Crosse
boys getting involved in these performances.
Another event this year, embraced by the House was the InterHouse Debating Competition, which allowed the talented
speakers in Crosse to step up, as well as giving boys the
opportunity to push themselves out of their comfort zones.
We fielded four strong teams of debaters represented at both
Junior and Senior levels and, although everyone involved made
a fantastic effort, special mentions must go to the Junior team,
captained by the charismatic Michael Joyner, who along with
Fabian Gordon and James Dolder won their competition, and the
Senior team of Max Moser, Alex Hodgins, and Jasper Marshall,
who defeated Woodard Boys in a heated political debate to
become the Senior winners. The support shown by the rest of the
House was phenomenal, and we would like to thank all those who
put themselves forward and got involved.
The annual event of the Shell and Remove Challenge within
House is always a tight and sometimes heated affair. With a
number of competitions running throughout the year such as
table-tennis, FIFA, and house quizzes, everyone in these year
groups is required to participate, and the challenges are designed
to introduce the new boys to the House, and to find out each
individual’s strengths. With the new Shell trying each year to
deny Remove the joy of taking the trophy, no Shell year has been
successful yet, but with early wins in the House quiz, table-tennis,
and FIFA competitions, this year’s Shell are well on their way to
the trophy.
With our first full year of boarding in Crosse coming to an end,
I’m sure many will miss their ‘kebab Tuesdays’ throughout the
summer break, and Mr Storey and Mr Minny will miss Adam
and James being around. I think it’s fair to say that we have all
appreciated the introduction of the flexi-boarding, whether for the
convenience of a bed, the late night openings of the House, or the
coke and pizza in the fridge on a Wednesday; we must thank Mr
Storey and Mr Minny for their fantastic efforts with organising
and running boarding in the House this year so successfully.
It was always going to be hard for us as a group of Sixth Formers
to leave Crosse, with all of us having spent four wonderful years
in the House. We shall have many fond memories of Crosse
House and will certainly miss it. We encourage the younger years
to follow our lead, and continue the traditions, success, and
superb atmosphere of Crosse House. Looking at the current Fifth
Form, and knowing what a great year they are, has made it easier
for us to move on, as we know that the House will be in great
hands next year and will continue to be just as successful as
this year.
HILTON HOUSE
With such a talented group of Lower Sixth moving on into Godwin
Hall at the end of last year, it was always going to be a tough ask for
the new Head of House and next generation of prefects to step up
and fill the boots of Jesse, Carlos and co. I should not have worried,
however, as Sam, Michael, Johannes, and David all worked tirelessly
to ensure that the new intake (27 boys across all year groups) felt
as settled as possible during their early weeks in Hilton. They were
outstanding, and have continued to be so over the course of the year.
Ferdie, Diego, and Eamon have been added to the prefect ranks and
they are, collectively, as strong a prefect team as we have had. With
such a large annual turnover, the House will often take on a very
different feel each year, and it certainly felt that way in September.
This was certainly no bad thing, however, and the core House spirit
remained – largely due to the efforts of Sam and his team.
So where to start…..? Perhaps the less said about the Academic Cup
this year the better. This is something that I hope my replacement,
Luke Walters, will be able to improve upon where I have failed.
For some, the internal motivation is still not quite there, and there
must be a way to instil this more firmly in those boys who seem
to find it tough to drive themselves forward in that area of College
life. I cannot stand over them all, every minute, prompting them
to work. There have been some great successes academically,
however. Richard Burns (Shell), Alec Watson, and Matt Geddes
(Remove), Chris Lau, Lennart Fluer, Jason Chiu, and Johannes
Studier Fischer (Fifth) and Michael Makepeace, Dennis Kurtalic,
Ferdinand Boucher, and Theodore Lee (Lower Sixth) all showed
exactly what could be achieved with a little determination and selfdiscipline. These boys consistently performed superbly, while there
were others who grew in stature as the year progressed - they know
who they are and can be very proud of their recent achievements. I
hope they will continue their upward trends.
In terms of House competitions, the Steepo was, once again, a
triumphant event for Hilton. Despite being pipped to the Overall
Boys’ Cup, I was hugely proud that for the first time ever we won
both Elite Cups, Senior and Junior. Henry Aronson won the
Junior Race as a Shell boy, smashing the College record, while
Jake O’Neil and Richard Burns both came in the top five. For
the Seniors, JP and Carlos, as ever, ran heroically, but were also
brilliantly supported by Tom Jackson, Jesse Lee and Matt Penfold.
The Juniors also won the Endeavour Cup once again, reflecting
brilliantly on them and their overall efforts, and it was only a second
last and last place in the seniors’ event that cost them the Endeavour
Cup (and indeed Hilton the overall prize). Frustrating, but still
a great day with so much to celebrate. There are some fantastic
photos on the Hilton House Blog.
Other events have brought success. House Swimming,
led wonderfully by
Finally we would like sincerely to thank the Crosse staff for their
support throughout the year with running the House; Mr Storey
the Assistant Housemaster for doing a fantastic job with running
boarding, and, of course, Head of House, Mrs Humphreys, for
working tirelessly all year round to ensure that everything in
the House ran smoothly. We would also like to thank this year’s
prefects and the rest of the Sixth Form for stepping up and helping
out, and we wish those members of staff moving on next year good
luck, and thank them for their hard work over the years.
Joe Cass and Matt Price
64
ARDINGLY annals 2015
Josh Rees Davies and with the skilful help of Jack Bojan, was won
by the Seniors, and we were fantastic in the Singing Competition
once again. The judge, rightly or wrongly, did not quite agree, but
the boys’ rendition of ‘Wake Me Up’ by Aloe Blacc was, in my mind,
as good as any Hilton performance from the last five years. The
boys were hugely disappointed not to win after putting in so much
effort, and it is a tribute to them that it cut so deeply. I hope this
competition is one that the House continues to commit hugely to
next year and beyond. It is a super way, along with the Steepo, of
drawing us all together and developing the Hilton spirit.
Individual success in various areas of the co-curricular life of the
School have been a pleasure to see. David Bonilla’s performance
in the ISFA U18 Cup Final was quite remarkable, along with Matt
Penfold and Michael Makepeace, who were both also outstanding.
Fifty of the House went to watch the First XI play the final at the
MK Dons stadium and, inevitably, led the chanting. Beyond that,
both Michael and Matt played prominent roles in their age-group
ISFA England teams this year and will continue to do so next year,
I am sure. In other sport, Matthew Geddes and Alec Watson have
come in for real praise for their efforts in the College Fencing
team, competing at the top-table nationally and doing the College
and House proud. Josh RD has continued to develop into an
outstanding swimmer, and his brother Joe is hot on his heels too. I
cannot give any news about tennis, cricket or athletic success as, at
the time of writing, the Trinity Term is barely underway. In the final
whole House event of the year, House Athletics, we managed to pull
off a remarkable set of victories, winning the Shell Cup, Remove/
Fifth Cup and coming third in the Sixth Form Cup. This gave us
first place overall and a real boost as the exams drew closer. It is
days like these, when all the House pulls together, drives each other
forward, and produces some remarkable outcomes that remind us
why we do these jobs. There are too many performances to mention,
with amazing victories in several events, but College records were
set by three boys and these do deserve a mention: Shell’s Richard
Burns (200m), Henry Aronson (800m), and Conrad Jouning
(100m) all set College best times that will take some beating. In
Music, some of the moments of the year have been performances
by Matthew Peskett, Lennart Fluer, Johannes Studier Fischer and
Simon Walton in the series of informal concerts, and we now have a
noticeboard to celebrate Hilton artwork.
In the Lent Term, Colin MacKay, Sam Cutler, Tristan Young,
Johannes Studier Fischer, David Ugbodaga, Ferdinand Essing, and
Diego Llantada all played some great Rugby for the College. What
makes this list even more remarkable is that the latter four had never
played the game before. Johannes tackled himself into the ground,
Ferdie dominated the line-outs, and David showed himself
to have
unbelievable
pace. It was
Diego who
really took to
his new sport,
however. He
possesses a
rare natural
talent for the
game and
became a key
player for the
First XV. With a
continued steep
learning curve,
who knows what
ARDINGLY annals 2015
he could achieve. I do know that Spain have a 7s side… The most
impressive aspect of this, however, is the boys’ willingness to try new
things. Rugby is not the type of sport you can do anything other
than to commit one hundred percent. It must also look pretty odd
(and scary) from the outside. I have huge respect for these boys for
throwing themselves into the game so wholeheartedly.
At the weekends this year, we have been greatly indebted to ‘Chef’
David (Gehlke) and his team, who have spent hours cooking for the
rest of us (and then clearing up). It has been a real labour of love for
David, Johannes SF, Chris Jung, Chris Lau, and Jason Chiu, and
I cannot praise them all enough for their generosity and kindness.
Again, please do take a look at the blog for photos of them in
action. A real highlight was them cooking steaks to order (‘how
would you like your steak, sir?’) one night back in October. Since
then they have branched out yet further and, while the focus is still
on meat and carbs, the number of ingredients and the complexity of
each meal is increasing with each week. A cookery course beckons
for David this summer, and I am looking forward to hearing what he
concocts for the full boarders next year.
We have been well supported by the Hilton parents this year too, so
huge thanks to them all. The December dinner was another brilliant
night, as was the Wine Tasting event in March. Further thanks must
go to Mr Batchelder and Sue, our Matron. Both work tirelessly and
often without thanks to achieve the best possible well-being for the
boys. We are very lucky to have them in Hilton. One final thankyou from Gwilym and me must go to Elizabeth Whitlam for all her
support and encouragement as House Parent Representative this
year, and I know she will be an important ally for Luke Walters in
September. It is vital to the success of the House that the parents stay
involved and engaged and can see what we are trying to achieve here.
So what have we been trying to achieve? And have we been
successful? The first question is easy to answer: we want to prepare
the boys for the next stages of their lives and give them the skills to
thrive, wherever they end up. On a fundamental day-to-day basis,
that means being on time, looking smart, eating well, sleeping
enough, and exercising often. This is not too much to ask and,
for the most part, they have been very good at this – although I
do worry about some when they finally get to the work place and
do not have me nagging them. But more than those things, we
want to foster a degree of empathy in them, a respect for others
and themselves, and a recognition that, while we cannot all be
best friends all of the time, we can at least learn to co-exist in a
warm, affirming environment. That has always been my goal, and
if the boys cannot see that now, perhaps in the face of a tellingoff, hopefully they will in time to come. Perhaps it is that eventual
realisation that is the gauge of our success.
Tom Caston
MERTENS HOUSE
The Year in Black and White
As September 2014 arrived and I found myself in my fifth year as
Mertens Housemaster, I wondered whether this would be the year:
the year that we won House Football or the year in which we won
House Singing. Of course, there is much more to Mertens House
than a collection of trophies, and so it proved as we welcomed new
faces into the Black and White tribe. New faces mean new talents
and new cultures with new backgrounds to discover. Those who
are new arrive to enrich the boarding experience and allow all of
us to recalibrate personally. In the first few weeks, new friendships
are forged and new stories are told, mixed in with the old. The
65
veterans return with stories of summer holiday travels to exotic
destinations and, whilst everyone is an inch taller and some an
inch wider, most return fitter, faster, and more determined than
ever to scale new heights.
So what is it that makes Mertens such a special place? Here
follows an account of an exciting and busy year as seen through
the one eye of a very biased Housemaster…
The year always kicks off with a bang as our new Shell boys are
herded down to the Reservoir where team building skills are put
to the test, and any fears of water sports are explored thoroughly.
The new Lower Sixth get to channel their inner chef, tasked with
the challenge of cooking a three course dinner to impress judges
Curran, Shelley, and Fairhall. What begins as a series of social
occasions transforms into a fiercely contested cook-off, as each
group seeks to outdo the other. As always, the Saturday night
socials are a huge part of Mertens life, and the first for the year
was no different; out came the BBQ, the fire pit and consequently
the boys were happy. Paul Bortnowski was roped in as Head BBQ
Chef, and the outcome was pure genius. As September drew to
a close and the nights became cooler, it was time for the first big
social event of the year; Oktoberfest. This is always one of the
highlights of the boarders’ social calendar and this year was no
exception. Moritz von Contzen, Konsti Krome, Marlon Drahn,
Lennart Grimm, Julius Roderer, Eike Landwehr, and Dennis
Cvijanovic all chipped in with the organisation and what a night it
was too; loads of Bratwurst, Weisswurst, and drinks hard and soft.
As the first term went on, and students were finding their feet with
their studies, the House was still bustling with events. Mertens Poker
Night, held in the common room, was marketed simply as ‘Winners,
losers, poker chips, hot dogs, croupiers, green felt, mood lighting…
what more can you ask for?’ Time to see who’d been practising in
the various casinos around Europe, or gained a pro licence online…
The night was won by Maxwell Pierce and one could be forgiven
for wondering how Maxwell had learned to play Poker with such
panache, such style, but of course it was no surprise to him!
The first major Inter-House event of the year arrived in mid-October
with the Steepo; what more could you ask for than a fiercely tribal
House event to divide the student body firmly along house lines. More
importantly though, an event of this magnitude does wonders for
House spirit, bringing us closer together. The face paint was wheeled
66
out of the
storeroom and smeared
across body and face. Some went for the ‘less is more’
approach, whilst others smeared as if there was no tomorrow. Benny
Ernst unleashed the now famously heroic Head of House speech in
the common room (thanks Laurence Haines - 2013) transforming
the Mertens mob into a mosh pit of wide-eyed monsters. In short, we
weren’t as successful as last year, but special mentions must go to Chris
Holman and Oliver Thompson who came first and third in the Senior
and Junior categories respectively. I am also pleased (only just) to say
that we won the wooden spoon too. Well done Ollie CM…
With nights growing longer and the warm winds of summer a
distant memory, the boys returned after Long Leave to take on
House Music. Anthony Yiu and James Ritchie led from the front,
putting together an amazing programme to showcase the musical
talents of the House. Anthony’s performance was pure class, a
reflection not only of his skill but also his passion for all things
musical. Raph Adomakoh stepped out of his comfort zone to sing
vocals for the Mertens Jazz Ensemble alongside Anthony and
James, continuing his great form from last year’s competition. The
highlight for the House was undoubtedly ‘The Mertones’ involving
Edmund Legrave, Wilson Mak, Jacky Lai, Aidan Murphy, Ethan
Pizano, Tom Tweedie-Smith, Raph Adomakoh, James Ritchie,
Iain Brown, Ludwig Habsburg, Lennart Grimm, Konsti Krome,
Patrick O’Brien, Jordan Bishop, Maxwell Pierce, Giorgio Oriani,
Anton Alkevich with accompaniment from Mr Tester on the piano
and Anson Lee on the cello. The evening was then capped off
in style with a classy solo performance by cellist James Ritchie.
Overall, victory wasn’t to be ours, but the boys were exceptional in
finishing inside the top three.
Midway through November saw our fencers in the spotlight with
wins over Eastbourne and Charterhouse on successive weekends.
Sam Sheridan (foil), Colin Cook (épée) and Maxwell Pierce led
the vanguard for Mertens with some promising performances, and
it was great to see the boys getting the plaudits in what amounts to
a very football-heavy term.
As the festive season of December engulfed the House, Christmas
trees decorated, tinsel as far as the eye could see, the ring of
ARDINGLY annals 2015
‘I don’t know what to buy for Secret Santa?’ filled the air. The
highlight of the last week is undoubtedly the Carol Service in
the Chapel followed by drinks back in Mertens, and it was again
brilliant to see the support we have from parents and the warmth
they bring to the event. Then on a warm December afternoon
down at Nine Acre, House Football took place. On paper, for
the third year running, we were the bookies’ favourites, with
nine members having played for the First XI at some point in
the season. In the lead up we had been described (yet again) in
the press as the ‘most expensive House team ever assembled’,
managed by an injured Oscar Haynes-Brown and renowned sports
journalist and F1 aficionado, Jimmy Eagles. In the end, ‘we came,
we saw, we conquered’, disposing of Crosse 2–1, Rhodes 2–0, and
our perennial arch rivals Hilton 2–0 to take the honours and the
trophy for the first time in over five years. After years of being the
bridesmaid we finally had one in the bag. Special mentions go
to Oscar McConnell, Max Stolkin, Alfredo Ortiz, Jack Mangan,
Ollie Pleasants, Will Currie, Allie Battista, and Dom Adomakoh
for outstanding performances. Our junior footballers didn’t fare so
well, losing to Crosse 1–0, Hilton 5–0 and drawing against Rhodes
0–0. Congratulations to Rocco Zanelli, Harry Samra, Ed Legrave,
Tireni Dosunmu, Marco Lo, Dennis Cvijanovic, Charlie Hinder,
Ivan Taraszov, Huzaifah Khan, Fred Stolkin, George Newson, Iain
Brown, Barney Smith, Boyan Tsvetkov, Will Faulkner, Ollie Scott,
Jack Nienow, and Harry Tompsett for their efforts. There will be
better days ahead for these lads.
The very next day, however, we endured better success, with four
trophies won at the Football presentation evening; congratulations
to all who scooped awards for their respective teams. On the last
night of the term, we hosted the party piece of the House, our
Christmas Dinner in the Common Room. Great food, Secret Santa,
some cheeky one-liners from Father David, a family-like atmosphere,
riveting conversation; what else do you need at Christmas?
As always, Christmas provides a welcome break before the onrush
of the Lent Term takes hold. The Fifth Form are captivated by
their mock exams while the rest of the House change games
options and activities for a fresh start. The Rugby players come
out of hiding and take centre stage alongside the Hockey players
as they battle for the proverbial back page of the Ardingly PR
machine. Despite its physical nature and fearsome reputation,
Rugby attracts players of all shapes and sizes and Ardingly rugby
is no different. Clemente Francavilla, Illya Kvaratskheliya, and
Mauro Auzinger all strapped on rugby boots for the very first time
against Box Hill; leading with only minutes to go before a last
minute penalty goal gave the opposition a draw at 8–8.
Another weekend and it was time for another social but this
time, it was an old favourite, Chinese New Year. Our students
from Hong Kong, led by Anthony Yiu, Wilson Mak, Jacky Lai,
Anson Lee, Will Tam, and Alan Suen, once again did us proud,
showcasing their talents with a beautiful display of colour,
calligraphy, art, food, and fun games to help celebrate the amazing
diversity we have here at Ardingly. The atmosphere which the boys
created through sheer hard work and dedication was embraced
wholeheartedly by the boarding community.
As Long Leave drew closer, House Singing loomed large on the
horizon. With Mr Tester unavailable and Dr Coker no longer
with us, we were very lucky to have the talented Mr Shelley at our
disposal. We engaged the services of the resourceful James Ritchie
as musical director and Ollie Pleasants as conductor/crowd
warmer. After weeks and weeks of hard graft and fine tuning, the
boys were simply outstanding on the day of competition and were
ARDINGLY annals 2015
deservedly acknowledged as Best Boys’ House. Their rendition of
Ho Hey by The Lumineers will live long in the memory.
As the short dark days turned to spring and the end of the long Lent
Term drew ever closer, thoughts of revision, coursework deadlines
and impending doom again dawned over the majority of the House
whenever exams were mentioned. Around the corner, however,
there was plenty to enjoy and cheer about. House Swimming was
welcomed as a new opportunity for some of the new faces in the
House to stand up and be counted. Our Juniors were exceptional
on the night and won almost every race on offer with Markus
Ho, Marco Lo, Ben Long, and Dennis Cvijanovic dominating all
comers. Our Seniors were not far behind, finishing second overall,
giving us all a reason to smile. Vladimir Shadrov was a giant among
men, captivating the crowd in an enthralling battle with Josh ReesDavies from Hilton for best overall on the night.
The major story of the Lent Term must surely have been our
First XI Footballers’ success over Hampton School at MK Dons
stadium in the ISFA Cup Final. For all of us in Mertens, however,
it was the number of Mertens boys involved that stood out and
gave us all much satisfaction; the Adomakohs, Holman, Haynes
Brown, McConnell, Pleasants, Meegan, and Summerfield; the core
of the team. An amazing achievement, well done lads.
Ardingly Hockey continues to go from strength to strength and
when they have players of the calibre of Tobias Ayre then life is
good. Tobias’s exploits on the pitch as a part of a very successful
First XI were a sight to behold; when it comes to passion and
determination he is rarely matched. The final act of the Lent Term
came in the form of House Hockey. The Juniors produced a huge
effort to finish in second place overall after losing 1–0 to both
Crosse and Rhodes before beating Hilton in the final game. The
Seniors too were close; a narrow loss to Crosse then a draw with
Rhodes before beating Hilton in the final match. A great effort
from all the lads and Patrick Jacobs in goal, but THAT Hockey
trophy still eludes us.
As we head into the final term of the year there is much still ahead
of us and there is much to celebrate. Cricketers and Tennis players
are honing their skills, hoping for sunny days and fine weather,
the Fifth Formers are deep in the midst of study leave and exams;
the Mertens Family Day was an unrivalled success, bigger and
better than any in recent memory despite the weather and lack of
T20 Cricket; our Senior Inter-House athletes were all-conquering.
House Cricket may or may not be staged this term but, if it does,
we’ll be well placed with players like Hanzie Khan and Crispin
McCutcheon at our disposal. Harry Samra continues to represent
Sussex Rugby with grit and determination.
So, that’s my ‘impartial’ view on things. It’s been another actionpacked year and one to be immensely proud of. Thank you to the
Mertens Heads of House, Benny Ernst and Jake Freeman, for their
outstanding leadership throughout the year, and thanks to the
Prefects for their unstinting support and good humour. Thank you,
as ever, to Matron for her energy and care; she does an amazing
job of keeping us all on the straight and narrow.
Finally though, and by no means least, a huge thank you and
farewell to Sam and Leila Shelley. Sam has been Mertens AHoM
for the past two years and sadly, will be leaving us at the end of
this year to take up a post at Epsom College. Sam’s energy for
the role was evident right from the beginning. He has been for
Ardingly an exceptional teacher, Head of Rugby, and tutor, but
most importantly for Mertens House, he has been an outstanding
67
AHoM. His firm but friendly manner has earned him huge respect
and he is immensely popular with the boys in the House. Sam and
Leila have embraced the boarding community and will be sorely
missed. All of us here in Mertens wish them both well in their
future endeavours.
Matt Curran
NEAL HOUSE
Amazingly, yet another year has flown by: last year’s Fifth Formers
are now in the Lower Sixth (and despite promises of regular visits,
we rarely see them, but can only assume that this is because they
are working so hard at every available opportunity), we have a new
Shell cohort, and suddenly there are an awful lot of Remove in
the House. A new prefect team stepped up, with Megan Fudge as
Head of House, Caitlin Slater as Deputy Head of House, Grace
Wood as Head of House Music, Immy Waters as Head of House
Sport, Orla Badger and Katie Meagher as Heads of Fundraising,
Georgina Gräfin-Kerssenbrock as House Sacristan, Emma
Sutherland as Shell Mentor, and Millie Searl as Arts Coordinator.
We have been through ups and downs this year, but there are a
number of highlights to look back on.
Beginning all the way back at the first day of the Michaelmas
Term, the year kicked off with Shell Watersports, where the Shell
first got to meet and interact with one another and the House
prefects. It was a successful morning with all being very wet, and
the first of many hockey matches to follow. Fifth were excited
to meet them and get involved, and delighted at being in control
of the House camera, which led to some very ‘interesting’ shots
(some of which will never be seen again). Shell and the prefects
also met informally later that half of term – over Domino’s pizza
of course – which led to incessant gossip about friendships and
Shell drama, resulting in laughter and the lingering smell of pizza
grease in our beloved common room.
A few weeks later, having worked off all the Dominos, Neal
was squealing and slipping in the mud at the infamous Steepo.
Autumn had been very wet, but the rain held off on the day and,
after getting past the initial disgust of both exercise and dirt, we
all trooped out and finished the course, securing wins against
Aberdeen – proving once again that wearing pink streamers in
your hair gives you some serious stamina. Some notably impressive
performances from Remove and Fifth with Ciara Branagan who
68
came second, Immy Waters third, Alice Ertl fifth, Emilie Robinson
sixth, and Sarah Elder ninth, as well as seventeen of the 25 fastest
runners being from Neal. In the end, this meant that Neal once
again won the three available cups (the Ridd cup for the fastest six
runners, the Junior House cup for the speed of the overall House,
and the Junior Girls Endeavour cup for overall effort). As tradition
decrees, Steepo was followed by Neal’s annual after party, which
consisted of (our usual theme) bucket loads of food, non-stop
chatter, and very happy high-pitched giggles.
Hot on the heels of Steepo followed the House Music competition.
Neal presented a varied programme consisting of a whole
House ensemble who performed Hey Soul Sister by Train, solo
performances by Alice Ertl (Chopin’s Nocturne in F minor on
the piano), Emmaline Pollard (KT Tunstall’s Black Horse and the
Cherry Tree on the guitar and voice) and Grace Wood (Vivaldi’s
‘Spring’ on the violin) finished off with a House Choir performing
Calvin Carter’s Goodnight Sweetheart. The House received very
high praise for all the performances, scoring a total of 55/60,
with feedback of ‘lovely singing’, ‘very clear diction’, and ‘a great
performance with great technique’. Sadly we did not make it into
the top three performances to receive a trophy, but were extremely
close behind.
Next was another sporting event with House Hockey. Matches
were closely fought, and thankfully not called off due to a frozen
pitch this year. Strong performances were seen from Ellen Bailes,
Lauren and Phoebe Workman, Rosie Boggis, Immy Waters, Ciara
Branagan, and Caitlin Slater. Sadly, despite strong perseverance
and team work, we could not quite beat Aberdeen on the pitch.
Despite losing the match, we felt we won in the aesthetics: pink
streamers over blue lipstick any day. Support was also gratefully
received from the Neal Lions, and even though Neal lost House
Hockey, we won at style and enthusiasm.
At the end of a very long term, there is always much cause for
celebration, and the end of the Michaelmas Term is no exception.
Personally, I think it is safe to say that Neal does Christmas well,
what with pink and purple fairy lights adorning the walls and a
Christmas tree suffocated with Secret Santa gifts. Finally, having
finished decorating the ceiling with falling snowflakes, the common
room was set up for the annual Neal Christmas Movie Night. In
short, this basically means finding a favourite spot and getting
comfortable with cushions and blankets in the common room,
watching Elf with hot chocolate and yet more junk food. Perfect.
And now you all know why Neal don’t always win sporting events.
2015 has however seen a remarkable achievement for Neal. On
12th February, Neal broke free of the reputation of losing every
music competition to Aberdeen after giving an incredible rendition
of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep, thanks to our Head of House Music,
Grace Wood. The whole House was involved, accompanied by
Emmy Pollard on acoustic guitar, Connie Jobling keeping rhythm
with maracas, and Emma Sutherland on the drums. We had been
practising hard for weeks, and were absolutely thrilled that Neal
won the accolade of ‘Best Girls House’. (Remove: you had better
keep up the beginning of what is sure to be a winning streak for
Neal). And in case all that was too subtle, we beat Aberdeen.
Lent Term brought mock examinations and mild panic for the
Fifth Form as we suddenly realised that the real things were not
far away. Amidst the panic, Connie Jobling and Tabitha Anderson
fought bravely in the Inter House Badminton competition, but
unfortunately were outplayed. House Netball swiftly followed and
was again a very close-fought competition as, coming into the last
match, Aberdeen and Neal were equal having won one match
each, but the team could not quite manage the final game and
unfortunately lost the title this year.
To raise everyone’s spirits we were all looking forward to the
much-anticipated Easter egg hunt within the House. Much
screaming and hilarity occurs while we race round in circles and
up and down stairs hunting for clues. This resulted in us managing
to devour 53 Easter eggs in record time having found all the clues:
thanks to Miss Hughes for hiding them all, and Mrs Pedlingham
and Mrs Mackay for organising.
The Easter break was most welcome. We were, however,
very saddened to hear the news of the death of our former
Housemistress, Miss McDonnell, but we will continue to
celebrate her memory, and we are currently considering ways to
commemorate her time as Housemistress. We are thankful for all
the contributions she made to the House over the years. She was
very much in our thoughts when Sports Day took place, and we
are pleased to say that Neal’s Remove were victorious, and the
joint effort of Aberdeen and Neal Fifth as a Woodlands team led
to victory over Toynbee and Woodard Girls. There were excellent
performances from Lillie Franks who dominated the high jump,
Ciara Branagan who ran superbly, and Rosie Boggis who did a
spectacular sprint at the end of her 1500m race securing a win.
These were just a few of the competitors who gave incredible
performances.
We are looking forward to the events coming up in the Trinity
Term and our end of year celebration – go karting last year
was superb – and would like to thank all the tutors and our
Housemistress and Matron for putting up with us and for
organising so many food-filled gatherings.
Megan Fudge, Head of House
RHODES HOUSE
It felt like we had only been at the College for a week and already
the greatest event at Ardingly College was upon us. Steepo was
the Rhodes main event of the Michaelmas Term, and we went into
it giving our all, and this year we were not backing down without
a ‘fight’. The House gathered in the garden, where we put on our
war paint and surroundied the podium as the speeches began. We
had some brilliant ones this year, beginning with the Lower Sixth
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(Jak Alcock’s in particular) and then continued by our Upper
Sixth Rhodesians led by Ed Jobling, last year’s Head of Rhodes
who is now Deputy Head Boy, with his stirring call for victory. By
this time everyone was fired up and ready to go and, with chants
echoing all over the College, we took to the starting line. All of the
Rhodes participants put in their best efforts but unfortunately just
fell short of overall victory. Once again, though, this was another
memorable Steepo for the House.
Shortly after was House Music, not our most successful
competition of the year, but we always give it our all. This year
there were great performances from Tom Hopson on the flute,
Ricky Alikani and Andrew Telford with their lovely duet, Ben
Belcher on the violin and, to finish off the evening, the great
Rhodes Band preforming Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili
Peppers. For some reason we didn’t come in the top three – again
- so of course we obviously came fourth, and Rhodes accepted
this as a mighty achievement. House Football finished off the year
but, without the thick fog of last year we were severely hampered.
Both Junior and Senior teams, however, played well in all their
matches. There was amazing individual skill on show as well as
the teams uniting as one, which showed the other Houses how you
should be playing a team sport like Football. Even though we lost
the Trophy and became a man down in the Seniors (with a broken
collar-bone) due to dodgy tactics the Rhodes Spirit was still at an
all-time high.
After Christmas the first event, admirably led by Andrew Telford,
was the House Singing Competition - an event when Rhodes
always shows just how talented they are when they sing. Hmm.
With our choice, California Dreamin’, Rhodes took to the stage,
creating our own chapel and priest whilst Tom Hopson was
hoisted up above the choir to again play his incredible flute solo.
Somehow Rhodes didn’t win a trophy, and obviously we were
‘robbed’, but we quickly understood that the judge was suffering
from ‘comedic failure’, so we weren’t too downhearted. House
Swimming wasn’t actually a flop this year with both teams doing
well and no-one drowning. Rhodes brought their usual enthusiasm
to the pool-side, and second place was a fitting result. We came
second again in the House Hockey, with one of the highlights
being Ethan Jayne’s amazing save of a penalty and Tim Finnerty
saving a goal with his head. (Not to be recommended but it did
the job.)
Final term of the year and still a few events to go. In House
Athletics, Rhodes brought the enthusiasm again, starting nicely with
a ‘pre-match’ warm-up and then going on to do really well in Seniors
and Juniors (Second seems to be the place to be). Perhaps no
mention of the Intermediates would be appropriate but, win or lose,
Rhodes always does well. As we have some very talented cricketers
in the House we are hopeful that House Cricket goes well, and that
we may finally add a win in the sporting arena. Actually, we have
won something this year. For two terms running we are the proud
holders of the Boy’s Academic Cup and, after all, that is what we are
really here for – a real triumph for Rhodes House.
We have had a few internal House competitions, with Jamie
Wilkes and Miguel Rodriguez winning the table football
competition, which overall raised £32 for a local charity. Then,
after a long time of waiting, came the inaugural Rhodes Stairwell
Challenge which pitted the eager Rhodesians to match the newlyframed photographs on the stairs to their countries. Toby Brann
won this after a tie-break, and secured himself a Rhodes cap and a
Tuck Shop voucher; well done too to the runners up. I hope that,
next year, the House may have many more internal competitions,
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me throughout the year. I have
left one final thank you to the
two people that makes this House
what it is and it wouldn’t be the
same without them: Mr Caldicot
and Mr Wood.
TOYNBEE HOUSE
As the academic year draws to a close,
it is close to impossible to believe
that all fifty-nine girls were new to the
House, thirty-one of whom were brand
new to the College. The Toynbee girls
of 2014-2015 are a diverse crowd, with
over fifteen nationalities, a range of
talents and skills, and fifty-nine unique personalities.
Shortly into the Michaelmas Term, Toynbee House invited day
students to a sleepover as a slumber-party themed event where we
were able to begin bonding and establishing friendships in the
house. This could be seen as the mark of where the ‘sisterhood’
experience of Toynbee girls began.
The first Toynbee social of the year was Casino Night, which was
a marvellous success. Luckily we weren’t thrown too much in the
red, as the house always wins (and the chips were fake). All of the
girls looked elegant and exquisite, and the boys looked sufficient.
and maybe James
Percy can pass down the idea of the ‘Bop It’
competition to next year’s prefects.
One major part of Rhodes is the Tutors, and without them
Rhodes could probably not function. From them I have learnt a
lot as they have shown their extraordinary breadth of talents to
the whole of the House. Ms Ballantyne and Miss Burns (sadly
leaving us to join the Senior Management Team) running the
excellent Craft Corner on Monday lunch time; Mr Savage playing
a massive part in this year’s mock election which has led to fiery
debates during the House callovers between Charlie Amos’s
UKIP stance and Andrew Telford’s Green; Mr Hope always
showing the keen badminton players of Rhodes a new trick or
two; but obviously we have exhausted his knowledge as he is off
to become Assistant Housemaster to Crosse. Having learnt what
excellent students are from us, he can now attempt to transform
the Crosse boys – good luck with that! Mr Parke showing his
musical talent, especially during House Singing rehearsals,
and even though Mrs Jackson is a part-time teacher she always
has plenty of time for us, teaching us everything to do with
Geography and life with young children.
Thank you to all those Tutors for everything, and a big thank you
to Mr Massad; we wish him the best of luck to wherever he moves
on to next. Thank you to the whole House for making this a
great year not just for me but for everyone that witnesses Rhodes
in action, and thank you to the prefects James Percy, Jono
Long, Andrew Telford, Will Ward, Barney Anderson, and Tim
Finnerty - I couldn’t have asked for any better people to support
70
Shortly following Casino Night was the legendary Steepo race.
The entirety of Toynbee was excited and full of spirit for the
race, and some girls were even excited about running. But,
definitely enough as Toynbee came out on top as the victors,
with first place, runner up, and third place as Toynbee
representatives, Charlotte Childs, Florence Ertl, and Lucy
Gonnella respectively.
On the subject of winning, the next major event including the
collective of Toynbee House was the House Music competition,
where Toynbee offered a whole range of musical performances.
This included a piano piece by Jessica Hatfield, a piano duet by
Jessica Hatfield and Phai Tarasansombat, a solo recorder piece
by Monika Stadelmaier, a group acoustic cover of Radioactive
by Imagine Dragons by Jessica Hatfield, Eleanor Haines, Fran
Sprules and Phai Tarasabsombat, and, to finish it off, a whole
House cover of Viva la Vida by Coldplay.
The next inter-House competition was the House Hockey. This was
another triumph by Toynbee as, again, we came out on top, just
knocking Woodard Girls out of the running in the last round.
As we entered the holiday season, the Toynbee House Christmas
dinner was upon us. The common room was decorated in a
winter-wonderland theme. The Christmas dinner was a charming
conclusion of the Michaelmas Term where we celebrated a
successful first term and a brilliant start to our Sixth Form career.
Arriving back from the Christmas holidays, the majority of the
girls were exhausted from revising for our AS mock examinations
two weeks into term. Once we completed our exams, we suddenly
realised House Singing was creeping up on us. Preparation for this
started once we had chosen Waka Waka by Shakira to perform to
the College. Besides our amazing singing rehearsals downstairs in
Toynbee common room, we had managed to add in some groovy
dance skills that we were sure would go down well with the judges.
ARDINGLY annals 2015
The day had come, and Toynbee definitely managed to put on
a show for the crowd. Somehow, we didn’t manage to come out
on top, but we knew we had all tried our best.
Next was House Swimming, where a team of six girls competed to
try to regain our winning streak against Woodard Girls. Of course,
we managed to win by a landslide, and proved to them that House
Singing was a fluke. After all the blood, sweat, and tears we had
put into House events, we finally had a reason to dress up. Lower
Sixth Murder Mystery night had all the girls excited and preparing
hours before it had even started. Even though we had the whole
day to prepare ourselves, half of Toynbee still didn’t manage to get
ready on time. Arriving fashionably late had now become a part of
the Toynbee culture. We enjoyed a lovely evening where we were
taken on a journey by our Lower Sixth actors and had to deduce
who the murderer was. Not many were successful in guessing, but
it didn’t manage to ruin such a divine dinner.
It was now time for Toynbee to host the Mini Olympics down in
the Old Gym. Our Prefects were able to devise a rota, and set up
different events for each station. Luckily, we had a great turn out
from the College, so all our hard work didn’t go to waste. Hilton
House took the win, with Mertens on their tail.
Following the Easter holidays, we had House Tennis against
Woodard Girls, where five pairs of girls competed to try to keep the
rivalry alive. Unfortunately, Woodard finally got their revenge and
managed to beat our tennis competitors. Then there was Sports
Day, where we enjoyed a fun afternoon of running, jumping, and
spectating. Although we didn’t win overall, we came ahead of
Woodard Girls…obviously. The time had now come for us to get
our heads down and study, with our A Level girls shortly starting
their AS examinations, and IB preparing for their internal mocks.
Toynbee 2014-2015 was a spectacular year to be part of. We would
like to thank Miss Gurd, Miss Wright, and Matron for guiding us
through this year with a huge amount of support and encouragement.
On behalf of Toynbee, we would like to thank you for everything
you’ve done: you made Lower Sixth a whole lot easier to get through,
and we wouldn’t have got here if it was not for you all. We would also
like to wish the new girls entering Toynbee in September the very
best of luck; we hope you enjoy it as much as we have.
Holly Hill, Head of House
Jenny Nuredini, Deputy Head of House
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WOODARD BOYS
TThe start of the Upper Sixth year is always an exciting time –
the four Boys’ Houses all come together for the first time and, in
addition, join Woodard Girls, all under one roof. In September,
the LaserQuest, mini-Sports Day and Barbecue provided an
excellent opportunity for the students to bond and settle in to their
new home. In addition, all of the Boarders and a few of the day
boys enjoyed a Fish and Chip Supper on the Bluebell Railway; it
was a beautiful evening and, despite some initial scepticism from
some of the boys, I think they all agreed that they were culturally
enhanced by the occasion.
With Public Examinations the focus of the year, much of the
social calendar is concentrated into the Michaelmas Term so that
the students can begin to focus on their exam preparation during
the busy Lent and Trinity Terms. This year was no different,
and the boys enjoyed a diverse range of social events to provide
welcome respite from the pressures of the final year. The House
Music competition proved to be extremely popular. With so much
musical talent in the House this year, the performances were
particularly stunning, and it is always lovely to see the reaction of
other students, often unaware of the musical skills that their peers
possess. The impact of Jack Kei’s quickfire Rachmaninoff piece
was a joy to watch. The musicians excelled in the House Music
competition. The confidence and willingness to take risks shown
by the boys in the ensemble pieces entertained all those present.
Sadly, they did not win either of the prizes available, but it was no
surprise that they were invited to perform again their version of
Riptide by Lance Joy in front of the whole school during a Tuesday
morning Assembly.
Other highlights of the Michaelmas Term included the House
Quiz night, where the Woodarders take on and try to beat the
House tutors. International mindfulness was enhanced with the
Asia Night. The boys and girls put a huge amount of effort into
preparing talks and cooking food for the other students in order
to enlighten us all on their background and cultural identity. Jason
Ho and Geoffrey Wong demonstrated some admirable skills as
a comedy duo with their deconstruction of Asian stereotypes.
November saw Godwin Hall host the other boarding Houses for
St Andrew’s Night, proudly led by Miss Gall. Accompanied by
Scottish music, the boarders enjoyed a neeps and tatties starter, a
71
haggis main course and cranachan to finish. For many of the Lower
Sixth in attendance, it gave them a nice early insight into what life
is like in the co-educational environment of Woodard House.
The term finished with our traditional Christmas Party. As
always, Mr Robinson entertained everybody thoroughly with his
Christmas Pantomine; nobody is immune from his sharp wit.
Quite how he got away with some of the material he used over the
years still amazes the House staff, but somehow he never seemed
to offend anybody – very much a skill in its own right. This event
also gave us the opportunity to say farewell to Mr Robinson and
his family. Hopefully, in our speeches that evening and elsewhere
in the Annals, I have been able to convey his qualities as a
Housemaster.
The start of the Lent Term saw the House joined by Mr Lovat,
his wife Laura, and young sons, Jonah and Aran. One significant
change, a slightly controversial one, saw the death of Thursday
Night Football or ‘TNF’. However, like a phoenix rising from the
flames, Wednesday Night Football emerged from the ashes. Whilst
‘WNF’ does not sound quite as good as ‘TNF’, the change actually
saw an increase in numbers. It was also fantastic to see so many of
the day boys staying behind to participate.
Although the social calendar was not quite as heavy in the Lent
Term, the boys still enjoyed some memorable moments. Our
budding filmmaker, Sean Pontikos, put together a polished Screen
Test evening that entertained students from Woodard and the
other Houses. A cap on numbers meant that the event had to be
restricted to primarily Sixth Formers
– which
was fortunate, as some of Sean’s clips were certainly colourful.
In addition, the inaugural Pelican Talks event was launched, a
student-driven project that allowed the boys and girls in the House
to share their passion for topics outside the curriculum. A diverse
range of talks included Alexi Demetriadi’s Robert F. Kennedy,
Make Gentle the Life of this World, Kasper Verkammen’s Maths,
Love and Sex, James Price and Jed Ayloff’s Doomsday Approaches
and Constantin Mueller’s highly controversial How I Hacked Your
Webcam! With so many of the current Lower Sixth in attendance,
it is hoped that next year’s cohort will be inspired to keep this
event running. The term finished with a Champions League Pizza
evening – a great way for the boys to let off some steam at the end
of a hectic few weeks. The biggest surprise was the level of support
for Paris St Germain, or put another way, just how unpopular
Chelsea FC actually are.
A genuine highlight of the term was the work that went into the
performance for the House Singing Competition. Song choices
can often be contentious but this proved not to be the case
as the boys adapted Blue Swede’s Hooked on a Feeling with a
memorable, stomping Ooga-Chaka middle section. The judge
described the performance as Cardiff Arms Park meets the Haka!
Some thought this was an insult: I took it as a compliment…
It is no easy feat getting 69 boys to sing so well and with such
commitment. Alas, we were unsuccessful, but several of the boys
commented that the build-up to the event and the performance
itself provided some of their most enjoyable moments of the year.
I am hugely grateful to those that provided the creative spark and
energy to make it all come together so well: our two
conductors (Tim Price and Carlos Sandin) and the
House Band (Harry Ames on drums, Sam Guerard
on guitar, Jesse Lee on guitar, and Jon Shoesmith on
trumpet).
Away from the House, it has been a privilege to see
just how much talent exists within this year group.
Success in the ISFA final, medals secured at the
British Fencing Championships, regional Basketball
champions and county Hockey champions
highlight some of the sporting qualities within the
group. On top of this, so many of the boys shone
in the Talent Show, Cabaret and Spring Cabaret
events.
I would like to finish this report by taking the
opportunity to thank the three House Prefects
who have provided so much support over the
last two terms. The Head of House, Ties Lind,
demonstrated a calm authority and proved to be an
outstanding public speaker. He possessed the maturity to filter the
sensible suggestions from the ridiculous, and consequently our
House meetings would always be productive as his suggestions
were listened to and put into practice. Ties was well supported
by the two Deputy Heads of House. Whilst some of his teachers
might be surprised, Oliver Clarke-McCullough demonstrated some
superb organisational skills with respect to tasks such as sorting
out takeaways and collecting donations for gifts and Charity Days.
Andrew Mackay is a boy the others listen to and respect: qualities
that made him an excellent troubleshooter. Each brought different
personal qualities, but they gelled extremely well and have
contributed enormously to a successful year for Woodard Boys
in 2014/15.
Dylan Bennetts
72
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WOODARD GIRLS
Anyone who believes that the final year of school ought to
be dominated entirely by study and exams ought not to enter
Woodard Girls. Rather, our final year at Ardingly will be
remembered due to Miss Gall, Miss Ward,
and all our peers, whom it was a genuine
privilege to spend time with. Truly, the
house spirit in Woodard Girls is unmatched,
enabling us to triumph in House events, not
quite triumph in House events, and eat large
quantities of Thai food with grace and style.
Not all of our time in Woodard Girls was spent
defeating the other Houses. The House staff
worked tirelessly to cultivate the House spirit,
and as soon as we entered Woodard Girls they
organised a day of numerous events, including
laser tag and a barbecue, encouraging us to bond
by shooting each other and eating. Woodard Girls
continued throughout the year to find excuses to
eat, and invited the rest of the College to join the
fun. Some culinary talented members of our House,
collaborating with our neighbours Woodard Boys,
hosted a truly excellent ‘Asia Night’, complete with
delectable cuisine. Josephine Lau and Queenie Ng in
particular worked tirelessly to educate the rest of the
house about Hong Kong and good noodles.
Alas, our success at the first barbecue didn’t quite translate to
success in some sporting events, however, by the time House
Netball had come around, we had recovered sufficiently to defeat
Toynbee. Fourteen of our girls took to the court: the Seconds
narrowly lost, but the Firsts were able to bring it back with a huge
score difference. This match was shortly followed by the defeat of
the staff team, despite an excellent performance from Mr Shelley
and Mr Dungate. House Tennis brought the House sporting
events to an end, where the pairs Beth and Sophie, Amber
and Alexa, and Zoe and Maren dominated the court and led
Woodard Girls to a clear victory.
When it comes to music, Woodard Girls are truly unmatched.
Franzi Lordik reduced Miss Gall (and apparently some of the
judges) to tears with her stunning flute performance in House
Music, both achieving ‘Best Solo Performer’, and contributing
to Woodard Girls achieving second place by only one point. The
defining moment, and perhaps the most tangible example of
Woodard Girls House spirit, however, was our stunning victory in
the House Singing Competition. Ella Rainbird-Earley dextrously
manipulated the musical energy and talent in the House (and
indeed, probably contributed to a large proportion of that talent
herself), and transformed even the shyest members of Woodard
Girls into Bruno Mars’s Muses. Michaela Green and Paula Mira,
too, managed to navigate the large disparities in dancing ability
to create a successful choreography. The result was a stunning
performance of Uptown Funk, which saw us win the top prize of
‘Overall Best Performance’.
Some see the end of school as a light at the end of the tunnel, but
the members of Woodard Girls can only thank all the House staff
for gilding this tunnel with so many wonderful memories that we
are loath to leave it.
In particular, we would like to thank Miss Gall for her unswerving
dedication and support throughout the year, especially during
exam time when it is needed most.
ARDINGLY annals 2015
We would also like to wish Miss Ward, who is leaving us this year
after being our Assistant Housemistress: all the very best. Thank
you for being so caring and kind, you will be greatly missed.
Aubrie Willifer and Alice Burke
73
VALETE
74
ARDINGLY annals 2015
ANNABEL HAWKINS
SEPTEMBER 2007
In September 2007, a fresh-faced, fervent young woman
arrived at the College. Once it was confirmed that she was
not a new addition to the Sixth Form, we realised that this
was the Geography teacher who was to be Clare Jackson’s
maternity cover for the year. Her youthful looks belied the
experience Annabel joined us with; having graduated from
Birmingham University in 2003, she had then worked as a
marketing strategist for two years in London. Two terms of
cover teaching at St Catherine’s School in Bramley helped
Annabel to decide that teaching was most certainly the career
for her. She subsequently followed her heart to University
College Dublin to study in the Irish system of teacher
training and set out to achieve her ‘PHDE’ – Annabel can
still be heard reminding colleagues that this is indeed harder
than completing the easier PGCE British equivalent. The
fact that she was awarded a First in this (indisputably more
difficult) qualification meant that at least she had chosen
the right career and that Ardingly College had been lucky to
secure Miss Hawkins’s services for the temporary maternity
cover. It did not take long for the College to realise that this
appointment had to be permanent, and so Annabel was made
a full member of the Geography Department, even after the
return of Mrs Jackson.
She quickly established herself as the true professional we
all now know her to be – everything she did had the Annabel
touch of proficiency, competence, and perfection, whether
it was in the classroom, on the ski slope or netball courts,
or a soggy day out at Malham helping students with their
Geography coursework. Annabel has been a keen member
of the Ardingly Ski team over the years and someone the
girls could always look to in the Netball season for support
and advice. In her first year at the College, she was invited
to attend the Ardingly in Africa annual trip to The Gambia,
something that would have profound effect on her and would
see her lead this trip for the following six years. The work
Annabel has performed out there, along with the various
teams of students and teachers, has been truly extraordinary;
ARDINGLY annals 2015
teaching science to deaf students, helping to fund the
building of new classrooms, and providing invaluable
resources to a country that has very little, is all no mean feat.
Annabel is exceedingly highly regarded and loved by the
Gambian teachers, so it was not an easy decision for her to
hand this trip over, even after the trip in 2011 had resulted in
a mild case of Malaria… now that is dedication!
Being a Geographer often has a casual link with being an
intrepid traveller which is certainly true for Annabel. Rarely
has she spent a half term break relaxing at home – more
often than not she has been on College trips to Iceland, The
Gambia, Hong Kong, Bermuda, and let’s not forget the annual
retreat to Swanage. As a keen ecologist, Annabel has always
felt guilty about her carbon footprint – not to mention the fact
she is a dreadful flyer, so all this travel has not come easily.
Annabel’s skill and dedication to everything that she
does quickly saw her heading into management at the
College. She was appointed as Housemistress of Aberdeen
for Lent Term 2011, to help bridge the gap between the
departure of Jean Walshe and arrival of Kate Newson. It
was unfortunate for Annabel that a Boarding inspection
and the general census both occurred during her short
tenure as Housemistress – try helping sixty teenage girls
to complete a complicated government form when most
of them have at least dual nationality… Annabel took it all
in her stride and so when the new role of Head of Middle
School was devised, there was only one person for the job.
She has helped this inaugural post evolve and has facilitated
the College’s record GCSE results for the past few years.
She has improved the Eudaimonia programme, Middle
School tutoring, and offered care and support for students.
Charterhouse has seen in Annabel what we already know to
be true, so our loss is most certainly their gain. We will miss
her professional, efficient, yet calming nature, but mostly
her smile and friendship.
Nicola Burns and Alex Hill
75
NEIL GUTTERIDGE
SEPTEMBER 2008
Neil Gutteridge leaves Ardingly after seven
outstandingly successful years in Sussex,
years that have seen him develop the Cocurricular programme at the College to
an outstanding level. He has led the staff
through a hugely transitional period, and
created a co-curricular programme that the
HMI inspection team described as being
one of the best that they had seen. Indeed,
in the aftermath of the inspection, major
independent schools were encouraged
by the inspectorate to come and view
the programmes that Neil put in place,
and Ardingly has also been lauded for its
co-curricular programme by educational
consultants across the country, a testament
to the skill with which Neil has managed
this change. He is certainly leaving at a
time when the co-curricular programme
is thriving.
Neil is a talented sportsman and
educationalist within sport. He has
developed the sports provision to such a level
that Ardingly now has a national reputation
in Football, Hockey (both in Boys and Girls
76
domains), Cricket, Sailing, and Fencing
in particular. He has fostered links with
preparatory schools throughout the south of
England, and has managed staff effectively in
encouraging and arranging for them to go to
each establishment and create partnerships
with them. The coaching standards of
Ardingly are exceptional, and Neil has
worked with and employed international
sportsmen and women in each of the key
sports, ensuring excellence in the provision
of sport for all at the College. This, in turn,
has created prestige, and a rise both in the
numbers attending the College, and also in
the quality of applicant. Indeed, in Neil’s
final year, the GCSE results achieved by the
seven best sports players in the College (all
international athletes) included sixty two A*
grades. It is crucial to understand that Neil’s
influence on the co-curricular programme
has not only increased the participation
levels and standard of sport, but also, in turn,
enabled academic success.
Neil has, however, been anything but just
a sportsman. His regular attendance at
plays and musical events has been widely
acknowledged by the Directors of Drama
and Music, and his support of them in
allowing them to put across cultural ideas
to the pupils has been valued. Indeed, such
management has enabled the College to
develop tours in Neil’s final three years
to the Edinburgh Festival for the Drama
department (both of which Neil attended
and supported), tours to Paris and Rome
for the Music department, and a concert
programme for visiting artists that has led to
the College securing the services of Voces8
over the last three years. The partnership
for this was overseen by Neil, through
Robert Costin, and, since then, the pair
have developed relationships with the Royal
Philharmonic orchestra and the Orchestra of
the Royal Opera House, both of which played
at Ardingly’s unique Arts Festival.
The Arts Festival has been a real feather
in Neil’s already overladen cap. He was
instrumental in the organisation of this,
and the Director of the Arts Festival
regularly asked him for advice on the
implementation of ideas, and the logistical
running of such a big event, in the inception
of the Festival, in the first two years. Neil’s
talent in organisation, and his exceptional
knowledge of safety procedures, coupled with
his ability to understand the key issues in
running such a festival within an educational
establishment, has meant that he has been
a leading figure in this project, and this
knowledge would be both Ardingly’s loss as
well as Rugby’s significant gain.
Neil’s very active role in the Senior
Management has also allowed him to be
a very effective conduit between the hardworking Common Room and the management
of the College. He has empathy for what a
hard working staff member wants and needs
in order to ensure that excellence is achieved,
and has supported, within the framework of
the College, staff members who want to go the
extra mile for Ardingly. His communication
skills are second to none, and many of the
staff have felt that he is an exceptionally
accessible member of the Senior Management
Team within the College. Indeed, he has
had to be visual and approachable, and he
has done this with aplomb. His work with
the middle managers of the College has
allowed for each to develop their role and take
ownership of their duties.
Neil’s departure from Ardingly is sad in many
ways. The College is losing a leader, someone
everyone can talk to, a visionary, an organiser
and someone who cares about participation
and excellence. We are losing someone
with an inner knowledge of Independent
Schools, having been a Director of Sport,
Housemaster, and Director of Co-curricular,
someone who inspires confidence among all
with whom he works. This will be very much
Rugby’s gain, and we wish Neil and his family
all our love and best wishes for this exciting
move back to the Midlands.
Nick Tester
ARDINGLY annals 2015
MARK WATSON
SEPTEMBER 2008
Mark Watson arrived at Ardingly to take up the post of Head of Modern Foreign
Languages in 2008. He succeeded Harold Hyde in this role; Harold stayed on for two
years as a teacher of German, and Mark was grateful to have his continuing support
and advice. Mark’s gratitude to his predecessor was abundantly and touchingly evident
when he gave Harold’s eventual leaving address. Harold must have been very moved to
have such heartfelt tribute paid to him, to have his value so clearly attested, and a key
facet of Mark’s character – his emotional warmth and feel for human relationships –
was brought into sharp relief on that memorable occasion. Mark is above all a people
person, at his happiest and most successful when interacting without impedance with
colleagues and students. He has a natural inclination to reach out and make contact,
and he has thrived on the quality of the relationships that he has built in the course of
his teaching career. Along with many of the older generation of teachers, he believes
that nothing matters more than the relationships that can be created between teacher
and student. He is driven by the opportunity that teaching offers to help young people,
and this has sustained him over three decades in the classroom. At the heart of Mark’s
identity is communication. He speaks fast and his thoughts spill out of him. No wonder
he demonstrated an early facility for language and chose to make the teaching and use
of Modern Languages his profession. Mark is an exceptionally talented linguist who
has been able to teach French, Spanish, and German, and he even branched out to
run an Ardingly Polish club. His enthusiasm for learning extends to his own ongoing
development, and he has taught himself some Turkish and sat a GCSE in Polish,
obtaining 82%. He has begun an MPhil on the topic of the Breton independence
movement during the Second World War. In a conversation conducted in French, Mark
was able to convince a French relative of a departmental colleague that he was a native
speaker, a real credit to the authenticity of his accent and his rich vocabulary.
Mark is an advocate for the all-round education and experience offered by independent
schools, and he loves the enhanced contact with students that these schools offer.
Mark is a keen footballer and he has taken great satisfaction and pleasure from the
opportunities to coach, supervising second, fourth and fifth football teams, and taking
some of the cricket teams as well. He has been a tutor in Mertens House since 2012,
and Matt Curran comments that ‘it is true to say that Mark has found a home in
Mertens. He has been a willing and devoted tutor and loves the chance to chat with the
boys as he wanders through the House on duty. His warm and enthusiastic personality
complements the atmosphere in the House, and he is well-respected by the boys for his
love of football chat.’
He is a great traveller and has been on three College trips to Spain whilst at Ardingly. In
his previous life the Watson footfall has landed as far afield as Russia, Israel, and Syria,
and he has felt the need to visit Bulgaria more than once. Even lowly Albania has been
investigated and this summer he will travel to Indonesia, in characteristic preparation
for which he has started learning some Indonesian. Mark is a great outdoorsman and
animal lover. Where he lives, he is surrounded by dogs, cats, chickens, and horses; from
his windows he looks out over fields and woodland, and he is never happier than when
striding along with his beloved dog, Minnie, over the heaths and meadows of Mid-Sussex.
His post-Ardingly plans are yet to crystallise but he hopes to embrace adult education,
the publication of educational resources, and tutoring as part of his portfolio, a change
of emphasis after a long and productive classroom teaching career that started in the
1980s. The College and Common Room will miss his cheerful warmth and dedication,
and we all wish him every success in the future.
Chris Parke
ARDINGLY annals 2015
77
SAMANTHA BOWEN
SEPTEMBER 2009
As a History teacher, Mrs Bowen is keen to motivate
individual learning. This means we not only understand the
History she teaches us, but we engage with it and find it
more interesting as a result. Mrs Bowen taught me History
in Shell and Lower Sixth, two very different age groups but I
still found her style of teaching promoted the same thing: it
helped me develop and sustain an interest in History.
filmed, and edited our own short news report on Ardingly’s
Dino Dig. For me, the experience was a great chance to
learn where to get the best shots and how to interview
someone for the screen, plus I was on TV. I want to say
a huge thank you to Mrs Bowen for being our guide and
advisor throughout this challenge.
This year saw the start of Careers sessions for the Lower
Sixth, and revealed another string to Mrs Bowen’s bow. Her
sessions gave us an idea of what lay beyond the School gates,
which would seem far more daunting if we didn’t have this
extra guidance. The career sessions went through everything
from personal statements, to university choices and potential
career paths.
The Preview Programme organized by the Cambridge
Occupation Analyst was Mrs Bowen’s initiative, and offered
students the opportunity to complete a questionnaire to
generate a personalized list of career sectors for which they
would, according to the preferences indicated, be best suited.
In Fifth Form, students are choosing what they want to do
at A Level or IB, so this helped to show us our strengths and
areas of interest in order to narrow our scope.
On top of this, Mrs Bowen organized successful career talks
each week, giving us an insight to the world of opportunities
available once we leave School. The most popular of these
are the career SpeedTalks, which ranged from STEM-related
careers to sports talks. This kind of variety meant there was
something for everyone, and it was thanks to Mrs Bowen’s
hard work that we had these on offer.
A tutor is meant to listen to you whenever you need support.
Mrs Bowen is always on tap when you need her, and
prepared to stop what she is doing to give you the individual
attention required when you want to discuss your problems.
Her reassuring nature gave me confidence when I doubted
myself in the projects I undertook. Mrs Bowen has been a
superb tutor and an excellent base for moral support.
One such careers talk involved a visit from BBC presenter,
Gilly Robinson, and led to an exciting project of which I was
a part. We set up a School’s Report Team and scripted,
Our whole tutor group wish her all the best in her new role
as Head of History at the British School in Brussels.
Madeleine Moore, Lower Sixth
78
ARDINGLY annals 2015
the shock when our previous Deputy Head,
Richard Bool, arriving late for a lesson
observation, quietly opened Richard’s Lab S6
door and, to his horror, three inches below
his eyes a chemically propelled rocket singed
his nose hairs, exploding as it hit the door
behind him. In utter disbelief, he closed the
door, retired to the safety of his room, and
was rarely seen in the Science Block for the
rest of his tenure.
RICHARD CROOK
SEPTEMBER 2009
Firstly we are very sorry to lose from the
staff of Ardingly our colleague and friend
Richard Crook, the Crooky Monster.
He has a great and perhaps enviable record
as the only teacher who has been mentioned
for five consecutive years by the Head Boy or
Girl in their Commem Speeches.
So what makes the Crooky Monster such
a fantastic teacher? We are all aware of
our infamous lesson observation form and
the need to motivate with correct language
and not to harm our charges, so lets look
at Richard’s key words: you prat; moron; a
monkey could have done better; special child.
Oh yes the acronym that builds up in intensity:
R T Q (read the question). No response from
the Pratt or Moron; slightly louder shout:
RTFQ (Read the flipping question). Still no
spark of understanding in the child.
RTFFQ (I will not translate this one).
His encouragements are legendary. A
burning tennis ball on the end of a piece
of string, the well-aimed book at a dosing
student, and of course the nose splitting flick
of the examination paper.
We all have PDRs. Now at the start of an
observation lesson, it is usual for SMT to
quietly enter the lesson. You can imagine
ARDINGLY annals 2015
At the start of each lesson we customarily
open the door to our students and stand by
it, welcoming them in. This is not always
the case with Richard. One evening lesson,
the door was opened by our Mr Crook, and
there was a shout, ‘Oh no, not you lot!’ Door
closed and locked quickly. You can just see
the lesson observation form saying, ‘Students
passed their first initiative test and willingness
to learn by gaining entry to the classroom’.
Now Richard joined Ardingly about five
years ago with his wife Arabella, and he
always felt that he was the appendage. But
can I just put the record right? Ardingly has
the highest regard for him and his teaching,
we even showed this at the start. He applied
for a Chemistry teacher’s job, and was
immediately made Head of Chemistry –
a very good call.
Now, under Ben Figgis’s Headship, we hope
to have a new Science Block. Unknown to
many, written into Richard’s contract was,
‘Destroy the existing building’. Richard took
to this job like a duck to water, providing
water, fire, and explosions.
• Igor Zharkov’s Lab is under Richard’s:
a bad move. One lovely summer day,
Igor and his class were outside, basically
sitting around enjoying the sun. When
questioned, he claimed ‘…but Andrew,
I had to evacuate the room. I have acid
coming from above.’ He was right.
• Fire: during Open Days, the fire balls have
increased in size, rising magnificently up
to an already stained and burnt ceiling.
But still not quite large enough for a major
incident.
• Explosions: the size of the sodium lump
dropped into the water basin and the
subsequent explosion does move the world,
but the Science block remains. Richard
you have failed.
Let us look at some of the highlights:
The Chemistry Department under Richard’s
leadership is now more than fit for purpose.
The Chemistry results, as Richard keeps
telling me, are the best in the College,
apart from sometimes: History, English,
Mathematics, Geography, Biology, and
Physics. In fact, they really are excellent, and
the Department should be proud.
Richard believes in learning through
experimentation. No, that sounds strange.
Practical work features high on the list of his
academic priorities.
This year Richard’s team won the South East
Top of the Bench and then the National Heat
(in fact, an International Heat, as Belgium
was there; more than 600 schools entered,
and Ardingly won). This was absolutely
fantastic, and as Richard’s leaving present,
Ardingly won the area heat in December.
We look forward to welcoming Richard back
next year when we re-host the area round.
Just a quick mention about Sailing. We
obviously work closely together, and with
Mary Ambler, developing the sailing in the
Prep and Senior Schools. We now have
formidable teams. There are many tales and
happy moments. Here is just one, to show
you how intelligent this man is:
It was a windy, bright day in February, as
I wandered down to help Richard with the
boats. It was not my session: I was happy.
He shouts, ‘Grandad’ (by the way that is my
nickname in Sailing, also started by Richard),
‘we are a helm short; get in that boat!’ It was
a windy day, and my suit needed a wash. My
crew Bish Bosh was acting strangely when I
hit the icy water. As I emerged there was my
friend and colleague Richard who said, ‘Need
a hand, Grandad? It’s unlike you to capsize’.
I couldn’t understand how we capsized. I
never capsize! It was only later that I found
out Richard had bribed the crew with £10.
Even so, we all wish Richard well in his new
challenge. He leaves behind him an excellent
department.
Andrew Spiers
79
HELEN LEWIS
SEPTEMBER 2009
I first met Helen Sandiford in 2001 in a lecture theatre in Exeter, when we started our Sport and
Exercise Science degree together. From then on, we have lived strangely parallel lives, although
Helen was slightly more successful at Exeter, leaving with a first class degree. Helen stayed on in
Exeter for a fourth year to complete her PGCE at the St Luke’s site before moving to Caterham
School. This was down the road from Woldingham where I had started teaching, so I would
regularly see her at our inter-school fixtures. In 2011, a week to the day after me, Helen married
Andrew (my husband is also called Andrew) to become Mrs Lewis.
Helen became Head of Girls’ Games at Ardingly in 2009 as the Department started to grow. She
settled in immediately, becoming a firm favourite with the girls for her fair, approachable, and
caring manner. As a Netball specialist, Helen worked hard to raise the profile and standard of
Netball. Her passion for the game shone through with her coaching of a range of age groups from
the Prep to Senior School. Helen was also an excellent teacher of Academic PE, gaining very
strong results for her GCSE and A2 PE students.
The organisation of Games in the College – not just Girls’ Games – over the last six years has
(mostly) been down to Helen as she kept Nick and Neil in check completing paperwork and
registers. Girls’ sports coaches were treated to a weekly email telling them exactly what they
needed to do, where to go, and at what time for each match and training session. Catering and
transport were ordered months in advance for each sport, so much so that James Stedman broke
into a cold sweat when he heard that Helen was pregnant and would shortly be leaving him to
fend for himself.
Helen is one of the most organised people I know. Everything was done to the highest of
standards; she would always be the first in the PE office and the last to leave, often having already
been to the gym or rushing off to play Netball. Helen organised three very successful sports tours
in her time at Ardingly, to Spain, South Africa, and Paris. The Ardingly girls have certainly been
treated to some exciting times under her leadership.
Whilst I was on maternity leave, Helen announced that she was pregnant, and she gave birth
to her son Dylan last September. For someone who really only looked like she had had a large
breakfast at nine months pregnant, she managed to produce an 8lb baby! We are all really sorry
that Helen will not be returning to Ardingly, and wish her plenty of luck in her new role at
Lingfield Notre Dame. She will be very much missed; nothing was ever too much trouble for
Helen, she would always offer to help even when snowed under herself, and would always go the
extra mile with a smile on her face. A true professional.
Alex Hill
80
ARDINGLY annals 2015
actively encourages students to question and
come to their own conclusions, rather than
insisting on any single ‘Jennings approved’
version of events.
Challenging your Sixth Form to debate
the merits of who should assume the
Monarchy in England around 1066 is hard
enough; to make them then debate against
Hawthorns Prep School students is taking
it one step further. A risk perhaps, but not
under Matthew’s guidance. His sense of fun
ensured it was always an enjoyable occasion,
even if our home team were not always
guaranteed victory.
MATTHEW JENNINGS
SEPTEMBER 2009
In reflecting on Matthew’s time at Ardingly
and in discussion with others, I have come
to the conclusion that he actually wants to
be a Viking. The evidence is substantial spears, shields and swords in the classroom,
Vikings invited to the School, and students
role-playing battles in class. That said, he has
clearly put such an ambition on hold during
his time at Ardingly as he sought the very best
for his staff and students by bringing History
to life.
Matthew joined the College in 2009 as
Head of History and immediately set
about revitalising the offer by introducing a
mediæval syllabus option for A Level, along
with the more modern Twentieth Century
course. It is testament to his impact in the
classroom that when I asked students who
finished their A Levels in 2014 for their
comments, they all gave numerous examples
of how learning with Matthew was fun. It is
quite clear that he brought History out of the
text book and, through his passion, brought
it to life. Matthew inspires curiosity as he
ARDINGLY annals 2015
History as an academic subject has been
promoted by several of Matthew’s initiatives.
The annual Timeline journal has received
tremendous feedback and, along with
student contributions, has featured articles
by Dr Henry Kissinger and Sir Anthony
Seldon. The edition to mark the centenary
of the start of the First World War was
stunning under the editorial control of
Matthew. In relation to the commemoration
of the Great War, he led a number of
initiatives that ensured that the anniversary
was marked in a variety of ways across a
range of College activities, culminating in a
trip to Mons and Ypres.
the Fencing Club from an extremely small
group of students mainly looking to avoid
sport to a major presence within the cocurricular programme at the College with
several élite sportsmen. Matthew’s passion
for Fencing and the achievements of the
students was obvious when it came to match
reports for the Headmaster’s Assembly. They
often resembled ‘War and Peace’ in length,
but only because they sought to ensure that
every student’s achievement was recognised.
The team silver and two team bronzes at the
2015 British Schools’ Team Championships,
the College’s first ever medals, were a fitting
climax to Matthew’s commitment to putting
Ardingly Fencing on the map. As one
student told me, ‘Mr Jennings is the man
who made Ardingly Fencing Club what it is
today; without him we would not exist’ whilst
another said, ‘His enthusiasm, passion and
understanding have been an inspiration to
us all’.
All this, and Matthew also managed to fit in a
role in the College’s Combined Cadet Force
and be a Senior School representative on the
Employee Forum. It is interesting to note that
on his original application he lists one of his
interests as ‘Sitting down with a good book
and a cup of tea’. Somehow since 2009 I think
this may have been a rare occurrence, such
has been his contribution at Ardingly.
Matthew led a number of trips to Battlefield
sites, including locally to Hastings but also
to France, to visit key sites from both World
Wars. The 2014 trip was memorable in that,
as an initiative by Matthew, it was opened up
to parents, and also because his attention to
detail ensured that we as a group were at the
Menin Gate on October 19th for the evening
ceremony and last post, 100 years to the day
of the outbreak of the first battle of Ypres. I
cannot imagine a more moving occasion.
In his Department, Matthew has been
known as passionate, ambitious, supportive,
and quirky. For me, just from occasional
conversations and his boundless enthusiasm
he has rekindled my interest in a subject
I once lived, and I am certain that many
students who have benefitted from his
teaching will have a lifelong love of History;
I can think of no better legacy for a great
teacher.
Outside the classroom and away from History,
Matthew affectionately became known as
D’Artagnan since, through his coaching
ability, enthusiasm, and drive, he developed
Matthew leaves us to become the Deputy
Head (Academic) at Woodbridge School,
Suffolk. Our loss is very much their gain.
Paddy Jackman
81
had all his students with their heads down
on the tables and their eyes shut, as he told
them a story about a journey incorporating
geographical images. His two boys, Noah
and Sebi, both born during Tom’s time at
Ardingly, love story time with their father too.
In all that Tom does, he leads by example.
This often came to the fore while coaching
Football, but even more so in the Rugby and
Cricket seasons. His games of touch rugby
have been described as legendary, so too
his team selections of ‘gingers’ vs ‘the rest’.
These games were always a case of reverse
discrimination, with the ‘gingers’ always
winning. His performances for the Staff
Cricket side were, by his own admission,
outstanding. His batting was quite superb,
but his fielding quite the opposite; someone
once described it as ‘village’ at best.
TOM CASTON
SEPTEMBER 2010
Tom Caston joined Ardingly in September
2010 to become the Housemaster of Hilton
House. He arrived with his wife Consuela,
who was expecting their first child. Tom
threw himself into every aspect of Hilton, the
Geography Department, and the School as a
whole from the start, and his pace has never
slowed – he has gained a few more grey hairs
as a result however.
Tom is a much-loved member of staff who
strikes up an excellent rapport with all his
classes. His Geography students are always at
ease around him, which gives them confidence
to do well. His willingness to try new things
in the classroom has gained him respect, and
he seems to specialise in the more quirky
teaching activities too – but they worked. His
then Head of Department, Dylan Bennetts,
recalls walking in on a class where Tom
82
Yet for all Tom’s successes in the Geography
classroom and on the sports field, he will be
most remembered for his time leading Hilton
House. Almost 300 boys have come under
his roof in his time as Housemaster, and his
departure will be most keenly felt by them.
Tom has striven to take Hilton to the next
level in all aspects of care provided for the
boys. He inherited a House that was once
described as the lads’ house. It is no more.
The boys now genuinely integrate across all
year groups, and all feel part of the Hilton
family. This has been helped by Consuela,
Noah and Sebi, all joining in throughout
the House as well. The boys love playing
with Noah and Sebi, and can often be found
whizzing down the corridors on a scooter
chasing after them.
His ideas and passion to provide the best
care and support for all has caused many
sleepless nights. Sleeplessness is heightened
around January with the pressure of the
House Singing Competition. All will
remember practising for the House Singing
(months before the competition – admittedly
the boys needed it), singing some of the
most weird and wonderful songs. Yet these
moments forged Hilton and brought all
together (and won cups in the process).
Hilton has won all the prestigious wholeparticipation events under Tom’s watch; the
Steepo three times, House Singing twice,
and House Athletics twice. He is rightly very
proud of these achievements.
Tom’s door is always open, and the boys know
that they can always go to him for help or
advice. They appreciate this greatly, and often
take him up on his offer of support. Recently,
at 5am, a boy rang Tom’s doorbell to ask for
help – in getting a bee out of his bedroom. No
task is too big or small for him.
Tom’s vision to pursue and draw the best out
of everyone was quickly noticed. He became
a member of the Senior Management Team,
and was given the new role of Staff Formation
and Wellbeing in 2013. This role gave him the
platform to develop and nurture new and old
staff alike. Tom has never been one to
rest on his laurels, and before too long his
skills were noticed at Framlingham, and he
leaves Ardingly to join them as Deputy
Head Pastoral.
Tom, Conseula, Noah, and Sebi will be
greatly missed in Ardingly, yet leave treasured
memories of caring for hundreds of boys
(and girls). Their faces may no longer be seen
around Ardingly, yet their legacy will live on
in the hearts of all those that came under their
wonderful care.
Gwilym Batchelder
ARDINGLY annals 2015
ROBERT ROBINSON
SEPTEMBER 2010
Robert joined Ardingly in September 2010
from St Edmund’s Canterbury, where he
served as both Head of History and Master
in Charge of Football. Both of these roles
equipped him for the challenges of being
the Housemaster of Woodard Boys. He fully
understood the academic pressures that come
with being a student in the Upper Sixth, and
also the mechanisms needed to be put in place
to support struggling students. At the same
time, he possessed the qualities to deal with
the huge variety of personalities that come
into the House for just one year; when to be
firm, when to console and when to entertain.
He also enjoyed an excellent working
relationship alongside Woodard Girls, our
sister House. The two Houses in one, and the
whole Woodard ethos, make up an unusual
concept, but one that Robert was fully able
to embrace, and in his time at Ardingly he
extended the range of opportunities available
to both the boys and girls in the House – from
helping to introduce House music events,
international evenings, a Bluebell Railway trip,
House Quiz nights, through to his legendary
Christmas pantomime.
In his four years at Ardingly, Robert oversaw
the refurbishment of the old Woodard
building, currently home to Toynbee House,
before moving the whole House into
Godwin Hall, not only mid-year but also
mid-term. With any new building there are
always teething problems, but the manner
in which he dealt with these issues was
always calm and professional. He was not
afraid, however, to pursue relentlessly the
problems that needed addressing in order
to minimise the disruption to the students.
After moving into the building in February
2013, he was able to develop the building
to create a more ‘homely’ atmosphere, even
though the students spend only their final
year at Ardingly in the building; Robert could
regularly be found framing and hanging
ARDINGLY annals 2015
pictures, usually carefully planned and
themed, around both the old Woodard and
new Godwin Hall buildings.
Woodard Boys do not get many opportunities
to compete against the other Houses,
but Robert successfully engineered a
cultural shift in how the Upper Sixth boys
approached events such as the House Singing
Competition. Convincing a large group of
boys, many of whom are not great singers, to
take this competition seriously was difficult.
He achieved this though, and the House
ended up winning prizes in two of the four
years; more importantly, the House now sets a
benchmark for what can be achieved by future
year groups. On top of this, the House secured
victories in the House Music competition and
the inaugural House Debating competition.
The victories were not important to Robert,
however; it was the manner in which the
boys approached these events that was key.
Hopefully, this tradition will continue.
On top of his successes as a Housemaster,
Robert cut a dash with his sartorial elegance
and poise during his four years with the
History Department. His many years as
a former Head of History meant that his
advice was invariably right and much
appreciated by the Department. Through his
example and teaching, he worked very hard
on behalf of his students to prepare them
thoroughly, not just for their examinations,
but also for life. His students knew that
he was both firm and fair in matters of
discipline and under his stewardship, their
results were always very good. Robert was
described as being a safe pair of hands
for teaching even the most challenging of
courses. He left his sets in excellent order Robert did not do ‘loose ends.’
On top of this, Robert was an excellent
Football coach. The Second XI were always
one of the most successful teams in the
College, and he was able to find a formula
that meant that boys wanted to play for him.
Sometimes, this involved lifting boys who had
been dropped from the First XI. On occasions
he showed the strength of character to resist
pressure to play certain boys, and would not
be afraid to move them down to the Third
XI, or beyond. He was loyal to the boys who
had proved loyal to the team. Consequently,
he always ended up with a team that would
fight hard and work to put into practice the
tactics that had been carefully run through on
the Thursday before the matches. His mantra
of ‘go hard on them Tuesday, pick them up
on the Thursday’ clearly got results. In the
Lent Term, he was always happy to coach
the Girls’ Football team, and it was a shame
that there were never quite enough girls to get
a fixture organised; Robert was very keen to
have seen this happen.
Robert left Ardingly at the end of the
Michaelmas Term to take up the position
of Deputy Headmaster at Rossall School, a
post in which he will excel. Aside from the
personal qualities already outlined that will
enable him to deal with the inevitable difficult
pastoral issues that come with that post,
Robert proved to be a most efficient organiser
of his time and workload. He possessed an
uncanny knack of breaking a problem down
into its key components and developing a
succinct strategy to deal with it. Consequently,
he never seemed under pressure, always ahead
of the game. This will stand him in great
stead as he manages the increasing degree
of bureaucracy associated with a leadership
position. Despite his commitment to Ardingly,
Robert always put family first, and it was
an incredibly difficult decision for him to
uproot to the Lancashire coastline with his
wife Sarah, daughter Emilie and twin boys
Edward and William. They will all be much
missed around Woodard House – or should it
be Godwin Hall? Robert proved to be a very
popular and successful Housemaster, and he
will thrive in his new role.
Dylan Bennetts
83
DANIEL MCLEAN
SEPTEMBER 2011
Dan joined Ardingly in Michaelmas 2011. Fresh from Oriel College,
Oxford, he came to Ardingly with a vast amount of enthusiasm and
charisma. He became Head of the Divinity and Philosophy Department
shortly after joining the College, a role which he swiftly got the hang of.
Originally a Crosse House tutor, and later Woodard Boys, it did not take
him long to make an impact on student life, founding a croquet team in his
second term, and leading rowing as a Games option, consequently seeing
the standard of water sports increase and expand within the community.
A former Royal Navy logistics officer and now a reservist, Dan played an
important role within the CCF, becoming a section officer, leading groups
on CCF activities and D of E expeditions. He takes pride in this role within
the CCF and the Navy, often proclaiming as a result that the Department
would be the strongest in an inter-departmental fight, due to their ability to
argue and convince, not to mention their access to the armoury.
Due to the increased popularity of Divinity and Philosophy, Dan has led
many Soφos and DPRG meetings on Monday evenings for interested
Middle School and Sixth Form students. In 2014, under his leadership the
Department attained the highest GCSE, AS, A2 and IB Humanities results,
and consequently next year will pose the largest GCSE and A-Level cohorts
in recent history. He promptly introduced the ‘Developments of Christian
Theology’ module and, since its introduction, there has been an increase in
those applying to study Theology in Higher Education, and A-level marks
overall have risen. He has always offered one-on-one lessons in Biblical
Hebrew to those interested in the subject, the first time offered at Ardingly.
Dan has also taken a passionate approach, not only to leading the
Department, but introducing extra-curricular trips: to Israel, for all Sixth
Form Divinity and Philosophy students, and a trip to Dharamsala for the
Lower Sixth this summer. It is clear from the success of the Israel trip that
he has taken a great personal interest in doing this, and his enthusiasm in
the organisation of these trips is commendable.
As a tutor he was always more than willing to do what he could, in both
an academic and a pastoral sense. Thursday mornings, for his tutees, were
always something to look forward to – guaranteed to have good music and
high quality tea.
He leaves Ardingly to become Head of Department at Rugby, a role in
which we are all sure he will fit into very well. His dedication to his subject,
students and co-workers is admirable, staff and students alike will miss his
unique wit and verbal quips, he will be sorely missed.
.‫הָדֹוּת לאֵּיִנָּד‬
DJM’s tutor group
George Southgate, Edward Wilson, Austen Waite, Ashleigh John, Maxine
Higenyi, Josh Hardy, David Bonilla, Harry Ames, and Michaela Green
84
ARDINGLY annals 2015
SAM SHELLEY
SEPTEMBER 2011
Sam joined Ardingly College as a fresh-faced new teacher
with a passion for Rugby and a love of boarding school life.
He immediately embarked on the Buckingham PGCE, and
we had many hours in the Department discussing his studies,
as he slowly weaned himself off the comfort blanket of a
PowerPoint presentation. Sam blossomed into an inspirational
teacher, who cares deeply for the progress of his students.
Throughout his time, Sam has tried out new ideas on his
unsuspecting classes. Always wanting to think outside the
box, this has entertained and engaged his students over the
last three years. We are hoping, however, that he finds the
time to have a good clear out in his teaching room before he
leaves. Alongside Iona Mackay Bulger, he took hold of Take a
Risk, the annual business plan competition, and mastered the
process, leading it each year with new business mentors and
a grand finale. With Iona he led the students who designed,
developed and sold Ardingly Monopoly. In addition he
accompanied the Department trip to Brussels, and has taken
groups to lectures in London.
Rugby is clearly a major part of Sam’s own life and a sport in
which he has enthused many students. Many play for the first
time having been spotted by Sam. He took over as Master in
Charge of Rugby following the departure of Mark Harrison in
2012. Since then he has built the sport, fixtures, and training
to new heights. In a School in which Football is so popular,
this is a welcome relief. In his time as Head of Rugby, Sam has
taken a bare fixture list and added meaningful and competitive
fixtures against some of the better regional and London rugby
schools. Under his tenure, the Ardingly Rugby Club went
from strength to strength, fielding two teams plus subs for
the first time in recent memory. The standards were high,
with the 2015 season standing out as one of note. Notable
achievements include a successful foray into the world of
Rugby League 9s in a tournament in Leeds, and tours to
Portugal, Perpignan, and Gibraltar. As a coach he always
ARDINGLY annals 2015
set the highest of standards, employing Mr Dungate as the
fitness guru for any sacrificial latecomers to training. Sam’s
greatest legacy has been the recruitment of a wide diversity
of nationalities to the Rugby Club; a truly global approach
befitting his character.
By September 2013, Sam had become Assistant Housemaster
of Mertens. Boarding life was always a passion for him, and
he was all set to take on the challenge of being in charge of
over 65 young men, many of whom were away from home for
the first time. His patience, good humour, and straightforward
advice have been invaluable, and his contribution to Mertens
wholehearted. He was an AHoMM with many strings to his
bow: an expert FIFA gamer on PS4, a brilliant director of
House Music and Singing, a perfect mentor for many of the
Lower Sixth, and, most importantly, great company. He will
no doubt make a great Housemaster in the future, and it all
started here. His personable nature also led him to represent
the College with other staff at the UK Education Expo in
Hong Kong, in February 2015.
Drama has also been of great interest to Sam, and he played
a key role in the early ArtsFest events. As Stage Manager, he
enjoyed hosting the visiting acts, and has many stories about
the people he managed to meet over the years. In addition, he
helped with the College’s Edinburgh play, using his knowledge
of the city to help promote the production.
We celebrated Sam’s marriage to Leila in the summer of
2014, and they enjoyed a happy life in the Assistant’s house at
Mertens. Leila’s career in Radiotherapy and her forthcoming
move to Cambridge to undertake a PhD has necessitated
Sam’s move away from Ardingly. We wish them well, though,
buying their first home together.
Sam moves to Epsom College this summer. He will, of course,
be greatly missed.
Dan Davies and Matt Curran
85
NATHALIE VIGNARD
SEPTEMBER 2011
A fun and enthusiastic half-French half-English linguist, Nathalie Vignard
joined the staff at Ardingly College in September 2011 and quickly became
a very popular teacher amongst the staff and the students. Having come
down from the Swiss mountains where she worked at the American School
of Leysin, Nathalie brought an international feel to the MFL Department
and the College.
As a valuable member of the French department, Nathalie successfully
prepared students for their GCSEs, IGCSEs, IB B & A, and A levels. There
is not an examination that Nathalie does not know about. Having trained as
a History teacher, she brought expert knowledge in teaching the historical
part of the A level course but, being passionate about the French language,
she also taught French literature to native speakers. To give as much support
as possible, she jointly ran the French Conversation Club and the weekly
Clinics. Nathalie was always a fantastic team player and worked incredibly
well with her colleagues, both within and outside the MFL Department.
Nathalie’s unwavering commitment to the College brought a great deal of
energy to the many co-curricular activities she helped to run or managed
herself as the CAS Co-ordinator: contributing to the Woodland Craft
and Conservation Society, taking the Choir to sing at Standen or at the
Ardingly Church Hall, collecting funds for the British Heart Foundation
on Saturdays, accompanying students to help with disabled people at
Broadbrige Leisure Centre, organising the Chase the Pud race, supporting
the Ardingly Priceholme… the list is endless, but it shows Nathalie’s impact
on the wider community and her passion for helping charities raise money.
As a tutor in Toynbee, Nathalie’s contributions were invaluable. Not
only did she help students with their French, their ManageBac account,
their CAS and UCAS applications; she also ensured that she was always
approachable and available for a chat. She showed a genuine and caring
attitude to every girl in the House, and also in Woodard where she would
know all the students personally. Quick to volunteer to help at House events,
Nathalie could be relied upon at any time and her tutees or anyone who
came in contact with her would know that she would be there if they needed
her help or advice.
Nathalie leaves in July 2015 to take the IB Coordinator post at the
prestigious International School of Lusaka, in Zambia. From the mountains
of Switzerland to the woodlands of Ardingly, she now moves on to the
savannahs of Africa where she adds a new chapter to her successful
professional life. She will be greatly missed by all but we wish her the very
best for her next adventure.
Nathalie Johnston
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DR JIN-YA HUANG
SEPTEMBER 2009
Dr Huang started teaching part-time in September 2009. She developed
a niche market which became increasingly popular with native speakers.
Her area of expertise which was also her passion was Chinese Literature,
which she taught up to higher level to IB students. Jin-ya came across as an
absolute perfectionist in everything she did.
Originally from Taiwan, Mandarin Chinese was her mother tongue: she
was passionate about introducing the language to young people in the UK
because she believed it played an important role in equipping pupils to
meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Jin-ya studied a BA in English Language and Literature at the National
Taiwan University before completing an MA in English Literature at the
University of Warwick, a DPhil in English Literature at Sussex University,
and her PGCE in Mandarin and French at the University of Exeter. Prior
to teaching at Ardingly, she taught Mandarin at Perins School, Alresford,
Hampshire.
Nathalie Johnston
CRISTINA MEYBAUM DE BISHOP
SEPTEMBER 2011
For three years the Spanish Department were fortunate to enjoy the
skill and dedication of Mrs Bishop. She taught her mother-tongue with
unparalleled passion, in many ways embodying the Latino culture she
sought to put across. This included a deeply personal interest in the welfare
and progress of students, making her an indefatigable Tutor.
She regularly developed helpful and innovative resources for the Spanish
Department and shared freely of her time and experience with colleagues.
From her classroom one could frequently catch refrains from the latest
Hispanic music, to enthuse and edify students in equal measure; just a part
of what made her an engaging and effective teacher.
Jemima Edell
FRANCES PURSLOW
SEPTEMBER 2011
Ms Purslow joined the Spanish Department part-time in 2012, bringing
with her the experience of a career teacher. She loved all things Spanish and
taught with rigour, preparing GCSE students to be linguists of the future.
Jemima Edell
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87
JOHN STOREY
SEPTEMBER 2012
John’s first connection with Ardingly came some seven years ago,
when Richard Bool was appointed Deputy Headmaster. Back
in those days, John and Richard were colleagues in a school in
Dorset; Richard was a Housemaster, and John his Resident Tutor.
A full-boarding school – there were day boys, but only in that they
slept at home – Sherborne was the place where John learned his
trade; a typical classicist, he never troubled with a PGCE, and
merely exchanged the dusty shelves of the Bodleian Library for the
chalk dust of the classroom presided over by Mr Crocker-Harris
in The Browning Version (both metaphorically and cinematically
– the film was largely shot at Sherborne). Over eleven years there,
John grew from being a recent graduate to a really accomplished
schoolmaster. It was somewhere that he could indulge his twin
loves of Classics and ‘Outdoors’, and rarely would a weekend go by
when he wasn’t either busy in the boarding house or in some cave
or on a craggy moor of some kind.
2012, though, was when John first actually visited Ardingly. He
came on a particularly unusual day. He was being interviewed on
the last day before Lent Long Leave; the College, in very good
heart, had just enjoyed the House Singing competition; and the
whole College, smothered in melting snow, was basking in the
reflected glory of an inspection that found us to be excellent in
all areas. What we needed, though, was perhaps a slightly keener
academic focus, and Peter Green was quick to appoint John as the
Head of Oxbridge, to try to take this area of College life further.
With his previous experience of helping Oxbridge applicants,
John was quick to take initiatives, inviting experts in to help
coach ambitious students, organising interview exchanges
and collaborating with his opposite numbers in other schools,
most notably Hurstpierpoint, and leading trips for ambitious
members of the Lower Sixth to visit students and admissions
tutors at Oxford and Cambridge. In addition to this, he took on
the role of Assistant Housemaster in Crosse; when the House
moved from School House to the Pearson building, he took on
the centralised provision of flexi-boarding, and this is now an
established and much enjoyed part of College life for a number
of day boys. In addition, he managed to find time to do a bit of
Classics teaching, including in the Prep School. An idiosyncratic
88
teacher, his lessons have been greatly enjoyed by his students
across the two schools and – perhaps to his surprise – John has
particularly relished the opportunity to teach Years 6, 7, and 8.
After a year, John handed in his Oxbridge portfolio, and instead
took on the role of Contingent Commander of the CCF. Proactive
and really keen to see the Corps develop its activities, he has
worked very closely both with his fellow officers and, particularly,
with Chris Botley, the SSI, and it has been very pleasing to see
members of the Corps take it seriously, and perform well in camps
– in 2014, they won the Navigation Competition and came fourth
overall at the Army’s residential training camp competition at
Crowborough, against some much larger contingents, a real tribute
to John’s management and leadership.
The other area of College life that has seen John really take an
active role – and one that attracted him to the College in the
first place – has been the Chapel. He is a devout and committed
member of the Church and, like the Chaplain, is somewhat
‘higher up the candle’ than most Roman Catholics. Still, he is
an unswerving Anglican, and his membership of that church
has been a significant anchor throughout his life. Father David
has found John’s support hugely valuable, and asked him to
take on the role of Chapel Warden. He has not allowed his
mind to atrophy since leaving Oxford (he is a Classicist, after
all, not a Mathematician), and is currently studying for a degree
in Theology. The calls both of the West Country and of the
Universal Church (that avoids the difficulty of whether or not
to capitalise the word catholic…) are important in his life, and
it comes as no surprise, then, that he should choose to move
on to Downside School, where he will take up the post of
Head of Classics. Having spent more than a decade in Dorset,
where on the Cross-Country circuit and general school fixture
lists he knew Downside, it would be a natural place to look to
anyway, regardless of the fact that his wife Clare hails from the
Bath area. With their daughter Abigail, who consequently now
leaves the Pre Prep school she has so enjoyed, it will be a sort
of homecoming as they return to Somerset. They will be greatly
missed here by their friends, but I am sure we will hear much of
them, and Downside is a beautiful place to visit…
Paul Ryan
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KATHERINE WARD
SEPTEMBER 2013
Katherine joined Ardingly in 2013 as Head of German, and fitted into the
Department immediately. Her calm, positive approach motivated staff and
students alike, and her excellent language skills allowed her to establish
herself quickly as an effective classroom practitioner and subject leader.
Katherine is genuinely passionate about the German language, literature,
and culture, and has successfully communicated this to her students and
to the wider school community through events such as the German cake
stall to celebrate Tag der Deutschen Einheit (Day of German Unity), a visit
from a German theatre group or the very successful day trip to Berlin. This
involved students from a mixture of year groups and language backgrounds,
and gave them a taste of the vibrant German capital city, taking in the sights
of the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and, perhaps most importantly, the
Ritter Sport Chocolate Museum.
Katherine has worked hard to raise the profile of the German Department
at Ardingly. She has created engaging and stimulating Schemes of Work and
introduced new technology to improve vocabulary learning and retention.
The German Department has strong numbers in Shell and at GCSE, and
this is a direct result of the hugely positive impact made by Katherine in her
two years here. At Sixth Form level, she has successfully coordinated the
many different study pathways available to our students, so that non-native
and native speakers alike can achieve an appropriate qualification in the
subject. The Sixth Form trip to the British Museum Germany, Memories of a
Nation exhibition, was a wonderful opportunity for those students to share
an experience of German history and culture.
Katherine excels at both the academic and the pastoral side of her teaching
duties. In her second year at Ardingly, she became Assistant Housemistress
of Woodard Girls, and has ably assisted Joan Gall in running the House.
I know that Joan has greatly appreciated the kindness and compassion
Katherine has shown to the girls. She has worked hard to get to know the
students, and has been dedicated in putting in long hours, which go above
and beyond her official duties, gaining the respect and trust of the students
in House. I echo Joan’s own words to me that Katherine will surely run her
own successful boarding house in the future and the students will be very
fortunate to be in her care.
On a personal note, I have greatly appreciated Katherine’s leadership in the
German Department. It has been wonderful to work with someone who is
conscientious, honest and competent, who also has a great sense of humour.
She has a lot of empathy for the students and is very patient, but she
maintains high standards, and this is key in motivating them to achieve their
best. I will certainly miss Katherine, but she will undoubtedly enjoy huge
success at St Edward’s in Oxford, where she joins her fiancé Ben, currently
Head of Classics at Magdalen College School. I wish her all the very best
for the future and hope that she stays in touch with her friends at Ardingly.
Anna Forrest
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89
SIMON DUNGATE
SEPTEMBER 2014
As a Head of Department it is a little nerve-wracking to recommend an
existing friend for a post at one’s school, and so it was with trepidation
that I approached the interviews for my department last January. With
Simon Dungate, however, I need not have worried, as it was clear from
the very start that he would be a great teacher and just what we needed to
continue the expansion of the department with the introduction of Theory
of Knowledge across the Sixth Form. Throwing himself into so many
areas of college life, Simon has been extremely valued on the Rugby and
Cricket fields, as a House tutor in Hilton and, most importantly of course,
as a teacher of Divinity and Philosophy. His rapport with his classes was
immediately apparent and, particularly with his Lower Sixth set, he has
shown a fantastic ability to inspire pupils with a love of Theology and an
ever-increasing academic curiosity that they will value for a long time to
come. Their provision of pizza (lots and lots of pizza…) for their last lesson
of the Lent Term, for example, shows quite clearly just how at home they
have felt in Simon’s lessons. It is largely through his influence therefore that
philosophical enquiry has become such a regular and important part of
their lives.
The D&P Department has long prided itself on being one which, above all,
comprises individuals who have an enduring and ever-evolving fascination
in their own subject, and Simon has very much been a part of that. His
academic background and enthusiasm have combined to produce an
infectious mix that has attracted some to the subject for the first time and
encouraged others to continue to study it at a higher level. Consequently,
we are very sorry to be losing him after only a year but, as he heads to
Tonbridge in September, we wish him luck and fully expect to hear of great
things in his future career.
Daniel McLean
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TORI INGRAM
SEPTEMBER 2014
Having spent some time travelling across Europe in recent years, Tori felt it right to return to what
she knows and loves: teaching Psychology. She landed her feet in the Psychology Department here
at the College in September 2014.
Immediately, it was evident to both staff and students that Tori has a passion for teaching, and she
set herself and her students extremely high standards. I know she has enjoyed teaching the contents
of the Psychology course, but she has also really enjoyed, and shown great enthusiasm for, the
Middle School Eudiamonia course. She is very much respected and liked by her pupils across all
the years. Tori has a huge heart and throughout the course of the year has nurtured and cared for
her pupils and tutees. She has also been an excellent pastoral support to the girls in Toynbee, the
House in which she has been a Tutor.
Outside the Psychology Department, Tori has played her part, helping to coach the School Cross
Country, Netball, and Tennis teams. She has given up a lot of her free time to run extra Netball
training sessions, always pushing her girls to improve their sporting prowess while ensuring that fun
is always had too!
Tori leaves the College to spend time back at home in Sydney with her family, before taking up a
placement in the Psychology and Positive Education Department at Geelong Grammar School.
This will also serve as a taster of Melbourne life, as she hopes to complete her Masters in Applied
Positive Psychology at the University. She will be greatly missed and we wish her every success in
her future.
Rachael Crowe
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91
MEGAN LEWIS HEALY
SEPTEMBER 2014
Megan started at Ardingly in September 2014, joining the Chemistry Department. She had
previously taught at The Scots College in Sydney. At Ardingly her courses included IGCSE, AS
and A-level Chemistry and also, due to her strong mathematical background, she greatly helped
the Physics Department, teaching a couple of Shell Physics groups. Within the department, Megan
readily took on additional duties, including being in charge of the highly successful Chemistry
Olympiad and helping with UCAS personal statements and references. Megan was also a highly
successful Woodard House tutor, always ready to help and to assist in extra tuition sessions. In
sports, Megan is in her own right a very successful triathlete, and helped with junior girls’ Hockey,
Netball, and Athletics. Her enthusiasm for sports is contagious, and she has been instrumental in
organising a staff team for the Arun Challenge swim which starts from Littlehampton this summer.
We wish her well for the future as she now moves on from the College.
Andrew Spiers
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REG MASSAD
SEPTEMBER 2014
The year 2013-14 was one of great change in the Ardingly Mathematics
Department, not least because it saw the induction of five new members.
Known for its high turnover, even so it was a disappointment, though
totally understandable, when one of the new members chose to move on
to be closer to the lady who is now his wife, particularly since the decision
came right at the end of the ‘educational transfer window’. It is notoriously
difficult to attract experienced Maths teachers, and after a year where we
had struck an unfeasibly rich seam, we were disappointed by the field of
candidates.
That was until we heard of Reg. Recommended by a friend of his who is
loyal to the College, we were really excited to receive his application. Reg
has a huge amount of relevant experience, from a vast range of schools. An
Australian, he is no stranger to travelling around the world and working
in exotic places. Indeed, when his application arrived, it came from
Kazakhstan, where he was teaching at an international school. It is no
exaggeration to say that there was a real and relieved enthusiasm felt in the
department when we learned that Peter Green had managed to convince
Reg to join us. An IB examiner, and someone who leads revision sessions at
the Easter School at Oxford University, this was the man for us.
It was a real pity, then, that, due to circumstances beyond his control, Reg
was unable to be with us at the start of the Michaelmas Term. He missed
both the general induction and the social interaction that comes with
joining a school community at the start of the academic year. It also meant
that this rather shy, unassuming colleague had to hit the ground running, as
it were, arriving alone, slightly jet-lagged, and having to start teaching some
unfamiliar courses immediately. His family were not able to join him until
Long Leave, and this made the start of his time with us difficult for him.
Coupled with his wide, international background, he also found Sussex just
a little more parochial than he had perhaps anticipated.
And so it is with regret that, after just one year, we bid him a fond farewell.
We will miss him in the Department, not least his willing availability
almost daily at the drop-in clinic, and his work collaborating with our Prep
School, preparing our Years 8 and 9 team for the Intermediate Maths Team
Challenge. His horizons are broad, and he has decided to return to a more
cosmopolitan, international environment. We wish him and his family every
success in their future ventures, and thank him for his contributions to
College life this year.
Paul Ryan
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93
Though teachers are the ones most people associate with the running of the College, the Support Staff
play an essential role in its life all year round.
Here we pay tribute to a few who are moving on this year.
ANGELA BRASSETT
Angela was appointed to the role of Finance Bursar in September 2005 just as the Accounts
Department was about to go through a considerable change with the introduction of new software
and operating systems. Angela grasped the problem with great gusto and enthusiasm. She
developed a great style with an open door policy, working with Heads of Department throughout
the College, and spearheaded many changes in systems to keep everyone on course.
Angela showed a very progressive attitude towards the way in which her department operated,
ensuring that all were involved in the developing software related to College accounts, introducing
new initiatives for the benefit of the staff and the whole College community. Within the financial
world there are ever changing aspects of legislation, taxation, and the management of pensions.
These are areas which Angela has driven forward, keeping abreast with this complicated world for
the benefit of all.
She has been a dedicated and committed leader who is extremely loyal to her team, an amazingly
vibrant element of the Bursary team who is full of life and fun. During her tenure at Ardingly,
Angela developed a passion for running, completing her first half Marathon in Marrakech and
revisited her youth by taking up the role of Netball Coach for the College, recently completing
a coaching qualification. She can often be seen on the edge of the Football pitches and Cricket
outfield when her son Louis is playing for the College. Much loved by her team, particularly for her
baking skills, Angela’s positive attitude, smile, and energy will be missed, but we all wish her every
success and happiness in her new role at Lingfield Notre Dame.
Neville Barker, Sue Trimm
94
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IAN RHODES
Most people’s first thought of Ian Rhodes is as a computer techie,
even geek. He certainly does live in a high tech bubble and boggles
people with his computer speak. Yet he is a life-saver to many, as
some struggle to even turn a computer on.
Ian has seen the College’s IT capability develop from its very
early days into a highly complex network. He has played a major
role in such areas as the development of the wireless capability,
virtualizing the servers, and numerous other projects where even
the title is unfathomable to the average layman. He has been Mr
IT fix-it for many years, but is now seeking a new challenge.
Ian’s tech bubble burst when he approached me, wanting to learn
to improve his swimming skills; soon a new Ian was born. The
more Ian became involved with the pool and pool life, the more
interests he developed.
Initially, Ian worked on his swimming technique and moved from
a social swimmer to challenging himself, and he soon became a
competitive swimmer. He now happily braves the cold and ducks
of open water swimming. Shortly afterwards he became a new sort
of life-saver and completed a pool lifeguard course, becoming a
valued member of the swimming pool team.
Ian is never one to rest on his laurels and so his next venture saw him
becoming a Level 1 swimming teacher. The upwards spiral continues
as he is soon to be qualified as a pool lifeguard trainer assessor.
Ian has many passions and he watched with interest the many
other activities held in the College pool. He soon combined his
love of cycling with his swimming and started competing in local
triathlons learning the ‘run’ element of these grueling challenges
as he went along. He has now completed a half Ironman (and
has the tattoo to prove it) and will shortly be building on his first
conquest and competing in a full Ironman distance triathlon.
Ian has started a thrilling journey which has taken him away from
computers and we wish him well in his new life ‘beyond the screen’.
John Extence
MATT BLUNDEN
2001
Matt arrived at the College in 2001 as the Headmaster’s Gardener,
at which time he had little knowledge and even less training in
the world of plants. He developed his knowledge at a great pace,
however, and soon became very effective in the role.
After three years in his appointed post, it was clear to all that
gardening was not enough for Matt, and that he had much
more ambition and a great deal more to offer the College. He
therefore moved over to the Grounds Department to apply
himself to the sports facilities, where he continued to develop
his skills, knowledge, and experience. He became an extremely
knowledgeable technician in relation to the preparation of
all sports surfaces, and Cricket in particular. In due course
he progressed to the position of Deputy, and on more than
one occasion covered for the Head of Grounds for significant
periods, during which he coped extremely well demonstrating his
management capabilities. In July 2011 he was appointed to the
position of Head of Grounds.
Matt’s horticultural knowledge for amenity and sports facilities is
extensive, although his modesty belied the level he had actually
attained. He is a most affable character, respected by the whole
College community, who was more than willing to turn out on any
day or at any time to assist in delivering the highest of standards.
His ability to liaise with the most senior of professionals and to
discuss the ground management on a long as well as a short term
basis with the Senior Agronomist from the Sports Turf Research
Industry put him in a most advantageous position for the benefit
of Ardingly College.
Despite his technical skills and ability to deliver the highest of
standards, managing a large estate and keeping a sizeable team on
track, Matt is a quiet contemplative person. He is a keen angler
and could often be seen poised on the edge of Kiln Pond at all
times of day, night and early hours of the morning. Matt left
Ardingly College to pursue new opportunities in the Grounds and
Horticultural world in November 2014.
Neville Barker
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95
JANET BUTLER
OCTOBER 2007
Janet joined Ardingly from Worth School in Oct 2007 to take on the role
of Billing Clerk, quickly updating our procedures with her characteristically
forthright and efficient manner.
She continued to raise parent bills until November 2012 when she decided it
was time to concentrate more on her outside interests, and to move to part-time
hours in preparation for retirement.
Janet was well known for her exotic holidays with partner Jeff, including
African safaris and crossing the Atlantic on a cargo ship, to name but a few.
Janet and Jeff recently purchased the old Chapel / mortuary in Forest Row,
and are spending a great deal of time carefully restoring it to its former glory.
I am sure that she would be delighted to welcome through the Chapel doors
anyone who wished to visit, as long as they were armed with a decent bottle…
Angela Brassett
HILARY JONES AND LYNN PLATTS
APRIL 2006 / SEPTEMBER 2007
We were sad to see the joint retirement of both our Purchase Ledger Clerks:
Hilary and Lynn.
Hilary joined us in April 2006 in a job share role and, in her calm and efficient
way, she quickly settled in to the department. She was an extremely kind and
caring member of the team, with a great sense of humour and a love of bread and
butter pudding.
Lynn joined us in September 2007 to complete the perfect double act. She
was an absolute whirlwind. Her desk was one of the tidiest ever seen; she knew
exactly where everything was and nothing was ever too much trouble.
Hilary gave us quite a fright in 2011 when she suffered a brain haemorrhage
and, during her recovery, Lynn stepped into a full time role without a second
thought, to ensure the continuity of the job. We were relieved and delighted
that Hilary made a full recovery, and we were able to welcome her back six
months later.
Hilary and Lynn’s job share was seamless. The amazing communication and
organisation between them was such that it was impossible to tell that two people
were sharing the same job, so much so that they chose to retire at virtually the
same time.
Hilary is retiring to finish her house extension and enjoy spending time with
her two young granddaughters.
Lynn’s retirement is proving to be as busy as expected, with lots of walking,
holiday dog-sitting, and volunteering with Age Concern.
Angela Brassett
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ARDINGLY annals 2015
BISHOP LINDSAY URWIN OGS
PROVOST, 2006-2015
Bishop Lindsay relinquishes the post of Provost of the Southern Region of the
Woodard Schools at the end of the current academic year, prior to a return to his
native Australia, in the archdiocese of Melbourne, from whence he was sent in
his early twenties to train for the Priesthood in the UK. After ordination to the
diaconate in 1980 and the priesthood in 1981 and serving eight years in parochial
ministry in the Diocese of Southwark, he moved to Chichester as Diocesan
Missioner in 1988. The following year saw his debut at Ardingly College, preaching
at the College Mass. He became a Canon and Prebendary of Chichester Cathedral
in 1993 and was ordained to the episcopate the following year as Bishop of
Horsham, a position he retained until his appointment as Administrator of the
Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in 2009, although remaining as an assistant
bishop in the diocese. He became Provost of the Southern Region of the Woodard
Corporation in 2006, having under his charge the three original schools of the
Corporation - Lancing, Ardingly and Hurstpierpoint - as well as many others.
Until 2014 he was also the Archbishop of Canterbury’s President of the School
Chaplains’ Association. The Woodard Corporation in general, and Ardingly
College in particular, owe an immense debt to his care, concern and pastoral
sensitivity over the past nine years and, although we bid him farewell with a very
heavy heart, assure him of all our love and prayers, in thanksgiving for his oversight
of the College, and for all blessings on his episcopal ministry in Melbourne, not
least for his charge of the church schools there. May they be as fortunate as we
have been. Melbourne’s only a twenty-four hours’ flight away ...
Father David Lawrence-March
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97
MAUREEN MCDONNELL
Maureen McDonnell joined Ardingly College more than thirty years
ago, and consequently she achieved somewhat legendary status at the
College. At a time when staff turnover is relatively rapid, Maureen
was one of the rocks, unchanging in the turbulent seas of Common
Room life. She arrived in September 1984, and her arrival made
something of an impact on a very male-dominated teaching body. She
came with an incisive mind and tongue, and a subversive sense of
humour; her arrival brought with it a freshness which she maintained
throughout her time at the College.
studied and, if such a thing were possible, measured. Maureen was
certainly regarded with great respect and appreciation for her ability
to get pupils to achieve their target grades, or indeed to surpass them.
The safety and security of her students was always assured; with her
legendary command of discipline, Maureen’s pupils knew where
their boundaries were. As is so often the case, the teacher with the
reputation for discipline barely ever needed to use any sanctions; the
respect she so naturally commanded was sufficient to ensure that
pupils were on task. And, when assessing learning, it was clear at the
end of each lesson that her pupils knew they had made progress.
James Flecker appointed her as a Physics teacher, and she was
highly effective in fulfilling this role. Though the first impression her
pupils – and, it has to be said, a number of colleagues too – will have
had of her was of a somewhat stern, forbidding schoolmistress, as
people got to know her, they realised that she cared deeply for her
pupils and, indeed, for the College. Schools and colleges nowadays
live in permanent awareness of the spectre of potential inspections,
and teachers and their lessons are frequently observed and graded,
in preparation for the arrival of inspectors. Those targets that
teachers are encouraged to aim for in every lesson came naturally
to Maureen. Teaching and learning are naturally key things to be
Though she would not have claimed to be ‘an academic’, she was that
far more valuable thing in a school – an educator and facilitator. With
her, the Benedictine ideal was natural, even if she would not have
dreamed of stating it in those terms: the bright were never allowed
to be complacent or to slip below their best, and she would always
insist on their wrestling with difficulties for longer before directing
them herself, yet the less able were always helped by her patient
and repeated explanations until they grasped the concepts with
which they were struggling. She was keen that her students should
try to work things out for themselves, thereby ensuring their deeper
learning and self-reliance. She was sympathetic to pupils who found
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Physics difficult, but gave no quarter in her demands for the highest
standards. This was appreciated by everybody, pupils and colleagues
alike, and Maureen became a favourite and respected teacher to
all her pupils, who drew the very best from all. She cared deeply
for them, and always worked hard for them. Invariably she would
teach six Middle School sets in addition to any Sixth Form, and so
there were always piles of marking which she would take with her at
weekends when she was out, and she was frequently one of the last to
leave parents’ evenings.
Given the care she showed and the respect she so naturally
commended, Maureen was an obvious choice to take over as the
Housemistress of Neal House in 1998. For thirteen years, she showed
a firm and fair approach to her charges, which she combined with
care, sensitivity, insight, and a readiness to listen.
And as though this were not enough to fill the time of a wellorganised Housemistress and teacher, for six of those years, she also
coordinated Girls’ Games throughout the College. This was not a
case of just being there to supervise the odd tennis match on a sunny
Saturday afternoon, but rather it meant arranging all the fixtures and
tournaments and co-ordinating – as well as coaching – a bewildering
range of sports. It is a common saw that ‘if you want a job done, ask
a busy person’; though many people would have regarded this extra
responsibility as a bridge too far, adding a still heavier workload to
what was often already a near-full timetable, Maureen appears to take
it in her stride. It took energy, skilful organization, determination and
complete professionalism, all of which she possessed; she never liked
to be late, and simply got on with things without a fuss, never leaving
a job unfinished.
Until 2014, despite her wealth of other responsibilities that kept
her so busy, she was in charge of Girls’ Tennis. Here, as elsewhere,
she has been greatly missed, both by her players, opponents, and
parents. And at Tennis, as in class, she was clearly herself, expecting
the girls to do their best, but supporting them as much as she could.
Her support was passionate; always meticulous in her preparation,
utterly efficient, she always got the best out of her players. She played
to win, and if the team could not win, they played to win as many
games as they could. And what she took to the tennis court, she took
to the classroom. In the words of a current parent, ‘What an amazing
Physics teacher she was. I always thanked my lucky stars if I found
out that Maureen was teaching one of my children.’
In a school where some people could run the risk of becoming too
fond of the sound of their own voices, Maureen was able to see things
clearly, and speak with equal clarity and a minimum of fuss.
To all who worked in the College, she was a wonderful colleague,
knowing and valuing support staff as well as teachers. As someone
known to have little tolerance for unnecessary fuss, when her time as
Housemistress of Neal came to an end, it was not long before Peter
Green asked her to take on the role of mentor for new members of
the teaching staff. Still with a largely full teaching timetable, given
the staff turnover she barely had a free period in the week, regularly
meeting with teachers new to the College, and having weekly sessions
with Newly Qualified Teachers and those undertaking their PGCEs.
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And although she was so busy, she never gave the impression of being
too busy to help other colleagues; she was always ready to cover for
others in need when she could. Indeed, just weeks before her death,
when the editor of the Annals accidentally asked her to send in an
article she had supplied many months before, her response was
simply to send it again, without any recrimination or complaint.
Given the care she showed, both for students and staff, and her frank,
no-nonsense approach to the College, when Graham Dawtrey left the
College, Maureen was the obvious choice to succeed him as President
of the Common Room. Though Graham had filled this role with
distinction for many years, Maureen showed that this job could be
done differently. She was effective and efficient at chairing a meeting
and, with her unparalleled knowledge of the College after three
decades in its service, she knew exactly what was needed.
Teachers often forget what a legacy they can leave, for good or ill,
with their pupils. Maureen would not need to have worried. The
classes she left already miss her reliability, her dedication to their
best possible grades, and her disciplined framework for learning.
Indeed, her Sixth Formers have dedicated themselves to achieving
the highest possible grade ‘for Miss McDonnell’. The girls, not least
those who knew her in Neal, will miss her no-nonsense approach, but
caring, down-to-earth advice. To many colleagues and a number of
her pupils, she was a real role model; the example of her pastoral care
and teaching instilled in a recent leaver not only self-confidence but
indeed the inspiration to become a teacher herself.
Maureen’s colleagues miss her in the Common Room, with her
engaging blue-eyed smile, her company when trying to collaborate over
a crossword at lunchtime, and the pithy comments on her students as
she’d sit in up there marking their worksheets or exam scripts.
Though she had served Ardingly College faithfully for three decades
in which the College changed a great deal, Maureen was unchanging:
always full of life, energetic, resilient, and seemingly indestructible.
And she was a respected teacher and cherished colleague.
All this has been simply to reflect her life in School. It is perhaps
tempting to believe that, when the school day ends, teachers climb
into some sort of box and re-emerge the following morning. Though
she managed successfully to keep her home- and school-lives separate,
and despite the tremendous focus she gave to her work when there,
she did of course have a life outside the College. Maureen had a
devoted partner in Roger Simmons; for 38 years, she relied on his
quiet strength and good humour. She also had a particular outlet in
equestrian events; her time away from the College was dominated by
her participation in these, be it riding, judging, or competing. She was
even known to take her marking with her…
Pupils and colleagues alike were sad to learn that she was going to be
off for a few weeks in January. Given her dislike of a fuss, Maureen
did not choose to share with the College quite how unwell she was.
Moving on, we were led to hope that she might be back after Long
Leave in February, and then she needed a little more time away. It
came as a great shock and tremendous sadness to learn that she died
just before Easter. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
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SPORT
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SPORT OVERVIEW
Ardingly College has experienced unprecedented success this year
in a range of girls’ and boys’ sports.
The Girls’ Hockey at Ardingly is thriving. The talented Under
16 team followed up their County Cup win with a phenomenal
performance at the regional tournament, where Ardingly beat off
strong competition to go through to the national finals as regional
champions, being named the best side in the South of England.
The finals were played at the Olympic Park in Stratford, London.
Ardingly eventually came out named in the top six of the country,
a huge achievement for a school of Ardingly’s size. The future
looks bright as well, with the Under 15 Girls’ Hockey team also
winning the County Cup this year.
Having already won the Independent Schools FA Cup and Elgin
Southern League in Football (and thus being named the best
school Football team in the country), Ardingly’s boys followed this
up in Hockey, with outstanding County Cup victories at Under 16
and Under 18 level. The boys beat Hurstpierpoint College in the
latter competition, to make it Ardingly’s fourth consecutive County
Cup win at Under 18 boys level. The talented set of hockey players
also added the National Under 16 Plate to their trophy cabinet.
Again, the future also looks bright for the boys, as the Under 13
Prep School Hockey side were also named County champions this
year, reaching the regional semi-finals in the same week.
Not to be outdone, Ardingly’s Basketball players won the Southern
Independent Schools League last week for the fifth time in a row,
whilst Ardingly’s fencers (a relatively new sport to the College)
won through to the British School Team Championships and were
crowned the Under 15 Foil silver medalists, the Under 18 Foil
Bronze medalists and the Sabre Bronze medalists, making them
one of the most revered teams in the country for each section of
their sport. A week later, the golfers at Ardingly got in on the act,
and were also named regional champions at Under 18 level in the
ISGA Matchplay regional championships. They have now qualified
for the national finals, to be played at the incredible Royal St
George’s course later on in the year.
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Neil Gutteridge, the Director of Co-Curricular Activities, said
of the success, ‘It has been a hugely successful period of time
in Ardingly’s already rich history of excellence in sport and
education. The phenomenal achievements of the girls and boys at
the College, in a range of sports, has made everybody connected
very proud. A huge amount of credit must be attributed to the
dedication and hard work of the coaching staff (many of whom
are current internationals) and the immensely grounded attitude
of the pupils, who have given so much time to enable all of this
to happen.’
With just 540 pupils in the Senior School, Mr Gutteridge was
asked what the reasons were for this success. ‘It has been a
process over the last five years where we have looked at the
individual care that we give to our performers. I honestly believe
the programmes that we put in place are unique, and are only
possible to undertake when you have a School of such small
numbers. This has come across in the academic performance of
the School as well. Between six of our best national performers
in both girls’ and boys’ sport, there were 58 A* grades in last
year’s GCSE cohort. The sport is very much intertwined with
the academic performance here, due to the programmes I have
mentioned.’
Charlotte Childs, a national Hockey player, was one of those
GCSE students. When asked about her thoughts on Ardingly’s
recent success, she commented, ‘I think it is just because of the
culture here. Everyone, no matter what level they are at, strives to
be as good as they can be at their sport and work, and this means
that individually, and as a team, we all are supported to achieve
our targets. It’s a really amazing atmosphere at the moment, and
everyone wants it to continue well into the future.’
Certainly, looking at the ambition and programmes that Ardingly
has in place, there is no reason to believe it won’t.
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CRICKET
First XI
Cricket in Independent Schools underwent a problematic season
in 2014. A levels and IB examinations were piled into short chunks
of time, causing massive stress and pressure for all staff concerned,
and the term was shortened to just seven weeks, only allowing for
six weekends of fixtures. Couple this with the distinctly unreliable
weather, and it is no wonder that parts of the season were as grey
for the Cricket coaching staff as was the sky.
The start of the season was more like summer should be. The First
team came in for a week of pre-season training, where techniques
were put under pressure, and the batting order was slowly worked
out. Youngsters such as Harry Rollings and Sam Rattle gave us cause
for excitement that the season could be a good chance to help them
develop alongside experienced players such as Captain, Ross Vasani,
and Sam Cooper. Indeed, watching Louis Evans prove himself a
strong batter against the bowling machine added to this, and knowing
that many other players were still to come in helped the cause.
And so to the season. The first match, against Hurstpierpoint, fell
to the rain, and so the opener to the season was two T20 matches
against Christ’s Hospital and Epsom. In the former, a quick 31
from Oliver Deme (a destructive hitter of the length ball) and a
steady 26 from Rollings were not enough to push the Ardingly
score up past 92. However, Rattle’s 4-14 and Vasani’s 3-7 meant
that Ardingly bowled the opposition out for 62. Epsom were a
different class of opposition, and Ardingly’s total of 109 was better,
with Joe Walker making his debut in the first side with an excellent
28. The Epsom batsmen, however, taught Ardingly a lesson in
running between the wickets, and managed the total easily.
Time for a thought: Ardingly have only around 240 boys to select
from in the entire Senior School. Our fixture lists across all sports
are bravely structured, and include some of the biggest and bestknown sporting schools in the country, yet Ardingly still compete
and often win or are close to winning. Developmentally, one would
rather be pushed and learn than play weaker schools and stroll
along in a blissfully unaware state of what is out there. Sport is
not dissimilar to the way in which the Physics Department are
developing a solar-panelled car. The reason for doing this is to
expand the pupils’ mindsets past the bubble that normal education
can put in place. This reasoning was the basis behind the next few
fixtures, and why they were so exciting to watch.
Whitgift’s team comprised international players, County Second
XI players and more, and could have been a daunting match for
Ardingly’s young side. Ardingly batted first, and Harry Rollings
(still only an Under 15 player) marked his first full day game for the
College with a tremendous, unbeaten 100*. This was an innings of
mastery and of patience, one that I will remember for many years,
where a young, talented player showed the mental skills that many
a professional would have sought. Harry has precocious ability,
but his humility and work rate shine through even more brightly.
One for a great future. Oliver Deme backed Harry with a truly
entertaining 70, and Ardingly posted 217 in a timed game. Whitgift
replied, and through Vasani’s 5-80 and Rattle’s 4-69, were taken
to the last over by the home side, before Whitgift’s Zimbabwean
international won the match for the visitors on the last ball. An
incredible match, and one that had so many positive outcomes,
regardless of the result.
The First XI followed up with difficult games against Worth and
Eastbourne College, before completing a good win against the XL
102
Club and a draw against the Old Ardinians. The MCC match was
once again a pleasure to behold, as Sam Cooper found his form
with an excellent 58, whilst Rollings and Silas Anderson followed
him with 45 and 45 respectively. Silas’s brother Barney made his
debut for the side and scored 33 here, with Silas jumping up and
down as his younger brother hit his final runs with a sweetly hit six.
The stand-out match of the short, rain-affected season, however,
was that against Brighton College. Under difficult conditions, with
major pressure being asserted from the loud Brighton fielders,
Louis Evans opened with a staunch 28, whilst Sam Cooper’s 56
led Ardingly to post a total in their innings of 163-6 from 39 overs.
Ardingly then bowled brilliantly, and Sam Rattle’s figures of 8-37
from 15 overs meant that Brighton had to defend desperately
not to lose to the home side. Unfortunately, this defence worked,
and Brighton batted out for the draw, having also had 39 overs
bowled back at them. It was a brave declaration, but one that set
up an intriguing and exciting game of cricket. The Ardingly boys
responded, and I don’t think one will ever see such a genuinely
skilful exhibition of orthodox left arm bowling as we saw from Sam
Rattle that day. He is another one for the future.
And so the season ended, and Ardingly did well, considering the
challenges that the team met through the aforementioned issues.
Many of the team are here for the next couple of years, but losing a
batsman like Sam Cooper, whose technique and effort were a joy to
behold, and characters like Sam Adams, who is unquestionably one
of the most hard-working, genuine and loyal characters with whom
I’ve ever worked, and Jack Haydon, who rightly won one of the
sports awards for the year for service to Ardingly, means that there
are places to fill. Freddie Knott had an excellent end of season, and
it was sad to see him depart, whilst Silas Anderson, once he had
finished the IB exams, was possibly better than even he believed he
was. To lose a captain like Ross Vasani, though, leaves the biggest
void – Ross was an example to all future captains. Dedicated,
hardworking and incredibly communicative, Ross’s skill in bowling
and his loyalty in captaincy spoke volumes, and I will always
appreciate and respect his input to Ardingly’s rich history of sport.
The future is bright. Rollings, Walker, Rattle, Evans, Clark, to name
just a few, are coming through the ranks. Hopefully they will get as
much of a challenge out of their season in years to come, and feel
that Ardingly gave them experiences that enriched their sporting
lives. This team certainly did.
Nick Tester
Second XI
The Second XI cricketers had an interesting season to say the least;
one might say we were a team in transition, or someone else might
say we are in a rebuilding phase. Either way, the results did not
always go our way, despite some phenomenal effort in training and
commitment on the field. Initial losses against Hurst and Whitgift
were followed by exam season, which struck in the first few weeks
of term, decimating the team and forcing us to cancel two or three
fixtures. The season proper began after Long Leave, when we
faced local rivals Eastbourne and Brighton and Mr Tester’s alma
mater, Forest School. The loss to Eastbourne was quite a humbling
experience; Ardingly batted first and were given a lesson being
bowled out for 83. The Eastbourne attack was far too classy, and our
first wicket partnership of 22 between Anderson and Knott was as
good as it got. Southgate, Storer, and Anderson all got starts (12)
but none were able to consolidate, and the innings descended into
farce as two of our non-cricketing substitutes, Shanmukh Khanna
and Paul Bortnowski, attempted a last wicket salvage operation
ARDINGLY annals 2015
but ended up running into each other in the middle of the pitch
to gift Eastbourne an easy target. It proved to be a tough day at
the office for Ardingly Second XI; Jack Mangan picked up the
only wicket as Eastbourne ran away with a nine wicket win. The
following match against Forest was a season saver; we finally made
a dent in the WIN column in convincing fashion. Barney Anderson
unleashed at the top of the order with Ben Harris putting on 63 for
the first wicket, but it was George Southgate with a sparkling 100
not out who stole the show; the pickets rattled constantly with the
sound of leather on willow as Southgate plundered the opposition
attack, racking up a first innings total of 255 along the way. It was
a singularly glorious day for our Second XI who then proceeded
to knock over Forest for a meagre 94. Southgate again contributed
with figures of 2 for 35, while others to get wickets included Jak
Alcock (2 for 6) and Eddie Entwisle (2 for 13).
Collectively, the Ardingly Second XI fell short in 2014, but as
individuals they were a promising bunch of cricketers, and played
the game in exactly the right spirit. The core of the team included
the indomitable veteran Tom Storer, whose leg spin reminded
those of a different generation of the late, great Richie Benaud. His
captaincy was fierce, inspiring, and brave. He was ably supported
by rising talent George Southgate, whose claim as an all-rounder
gained currency towards the end of the season. Barney Anderson
opened the batting with a determination to dominate, at the same
time batting with such panache that it appeared he was batting
with an ostrich feather, such was the fluidity of his strokes. Chris
Holman, Jack Mangan, and Jak Alcock were the ‘three amigos’,
imposing themselves on opposition through a combination of wit
and subtle sledging which was often far too intellectual to have any
real damaging effect on opposition batsmen. Freddie Knott opened
the batting with Barney, but was unable to replicate the dominating
performances of seasons past. His best days are yet to come. And
finally, the up and coming leg spinner, Eddie Entwisle; Eddie always
went for a few, but his willingness to toss the ball high and throw in
his googly occasionally had the batsmen bamboozled. By season’s
end, he was the ‘sheik of tweak’.
Overall, the Ardingly Second XI has had an enjoyable season. The
boys played for each other and trained hard, as one would expect.
Hopefully, next season they will be able to reap the benefits for all
their hard graft.
Matt Curran
Under 15A
The season started with a home match against Whitgift who
batted first and scored 203 in 35 overs; in reply we only managed
88, so a very poor start.
In the first 20-over game against Christ’s Hospital, batting first
making 147 (Harry Rollings 53), we bowled them out for 58; and
Joe Walker was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-10 off 4 overs.
On a very hot June day, we had possibly the most exciting game of
the season, away at Eastbourne. Batting first, we made 210 in 35
overs; Ash Krishnan scored 52, 63 came from Alex Shaw off only
48 balls, and Oscar Haynes Brown made 42 off 25 balls. In reply
Eastbourne made a solid start, and with two overs remaining they
needed 12 runs to win, but with a fine run out by Eddie Lambie and
a great catch on the boundary by Matt Penfold, we won by 10 runs.
Against Brighton College, a good innings from Ben Harris (38)
could not prevent us losing by 40 runs.
ARDINGLY annals 2015
Playing a visiting touring team we proved far too strong, bowling
them out for 115 with Alex Shaw and Charlie Baldock taking
two wickets each, and in reply Ben Harris’s 57 and George
Gutteridge’s 35 gave us victory.
Our remaining matches were midweek T20 fixtures. We reached
the final against Hurstpierpoint but, chasing 114, we could only
manage 98.
Matches on Saturdays were interrupted by bad weather and we
never managed throughout the season to play with any consistency
with bat or ball, which frustrated the boys.
Keith Wright
Under 15B
Played 5: Won 2, Lost 3
The U15Bs had a mixed season, winning two and losing three.
Comprehensive victories over Lancing and Bede’s were particularly
pleasing. The season was characterised by the boys’ good attitude,
and they made a great deal of progress during the season. Henry
Gilbert, Harry Trevelyan, Joe Cass and Tudor Williams bowled
tight lines all year and took some very important wickets, Henry
in particular. In the key batting positions, Kieran Mulligan batted
positively all season and scored vital runs in good time. In the
middle order, Joe Cass, Edward Wilson and Tudor Williams were
explosive players and tried to score runs quickly. Jonathan TweedieSmith and Hashmath Khan were more methodical in their batting
styles and were often the foundations for good innings.
The dismantling of Lancing aside, the games against Whitgift and
Bede’s were particular highlights. Even though Ardingly lost the
match against Whitgift, it was perhaps the best performance of the
season. Jonathan and Hashmath opened confidently, and some
quick runs were scored by Henry Gilbert. Ardingly were slightly
unfortunate to lose, but the game went down to the last few overs,
and spectators enjoyed an intrguing contest. The match versus
Bede’s was another gripping encounter and this time, with Eddie
Davis and Michael Makepeace making contributions with bat and
ball, the team were victorious.
Alastair Wood
Under 14A
The Under 14A Cricket team capped a highly successful season
with an outstanding unbeaten run at the Cricket Festival at
Cheltenham College, winning every game, and against St Joseph’s,
having defeated them once in the morning doing so convincingly
again in the afternoon with reversed batting order.
Stand-out performances came from captain, Joe Walker, who
starred with bat and ball, most memorably taking 7 wickets for 9
runs against Eastbourne College (including a hat-trick). Akshaj
Krishnan grew in confidence and stature as the year progressed,
often making contributions when the team was up against it, and
holding the team together. Ollie Thompson, batting with style
and orthodoxy, looked every part the cricketer, and regularly took
wickets with his pace bowling. Oli Downes, with his powerful
bottom-handed Hockey stroke, smote unfortunate opposition
bowlers to all parts and, when he got in, could take the game
away from them in a trice. Jason Tibble made useful all-round
contributions – one back foot drive through extra cover was surely
the shot of the season! Harry Jones bamboozled many a batsman
with his flighty off-spin and took a catch at slip that will long stick
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in the memory. But perhaps the outstanding fielder (in what will
go down as a ‘great’ fielding side) was Joe Donegan who threw
himself around fearlessly. Most improved player must have been
Adam Sowton, with his nagging length and natural away swing
that troubled even the best batsmen. Useful contributions were
made by Matt Hay, and James Thorne was brilliant behind the
stumps. The team was greatly strengthened on occasions by Prep
School cricketers, Dominic Morgan and Tom Clark, both of whom
have progressed to the Senior School. It all bodes very well for the
future.
Richard Savage
BOYS’ TENNIS
First VI
The curtain-raiser to the Tennis season for the Senior First VI was the
annual Sussex League. The first round saw Bede’s and Worth visit
the College in late April with a simultaneous fixture taking place at
Lancing College with Hurst, Christ’s Hospital and Brighton College
in attendance. Despite victories for Will Godfrey in both singles
and doubles (with Harry Ames), Worth proved too strong in the
opening rubber, and an experienced Bede’s once again dominated in
the second round, winning 6-0. This relegated Ardingly to the Plate
Competition the following weekend, where Will Godfrey and Lewie
Parry won both their singles matches, ultimately gaining the College a
reasonable fifth place overall. The annual trip to Eastbourne was lost
to high winds, and then Ardingly were virtually blown off the court
by a rampant King’s School, Canterbury, with only Captain and ViceCaptain emerging with pride intact. Despite impressive performances
from Cameron Millar and Michael Makepeace, Ardingly also lost in
their penultimate match of the season against Sevenoaks; however,
the team did conclude their season with a straight sets demolition of
Sutton Valence, winning eight out of eight sets, with Jon Shoesmith,
Fergus Wood and Lewie Parry in commanding form.
Second VI
With two games lost to the poor weather, the Second VI managed
only three fixtures across the season, all of which ended in defeat. A
trip to Worth in early May ended in a straight sets defeat for the team,
with Marcus Howe and Luka Reisch facing up against particularly
strong opposition. The long trip to King’s Canterbury resulted in only
one win for Ties Lind and Kasper Verkammen, with James Price and
Carlos Sandin outclassed on court, if not in the fashion stakes. A final
match at Sevenoaks in June also ended in a narrow defeat.
Under 16 VI
This is a year group that Ardingly does not traditionally compete
in, although we do send representatives to the local county
tournaments. The season also opened with the annual Sussex
League. Despite a disappointing loss to a strong Bede’s, Ardingly
progressed to the final competition with a convincing 5-1 win
against Worth, with good performances from Charlie Kelly and
Alex Teague. There, the team finished a creditable third place
behind perennial winners, Bede’s, and hosts, Lancing College. It
was a pity that the subsequent Sussex Cup, held at Bede’s, was lost
to the rain, offering the College no chance of revenge.
Under 15 VI
This was another busy season for the U15s, who competed every
weekend and in several midweek fixtures, with county and Aegon
Cup commitments in addition.
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The first fixture saw the team edge a strong Brighton College
team in a photo 5-4 finish with second seeds, George Tardrew and
Harry Bartley unbeaten across all matches. The first Saturday in
May brought sunshine and the chance for some mixed doubles at
Worth. The pairings of Victor von Schweinitz with Rachel Beaven
and Wilson Mak with Katie Meagher earned a tight victory over
the hosts. Given that the players had never played competitively
together, this was a fine performance. A trip to Eastbourne proved
even more successful, with a straight 9-0 victory and the loss of
only eight games, with top seeds, Charlie Kelly and Alex Teague, in
imperious form. Tonbridge School proved sterner opposition later
that month, but the team produced their best form of the season at
the right time, taking the match 6-3. After Long Leave, a depleted
side went down heavily to Sevenoaks, against tough opposition.
June saw the advent of the U15 Sussex League tournament to
the College. Charlie Kelly and Alex Teague played some excellent
Tennis, winning all bar two of their sets. They linked together well
and took a game off Bede’s, which few other schools managed.
Harry Bartley and Dominic Adomakoh also played very well
together, grinding out steady performances. All were a credit to
the College. On the same day, a combined U14 and U15 team
overwhelmingly beat Sutton Valence. Wilson Mak and Victor
von Schweinitz dropped only two games all afternoon and newly
promoted Tom Brooker and Joe Cargan won all their matches.
The end of June saw the annual Sussex Cup at Bede’s at U15 level.
In the opening rounds, the Ardingly College team of Charlie Kelly,
Alex Teague, George Tardrew, and Wilson Mak saw consecutive
victories against Eastbourne, Worth, and Brighton College, taking
them into the quarter finals against the hosts. Unfortunately, Bede’s,
continuing to play the role of arch nemesis, duly dispatched our
young warriors who will surely live to fight another day.
Under 14 VI
The season for the U14 VI opened with a 2-7 loss to Brighton
College, which set the scene for a challenging season. Ivan Tarazov
and Raphael Adomakoh competed gamely but were overpowered on
court. A mixed tournament at Worth in early May offered some light
relief for Eike Landwehr and Lauren Workman, who ground out a
commendable performance to earn the College some pride. Later that
month Eastbourne and King’s School, Canterbury proved too strong
for the team, with only Ali Garbutt and Sam Pickles taking significant
games off impressive opponents each time, and a skilful Tonbridge
team beat off the best efforts of Cameron Elder and Scott PardailheGalabrun at the end of May.
There was some success… Before Long Leave, a mixed doubles
contingent comprising U14 and U15 boys and girls travelled to
Lancing College for a triangular tournament against Worth and
Lancing. Ardingly was ultimately victorious, winning in both age
groups. Sevenoaks avoided the traffic of the South of England Show
to arrive in early June, where they promptly defeated the College in
straight sets, despite the impressive serve and volley tactics of Borja
Martinavarro. In a nice conclusion to the season, Sutton Valence
were beaten overwhelmingly in late June to earn the College a
commendable victory.
House Matches
The Senior House Tennis competition was won by Hilton, who
won six out of six sets, pushing Rhodes into second place, with
Crosse third.
ARDINGLY annals 2015
The Junior House Tennis competition was won by Crosse who
retained the trophy which they won last year, with 6 out of 6 sets won.
Mertens placed second.
Colours
Full Colours were awarded to Will Godfrey and Harry Ames. Half
colours were awarded to Lewie Parry and Jon Shoesmith.
Simon Woodhall
GIRLS’ TENNIS
What a season. I think everybody from the team could say the
same. We fought for every single point, played while the sun was
shining and while the rain was pouring down on us, and were
able to enjoy great Tennis doubles matches. There were intense
moments when the highest concentration possible was needed,
we experienced loss and success, and we worked as a team in
order to achieve our wins.
The season began after Easter with our first match on 26th
April, when we found ourselves on the tennis courts at Christ’s
Hospital. Even though we gave our best, the first team narrowly
lost 4-5, the team consisting of Zoe Andrews, Cara Rocks, Beth
Shoesmith, Sophie Meagher, Alice Burke and Maren Hegger. The
second team was much more successful, dropping fewer games
and winning overall with a score of 5-4.
After our loss we could have stopped working hard, but we
didn’t give up, practising with great concentration during the
games sessions on Tuesday and Thursday, and when 3rd May
came we were ready to fight back. We were able to record a win
over Lancing with a score of 7-2 overall, and we realised that it
had paid off to play more tennis and to work especially on our
doubles skills. Unfortunately the second team didn’t have as
much luck and success as we had this time, so they finished the
day with a loss of 3-6.
Over the next weeks it was hard to meet for our games sessions,
exam pressure worked against us and it was even more difficult
for most of us to find the time for our matches on Saturday. The
exam stress and the amount of work that was always lurking was
reflected in our next match against Brighton College on 17th
May, when both teams lost 3-6.
During Long Leave we were able to build up our strength again,
and on the following weekend afterwards, we were able to
concentrate on our game, to become more focused on winning
the important points, and to communicate as a team. On that
day it was raining heavily and the atmosphere was tense, but we
kept on playing, and eventually left the court with a win of 5-4.
Although this was only a narrow win, it still demonstrated our
strong will to win our matches overall, and showed that not even
rain could stop us.
For our last match we drove to Sutton Valence and it was our aim
to end the season with a success and not with disappointment.
The opponents were good players, who also didn’t like the idea
of finishing the season with a loss. That meant we had to get our
head in the game to give the best that we could. It was worth it,
and we drove home with a 6-3 win. Unfortunately a weakened
second team lost 2-7.
Overall I can only say that the season had its ups and downs
and that without the whole team we couldn’t have achieved our
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successes. I hope I can say for the whole team that we really
enjoyed the season, and that we are looking forward to repeating
our successes in the Trinity Term 2015.
Maren Hegger (Captain)
JUNIOR TENNIS
As always there was very little time to prepare for the first set of
matches at the start of the Trinity Term, particularly with a large
Shell intake to assess and put into teams. Therefore the first fixture
against Christ’s Hospital was a bit of a trial for all the Shell involved.
The girls did remarkably well with both the U14 A and B teams
only losing by a narrow margin. The U15 team picked up from
where they left off at the end of last season and started with some
fine performances, winning both A and B team matches. With rain
causing some cancellations, the next fixture was against Lancing;
again the U15A team won convincingly 7–2, and the U14As
managed a 2-2 draw. This year we managed to slot in several mixed
tennis matches; the first against Worth was a resounding success,
with the girls playing an important role in our victory. Sadly, more
heavy rain and wet conditions meant the next match was just prior
to Long Leave. The majority of Remove were away at Swanage
enjoying the sunshine, so the U14A team took on a very competent
Brighton College team. Despite their best efforts and some lovely
tennis being played, they lost 1–8.
After Long Leave the weather continued to be a little uncertain;
this was especially apparent in the fixture against Hurst. Within
the first five minutes the heavens had opened with everyone getting
thoroughly drenched. The girls persevered in the damp conditions
and by the end of the morning the sun was shining. Both the U15A
and U14A teams recorded wins, the U15B team worked hard to
come back for a 2 -2 draw and the U14B team sadly lost. In the
latter half of the term, both U14A and U15A teams took part in the
Sussex Shield competition. This was run in a slightly different format
this year with each match being played under timed conditions.
Unfortunately we were not quite as successful as last year, but both
teams enjoyed the high standard of play and learnt new tactics as the
day progressed. The final fixture of the season was an epic adventure
to Benenden; we again put out three U15 and U14 teams, meaning
that 18 girls from each year group were playing matches. Both age
groups were missing some key players due to an athletics fixture
clash, which had a knock-on effect for all the teams. The U15 teams
had some particularly close matches, and there were good wins from
our A team first couple. Sadly, the strength and depth of Benenden’s
teams allowed them to sweep the board with victories.
As always, the Tennis season is particularly short, but the girls have
learnt a great deal and, with many of them now taking private tennis
lessons and training throughout the winter season, we hope that
next year there will be even more winning scores.
Helen Lewis
ATHLETICS
There was a fair bit of disruption to the Athletics fixtures this year
due to poor weather and opposition schools cancelling. This was a
real shame but, despite the reduced number of fixtures, there were
some impressive individual results. Sadly this year the whole School
Sports Day was cancelled due to the impending torrential rain that
was forecast (and which rather frustratingly failed to show up). So
with very little preparation time, the Remove athletes attended the
Ouse Valley trials and produced some encouraging results, with
several personal bests recorded throughout the afternoon. This was
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personal best of 1.69m in the Inter Counties competition a few
weeks earlier. She came third overall at the English Schools event,
equalling her PB. This was an incredible achievement, and we look
forward to seeing her improve further next year.
Helen Lewis and Duncan Jupp
FOOTBALL
followed a week later by the Shell Ouse Valley trials; the girls really
shone in this event, with Lillie Franks securing first place in both the
High and Long Jump, and Tabitha Anderson also winning her shot
put event. The weather then turned, and our fixtures against both
Bede’s and Worth had to be cancelled due to the heavy rain and
poor track conditions. Despite this, training continued in earnest
in preparation for the Sussex Athletics Championships which fell
in the half term break. This competition is primarily aimed at club
athletes, but Ardingly were fortunate enough to have several girls
and boys competing. Jonah Admomakoh and Lillie Franks became
Sussex Champions in their events, the U20 Men’s Triple Jump
(13.44m) and the U15 Girls’ High Jump respectively. This was
closely followed by Sam Cunningham coming second in the U20
mens’ Shot Put, and Lillie achieving second place in the U15 girls’
Long Jump. Ciara Branagan reached both the U17 girls’ 100m and
200m finals, finishing in seventh and fifth place respectively, Ciara
also finished sixth overall in the U17 girls’ Long Jump. Florence Ertl
qualified for the U17 300m final, coming fifth overall.
Following Long Leave, there was more disappointment on the
fixture front, with the girls’ fixture against Cranleigh cancelled –
this was to have been used as preparation for the Sussex Schools
Championships. Fortunately the boys’ fixture against Charterhouse
went ahead, and they had some very good results, including ten
new personal bests. Preston Ng was the competitor of the day,
winning the inter Long Jump with a new personal best of 5.53m
whilst simultaneously competing in the 100m and 400m. The
Sussex Schools Championships took place a week later, with nine
Ardingly athletes selected to represent the Ouse Valley team. Lillie
Franks continued her domination in the high jump securing first
place with a jump of 1.65m; this is a national standard and secured
Lillie a place in the English Schools Athletics competition. Tabitha
Anderson and Sam Cunningham also finished in first place in
their events; following this event Tabitha was selected to represent
Sussex County at the Inter Counties event a week later. Sam also
came second in the Shot Put, along with Jonah Adomakoh coming
second in the senior boys 100m. With just a few weeks left of term,
there was one last event against Hurst. We took large squads to this
event and, with the boys and girls results combined, Ardingly were
second overall. The intermediate girls did particularly well, coming
first overall in their section by quite a substantial points margin. This
was a great way to finish the College Athletics season, and it was
impressive to see so many athletes willing to try new events or work
hard to improve on previous performances.
During the summer holidays Lillie took part in the English Schools
Track and Field Championships – in this event the top athletes
throughout the UK come together to compete against one another.
Lillie had shown great form throughout the season including a new
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First XI
The 2014/2015 season will go down in history as one of the most
successful at Ardingly College. Having won the Elgin Southern
League for the first time ever, Ardingly also went on to win the
Independent Schools’ FA Cup, beating a strong Hampton School
4-1 in the final, played at MK Dons FC in front of a crowd of 1500
people. Ardingly also had eight of this talented squad play for the
full national ISFA squads at U18 or U16 level, making the College
the most represented school at national level. It was not just the
trophies and the selections, however, that made this such a season
to remember. The work rate and effort, coupled with the humility of
each player, meant that it was a genuine joy to work with each of the
boys in the squad.
The season started off with a three-week pre-season period, one of
which was spent in Barcelona, before a mixed First and Second XI
played The Harrodian in the season’s opener, winning 5-1. This was
followed by the Independent Schools Sixes Tournament, where the
First XI were defending their trophy. Ardingly played well in the
group stages, before facing City of London School in the quarter
finals. City of London tactically refused to attack, and, after the
match went to penalties, Ardingly was knocked out. The frustration
on that day gave the squad even more resolve to prove what they
could do, and, after beating Alleyn’s in the first league match of
the season, Ardingly then went to Repton for the first round of the
ISFA Cup. Repton were excellent, and played at a good tempo.
After both sides hit each other’s crossbar, captain Alex Summerfield
found space in the area from a corner to score the deciding goal of
the game. After beating Tunbridge Wells Grammar, Hampton (the
eventual finalists of the ISFA Cup) were next on the fixture list. Here,
Ardingly found the conditions of playing on the 3G surface difficult
to cope with and, with a young starting line-up being selected,
Ardingly suffered their first defeat of the season. Lots of lessons were
to be learnt from this by both coaching staff and players.
Over the course of a season, one does learn a lot about the players
that one works with. That day at Hampton resonated with every
player and I truly believe that, without that loss, the rest of the
season would not have been so successful. The Michael Jordan
quotation comes to mind: ‘I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my
career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to
take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over
and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed’. The key to
any successful team or sportsperson is having, as Atkinson and
McClleland termed in 1976, a ‘Need to Achieve’ type of motivation.
Within this theory, someone who exhibits this tends to persevere
with tasks, likes challenges, attributes success to themselves, and
controls the controllables. Our squad, psychologically speaking,
have been excellent and this concept of ‘bouncing back’ was a key
factor to the success of the season.
The second ISFA Cup match came around quickly, with visitors
KES Witley coming to Ardingly. The home side were prolific, as
Ardingly scored twelve and sent a message across the country as to
the intent of the side. A further win against Ibstock Place School
also kept the League ticking over, and after the next ISFA Cup
ARDINGLY annals 2015
www.rwt-photography.co.uk
game against Charterhouse was won on penalties, one could see
the season shaping up nicely. Indeed, the Charterhouse game was
one in which the merits of having an élite goalkeeper was shown, as
David Bonilla saved three penalties in the dark as a strong Ardingly
crowd watched on. The following week, however, Ardingly went
to Charterhouse in the League, and lost in what was probably the
only scrappy performance of the season. This meant that, on goal
difference, we had to beat Bede’s by two clear goals and Lancing by
one to win the League and go through to the League Cup final. This
was duly achieved, with a 2-0 win against Bede’s, and, after Chris
Holman scored the first of many important goals in the season, a
2-1 win against Lancing. This meant that a League Cup final against
Bradfield College awaited us. Ironically, a 2-1 away win against
Latymer Upper in the ISFA Cup also set up an ISFA Cup semi final
against the same side to look forward to after the Christmas break.
Christmas is a time for relaxation and celebration. A time for
merriment, and a time that has, in the past for Ardingly, been
the end of the season. So much was riding on the return to term
that personal programmes were sent out and individual training
schedules were written. It cannot be underestimated, looking back,
how important the attention to detail was in the provision of these
programmes. Five of the First team squad were also representing
the College at First team Hockey, and preparation matches also
had to be held to be ready for the latter stages of each cup. Favours
were called in from local clubs to play us, and video analysis of the
teams that we were facing was prepared and talked about with the
squad. Every little bit of what Clive Woodward describes as ‘critical
non essentials’ was thought about, in order for the players to feel
prepared and confident in the tactical plans that had been devised.
The focus was on the execution of these plans – the development
of process and performance goals that would, we hoped, lead to the
outcome of being named the best school in the country.
The first semi-final came about quickly, as Ardingly journeyed to
Bradfield College. Ardingly’s defensive plans and organisation
worked beautifully as the players frustrated a confident Bradfield
side, before Chris Holman opened the scoring, making it 1-0 at half
time. The second half began frantically, before Holman scored a
stunning second goal from a well-conceived corner routine. Ardingly
were now rampant, and Conor Meegan scored a third to put the
ARDINGLY annals 2015
game beyond doubt, even before the Bradfield centre forward scored
a late consolation goal. Ardingly were through to the ISFA Cup final.
There is a quotation on the wall of our dressing room from General
Kitchener, that talks about the motivation that one needs to keep
doing the extra. It goes like this:
‘Today you must do more than is expected of you. Never think that
you have done enough or that your job is finished. There is always
something that can be done – something that can help ensure victory.
You can’t let others be responsible for getting you started. You must be a
self starter. You must possess that spark of individual initiative that sets
the leader apart from the led. Self motivation is the key to being one
step ahead of everyone else and standing head and shoulders above the
crowd. Once you get going don’t stop. Always be on the lookout for the
chance to do something better. Never stop trying. Fill yourself with the
warrior spirit and send that warrior into action.’
The point about being a ‘self starter’ is crucial, and one that was
passed onto the players before our Elgin League Cup final, which
was to be played, once again, against Bradfield College. We didn’t
want the players to relax in any way, as complacency can be the
banana skin on which many teams slip up. The players did the
College proud. Again, a defensive display of the highest order,
coupled with a fine finish from the prolific Oscar Haynes Brown,
meant that Ardingly won the competition for the first time in its
history. It was an incredible achievement, not least because of the
concentration that was needed.
And so onto the ISFA Cup final. Hampton School have 1350 boys
to Ardingly’s 270. Hampton had been in the final for three of the
last five. Ardingly hadn’t been near the final for 17 years. The final
score and the outcome of the high quality match at MK Dons FC
could not have been forseen by anyone. That night saw a culmination
of so much hard work that had gone into the season. Holman’s first
goal was the type of strike that he had been practising in one-on-one
sessions just the week before. The defensive shape was excellent, and
showed how far we had come since the loss that we had experienced
earlier on in the season. The finish by Oscar Haynes Brown was
simply what he had done time and time again in practice. And the
counter attacking goals that Jonah Adomakoh and Toby Cassidy
scored were, as an ISFA management member described, two of the
best goals that had been seen in an ISFA final. The night was magic,
107
pure magic. The occasion was sensational. I dearly hope that it will
be an experience that the boys cherish for years ahead. I certainly
will. Ardingly 4–1 Hampton. Very, very special.
As the final whistle blew, I sat in the dugout. A sense of the
Augustinian restlessness that Peter Green talked about regularly hit
me. I was happy, most of all happy for the players, but the concept
of ‘what next’ was there straight away. The future of Ardingly sport
and Football is incredibly bright. Seven U16 footballers were in the
squad that evening at MK Dons, and I look forward to working with
these players again. However, the reflection on each playing member
this year must be put down in writing. This squad were the best in
the country in 2014/2015.
David Bonilla
An outstanding goalkeeper. A wonderful shot-stopper and, whenever
a match went to penalties, I knew we were going to win it.
George Southgate
A determined, quick full back, whose forward runs caused problem
after problem for the opposition. A very strong, fit lad. A true Ardinian.
Matt Price
I have never seen Matt play badly. Incredible on the ball, and an
experienced defender. I think he missed just five minutes of Football
over the last two seasons. One of the very best.
Fergus Wood
What other school has an England Rugby international playing
centre back for the College Football team? Powerful, quick,
dependable; Fergus is a wonderful sportsman.
Alex Summerfield
It is hard to sum up the respect and admiration that I have for
our departing Captain of two years. Alex has been the bedrock of
everything that we have set up at Ardingly. A great player, both
at left back and centre back, and a lad with a wonderful sense of
humility. A true role model and someone who has to be one of the
best that I have coached.
Chris Holman
Got better and better every game he played. Chris finished the season
as, in my opinion, the best IFSA U18 midfielder in the country. A
player who is fit, strong, and technically very gifted. One more year
will see him talked about as being at the very top, I am sure.
Matt Penfold
U16 ISFA captain, and a giant of the team in central midfield. Matt
has had an exceptional season and has made the holding midfield
position his own. A very talented player, and I think there is even
more to come.
Oscar McConnell
Found it hard to get as many minutes as he would have liked, but
the future is bright for this young man. Outstanding on the ball,
and driven to be the best he can be. A real name for the future and,
again, incredibly coachable. ISFA national U16.
Conor Meegan
ISFA national U18 midfielder. Conor scored vital goals and was an
important player in the final stages of the ISFA Cup in particular.
An extremely talented young man.
Jonah Adomakoh
Going to the US on a scholarship to the University of Santa
108
Barbara. Quick, powerful, mobile – simply changed games when he
wanted to. A wonderful mix of power and skill.
Michael Makepeace
I defy anyone to ever work with a nicer, more hard-working young
man. Michael’s training standards were exceptional and his goals
in the early part of the season were so important to us. Quick and
brave, Michael also represented the ISFA U18s.
Teddy West
Skilful player, who was another very good trainer. Teddy’s
distribution was excellent and, once again, he is a very coachable
young man. Impressive season from the ISFA U16 representative.
Oscar Haynes Brown
One of the best ISFA strikers in the country. Quick and clinical,
Oscar has been hugely important to us this season. An U16 scoring
thirty goals per season at U18 level has to be taken seriously. Truly
brilliant. ISFA national U16.
Toby Cassidy
Another ISFA U16 representative, Toby had a stormer in the
Elgin League final, and will be an excellent replacement for
Summerfield. Quick, with an excellent delivery. A very good player
with more to come.
Louis Evans
Injured for most of the season, but was essential at the start of the
year. He has grown and will certainly be a top national player next
year. Like getting a new signing.
Dominic Adomakoh
Came into the side late on in the year, but impressed everyone. He
will be another one to watch in the next two years.
Oliver Pleasants
Like Dominic, came into the side late on, but trained well and
should be aiming to make a positive impact on the team next year.
And so, on to another year. How do we emulate what has been
achieved this year? General Kitchener has some good ideas above.
Well done to all the self-starters who made Ardingly the best school
in the country for the 2014/2015 season.
Nick Tester
Second XI
The Second team this season have had a fantastic footballing
year, and once again it has been a pleasure to play for them. The
season began strongly against Harrodian School, with excellent
play from the central midfield, in particular Oliver Pleasants
whose distribution and skill on the ball made him unplayable for
the opposition. When combined with a possible goal of the season
from Benny Ernst, as he chipped the keeper from what seemed an
impossible angle, it created the first win of the season, ending 7-1.
This winning form continued throughout the next couple of matches
with hard-fought wins against Tunbridge Wells Grammar and
Alleyn’s, where the experience of William Smith and Jack Mangan
was much needed as they stayed calm and composed, creating a
solid base as centre backs that the rest of the team could work off.
When this was combined with the unbelievable technique in shooting
from Oliver Deme and Diego Llantada, it created spectacular goals,
finishing the matches with victories of 2-0 and 3-1.
ARDINGLY annals 2015
The next game was Hampton. With a makeshift setup, we knew
the match would be difficult against an always challenging
opposition. Ardingly fought well but, on the day, Hampton proved
too tough, narrowly beating us in the closing minutes. The pace
of Edward Lambie in his debut for the Seconds caused difficulties
for the Hampton defence and provided a reliable outlet throughout
the remainder of the season.
The Seconds rebounded from this narrow defeat with strong wins
against Sutton Grammar and Winchester College in which a total
of twelve goals were scored by Ardingly, including a hat trick from
William Smith, and with our keeper Samuel Rattle conceding just
one goal. His performance was invaluable throughout the season,
as his quality between the sticks kept us fighting on more than a
couple of occasions.
Zac Segal, our mercurial number seven, made a notable
performance in the match to follow against Charterhouse as his
silky skills, Ronaldo-like hair, and blistering pace alongside many a
step over caused havoc and fear amidst both teams. Nevertheless,
Ardingly produced the performance of the season within the first
half, scoring two well-deserved goals and controlling the play.
The second half brought a tougher battle, as Charterhouse used
their big man upfront, effectively coming back into the game and
finishing the game 2-2.
Eton posed a bigger problem for the second team as we faced a
much more regimented outfit than was expected, but a stunning
goal from Diego Cosse broke the deadlock. At this point Ardingly
seemed to have a lapse of concentration during which our
opponents capitalized, finishing the game with a poor result of 3-1
to Eton. The defeat spurred on a new lease of life into the Second
team for the final two matches, against Lancing and Bradfield.
We began poorly, with Lancing taking the lead within a couple
of minutes despite early pressure from Ardingly. Thankfully the
pressure told quickly afterwards, as we pulled a goal back very
quickly. This dominance continued for us as we raced into a 6-1
lead with around twenty minutes still to play. Lancing made a late
resurgence to 6-4 with five minutes to go, but the Ardingly team
was too strong and were easily able to close the game out.
with the Most Improved Player. For many of the Upper Sixth it
has been three years in the Second Eleven under the coaching and
guidance of Mr Robinson. He is a coach who has inspired a great
deal of confidence in the whole team and has been a huge amount
of fun to play for. I would also like to thank Mr Nichols in his
debut season as Second Team coach. His analysis has given a new
insight to our performances, which has helped us all to improve
our overall play this year. Well played, boys.
Jamie Braysher
Third XI
Played 10: Won 7, Drawn 1, Lost 1
It has been quite a journey for a number of the boys in the Third
XI who played their third and final season for the XI, including the
likes of Harry Ames, George Lambie, Carlos Sandin, Will Evans,
Tim Price, and Jack Howes (until he was duly promoted to the
Second XI).
First came the installation of the captain: Tim Price was the man
chosen to lead the XI, and the man with a throw in to rival Rory
Delap did a sterling job of leading forward this team of giants.
The record put the thirds up there with the best in the College for
Saturday results and it is something they can be immensely proud
of. Some highlights included wins at Winchester, Charterhouse,
a demolition of Lancing and a well-earned draw away at Eton.
The XI were unfortunate to come unstuck against Hampton and
Bradfield who were very strong.
The style of the Thirds has evolved a great deal over the past few
years, moving away from the Bolton Wanderers long ball play
of the Allarydyce era, more towards what I would like to say is
the majestic tika-taka style of play most often seen under Pep
Guardiola; perhaps that would be giving ourselves too much
Our final game of the season, as always, was against Bradfield. In
previous seasons they have always put out sides of high calibre,
and this year was no different. For all of the boys in the Upper
Sixth this was the final game of their Ardingly footballing careers,
so the atmosphere before the game was electric. Ardingly started
the match well but neither side was able to break the deadlock as
Bradfield’s midfield players began to show their class. As Bradfield
piled on the pressure, our defence was eventually breached with a
skilful goal which was very well worked. Minutes later, however,
as the Bradfield pressure continued, we broke swiftly down the
left and worked the ball inside before scoring a great team goal.
The team was buoyed by this, and the flow of the game shifted
massively with Ardingly on the attack, throwing everything we
had at Bradfield, finishing the first half 2-1. After the break the
Ardingly boys came out and expressed themselves in the final forty
minutes of football at Ardingly for many of the Sixth Formers.
This showed as the team produced a determined and classy
performance to finish the game 4-1.
This was the perfect end to an exceptional season. The quality
of Football throughout the season was incredibly high, shown by
many of the results and amplified through the players who won
prizes at the end of the year, Dominic Adomakoh winning Best
Player, Oliver Deme with the Clubman trophy, and Jack Howes
ARDINGLY annals 2015
109
credit but I was genuinely pleased with the style of football
played. The boys played the ball on the floor and worked hard to
outmanoeuvre and outmuscle the opposition.
We lose a considerable number of boys this season from the Upper
Sixth. Abimbola Ashiru leaves the squad after two years, during which
time he has proven to be a very valuable weapon. His sheer pace
frightened opposition across the South East Third XI circuit and he
was rightly rewarded for his endeavours with some great goals. His
infectious personality was a feature of the games and training sessions
and as such he was presented the ‘Clubman of the Year’ award.
Harry Ames has been a great utility player over the last three
years, appearing at right back, centre mid, left wing and up front;
he has always given his all and, despite his small stature, has never
backed down from a confrontation. Harry regularly combined
with Carlos Sandin to great effect, and Carlos’s position of top
goal scorer was in no small part due to the role Harry played in
assisting him. Carlos is without doubt one of the most unorthodox
yet effective footballers I have ever seen. His ability to win 50/50
balls is unparalleled, and he was vital to the XI, scoring nine goals
over the course of the season, particularly impressive given that he
missed two games due to other School commitments. Carlos was
duly presented the ‘Player of the Season’ Award.
George Lambie is, without doubt, the most technically gifted player
in the side, one who has the ability to split any defence with his skill
and movement. George (who also achieved the status of qualified life
guard during the season) was central to the best passages of play that
the side produced, and will of course be missed next year.
Jed Ayloff (another equally qualified life saver) was a tower of
power at the heart of the defence and quite rightly was awarded
the prize of ‘Most Improved Player’. Jed assumed the captaincy
against Eton and led the XI with great maturity; he can be very
proud of a great season of which he was a hugely important part.
Will Evans showed a great ability at centre back alongside Jed, as
well as a great willingness to get forward, though unfortunately
less willingness to get back to the heart of the defence. Will made
a number of vital interventions over the course of the season, and
his goalkeeper can be thankful for the cover provided.
In goal the enigmatic Alexi Demetriadi was ever present for the
XI. Alexi produced some incredible diving saves against Eton
which were a true highlight of his season. Alexi’s presence in the
side was vitally important to team morale; he was always the first
to ‘gee-up’ the rest of the boys after conceding a goal, and certainly
showed himself to be a ‘glass half full’ sort of chap.
Great contributions came from Alex Hodgins, whose terrier-like
performances in central midfield were sorely missed when he was
injured in the second half of term. Tobias Ayre found a home for
himself at right back; he was incredibly dependable in the position
and he made it his own. Jack ‘Fellaini’ Mangan moved into the
XI later in the season, and demonstrated a great ability to link up
with his team mates from the ‘number 10’ position. His throughball off his chest against Lancing was a true highlight. Benny Ernst
made a few brief cameo appearances, the highlight certainly being
his goal against Eton which was a great long range swerving strike
that was unsaveable to the goalkeeper. Dennis Cvijanovic found
his way into the side later in the season and performed very well in
both central midfield and centre back, with his height proving very
important in the aerial battles. The XI was also blessed with some
continental flair, as two Spanish boys arrived at Ardingly for the
Sixth Form; Alessandro Romera and Alfredo Ortiz were hugely
110
important parts of the squad. Alessandro contributed with key
goals, in particular the winning goal against Winchester. Alfredo
proved to be an outstanding marksman, hitting the target with
most efforts on goal. He memorably scored with his first touch of
the season having been brought on as a substitute. He then went
on to score two more goals in that half, and followed the season
with some more key goals.
This was a great season and one that will live long in the memory
of these boys. There was a great team spirit and camaraderie that
was quite unique to this team, and they can all be very proud of
their efforts. Well done, boys.
Sam Shelley
Fourth XI
The Fourth XI were what Football should be all about: a group of
friends playing Football, and enjoying themselves in the process.
In our team, there was no prima donna; no-one ever had a go at
another player for making a mistake; there was never any dissent;
players habitually volunteered to be substituted so that others could
have match-time, and everyone always tried as hard as they could.
In a word, the Fourth were what Football should be all about: they
weren’t just a team – they were a great team. They were polite (so
much so that referees and other teams commented on it), they were
determined, and they played excellent Football all season.
There were excellent wins against Lancing (5–0), Alleyn’s (1–0)
and Sutton Grammar (3–1), a draw against Winchester (3–3), and
two losses against much stronger teams from Eton and Hampton
Boys. But without doubt, the match of the season was our last
match, played on 4th December 2014 against Bradfield Thirds.
This was the Fourth’s finest hour, and the date deserves to go
down in Ardingly lore for ever and ever.
Bradfield are a tough opponent at the best of times, but on that
day we were facing not the Bradfield Fourth XI, but their Thirds.
Realistically, we were looking at a double figure defeat. But that’s
when it happened. Suddenly the Fourths transformed, before my
eyes, into giants, each at least 10 feet tall. Hashmath Khan had the
sort of half-crazed look on his face you normally only see on Manuel
Neuer, and his hands grew to the size of chariot wheels! Harry
Rollings, Barney Anderson, Ed Wilson, Sam Cutler, and Rickey
Alikhani, in defence, were like a phalanx of Greek hoplites, complete
with shields and spears. Eddie Entwhisle, possessed by the spirit
of the great Bruce Lee, kept flying through the air, tackling the ball
from ten yards out in some crazy bushido move. Neil Jones, Ben
Kay, David Ugbodaga, and Ben Hooper were calling the troops to
the walls. And up front, Hugo Tuckett, Ties Lind, and Tim Finnerty,
whilst also busy defending, were looking out for the odd chance for
a foray. Bradfield had 95% of the ball and all the play. We created
only one chance. In the end, however, the score was Bradfield 0–2
ARDINGLY annals 2015
Ardingly. Neil Jones scored from the half-way line – and Ties Lind
converted our only shot on goal, a few minutes before the final
whistle. It was a day to be proud of, a day on which everything went
right, and one that should never be forgotten.
Special mention should be made of our team captain, Alex Davies,
who sustained two severe injuries and was off games for over six
weeks. However, very much in the spirit of the Fourths, he was
present at every single training session, co-ordinating exercises (in
which he was not allowed to participate), and supervising team
tactics. What an outstanding example of good leadership!
Markus Klinge
Fifth XI and Sixth XI
This year, Ardingly was able to field both a Fifth and a Sixth team
on a regular basis, as we had quite a bit of depth, with almost a full
seventh team at practice every week.
As a result of this, the Fifth XI played five games, some away
and some at home. The season started well with Jack Waller
scoring three goals against the Harrodian School, and we won
this game 5–2. Regrettably, the team were unable to match this
class in any of the other games and did not peg up a win for
the rest of the season. It is difficult to name stars here, as some
players were annexed for the Fourth team, and even for the Thirds,
and then returned, so teams were not the same for every game.
Nevertheless, the team showed good spirit in every match, and
thank-you to Josh (Gap Student 2014) for his sterling help in
coaching them every Tuesday and Thursday. Johannes Jebsen
served as the captain for the season.
The Sixth XI played two games during the season, and lost
both. One of the games was against Eton, where the team were
being slaughtered in the first half but were able to close the gap
significantly and absolutely outplayed Eton in the second half. A
comment heard on the sideline was ‘What did the coach say to
them at half time?’ The truth was that the coach said nothing – it
was the players themselves who showed excellent teamwork and
tenacity, and who made the difference. Again, it is difficult to
highlight any stars because the team changed from game to game.
Jon Shoesmith and Tom Bell were good examples to the younger
players in the team. Thank you to the Seventh team for providing
the opportunity to practise in the training sessions.
Patrick Minny
Under 15A XI
Played 12: Won 9, Drawn 1, Lost 2
The season started well, with a comprehensive win over Harrodian
10-1, with Calvin Kissi scoring five goals.
We continued to play well with fine victories over Tunbridge Wells
Grammar School and Alleyn’s, both away fixtures, seeing five more
goals for Calvin Kissi and James Haddon with three. The first defeat
of the season was at Hampton (1-2). After not playing our best in
the first half, we came back strongly in the second, but just could
not manage to level the score, despite chances.
Back to winning ways against Sutton and Winchester, with Josh
Magrath outstanding in defence. The first Cup match against
Bede’s was a close game, with goals from Ollie Downes and Calvin
Kissi, and possibly the goal of the season scored by Christian Tiley,
winning 3-1.
Our best performances of the season came in the next two matches,
first a Cup match against Brentwood who in the first half totally
dominated and out-played us leading 4-0 at half time; in the second
half, we were outstanding in skill and effort, scoring three goals,
though we could not manage to get the fourth which we deserved.
Two days later saw a trip to Charterhouse with injuries and
tired bodies.
Such a great effort by each player led to a win; 5-1 was fantastic,
with Calvin Kissi scoring four again.
The final match was a pretty feisty affair at Bradfield, where we lost 1-2.
U16 XI
This was the first year in recent history that Ardingly have had an
U16 team, a decision made in order to maximise the development
of a vastly talented year group who had been ISFA U15 National
Champions a year earlier. On the whole it was an extremely
successful season, with players who had previously had limited
opportunities in an extremely talented side putting down markers
for selection in the First and Second Elevens next year.
Despite an early exit from the County Cup, it was nonetheless a
winning season. Highlights of the season were an impressive 5-0
victory over Alleyn’s on the Upper, in which the side played a style
of football worthy of its place on the First XI pitch, and a clinical
4-1 away victory at Charterhouse. The team was maturely captained
throughout the season by Charlie Kelly. Top scorer was Oscar
Davison, most improved player was Tom Jackson, Clubman of the
Year was Charlie Baldock, and Player of the Year was Charlie Harvey.
Simon Dungate
ARDINGLY annals 2015
It was a great season playing good, attacking Football with a real
desire to win, with Captain Ollie Thompson leading from the front
and having a great season.
Keith Wright
U15B
The U15B Footballers were an amazing bunch of lads: full of energy
and devoted wholly to the pursuit of perfect Football. When he
wasn’t playing for the U15As, Borja Martinavarro proved to be an
inspiring leader: commanding midfield like no other, he was creator
of so much of our attack. Whilst Borja commanded the midfield,
Chris Palmer stood as the final line of defence; his booming voice
and feats of athleticism kept us in every match with amazing saves,
sometimes double and sometimes triple. The defenders included
Cameron Elder, Raph Adomakoh, Harry Samra, and Tom Mellish.
Their commitment to the cause was clearly in evidence in every
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it was nice to get a win behind us to help build the confidence of
the boys.
match, from Harry Samra’s bullish presence, the deft touches of
Raph Adomakoh, the persistent running of Cameron Elder, and to
the physicality and vision of Tom Mellish, which proved the equal of
most attacks. In the midfield alongside our esteemed skipper, Borja,
we were blessed with the skill and tenacity of players such as Slav
Dimitrov whose tireless displays down the wing earned great respect
from opposition players. Patrick Neil swapped from the left wing
to up front with ease, and was always on hand to receive the lovely
through balls from Ollie Downes, who always seemed to have an
eternity of time to make his play. Ollie Neil was a revelation down the
right flank with his sniping runs, linking up with Alex Whitlam, whose
transformation from defender to striker was one of the highlights of
the season. The bustle, the Jack Russell, was Joe Donegan who gave
opposition defences no time to move the ball up field, and who was
responsible for many a turnover in possession. Finally, but by no
means least, there was Jack Parkhouse. Jack’s ability to spot a player
making a run was second to none, and he always made an impact in
the latter moments of matches when opposition legs began to tire.
Overall, the U15B Football season was very successful, with
comprehensive wins against Alleyn’s and Winchester, draws against
Sutton Grammar and Lancing, and narrow losses to Hampton and
Harrodian. A special mention must go to the following for their
performances throughout the season and the awards they received
at the end:
Player of the Year – Tom Mellish and Chris Palmer
Most Improved Player – Oliver Neill
Clubman of the Year – Borja Martinavarro
Congratulations to all on a fine season.
Matt Curran
U14 A XI
The season started earlier than normal for the Under 14As this year,
as they were invited to pre-season, which ran for two weeks before
term started, to prepare themselves physically and mentally for the
season ahead. After pre-season, it was clear to see what a talented
group of players these boys were, with very positive targets for the
forthcoming season.
There is one game, against Eton, that sticks in my mind, showing
how far this group of young men has come during the season. The
week before we played a big physical Charterhouse team, losing 9-0
to a team whom Eton had previously beaten 5-2. This was to be no
easy game! However the boys worked hard in training, and were
eager to put the result from last week behind them and to show
they could compete with the best. Eton came into the game having
won every single one of their previous matches, convincingly too.
Ardingly started off the game well, moving the ball at our usual
high tempo and creating early chances, pinning Eton inside their
own half. With twenty minutes gone, Ardingly were 2-0 up, and
still controlling the game comfortably. Just before half time, a few
mistakes from the boys not communicating with each other allowed
Eton to pull back two goals and come in level at the break. The
second half continued with Ardingly controlling the possession,
creating chance after chance, but they could not find that extra
bit of quality to finish it off, with Eton looking very dangerous on
the attack. The game finished 3-2 to Eton; however, the way the
Ardingly boys reacted from the week before, to control the game
from start to finish against a team that had brushed aside all other
schools with ease, shows what a great future this group of football
players can have at Ardingly College.
Captain for the season was Ethan Pizano, who has been a model
student with his school work, and with his Football. A true class act.
Most improved player - Robin Gonella
Player of the season - Richard Burns
Clubman of the year - Ethan Pizano
Michael Gardner
U14B XI
Played 9: Won 1, Lost 8
The U14B Football team struggled through a challenging season.
Competing against bigger schools, the opposition were often that
little bit quicker or more physical in the challenge, even though
Ardingly were often technically the better team. One hopes that,
in the future, this skill level will eventually lead to success, as the
boys will ultimately be able to match their opposition physically.
The team also suffered from a lack of confidence, and two narrow
defeats at the start of the season to Tunbridge Wells and Alleyn’s
did not help. Ardingly could easily have won both of these games
and this might have enabled them to cope better when put under
pressure later in the season.
The season itself didn’t start as well as we had previously hoped,
results-wise, with three losses on the bounce against Tunbridge Wells
Grammar, Hampton, and Alleyn’s. Although the results had not
started well, the performances on the other hand told another story.
In all three games, Ardingly controlled the possession and played
attractive, positive and high tempo Football throughout.
Heavy defeats by Hampton, Sutton Grammar and Winchester
followed before Long Leave. The Winchester defeat was particularly
frustrating, as the Ardingly players rolled over against a team
that had little to offer in terms of footballing ability. After the
break, some re-organisation of the U14 squads saw the B-team
strengthened by a rotation of players from the A-team. This made
a difference to the performance and, although defeats against
Charterhouse, Eton and Bradfield followed, the games were more
competitive. A highlight in a tough season was the 8-1 win over
Lancing, and it was shame that the game against Bede’s the week
after was cancelled, as the Ardingly team would have approached
that game with more confidence.
Our first win of the season came away from home against Sutton
Grammar, and although the development of the players is our aim,
Despite the heavy defeats, the defensive players often earned a lot
of respect from spectators and the opposition for the commitment
112
ARDINGLY annals 2015
they showed. James Scott proved to be an excellent shot-stopper.
However, much praise should also go to Georgi Delchev who
regularly and uncomplainingly filled in at the goalkeeper position
when James was either sailing or injured. For this level of support,
he was awarded the Clubman of the Year award. Phil McPherson
and Owen Mordecai proved to be quick, skilful, and committed full
backs, whilst Joe Cargan and George Newson, individually, both had
impressive games at the heart of defence. Conrad Jouning’s pace
was a real threat down the right flank, but sadly he missed several
games through injury. Dominic Morgan proved to be a battling
left-sided midfielder, and his commitment did not waver through the
season. Sam Bridgwater, Edmund Legrave and Max Murphy rotated
in the centre of midfield, and will go on to be successful as their
understanding of this position improves. Oliver Tennant and Fred
Stolkin, both coming down from the A-squad on rotation, added a
physicality and an edge that helped in this area of the pitch. Up front,
Evan Penlington proved to be our best threat in the Centre Forward
position, although he would have preferred to be playing in defence…
Undoubtedly, the Player of the Season was Bruno Clarke, playing
just behind the main striker. In all matches, even during the heavy
defeats, his technical ability on the ball stood out, and he proved to
be a pivotal figure in either scoring or assisting many of the team’s
goals during the season. My thanks to all the parents who came
along to tirelessly support the boys, both home and away.
Dylan Bennetts
U14C XI
Played 9: Won 1, Lost 8
This was a tough season for a young and inexperienced side but I
would commend their determination and effort through the term.
The fixture list opened with a narrow loss at home to Alleyn’s,
with Georgi Delchev in fiery, combative form and Taiga Clarke
in slide-tackle mode from the off, sadly giving away two penalties
in the process. In the second game, despite – or possibly because
of – the solo runs of Henry Aronson and captain Luke Leman,
Hampton put a dozen past the home side, with the visitors clinical
ARDINGLY annals 2015
in their shots-to-goal ratio. The side set off for Sutton Grammar in
mid-October with heavy heart, but actually gave their most mature
performance of the season in a narrow 2-3 loss. Billy Taylor-Swan
marshalled the midfield with vocal confidence, and Ben Belcher
worked tirelessly down the right wing, linking well with Harry
Tompsett, Tom Burke and Russian import Anton Alkevich. Sadly,
Winchester also proved too strong in the next fixture, thus leaving
the team winless at the halfway stage.
Two games immediately after Long Leave were lost to the weather
before the visit of Eton in mid-November. This was a close match,
with Ardingly’s makeshift back line of William Faulkner and
Huzaifah Khan defending well before the away side began to impose
its superiority, scoring three quick goals in succession near the end.
The only victory of the season occurred in late November against
Woodard rivals, Lancing College, with Neil Badger scoring a
brace of goals, including a forty yard lob, and Michael Joyner
controlling the midfield with determined vigour. A final game in
early December against Bradfield ended in a narrow loss, but was
principally memorable for a series of fantastic saves by new keeper
Alex Kelly, and a great effort in defence from Ayman Malik.
Awards at the annual Football Evening in December were presented
to Billy Taylor-Swan, as ‘Clubman of the Year’ for his passion and
drive on the pitch, to Alex Kelly for Most Improved Player, and
finally to Taiga Clarke, whose tireless defending deservedly won him
a call-up to the U14Bs in the latter stages of the season.
Simon Woodhall
GIRLS’ HOCKEY
First XI
Played 11: Won 8, Lost 3.
Christ’s Hospital Pre-Season Tournament Winners.
Sussex Under 18 Indoor Runners Up.
This was the most successful First XI season in my four years at
Ardingly, indeed the most successful season so far this century. To
win over 70% of games with the fixture list we now have is excellent,
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and many of these wins came against schools we have traditionally
struggled to beat (e.g. City of London Freemen’s 7-1, Hurst 3-2 and
St John’s, Leatherhead, 2-1). What is exciting, is the strength in depth
that we now have, which bodes so well for the future. Five Under
16s were regulars in the First XI, four Under 15s (Lauren Workman,
Issie Childs, Rosie Boggis, and Alexandra Malzer) made their debuts
during the season, and many of our Second XI can count themselves
unlucky to not have played more games, such is the healthy
competition for places to get into our flagship team for girls’ sport.
Two of the three defeats came against Cranleigh (1-3) and
Eastbourne (3-5) who ended 2014 ranked as the top two schools
in the South in the National Cup. The tight nature of both defeats
shows how close we are to beating the very best in the South.
Overall, the team scored 36 goals, conceding only 16, and five of the
squad represented the Under 16 tournament team who reached the
National Finals (see separate report). We also won some silverware,
beating Brighton College in the final to win the Christ’s Hospital
pre-season tournament. However, the disappointments were not
reaching the semi-finals of the Sussex Cup (although we were
hampered by the five Under 16 girls being cup tied), and the 3-2
defeat by Seaford in early September in a game we definitely did not
deserve to lose but maybe needed to lose in order for the team to
learn some valuable lessons.
The 2014 team were blessed with searing pace especially in attacking
positions which made them brilliant to watch and a nightmare to
defend against. Ciara Branagan’s one-handed left-handed dribbling
down the left wing and Rebecca Chee and Charlotte Childs’s
intricate link up play and silky skills down the right wing were
beautifully complemented by centre forward, Phoebe Workman,
who often put her body on the line to finish the chances the others
created. The only criticism (other than Rebecca sporadically running
off the pitch to grab her inhaler!) was that the girls must learn to
be more unselfish and more ruthless in front of goal. This may
seem harsh, as 25 of the team’s 36 goals were scored by Rebecca,
Phoebe, and Ciara, but is fair, as they have so much potential. In one
incredible 15 minute spell in the second half against City of London
Freemen’s it all clicked, and Ardingly scored five unanswered goals in
a performance described by Mr Jackman as the best he had ever seen
by an Ardingly team. Personally, however, I thought the way they
ran the Hurst defence ragged in our 3-2 win was even better. Ciara
and Charlotte went on to be selected for England Hockey’s Under
17 High Performance training camps, while Charlotte made her
England Under 16 debut in the summer of 2014, making her the first
Junior Girls Hockey international from Ardingly since the 1990s.
Charlotte was named the First XI’s Most Valuable Player.
Getting the ball to our electric forwards was a job best carried out
by the team’s Most Improved Player, Immy Waters, who went from
being a church mouse on the pitch, whispering for the ball, to a
lion cub, now demanding the ball and driving the team forward
from midfield. Her bullet of a short corner strike against Lancing
showed glimpses of the lioness she should become in the future!
Able deputies in the forward line were Tiah‘niqua’ Mason Windett
and Jess Van Droogenbroeck, who, despite preferring to sit on the
bench and watch the youngsters play, chipped in with a number of
goals between them, and their own athleticism and improved skills
enabled the team to continue to play the high paced attacking game
that we needed to.
Cara Rocks was the lynchpin of the team at centre midfield. Cara
was also the Captain and the chief motivator, inspiring the girls in
pre-match team huddles using her favourite phrases of ‘err…like’
and ‘really good’ before a resounding shout of ‘Ardingly’ as the girls
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rushed to their starting positions! On the pitch she made tackles,
scored short corners, organised players around her and pushed or
hit the ball very hard. Cara was awarded ‘Clubman of the Year’ for
her services to Ardingly Hockey over all these years and was much
respected by all her team-mates. Vice Captain of the team was Alexa
Morgan who, despite never getting me a Chelsea ticket or a discount
at the local curry house in the three years I have known her, has
been ever present as First XI goalkeeper, and, once again, made
numerous trademark sliding saves to thwart opposition attackers.
After two years of non-stop action it was nice for Alexa to have
slightly less to do this year. Both girls will be sorely missed and I
thank them for leading the team so well.
In defence, the pace was provided by Hannah Kohli and Aubrie
Willifer, at centre back and right back respectively. Hannah’s
tenacious and disciplined performance against Hurst’s star player
was a crucial factor in our victory. Her confidence on the ball and
range of passing is still a work in progress but she is a vital player
for the team and had another excellent season. Aubrie played like
a football wing back, using her speed and fitness to join in with as
many attacks as she could, and she made the right back position
her own. Zoe Andrews and Sophie Coles made up the rest of the
back four, and what they lacked for in pace they made up for in
bravery and anticipation. Thankfully for the rest of the team who
liked to attack, they both enjoy defending, and were very good at
it. Filling in for the defenders was Lisa Brautigam, our awesome
German musical, dramatic, academic and sporty 14 year old! Lisa’s
enthusiasm was infectious, and her skills were silky. More work on
her passing and speed and she will become a regular for the First XI
next season, I am sure.
Ardingly First XI Hockey has made huge strides in recent years,
but with that comes greater responsibility and greater demands on
the girls’ time. This year we entered the prestigious St George’s 6s
tournament for the first time (reaching the Plate quarter finals),
were runners up in the Sussex Under 18 Indoor tournament and
reached the semi-finals of the Sutton Valence Under 18 Indoor
tournament. A few of our elite players have personalised Hockey
programmes working with Mr Wren, our Strength and Conditioning
Coach, and 1-1 coaching sessions with Mr Vehrle-Smith, our
Brazilian international Hockey professional. Others attended the
weekly speed and agility session. I thank the girls for their hard
work, effort and improved banter over the course of the season
and, in particular, wish the departing Upper Sixth all the best at
university and beyond.
Finally, I would like to say a big thank you to Mr Lane (First XI
Assistant Coach), Mr Jackman (umpire and number one fan) and
Miss Hughes (Head of Girls’ Games) for all their support to me and
the girls this season. It is much appreciated.
First XI squad 2014: Cara Rocks* (c), Alexa Morgan* (GK),
Zoe Andrews*, Tiah Mason-Windett*, Aubrie Willifer*, Jess Van
Droogenbroeck*, Hannah Kohli, Charlotte Childs, Sophie Coles,
Immy Waters, Rebecca Chee, Ciara Branagan, Phoebe Workman,
Lisa Brautigam (*Denotes Upper VI leavers)
James Stedman
Second XI
Played 12: Won 6, Drawn 4, Lost 2
Goals for 38, against 13
The second XI of 2014 were very successful, winning six games,
drawing four and only losing two. We were unbeaten at home all
ARDINGLY annals 2015
her great jab tackle, and always giving 100% meant that they often
thwarted many opposing attacks. Sophie Meagher played at left
back and really came alive during school matches, being a tough
tackler and more composed on the ball as the season went on. If
there was a longevity or Second XI lifetime achievement award, it
would definitely go to Sophie who has served the Second XI for a
full three years! Orla Badger was most versatile and played in pretty
much every position on the pitch, bar goalkeeper. However, she never
complained, and was always very competent wherever she found
herself playing. She was reliable, always showing good basics, as well
as displaying strengths when going forward or when defending, and
will surely command a regular starting spot next year. Laetitia Elher
came back from injury at half-term and immediately showed what
we had been missing. Both in midfield and defence she showed her
class, being an aggressive defender and a good passer of the ball.
season, and indeed in all matches after Long Leave. We were a
free-flowing, attacking team who played good hockey and scored an
amazing 38 goals in just 12 matches, including 20 in four matches
after half-term. Highlights were plentiful throughout the season and
we put five goals past Bede’s, seven past Seaford and Lingfield and
finished our last game of the season by beating Lancing 9–0. Not
only could the side score goals, we were also hard to score against,
and we only conceded 13 goals in 12 games, a very impressive
statistic. The highlight of the season for the girls, apart from the
cake at the last training session of the season, was probably the 2-2
draw with Cranleigh’s Under 16A team, where not only was the
game of a particularly high standard for a second team game, but we
equipped ourselves very well against a talented U16A team of one
of the strongest schools in the country. Here, we were able to defend
well, work hard, and provide the opposition with more things to
worry about than we had about them, and the draw was highlighted
by the Cranleigh coach who said it was their best result of the
season; a true accolade to our girls. Apart from the comprehensive
victories mentioned above, other highlights were a hard-fought
victory away at City of London Freemen’s and a creditable draw
against an athletic Cranbook side, two games that were a mark of a
good side, gaining good results when not always at our best. We also
showed great resilience, coming back from 2–0 down in the final 25
minutes to secure a draw against Hurst, which was the very least we
deserved from that game.
Of the two games we lost, one was the very first game of the
season, where we conceded in the last minute, and the second was
just before Long Leave, away at St John’s Leatherhead, where we
definitely had a ‘bad day at the office’.
The team had a nice mix of youth and experience with a good core
of Upper Sixth who were the heartbeat of the team, as well as a
number of younger players who blended into the team extremely
well and provided good energy, skill, and basics.
Going through the players, and starting in defence, we had a wealth
of second team (and higher) experience. At right-back, Michaela
Green always trained and played with a smile on her face, regularly
singing through warmups and training, always getting stuck in in
matches, hitting the ball hard out of the back regularly, and always
giving her all. She has been a fine servant to Ardingly Second XI
Hockey over the last few years.
In the middle at the back, Rebecca Thorne was highly dependable.
Solid in the tackle, with a ‘none shall pass’ attitude, and very
comfortable on the ball, she played to an extremely high standard
regularly in all our matches. Sammi Jackman in goal, Rebecca and
fellow centre back Ellie Haines were the main reasons we conceded
so few goals. Ellie’s fine reading of the game, her combative nature,
ARDINGLY annals 2015
Moving into midfield, and after starting the season in the First
team, Alice Harvey was our linchpin at centre midfield. She scored
a crucial short corner strike against Cranbrook, and two more
against Seaford, and her running, tackling, and distribution meant
that she was always a dominant force in games, and many of our
attacks started from Alice at centre midfeld. At right midfield,
Trini Demetriadi was one of our Most Improved Players. Her skills
developed as the season went on, she was able to link up well with
Amber Kemp and she became more and more influential in games,
creating much down the right-hand side. She also scored a vital
goal in the close draw against Hurst. At left midfield, Emily O’Shea
grew stronger and stronger as the season went on. She was a very
skilled defender and, when she was moved into midfield, became a
talented performer there also. She was player of the match in two
key games against City of London Freemen’s, and Cranleigh, where
she displayed outstanding skills. She was on the verge of breaking
into the first team, and will surely do so next year. Caitlin BatemanChampain was another Upper Sixth Former who was a stalwart of
our team. She always gave of her best, whether it was in midfield or
up front. Caitlin’s basics were always very sound and she worked
hard for the team, both in attack or defence. Her positive nature and
cheerful demeanour were at the centre of our team’s atmosphere.
Our forwards caused trouble for the opposition all season, evident in
the number of goals we scored. At left-wing we had Lucy Gonnella,
who ran her socks off in every game; improving greatly as the season
went on, she scored an impressive nine goals during the season,
mostly far post finishes, and her strong running down the left wing
was definitely a feature of our attacking play. At centre-forward Jess
van Droogenbroeck was a class act who became a real influential
player for the Second, linking up play with the midfield, creating
chances for herself and others. She scored an incredible 16 goals
in just seven games. She had an almost telepathic understanding
with Amber Kemp, and the two of them always caused havoc to the
opposition! Amber also had a great season, her level of performance
was consistently high, and she often stood out in many of the school
matches. Her strong running, silky skills and powerful right wing
cross were often too much for some defenders, and she combined
creativity with strong finishing, scoring eight goals in the season
including a crucial one in the last five minutes versus Hurst. Captain
Sammi Jackman was a real star of the team, and I thank her warmly
for the way she captained the team so brilliantly this season. Always
an example to others, always positive, she was a true leader both on
and off the pitch. Her goalkeeping was also of the highest standard,
and again many opposition staff commented to me how good
Sammi was in matches. I am sure she would have walked into many
other schools’ First XIs. She kept us in many a game with vital saves,
commanded her area really well, and always put off the opposition
with ‘How long to go please… Dad’!
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The Most Improved Player of the year was Emily O’Shea and the
Most Valuable Player nomination was shared between Amber Kemp
and the captain, Sammi Jackman. Finally thanks go to Mr Stedman,
Mr Gleghorne, and Mr Verhl-Smith who helped with the coaching,
to Mr Jackman for umpiring, to the many parents who came and
supported us so well, and finally to all the players: many thanks for
all your efforts.
Squad members:
Sammi Jackman, Michaela Green, Rebecca Thorne, Eleanor
Haines, Emily O’Shea, Sophie Meagher, Orla Badger, Laetitia
Ehler, Trini Demetriardi, Alice Harvey, Caitlin Bateman-Champain,
Amber Kemp, Lucy Gonnella, Jess van Droogenbroeck,
Andrew Middleton
Third XI
We started the season with a completely new third team, but it
didn’t take long for us to gel and work well together. We got off to a
great start, with narrow losses against strong teams like Eastbourne
and Christ’s Hospital, but secured a well-deserved draw against
Churcher’s College in the second week. When we found our footing,
we secured solid wins against St John’s, Mayfield, and Roedean.
The girls worked tirelessly to improve throughout the season, and
our results show this extremely well. Ella O’Hare was voted by the
team as our Most Improved Player, as she could seemingly play any
position given to her on the pitch – she probably would have made
a great goalkeeper too! Her speed and skill were something to be
proud of and she helped push the team to victory on more than one
occasion, with the help of Beth Shoesmith on the left, and Katie
Meagher and Emily Spiers upfront. Their play led to the setup of
outstanding goals by Ashley Johnston, Lucy Shore, and Sarah Elder,
plus some from themselves. Although there were several losses, we
won morally (according to Mr Batchelder and Miss Gall), and held
our heads up, and focussed on improving for the next match.
With as many close games as we had, every move was vital, which
was where the cohesiveness of the defence came in. Rachel Beaven,
Grace Wood, Megan Fudge, and Imogen Pierpoint proved to be a
strong force in defence, blocking almost every attempt on goal. This
carried on with our defending short corners, and we were able to
keep a clean slate of never letting a goal in through short corners.
When a break was made, however, it was left up to the goalkeeper,
myself, to make the crucial save to keep the game at a level footing.
Fran Sprules and Tasha Walker were vital up the wings to help drive
the ball out of our defending half and up towards our forwards, and
not many of our goals would have happened without these two.
After every match, we had a tradition of doughnuts and cake, which
were supplied to keep spirits high throughout the season. It made
the team stronger as it allowed everyone to bond over something
small, but brought everyone together.
and off the pitch. Prizes at the end of term were awarded to Emma
Sutherland for the Most Improved Player and Quiana Higgins for
the Most Valuable Player for the consistently high standard of
Hockey she played during the season.
Despite not winning a match this season, the girls have been
excellent fun. They have worked hard during training and have
always given their all on match days. It has been a testament to
their attitudes that, when they have been losing in games, they have
played some of their best Hockey; in fact the only goal of the season
came when we were heavily behind to Cranbrook.
Overall the girls should not be disappointed, as the score line has
very often not reflected how hard they have tried and the great
standard of Hockey they have played at times. One of the main
issues the team has had is a lack of patience on the ball, and we have
worked hard on how we create space as a team and making the right
decisions when we have the ball. It has been a pleasure to coach
them, they have been great fun, and I look forward to watching them
play in the senior teams next year.
A big thank-you to all the others who appeared for the 4XI
throughout the season: Maddie Moore, Annie Lancaster,
Bethany Tyson, Talia McPherson, Emma Sutherland, Anna Elwin,
Chloe Hague, Millie Searl, Joyce van der Graaf, Harriet Lawrence,
Jessica Hatfield, Olivia Andrews, Laura Rodemer-Bernardo and
Eva Kanchelskis.
Paul Utting
Under 16 Girls Reach National Finals
This season our Under 16 girls achieved the incredible double of
becoming County and Regional Champions, meaning that they
qualified for the National Schools Finals, a tournament held at
Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in Olympic Park, London
on 24-25 February. At this tournament the girls played three
games: they won one, drew one, and lost one, so finishing in the
top six in the whole country.
Ardingly were handed a tough group which included tournament
favourites, Repton School. Resplendent in their new red kit to
mark the occasion and, playing on the Stadium pitch, Ardingly
began the tournament in emphatic fashion, defeating Joyce
Frankland Academy from Essex 2-0 with goals from Ellen Bailes
and a wonderful solo goal from Issie Childs. This was followed by
a hard fought 1-1 draw with a physical Clifton College side, with
Immy Waters’s short corner strike the least the girls deserved for a
dominant performance.
This set up a winner-takes-all final group match against Repton,
played on the Wednesday morning, with the winner qualifying for the
I am really proud of the team this year, as we faced stronger
opposition than we anticipated in a few of the matches, playing
Christ’s Hospital’s second team, as well as Hurst’s second team. This
goes to show how far the team had come throughout the season, by
making the other teams work hard for their attempts on goal.
Patsy Laidler
Fourth XI
Played 6: Lost 6
The Fourth XI were captained very ably by Anna Elwin, a regular of
the team for the last two years. She certainly led by example both on
116
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National final. Repton’s early dominance was rewarded with two short
corner goals in the first ten minutes, making this an uphill struggle,
but the girls responded with real character, pulling a goal back through
Issie Childs before half time. Buoyed by the arrival of 65 pupils and
staff who had driven up from Ardingly to be there, the girls pressed
and pressed for an equaliser, with many players raising their games to
new heights against a talented opponent but, despite having chances, it
was not to be, as a late Repton short corner decided the game.
In a harsh twist, the late Repton goal also pushed Ardingly down to
third place in the group below Clifton, courtesy of goals scored only,
with the points and goal difference of the two sides identical. This
meant that the girls and fans were denied a 3rd-4th playoff match
and had to settle for a top six place. Repton went on to win the final
comfortably against St George’s College, Weybridge, to be crowned
deserved National Champions.
The girls finished the tournament exhausted and frustrated, but
with their heads held high. The experience of competing in a
National Finals will be one that they will always remember. They did
themselves and the College proud. Well done to everyone involved
with this talented team. This experience will inspire these girls to
work even harder now, to ensure that they get this opportunity again.
Squad: Phoebe Workman (C), Freya Thursfield (GK), Alexandra
Malzer, Lauren Workman, Lisa Bräutigam, Emily O’Shea, Laetitia
Ehler, Sophie Lewis, Isabel Malzer, Rosie Boggis, Rebecca Chee,
Imogen Waters, Ciara Branagan, Alice Southwood, Isabelle Childs,
Ellen Bailes
U15A
Played: 10, Won 10
Goals: for 61, against 2
This has been an amazing season, and the team remain unbeaten for
the second year running.
This team’s success is built on team work, speed and a high level
of skill.
Playing as a squad is a key aspect to any successful team, as is the
ability to play in many positions effectively and seamlessly. This
has been a key focus for the girls and was set as one of their main
objectives at pre-season training. There were times when the right
forward could be seen playing left defence, and doing so with
consummate ease.
Preparation for the season was also a key factor in their success.
The girls worked hard over the summer developing both their fitness
and skills.
I would like to make some special mentions. Firstly about the people
who don’t always make the starting line-up but who were very much
a part of the squad: Alice Ertl, Enrica Pangrazi and Tabby Anderson
who would come on with energy and enthusiasm, and try to put into
action the things they had been told. I have really been impressed by
their mature attitude and willingness to learn.
The goal keeper, Freya Thursfield, who was behind a team who
spent most of the time in the opposition’s goal. She must have the
best stats of any goalkeeper in the country, only conceding two
goals in fixtures throughout the season. There were games when she
would not touch the ball at all, but her concentration and focus were
unquestionable, and she would always be ‘in the zone’ when she
needed to be to make some great saves.
Ardingly’s Hockey has come a long way in the last four years. When
I arrived, most of our teams would play other schools’ B teams, and
now Ardingly is taking on the best of both Sussex and Surrey. To beat
Eastbourne U15As 11–0 in the first game is testament to this, and
then to take on Cranleigh, Surrey’s finest, and to finish their run of
unbeaten games, beating them 4 – 0, was really the icing on the cake.
Eight of these girls played in the U16 squad that won the South of
England Finals. They really rose to the challenge and went on to
represent the South of England in the National finals.
I just want to mention one of the games played at this tournament.
The game was against St George’s Weybridge, a notoriously ruthless
two-terms Hockey school who frequently make the National playoffs; it was the last game of the tournament, and one they had
to win. This game was full of nerves and expectation. The senior
members of the squad certainly stood up to the challenge and in a
stunning team performance scored the first goal in the first minute
and a half of the game. The goals continued and I think that St
George’s had a shock when we beat them convincingly 3 – 0 to win
the tournament.
Every team member played her part throughout the tournament,
and suffice to say that, ‘that day was their day’. The girls were
amazing in every aspect of play, performance, and attitude. They
have been a joy to coach, and I was so proud of their performance at
Lee Valley Olympic Park in the Lent Term.
Ardingly Hockey has certainly made its mark on the circuit, and
I just wanted to mention and thank the coaching expertise of Mr
Stedman and Mr Lane who have enabled this revolution.
Most Improved Player: this could have gone to a number of players
in this squad. It could have gone to a new addition to the team,
Ellen Bailes, who has been a great signing with tremendous, dogged
determination; to Alice Southwood for her determination and
movement off the ball, or to Caroline Smith who worked tirelessly
in defence. Or indeed to Lilly Franks, for her sheer self-confidence
in attack, and her enthusiasm. But this award went to someone who
has grown in confidence, skill level and maturity. She is keen to gain
new understanding, and works really hard in training and during
the matches. Her spatial awareness and perception have really
impressed me this season: Connie Jobling.
Most Valuable Player: there are numerous individuals who could
have won this award, and certainly with the season the girls have
had, I would be most justified in giving it to the whole team. But
sadly that is not possible. This award could have gone to Rosie
Boggis, Issie Childs, or Issie Malzer, who have been stalwart
members of the squad and given their all during every match; to
ARDINGLY annals 2015
117
Sophie Lewis for her calm presence in difficult situations. But it
goes to two very talented individuals who are already super-skilful
and have amazing peripheral vision and speed. Both have gained Hi
Pac honours and have contributed enormously to the squad: Lauren
Workman and Alex Malzer.
It has been a truly great season and I hope that the girls will come
back next season ready to build on their success.
Team: T Anderson, E Bailes, R Boggis, I Childs, L Franks, S Lewis, A
Malzer, E Pangrazi, C Smith, A Southwood, F Thursfield, L Workman
Kate Newson
Under 15B
Played: 10, Won 3, Drawn 2, Lost 5
The Under 15Bs had a tricky season. That’s the trouble with B sides;
you never know what you are going to face. If there is depth in the
school the B team will be really strong and if you are playing a nonblock match against a school, the chances are that they will supply
you with the strongest team possible. This certainly happened when
we played Mayfield and Roedean.
On paper, the B team had the potential to do really well, but we
never quite managed to come away with the victories we had hoped
for; the majority of our games being either draws or a one goal loss.
We did, however, have three solid wins, beating Churchers 3-0 early
on in the season, Lingfield Notre Dame 9-2 in a combined A/B
game and St John’s 1-0. Against St John’s, the girls proved that they
do have a fighting spirit, and it was excellent to see the desire to
keep the lead once we had scored. The 3-3 draw against Hurst was
also a great performance in a well-fought game.
The team varied from one week to the next, due to the numbers
available within the year group. We were incredibly lucky to
supplement the team with some Under 15A squad players: Lizzy
Aronson, Emilie Robinson, Tamryn Rodda, and Alice Ertl. Some
of the U15 players were also required to represent the U14B team,
which we know was not ideal, but thanks must go to those girls who
played down a year. Miss Hughes and I appreciate the efforts made.
Unfortunately in the game against Christ’s Hospital, Tamryn fell
and broke her arm, although we didn’t know it was broken at the
time, and neither did she for another week! We only managed to
play about half an hour of the game, which could have been seen as
a good thing, as it was a pretty terrible game by both sides.
Ellie Pearson was my feisty captain and, despite hating being put
in defence, did a great job there. Ellie, Jess St John Dennis, Lizzy
Aronson, Rebecca Frost, Roselly Hamlett, and Tamryn Rodda were
the fighters of the team. They were the girls who would not give up on
the fight to score the goals and to win the ball. I was always worried
that Jess was going to ruin her beautiful teeth as she went in for a
jab tackle at every opportunity, but it showed her determined spirit.
It was a shame Roselly was ill so much, or busy competing with her
riding, as she was an asset to the team and is a very talented, driven
sportswoman.
We would have been lost without Emmy Pollard in goal, and I know
she hated being there. She is a talented goal keeper who developed
her love for the slide tackle. It would be a shame for her not to
continue playing in goal for future seasons. Amy Specogna’s talent
was spotted in week one when she played hockey for the first time
and took to it straight away; a very valuable team member.
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I would like to say thank you to Emilie Robinson for all the time and
effort she has given to Ardingly Hockey. Emilie left at the end of
the season to move with her family to Rossall School. I have known
Emilie since she was in the Prep School, and she has always been a
hardworking and enthusiastic player who runs down the wing with a
smile on her face, although she is quite feisty when she needs to be!
We wish her luck at her new school and will miss her.
Most Improved Player: Poppy Deards
I remember Poppy Deard’s first ever Hockey lesson when she
arrived into Year 7 and I was working with the Prep School. The
lesson ended in tears – hers, not mine – but it all worked out well
from there. Poppy has gone from strength to strength and always
works hard in matches. She is always very reliable and travelling the
furthest of us all to Ardingly, she was never late for a match. She has
the most incredibly strong slap hit which, for her size, shows it’s all
down to technique rather than strength. She has worked hard on her
tackling, her channelling, and her switching of play.
Although there are plenty of options for my Most Valuable Player,
it went to two girls for their determination and strength as already
mentioned: Jess St John Dennis and Lizzy Aronson.
Alex Hill
Under 14A
Played 10: Won 4, Drawn 1, Lost 5
For the U14A Girls’ Hockey Team, the record above doesn’t tell
the full story.
The team played some excellent teams this season who have
had crops of girls of real top quality – particularly Cranleigh,
St John’s and, arguably, Eastbourne. In the other games, we
were competitive and hard-working, and just missed out against
Churcher’s College and City of London Freemen’s, where we
came back brilliantly from 3-0 down to battle back to 3-2, and were
a whisker away from snatching a draw.
All that fails to mention the highlights of the season. The girls
beat Cranbrook, Seaford, and Christ’s Hospital, and – most
importantly – Hurst, 2-0, in a season-best performance. The
tournament was also a highlight, getting through the group and
narrowly losing in the first knock-out round.
Every girl improved a huge amount. Charlotte Bradley and
Annabel Parker have both improved their tactical awareness and
tenacity, and Annabel got herself on the score-sheet this season
too. Angélique Cadle has now got one of the fiercest hits for her
age group in the School.
Emma Tardrew has also gained more composure when on the
ball, and played well against St John’s. Hannah Smith in goal has
grown a huge amount too. She has made some excellent saves this
season, communicates well with the defenders in front of her, and
she should be really proud of her achievements.
Moanna Newington has made great progress and reads the game
well, and she darts in and is willing to get hit in order to intercept
the ball for her team. Verity Carman has also really impressed me.
Her composure on the ball and knack of protecting it is great, and
I hope she continues to develop that next year.
Sophie Crooks is quick and dangerous on the break in attack and
dribbled past many left-backs this season. Derval Branagan had a
ARDINGLY annals 2015
great season. She loved playing on the wing, and tackled hard and
distributed the ball well. Poppy Barrott also exploited her pace this
season and carried the ball well up the field.
Jennifer Chee scored some wonderful goals this season, and
smashed one or two in the roof of the net. She kept the ball very
efficiently all season, and was a hugely important player for us.
Maya Kent was equally crucial. She is so quick and gets up and
down the pitch all game, trying to make something happen. Her
pace and back-tackling made a huge difference to the side, and she
mopped up the remainder of opposition attacks before hitting it
hard to the players up front.
The team’s determination, spirit and their attitude towards others in
the team was really great to see and it was a very enjoyable season!
Alastair Wood
Under 14B
Played 10: Won 1, Lost 5, Drawn 4
I started my first ever term at Ardingly being assigned the U14B
Hockey team, and what a delight they were to coach and to take
to matches. With a small year group, the U14B faced challenges
before the first game. I cannot sufficiently thank the girls from the
U15 year group who stepped in to help out on many occasions.
Annika Hilgert, Amy Hitchens, Isabella Karcher, Olga Krasnenkova,
Emily Robertson, Phoebe Holder, Mia Hynes, and Keri Nichols all
stepped up to play for the team. Without them the games simply
would not have been played, and without them I would not have
laughed and loved the season quite as much as I did. From the
minibus journeys, to the match teas, the training sessions in the
rain to the occasional frozen pitch, the girls were resilient to many
factors thrown against them throughout the season.
Often teams who have a tough season like the U14B team did
would have given up part way through, would have thrown in the
towel and fought against me through every run and drill I passed
to them. Donald Trump once said, ‘Defeat is a state of mind. You
are defeated only when you accept defeat and assume the hopeless
mind set of a defeated person’. Not once did this happen amongst
the girls throughout the entire season, despite just winning one
of their games, and for that I am a very proud coach. Week after
week, the girls went out and gave it their best. My highlight of the
season is when we played St John’s and narrowly lost out in the
last three minutes, 2-1. Cleo scored her first goal of the season. It
was our first goal of the season, and I have never quite experienced
a team moment like it. There has never been a greater moment
of pride and joy and the team quite literally bonded in that
moment. Every member of the team from then on pushed herself
on the pitch, trying to go further than simply to draw at 1-1.
Unfortunately the girls were defeated in the final three minutes of
that match, a cruel ending for a deserving team.
Throughout the season it was lovely to see the girls develop as
individuals and as a team. With the team list changing continually,
they did very well to work with each other week after week. The
girls were able to identify each others’ strengths and use them to
their advantage. Moving forward into next season, I would like to
see the girls develop their attacking skills further. As individuals
they showed great defence and Daisy Gould, Danielle Magrath,
Elisa Bernardo-Chavez, Keri, Olga, and Annika worked tirelessly
to keep the ball out of the attacking D. Emily McGinness made
some excellent decisions as Keeper, and was consistently voted
Player of the Match because of her goal keeping skills. As a team
ARDINGLY annals 2015
it would be lovely to see them develop their attacking attitude and
take on the opposition with the same passion and confidence that
they have in their defence. Moving the ball up the pitch will be
key, and getting some power behind the shots from Cleo Tuttle,
Meghan Kalvey, Stephanie Tiu, Lotte Theyssen, Hannah German,
and Maddy Holder will be crucial to scoring some more goals. I
think the girls have great potential to go far next season and, with
committed training, they will continue to grow as individuals and
as team members.
Most Improved Player – Cleo Tuttle
Most Valuable Player – Hannah German and Daisy Gould.
Team: Daisy Gould (Captain), Emily McGinness, Danielle
Magrath, Keri Nichols, Elisa Bernardo-Chavez, Olga Krasnenkova,
Hannah German, Cleo Tuttle, Stephanie Tiu, Maddy Holder,
Phoebe Holder, Annika Hilgert, Lotta Theyssen, Meghan Kalvey,
Isabella Karcher, Amy Hitchens, Mia Hynes, Emily Robertson.
Rebecca Hughes
BOYS’ HOCKEY
First XI
Results (Including cup competitions)
Played 14: Won 8, Drawn 3, Lost 3.
Notable Achievements:
•Sussex Under 18 Champions (for the fourth consecutive year)
•Last 16 of the National Plate
Most Valuable Player: Tim Finnerty
Most Improved Players: Louis Evans
Full colours: Alex Waters, Tim Price, Tim Finnerty, Louis Evans,
George Southgate, Michael Makepeace, Matt Price
Despite a season heavily disrupted by the elongation of the normal
Football season, meaning many First XI players missed a number
of training sessions, the results of the 2015 First XI rank them
amongst many of their illustrious predecessors. The highlight was
undoubtedly retaining the Sussex Cup by beating a very strong
Hurst side in the final.
This year the traditional end-of-season Bath Festival was replaced
by a pre-season tour to Barcelona. Playing three games against
top quality opposition, training on the water-based pitches of the
Olympic Stadium, visiting the iconic Nou Camp stadium, and
having to put on sun cream not thermals all made for fantastic
preparation for the school season. The 1-1 draw with Egara HC,
one of the top clubs in Spain, was a particular highlight, with
goalkeeper, Tim Finnerty, putting in the first of his many Man of
the Match performances this season to keep us in the game. Toby
Ayre’s late short corner goal snatched a draw and confidence
rose through the group. The only downside of the tour was an
injury sustained to Captain Alex Waters who, in keeping with
his tendency to fall over on the pitch, managed to damage ankle
ligaments tripping on the hotel staircase, a freak injury that kept
him out for the next five weeks!
Back in England, the school season began in encouraging fashion,
as Oscar Haynes Brown scored his first goal for the First XI in
a 1-1 draw away to Churcher’s; however, this was followed by a
disappointing 2-0 defeat to Eastbourne. With Alex injured, the 2015
First XI were a very young side, with as many as six Under 16s in
the starting XI at times. It took time for the likes of Oscar, Charlie
Harvey, Ben Harris, Eddie Lambie, George Gutteridge, and Alex
119
Shaw to fully adjust to the tempo and physicality of First XI Hockey,
and their best matches were certainly to come later in the season.
However, the season threw up opportunities for revenge, and the
boys would go on to defeat Eastbourne twice, firstly in the semi
final of the Sussex Cup and then in the third round of the National
Plate. Thereafter, to the boys’ credit, the only other defeats came
in Cup competitions. Good victories came over Reigate Grammar
and Lancing and, in the last Saturday fixture of the season, HaynesBrown scored two more in a 2-2 draw away to St George’s College,
Weybridge. This result against one of the top schools in the South of
England showed how far the team had progressed, and set them up
perfectly for the Cup Final just two days later.
The season was dominated by the Cup competitions and, in
particular, two games against local rivals, Hurst. Having been drawn
away to Hurst in the second round of the National Cup, Ardingly
were hampered by the loss through injury of their captain, Alex
Waters and vice captain, Tim Price (who charged down an aerial
against Eastbourne with his head, resulting in a couple of weeks out
with concussion). In addition the four First XI footballers (Oscar,
Michael Makepeace, George Southgate, and Matt Price) who
missed this game to prepare for the ISFA Cup semi-final. Sensing
blood, Hurst were ruthless and a weakened Ardingly had to lick
their wounds after a 10-0 hammering. However, with the squad
including Most Improved Player, Louis Evans, all returning to
fitness just before Long Leave, a fantastic Sussex Cup qualification
tournament gave the boys an opportunity to play Hurst again in the
Sussex Final on the last Monday of term.
By this stage of the season, the footballers had won the ISFA Cup,
and the Under 16 hockey boys had won the County Cup and the
National 6-a-side Plate so, with confidence in Ardingly sport, not
just Ardingly Hockey, at an all time high, there was no way the
boys were going to give up their Sussex title without a fight! From
an early stage you could see that Ardingly’s team defence, led by
the centre back pairing of Matt Price and Charlie Harvey and ably
supported by Ben Harris and the revelation of the team, Ties Lind,
were impenetrable. When called upon, Tim Finnerty in goal was
immense, in particular when it came to saving penalty corners. Tim
was the deserving Most Valuable Player of this year’s team and has a
bright future in the game. On the counter attack, this Ardingly team
120
was electric and on one counter attack early in the second half,
George Southgate carried the ball half the length of the field before
composing himself and hitting the ball, like a rocket, into the roof of
the net, to secure a memorable 1-0 victory! This was one of the best
team performances I have witnessed as First XI coach, and meant
that Ardingly won the Sussex Under 18 Cup for an incredible fourth
consecutive year. Many of these boys have a winner’s mentality and
have turned winning into a habit; what a great habit to have!
Special congratulations must go to Alex Waters and Tim Price, the
captain and vice captain of this team. Alex, post injury, reinvented
himself as a holding central midfield player using his indoor hockey
skills to make numerous low block tackles. It was no coincidence
that our upturn in fortunes coincided with the return of Alex to the
team. Tim played in many positions this season, including centre
back and centre midfield, showing not just his versatility but how
good a Hockey player he has become. One thing was for sure, Tim
would never do the simple thing and, as a result, he was great to
watch! His signature move was throwing half pitch aerials, often on
the move! Both boys were fantastic role models on the pitch and
their leadership during the final was a key contributing factor in our
victory. I thank them for their contribution to Ardingly Hockey. A
mention must also go to George Gutteridge, one of the youngsters
of the team, who leaves Ardingly this year to go to Rugby School
with his Dad. George was calmness personified at right or left back
this season. He was part of a year group that won the County Cup
every year they were in the Senior School, and I wish him every
success in the future.
The future of Ardingly Hockey looks very bright. All of the young
players really stepped up to the challenge and will have benefited
massively from this season’s experiences. Next year the team will
be an experienced outfit. The Lower Sixth possess many natural
leaders. They also possess this winning mentality. In a disrupted
season the 2015 First XI achieved as much as any of us could have
hoped for. The challenge next year is to improve on this again. I
know that these boys will be up for the challenge.
I would like to give a special thank you to Mr Lane, the captain of
Holcombe HC (and, of course, Ardingly College Biology teacher)
who ran the First XI with me this season. The boys have been
ARDINGLY annals 2015
coached by two current internationals in Mr Vehrle-Smith (Brazil)
and Mr Gleghorne (England). Access to such quality coaches can
only inspire them to keep working hard and trying to improve. A
big thank you also to Mr Neil Burlinson, for all the work he did
coaching the goalkeepers, to Mr Marcin Laska, who was the team’s
physio, and to Mr Paddy Jackman, our Director of Operations, who
continues to umpire all the First XI’s Hockey matches. We are very
lucky that Hockey at Ardingly is so well supported.
He made many fantastic saves, the routine ones were always saved
well, and the fact we conceded so few goals was often down to him.
At right back, Joe Cass continued to impress. Last year’s Most
Improved Player had a very consistent season and stood out against
St George’s in the final match. At left back Alex Teague made
the position his own, and went from a squad player to one who
always started. His basics were great, he was reliable and was much
improved throughout the season.
1st XI squad 2015: Alex Waters (c), Tim Price, Ties Lind, Michael
Makepeace, Louis Evans, Matt Price, George Southgate, Tim
Finnerty (GK), Tobias Ayre, Charlie Harvey, Ben Harris, Eddie
Lambie, George Gutteridge, Alex Shaw, Oscar Haynes-Brown
James Stedman
In the middle at the back, we had a variety of players. The Captain,
Constantin Ulbrich, was a solid, tough-tackling, and determined
defender who marshalled the defence well. We had Ricky Alikhani,
whose aerial from the back became a speciality. He was having
a fine season before unfortunately injury cut it short. Another to
be hit by a serious injury was Jono Long whose defending and
ball-playing ability improved greatly. He loved bringing the ball
out from the back and taking on half of the opposition. Last year’s
Most Valuable Player, Ben Kay, started off in midfield but ended
up at the back, owing to injuries. However, he was good enough to
play anywhere in the team, and showed calmness under pressure,
excellent tackling skills, and fine basics.
Second XI
Played 11: Won 8, Drawn 2, Lost 1
Goals for 44, against 7
The Second XI had a superb season, winning eight games, drawing
two, and losing only one, and were crowned ‘Team of the Year’
at the end of season awards evening. The team produced some
fantastic victories, and convincing ones too; they scored 44 goals
in 11 games and only conceded seven, a remarkable statistic. Our
biggest victories were against Reigate, 11–0, Sackville 7–0, Sutton
Valence 6-1, and Buckswood 5–0. Our toughest game of the season
on paper was our last game of the season against St George’s
U16As. The team showed great character and determination
to come from 2–0 down after only ten minutes to dominate the
majority of the game, to finish the season with a most creditable
2–2 draw. Jack Mangan pulled a goal back just before half-time,
and then, midway in the second half, he smashed a fierce undercut
shot into the roof of the net to make the score 2-2. Looking further
back, our third game of the season against Hurstpierpoint was
actually quite a pivotal game. With half the team having been
promoted to the First XI, to be the better side and draw 1–1
highlighted the great character and determination of the side. It
also showed the strength in depth of the senior squads, as the third
team players who stepped up to play that day all showed that they
were good enough to play second team hockey. It is worth noting
that, after that Hurst game, we then had a run of seven straight
victories up to our last game.
The team had a great mix of players, from Upper Sixth who had
already played two seasons of seconds hockey, to players who
joined us during the season from the first team, to a good nucleus
of Fifth Formers who had enjoyed much success in the Under 15s
last year. In goal, Adam Housby was quite simply outstanding. In
most other schools I am sure he would be the number one goalie.
In midfield, George Lambie stood out with his silky skills, and
strong running from midfield, and provided quality and experience.
Harry Ames worked tirelessly in each game and did sterling work
both defensively and when creating attacks. He was our left slip
man at short corners and scored the crucial goal in the 1–1 draw
against Hurst. Ties Lind was technically gifted and stood out more
and more in games, and rightly ended the season in the first team
squad. With a regular midfield of strong Upper Sixth players, it was
little surprise that we dominated many games.
Further forward we had much pace, skill and creativity in the form
of Matt Penfold and Chris Holman. Matt’s strong running and
athleticism were often too much for opposing players and Chris’s
excellent link-up play, speed, and skill often created many chances
down the right. They combined well with centre forward Jamie
Braysher who was the leader of the attack and whose finishing
improved remarkably this year. He produced some sublime finishes
this season, including one right foot shot from the top of the D
against Sutton Valence and numerous other fine deflections and
tap-ins. He finished the season second top scorer with eight goals.
Another to improve this year was Jed Ayloff who made left wing
his own with his strong running, fine V Drag and cutting in from
the left, and he finished the season scoring four goals. Max Stolkin
was promoted mid-season from the third team, and he showed
great pace, skill and ability. He will surely be a key member of the
seconds next year.
Finally, Jack Mangan stood out in many games this year. Although
he started off in the first team, he soon became an integral part of
the seconds, showing fine skills, and a thunderous shot, and scoring
some outstanding goals. His swivel, turn, and shot in the D proved
far too much for most defenders and he virtually took the keeper
into the net with the ball when he scored his goal against Lancing.
He was top goalscorer with 14 goals, and in a way it was actually
a very fitting finale at St George’s, where his spectacular equaliser,
which will stay long in the memory, secured us a good draw.
This season’s Most Improved Player was Jamie Braysher, and the
Most Valuable Player was Jack Mangan. My thanks to all the players
who have represented the team this year, to Ben and Constantin for
captaining this side, to the parents who supported so well, to Mr
Jackman for his umpiring, and to Mr Gleghorne, Mr Lane, and Mr
Stedman who did a huge amount of coaching with the players.
ARDINGLY annals 2015
121
of play with five minutes to go, and closed out the game 1-0.
Overall the boys have had an excellent season. One loss in the
season is testament to the strength and character of the team and,
with a large number of players still available for next season, there
is definitely more to come from the Third XI next year. It has
been a pleasure to coach this team, and I hope that those
leaving Ardingly will continue to play Hockey in the next stage
of their lives.
A big thank you to all the others who appeared for the Third XI
throughout the season: Sam Cunningham, Jon Shoesmith, Joe
Copp, Harry Bartley, Eddie Entwisle, Ben Hooper, Charlie Baldock,
Josh Rees-Davies, Harry Rollings, Alexi Demetriadi, Harry Mailer,
Jack Waller, Dominic Adomakoh
Paul Utting
Squad members: Adam Housby, Joe Cass, Constantin Ulbrich,
Jono Long, Ricky Alikhani, Alex Teague, Ben Kay, George Lambie,
Harry Ames, Ties Lind, Jack Mangan, Chris Holman, Matt
Penfold, Jamie Braysher, Jed Ayloff, Max Stolkin
Andrew Middleton
Third XI
Played 8: Won 5, Drawn 2, Lost 1
The Third XI had an excellent season, winning five of the first seven
games, and narrowly missing out on an unbeaten season in the final
minutes of the last match. The team was captained ably by Jon
Shoesmith who led by example with skill and determination. Prizes
at the end of term were awarded to Alexi Demetriadi for the Most
Improved Player, and Josh Rees-Davies for the Most Valuable Player
for the consistently high standard of hockey he played during the
season and his impact on the game whenever he played.
The team this year was formed around a core of players from
last season: Sam Cunningham in goal, Jon Shoesmith and Eddie
Entwistle at the back, and Jack Waller in midfield. These players
were supplemented by an exceptional group of players from the
Fifth Form, and the team really demonstrated the tremendous
strength in depth the College now has. We started the season with
a close fought win against Churcher’s courtesy of two Jack Waller
goals, which was followed by a 5-0 victory over Eastbourne College.
The next game was against Hurst and, with four players filling in
with the seconds, it took a tremendous team effort to maintain the
unbeaten start and hold Hurst to a 0-0 draw. We finished the first
half of term with a scrappy 2-0 victory over Lancing in a game that
should have been won by far more.
Training over the first half of term focused on team tactics and
organisation in two main areas, defensively for 16s and free hits, and
switching the ball quickly across the back and in midfield to attack
wide down the flanks. This started to reap dividends in the second
half of the season, with victories over Reigate Grammar and Sutton
Valence, during which we scored 15 goals, six of which were scored
by Alexi Demetriadi and five by Harry Mailer, who started to look
more and more dangerous with every game. The penultimate match
saw the best individual performance from an opposition goalkeeper
all season which, despite dominating possession and chances,
resulted in a 1-1 draw at home to Seaford College.
The last week of matches saw the team go to St George’s Weybridge,
arguably one of the best Hockey schools in the country, with their
record still intact. They played exceptionally well, edging the play
for the whole of the game and not giving the opposition any real
chances. Unfortunately St George’s scored a goal against the run
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Under 15A
Sussex U15 Hockey Finalists.
Played: 11: Won 4, Lost 7
Goals For 15, Against 21
The boys have had a really strong season in terms of Hockey
development, growth, and understanding. They have grown in
confidence in their skills and positional play.
The results have been promising, becoming stronger as the season
has progressed and it was so pleasing that they made it to the final
of the Sussex Cup.
The competition for the Cup is always hotly fought. The boys won
the pool reasonably comfortably then faced Eastbourne in the
semi-final, a team which had beaten them 4-0 earlier in the season.
The team worked hard, adjusting the tactics to counter their
strength in mid-field. They had numerous chances but sadly were
unable to convert, leaving it a 0-0 draw at full time. The match was
decided on penalty shuffles. Attackers were given ten seconds to
score against the keeper. No one had ever done this before and
Ben Long, James Thorne, and Oli Downes stepped up scoring 2
out of 3, while Keeper Ethan Jayne saved 2 out of 3, taking them
through into the final where they lost to a better side in Bede’s.
They played 11 games, in which they scored 15 goals. In the
second half of the season they scored most of their goals,
signifying the progress they made.
The Defensive Unit of Ethan Jayne (GK), James Thorne (Capt),
George Kapff, Matty Hay, and Luca Williams have become a force
to be reckoned with. James and Luca dominated the middle of the
park, hard hitting and skilfully moving forward. Matty and George
on the flanks were noted for their calmness under pressure, and their
skill. Ethan was the glue that held them together and minimised their
mistakes, talking to them constantly, and helping them positionally.
The Mid-field, made up of Oli Downes, Oli Thompson, Hugo
Binelli-Thomas, and Joe Donegan, provided a forceful and skilful
inter-changeable combination, always determined and willing
to try new ideas. The forward line of James Haddon, Ben Long,
Calvin Kissi, and Adam Sowton were incredibly speedy and skilful.
They developed some excellent movement off the ball, with quick
passing and good understanding of space. Some of their goals
were a real joy to behold.
I would like to thank Mr Lane and Mr Burlinson for their
inspiration, superb coaching, and help this term.
ARDINGLY annals 2015
Most Improved Player: this award was given to two players this year
for different reasons. Calvin Kissi had not played Hockey before
this season, but he worked hard to develop both his skill-set and
game awareness. He has grown in confidence and it was wonderful
to see him develop into such a good Hockey player. He was patient
and willing to learn from the side-line, and I was delighted that
he scored an inspirational goal against Sutton Valence in our
penultimate match. Ethan Jayne also had not played Hockey
before this term. He worked hard to understand the basics and
soon made the position his own. As a goal keeper I always think
you need to have certain personality traits; firstly a slightly nutty
personality, secondly a willingness to have a go, and thirdly not
be frightened of anything. This certainly sums up Ethan; he has
grown in confidence, skill and understanding. He has worked hard
to make himself a key player, and has learnt how to support attack
with his big kicks from goal and to overcome the attacker at penalty
shuffles. He made a great improvement this season.
Most Valuable Player – This is can be a very difficult award to
decide upon, but this year there was no question. James Thorne
quietly and effectively does his job. He is calm, has a decisive
understanding of what is needed, and has excellent stick skills
under pressure. He has also grown in confidence, supporting
other players and trying new skills. As the captain, he has led by
example and has also been very effective in playing a year up for
the U16 XI in the Regional finals.
Josh Magrath’s surging runs and dribbling skill out on the right
wing gave our team an early season belief, and would cause major
problems for our opponents.
Confidence was high after the team’s first win of the season,
and a skilful understanding between Parkhouse, Geddes, Copp,
Whitlam, Draycott, and Boyan Tsvetkov on how, why, and when
to defend the Ardingly Castle was proving to be a valuable part
of the team’s play. Lancing College and Bede’s didn’t have any
answer to this, nor did any of the other teams that faced us over
the remaining part of the season.
When you have a defence like this, it allows your midfield and
forwards to work out their own and best ways to attack. Tom
Mellish’s bulldog and assertive approach in the tackle provided
plenty of ball for Garbutt, Jones, Pickles, Krishnan, and Dimitrov
to gracefully pass through and around the opposition. In the final
quarter, Ardingly’s attacking force of Pilgrim, Magrath, Tiley, and
Elder had worked out a plan. Simple first time finishes into the goal
from the right wing cross. Three wins in the last four games proved to
be a successful end to the season.
Boys, thank you for all your team efforts this season and for improving
as Ardingly individuals. Keep this up and enjoy your Hockey. When it
was mentioned at the start of the season that results didn’t matter, you
all showed in the win against St George’s College that they did. More
importantly you showed improvement in how to conduct yourselves.
Thank you for a fun season.
Team: Hugo Binelli-Thomas, James Haddon, Calvin Kissie, Ben
Long, Luca Williams, Oli Downes, Oli Thompson, James Thorne,
George Kapff, Joe Donegan, Ethan Jayne, Eike Landwehr, Adam
Sowton, Joe Walker.
Kate Newson
Under 15B
Played 8: Won 4, Drawn 3, Lost 1.
Goals: For 13, Against 9
A 1–1 draw was a solid start made against Churcher’s, with Calvin
Kissi scoring his first of the season. That would be his last before
Mrs Newson secured his services for the As.
The following week the boys were still in shock that Calvin had left
us, and a 5–0 loss at Eastbourne gave the team a long journey home
to reflect on the challenge needed for the remainder of the season.
The introduction of Christian Tiley and Lucas Williamson made an
immediate winning impact against Hurst, and Mr Stedman was full
of praise for the team’s determination to beat our fiercest rivals 1–0.
Most improved player- Josh Magrath
Most valuable player - Christian Tiley
Duncan Jupp
Under 14A
The U14A team had a good first season in the Senior School, with
the focus being on development and practice rather than outcome.
Having lost the first game of the season against Churchers, sessions
based on defensive organisation and core skills were undertaken,
which led to fine wins against Hurstpierpoint College (1-0) and
Lancing College (10-0), before the team followed with a run of
wins, beating Reigate Grammar, Seaford College, and Bede’s.
Tom Cunningham was excellent all season in goal, making fine
stick saves time and time again from opposition short corners,
and the defence worked well in front of him, as six clean sheets
were kept out of the twelve matches that were played throughout
the season. Luke Cargan captained his County, and led the
midfield, whilst George Newson created chances with his good
use of spatial awareness and passing. In the attack, Josh Hardy
was always dangerous with his reverse stick hitting, and Joe ReesDavies put some chances away clinically.
Overall, the squad were a pleasure to work with, and certainly the
future of Ardingly Hockey bodes well if this U14A season was
anything to go by.
Nick Tester
Under 14B
The U14Bs have had an excellent season. They lost the first two
games of the season having, arguably, been the better team. They
then went on a great run beating their rivals: first Hurst 2-0, then
Lancing 4-0, Reigate 2-0, Seaford 3-0 and Sutton Valence 11-0. In
that sequence, no goals were conceded, 22 were scored, and there
were plenty of good performances. St George’s ended our streak by
ARDINGLY annals 2015
123
They were a great team to coach, a superb standard for an U14B
team. My thanks to them all.
Alastair Wood
U14C
Played 7: Won 3, Drwan 1, Lost 3
Goals: For 12, Against 17
We were lucky to have so many good goalkeepers in the year group
– Michael Clarke and Jack Nienow both played well in goal for the
U14Cs, and during the season a really solid defensive unit formed,
with Tom Burke on the right, Henry Aronson in the middle, and
Sam Bridgwater at left back.
beating us 3-1, but our second-half performance was outstanding,
and we outplayed and outfought a technically gifted team.
Goalkeeper Conrad Jouning had to endure some games without
doing much at all, yet on every occasion he was called upon,
he excelled. Cem Uran was a consistent right-back and showed
wonderful skill in that position this season. Tom Hopson played a
number of different positions, up front and in defence, and yet his
composure at the back was very important for us come the end of
the season. Evan Penlington was a solid performer all season and,
in terms of team selection, was always first choice left-back.
Richard Burns had to battle against illness in the last match
against St George’s and yet he battled through and covered every
part of the pitch for his team (something he did all season). Will
Coles and Finn Aldrich, both excellent for the Bs when they
played for them, were promoted to the As. Edmund Legrave and
Alex Kelly have spent the season playing in all sorts of positions
but, again, they got on with it, worked hard for the team, and
improved their skills throughout the season. Bruno Clarke’s pace
and skill up front were excellent to see this season, and he was in
sensational form against Sutton Valence to help us through to that
11-0 scoreline.
James Scott was also a very important player for the U14Bs. He
was tireless in midfield and strong in possession. He scored a
couple against Lancing, in his best performance of the season,
and we were very sorry to lose him to injury in the latter part of
the term. Rocco Zanelli also progressed a great deal this season,
and scored five against Sutton Valence and a very well taken goal
against St George’s. He led the line very confidently as a central
striker, and rarely gave possession away.
Ethan Pizano joined the Bs from the Cs half-way through the
season, and his ability to carry the ball past defenders and try
all sorts of tricks was great to see. He scored a sublime flick
against Sutton Valence and was a fantastic addition to the squad.
However, there were few players who handled the season with as
much distinction and coolness as Dominic Morgan, Jerome Gore,
and Harry Tompsett.
Dominic Morgan is a graceful player and kept the ball really well
in midfield all season, playing simple passes to members of our
team. He was excellent this season, and held together central
midfield very well. Harry Tompsett has been on the score-sheet the
most times this seasons, netting in five fixtures. Moving to forward
suited him, and he single-handedly put Hurst to the sword and
scored important goals. Jerome Gore is tenacious and talented,
and kept possession well all season. He was a superb captain and
stalwart of the team.
124
Phil McPherson proved to be a skilful central midfielder, bringing
the ball out well from the back.
A lot of wing players contributed impressively, and their ability to
switch sides caused opposition defences some problems – Alex
Rae, Isaac Goodwin, Fred Stolkin and Anton Alkevich all played
very well in these roles. Up front, Ben Belcher was the focus of
most attacks. He fought very well and popped up for a goal in
most games, always offering vociferous advice to the team.
We lost against Churcher’s 1-5, the game ending with the lights
being switched off with ten minutes to play, which surprised
everybody, including the opposition. We drew against Eastbourne
(0-0) which was an excellent performance against a school which
is always hard to beat. We were definitely the better team, and
hit the post on several occasions, so we were unlucky not to win.
We then went on to win against Hurstpierpoint 2-0: a fantastic
victory against local rivals who have beaten us many times at this
level. Unfortunately this was followed by a loss against Reigate
Grammar, 2-0 in the drizzle, but with a change of positioning and
structure we regained the upper hand against Seaford, winning 4-0.
The injection of energy from Ethan Pizano, who was lent to us
from the Bs, made a real difference in this game, and lifted both
spirits and the quality of play. Goals came from Ben, Anton, Alex,
and Isaac. We were defeated by Sutton Valence (5-1): we were
unlucky to be playing their U13A team with four county players,
but to end the season we bounced back to beat St George’s
2-0. We showed a really strong team performance in this game,
providing a great deal of energy and commitment, and a great
finale to the season.
An overall assessment suggests that, despite the scores, this was
one of the strongest C teams at this level seen in recent years,
which is credit to the Hockey Club as a whole. In the past, we
have sneaked the odd win but have struggled against some of
the good Hockey schools. So this season, to hold Eastbourne to
a draw, and to beat Hurst, St George’s and Seaford represents a
very successful season.
The Most Improved Player award, for his rapidly improving stick
skills, speed on the ball, and tenacity throughout the season, went
to Phil McPherson.
The Most Valued Player award, for his energy, good
sportsmanship, and determination, and for his ability to find
himself in the right place at the right time in either scoring goals
or setting them up for others to score, went to Isaac Goodwin
Jamie Large
ARDINGLY annals 2015
NETBALL
First VII
The first team were captained by Tiah Mason-Windett and
vice-captained by Bethany Tyson. They were led strongly from
the start of the season, and for many of the girls selected to
represent Ardingly Netball at first team level it would be their final
opportunity before leaving the College in the summer. With this in
mind, the girls trained hard both on and off the court, and started
to bond as a team from the first session we had together. The team,
once selected, offered real depth in levels of experience and playing
expertise, although many thought they could input to the session
alongside their coach, which was pleasing to see and inspiring at
times. Both Tiah and Bethany have represented their Netball club at
Regional level, so this instilled confidence in the team from the start
of the season.
The season started in October when the girls were entered into the
National Schools qualifying rounds, held at Roedean. The girls were
in full swing with their Hockey season, so this really challenged their
ability both physically and emotionally to switch sports overnight.
With a small amount of training, the girls went, and it gave them
the opportunity to develop as units within the team itself, and to
gain some valuable high-level playing experience. The girls played
well, although it highlighted some areas which needed working on
come the Netball season. The team beat teams including Bede’s,
Eastbourne, and Christ’s Hospital, so they had set the benchmark
for the season ahead. Sophie Coles and Fran Sprules both played
really well and adapted to the positions they were put in, showing
fantastic versatility.
The opening match of the season saw a competitive game against
Lancing College. After initially taking the lead, the team fell
behind in the third quarter, making three crucial goals moving into
the final phase of the game. In the first few moments, the team
managed to equalise with the defensive work of Cara Rocks and
Jess Van Droogenbroeck, and it seemed as though the team were
set to return to win the match. Then came the moment every coach
dreads; Francesca Sprules, our GS, went out of the game with a
knee injury which saw her out of action for the remainder of the
season. Charlotte Childs stepped into the GS position, away from
her trained C and WA rôle and, after scoring the equaliser, the team
regained confidence. They won 18-15 in a closely fought game,
where the team’s versatility and level-headed playing paid off.
Other highlights of the season include beating Christ’s Hospital
18-11, Bede’s 32-21 and St George’s College, Weybridge 33-28.
Christ’s Hospital was a closely contested match and one of the most
physical games the girls had to endure. However the speed of Tiah
and Charlotte was something they found very difficult to match,
and the attacking combination of C and WA meant that the girls
would tirelessly work the ball into the perfect space to feed the ball
successfully in to Bethany. Bede’s was another closely fought game
although the score does not overly reflect this. Again the defence
worked really well as a unit to turn the ball over, but it was the
combination of Sammi Jackman and Amber Kemp at WD and WA
who helped to link the ball in the centre court, bringing it successfully
from defence to attack. Finally the St George’s College match was, I
believe, the highlight of my season with the girls. Once we arrived to
find their GA played for the England U21 Netball team, the girls had
a decision to make about how they would respond. They stepped up
to the challenge, and as a team they worked especially hard to double
mark their evidently strongest player in the centre court and defensive
third. However, it was the attacking work of our own GA, Alice Burke,
which kept the girls in the game. Alice, Bethany, and Sophie Lewis
ARDINGLY annals 2015
played exceptionally well under the pressure. Sophie stepped up to
represent the team from U15 level, and the attacking combination
was excellent. All the team worked so hard until the final whistle,
winning them the deserving victory.
I have very much enjoyed the season with the first team and,
although there were some tough challenges including the three
goal loss against St John’s and the eight goal loss to Sevenoaks, it
is fair to say that the girls have all worked extremely hard over the
term. They have improved as individuals and also as a team, which
showed at the end of the season, beating Mayfield in their final game
at home. Others, including Phoebe Workman and Caitlin Slater,
also stepped up from the U16 team to represent the College at First
Team level, which is an excellent achievement.
Team – Tiah Mason-Windett (Captain), Bethany Tyson (Vice
Captain), Fran Sprules, Jess Van Droogenbroeck, Cara Rocks,
Phoebe Workman, Sammi Jackman, Charlotte Childs, Amber
Kemp, Sophie Coles, Sophie Lewis, Alice Burke, Caitlin Slater.
Most Improved Player – Jess Van Droogenbroeck
Most Valuable Player – Tiah Mason-Windett
Club’s Most Valuable Player – Cara Rocks & Sophie Lewis
Players’ Player (A new award) – Tiah Mason-Windett
Rebecca Hughes
Second VII
Played 9: Won 2, Lost 7
This has been an enjoyable – if at times frustrating – season. The
statistics tell one story, but in reality you have to look much deeper
to appreciate all that happened during the term. The Second VII
were an amazing team to work with, as every girl showed resolve,
resilience, resourcefulness, and a sense of humour and humility
– and they certainly won the tea for every game, regardless of the
result! Weather, illness, injury, work, and photo shoots all disrupted
our training sessions, and indeed the number when every member
of the squad was present and fit to play was scant. Nevertheless, the
girls worked hard, became much more aware of each other on court,
and developed a strong tactical awareness and fluidity in their play
down the court.
When asked for their highlights, the girls all mentioned our two
wins: a really strong performance against St George’s, Weybridge
(31–17) and our last match versus Mayfield when all the hard
work and team spirit came together and we won 42–15 . Another
very impressive performance was against Lingfield, and we were
extremely unlucky to lose by a single goal, 22–23.
Regardless of the match statistics, it really has been an excellent
season and that is because of the girls themselves. Ellie Haines
always entertained, and could be relied upon to end up on the
ground at some stage, but she bounced well and proved to be a
stalwart at the back of the court, defending her goal with tenacity
and determination. Jenny Nuredini quickly impressed in January
with her speed, agility, and levels of anticipation, and was key to
defending the circle as a tight unit with Ellie. Hannah Kohli was
quietly effective, determined, and stealth-like, often lulling her
opponent into thinking they were free and then leaping in for the
interception. Sophie Coles joined us on a permanent basis half way
through the season, and became a pivotal player and play-maker
at centre. The engine of the team, she displayed great vision and
anticipation. Trinni Demetriadi was Miss Versatile, playing every
position in centre court and proving to be speedy, reliable, full of
positive energy, and fun. Annie Lancaster was quietly effective,
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extremely coachable, could be devastating with her accuracy of shot,
and really appreciated the teamwork required with Zoe to create
the scoring opportunities. Zoe Andrews at last broke her love affair
with the backline, became much more mobile and willing to venture
out of the circle, created a good understanding of circle rotation
with Annie and, when her radar was on, she could sink the ball
from anywhere in the circle. Her ball handling is second to none,
as there appears to be glue between her and the ball. Captain Micki
Green’s season was sadly affected by injury – shinsplints denying
her to us for several weeks – but it was wonderful to see her back on
court after Long Leave and she continued with her solid, reliable,
flustreless, and creative play at WA. Micki led the team effectively,
maintaining morale and sense of humour and set the tone for each
match, leading the banter, chat, and laughs. As Upper Sixth, both
she and Zoe will be sorely missed next year, but I hope that they will
continue to play at least occasionally, and I thank them for all that
they have brought to Netball at Ardingly from Shell until now.
Most Improved Player – Hannah Kohli
Most Valuable Player – Sophie Coles and Zoe Andrews
Joan Gall
Third and Fourth VIIs
Played 6; Won 1, Lost 5
The Third and Fourth Netball teams were a squad of very reliable
players who attended Netball training and represented the College
in matches. The teams were fairly interchangeable with a range of
players playing for both teams.
Although unfortunately I did not get much of a chance to see the
teams play due to my weekend role of working with the U16 team,
the Thirds and Fourths worked hard in training and were always
keen to be involved in matches. We were annoyed when matches
were cancelled by Buckswood and Hurst, and the weather was also
not our friend as we lost out to the cold against St John’s. The loss
of these matches depleted our fixture list resulting in the fourths
only having three fixtures this term, although the thirds managed
a few more.
Having worked with the senior girls in Netball in previous years,
this group was by far the most co-operative and hard working.
They lasted sometimes well over an hour before asking to go in
from training for an early lunch!
The group of girls was too big to name everyone; we had some girls
who had come up from Shell and lots of new girls to the College,
some who hadn’t played Netball before and just wanted to get
involved in a team game. The third and fourths’ squads can be
described as a more recreational side, and hopefully play for the
enjoyment and camaraderie that comes with being part of a team. I
hope to see these girls continue to play Netball in future seasons and
that they can inspire the younger girls to continue playing Netball
when they move through to Senior Games.
Some highlights of the season were when Orla Badger scored a goal
with such power that it caused the hoop to break away from the post
and fall down. Or, when Jess caught the ball with her face rather than
her hands. In fairness this happened a few times, and not just to Jess!
Tasha Walker fell over and twisted her ankle within the first two
minutes of the first game of the season and counted herself out of
the next few weeks….and then Jenny Nuredini did the same thing a
few weeks later. Luckily they were both fit enough to return to games
towards the end of the season.
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I particularly enjoyed the match we played against Lingfield Notre
Dame. The thirds were playing in what was a pretty dreadful game.
Then Miss Gall spoke to them after the first quarter and to this day
I do not know what she said, but I have never seen such a turnaround
in a team in my life, and they went from Z-listers to A-listers in
seconds and won the game 14-12.
Another highlight was Ashley Johnston’s basketball netball shooting
style. She would turn around and shoot without even looking at the
hoop and, much to our amazement, it went in on many occasions!
The results don’t make all that happy reading, but the thirds started
well with a 27-7 win against Lancing on week one, sadly following by
a 25-8 loss the following week. An exciting 18-18 draw finished the
game against Mayfield.
The fourths team started with a loss against Lingfield Notre Dame
in a very close game and against Caterham and Sevenoaks they drew
one and won one, which was excellent.
Most Valuable Player:
Thirds – Orla Badger- Her incredibly long arms enabled her to
control balls in to the D before shooting brilliantly. It was no wonder
she was poached for the U16s and seconds on occasion.
Fourths: Emma Sutherland- another quality shooter.
Most Improved Player
Thirds: Emilie Nilsson. She has the most gorgeous ballet dancer’s
stretch to mark. Gone are the days when she had no control over her
six-foot legs ending up on the floor in the splits.
Fourths: Quianna Higgins- A great shooter, hard worker, and all
round great team member.
Alex Hill
U16A
Played 10: Won 4
The Under 16As were captained by Rebecca Chee, and all other
players rotated as vice-captain. Prizes at the end of term were awarded
to Emily Spiers for the ‘Most Improved Player’ and both Caitlin Slater
and Rebecca Chee for the ‘Most Valuable Players’ for the consistently
high standard of netball they played during the season.
The U16As have had a netball season they should be proud of,
and although the ratio of wins to losses is not in their favour, the
matches were nearly always very closely fought. The girls had an
outstanding start to the season, beating Lancing 34–19. All of
the girls gave 100% and were a delight to watch. We dominated
from the start and at no point seemed under threat. The defence,
consisting of Grace Woods, Phoebe Workman, Emily Spiers, and
Emily O’Shea, had an outstanding game, turning the ball around on
numerous occasions. The girls were patient throughout; when they
could not get the ball into the circle they looked back and moved it
around, creating more space and calmly building the game. Phoebe
Workman had an outstanding game as GD, pressuring her GA for
the whole match.
The following week the girls played in a trio against Eastbourne
and Christ’s Hospital. Eastbourne became very frustrated with one
another, possibly due to the excellent netball our girls played. When we
had possession it ended in a goal and, with some excellent shooting by
Caitlin Slater, we won easily, 30–9. Against Christ’s Hospital the girls
continued with their successful form and played a brilliant, clean game
of Netball. The girls won 28–12, and in fact Christ’s Hospital scored
only two goals in the second quarter and none in the third.
ARDINGLY annals 2015
The match against St John’s was to be the last in our run of
successes, winning 26–21. Particular mention should go to Ella
O’Hare and Imogen Waters, who both played outstanding games.
Over the following weeks the team had narrow losses against
Lingfield Notre Dame (19–22) and Hurst (21–30), the latter being
particularly frustrating as we had beaten them at the Nationals
earlier in the year and suffered in this match due to our GA, Ciara
Branagan, falling on her ankle. Ciara’s injury was a devastating
blow to the team, as she was instrumental to many of our wins and
continued to be injured for the rest of the season.
For the remaining part of the season we played some incredibly
hard fixtures against Sevenoaks (26–43), St George’s (18–30),
Epsom (13–32) and Mayfield (22–27). During these matches
Emily Spiers stepped up to the mark and played GA with a huge
amount of talent and success. Rebecca Chee and Caitlin Slater
both contributed to the game in very different yet impressive ways.
Rebecca was outstanding throughout, finding space and intercepting
the ball countless times. Caitlin worked hard on perfecting her
positioning, and her accuracy at shooting meant that, when she was
absent, it was impossible to replace her.
Overall the girls should be proud of their performances. They have
continuously trained to improve and they always give 100% on court.
They have continued to build upon some very technical methods
of play and have never lost their sense of fun and enthusiasm for
Netball. I have enjoyed coaching them immensely, and look forward
to watching them play in the senior teams next year.
U16A squad 2015: Caitlin Slater, Ciara Branagan, Emily Spiers,
Imogen Waters, Rebecca Chee (c), Emily O’Shea, Ella O’Hare,
Phoebe Workman, Grace Wood.
Jules Stapleton
Under 15A
It is difficult to put into words the success of the U15A team this
year and their Netball triumphs. It is challenging to express exactly
how hard these girls trained and how much they developed over
the Netball season to end up winning most of their games, some by
an impressive margin. Three words represent the individuals who
all contributed to the incredible season at U15A level for Ardingly:
Ambitious, Driven and Hungry.
From their first game, the girls showed Ambition. Through the
success of the Hockey season in the Michaelmas Term and
the ongoing success of representing the College in the Hockey
Nationals, the girls were close as a group. They had represented
Ardingly in Shell, and I hoped that this would be a very good season
for the girls: they matched my expectations. The skill level of some
of the girls was on par with the senior First Team players, and this
was identified early on, which meant that I was incredibly excited for
the season ahead. New additions to the team this year meant that
they went from strength to strength, with Ellen Bailes as captain,
and Jess St John Dennis and Isabel Malzer all joining Ardingly this
year. This ambition drove each individual to become better, to shoot
more accurately, to understand their position in greater detail, and
to achieve greatly in their sport whilst representing their school.
Ambition which meant that on their first game of the season the
girls played Lancing, and beat them 62-3.
The girls were also Driven; driven to succeed in all that they did.
I would often see the Lombardian ethic amongst the girls, but in
the most positive light. They often showed the drive to win their
matches at all costs, and sometimes the determination from Lauren
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Workman and Tabby Anderson showed this better than I could ever
put into words. However, sometimes winning at all costs can turn
talented sports men and women into individuals, not caring about
others and focused only on reaching their goal. The girls were so
sporting in their conduct, both on and off the court; it made them
a pleasure to coach. For the U15A, they supported each other and
there was a caring element. This was represented throughout the
season, but most prominently when Jess St John Dennis landed
awkwardly during a match against Reigate, which meant that she
was out for the rest of the season. During this match, everyone
stepped up as a team. Ellen moved from C to GD, working with
Lillie Franks at GK as Tabby was away, Isabelle Childs stepped up
to play C, with Tamryn Rodda continuing to drive the attack at WA.
Lauren moved out of attack to fill the WD role, and Isabel Malzer
moved into GS. A complete change around for the team and a big
shock losing Jess, but this drive continued, despite many of the girls
being out of position. Sophie Lewis and Isabel Malzer demonstrated
some great positional play in attack, and their consistent shots
meant the girls beat Reigate by four goals. Jess’s drive came in the
form of support for the rest of the season, where she attended many
matches to support the girls on crutches despite needing surgery.
The U15A team also showed hunger throughout their entire season.
Winning the matches was simply not enough for these girls. They
were often hungry to improve their winning margins when we faced
the same opponents again, or eager to push the boundaries of goals
being scored. Highlights include beating Lingfield Notre Dame
32-9, where many of their girls play at club level, beating Eastbourne
22-7 in a triangular tournament having already just played a match
against Christ’s Hospital, and beating Bede’s 23-10. But there were
other more challenging games which meant it was goal for goal most
of the time. The U15A beat Reigate by four goals at the start of the
season, and then went on to beat them by nine goals in an away
fixture. Finally the girls beat St John’s by two goals, in a very closely
contested match where they were hungry for the win from the start.
A fantastic season from all of the girls, and I am very much
looking forward to coaching them next year, to bigger events and
further success. Thank you also to Roselly Hamlett, who stepped
up from the U15B when needed to support the team playing at
GA and GS.
U15A team: Lillie Franks, Tabby Anderson, Jess St John Dennis,
Isabelle Childs, Ellen Bailes (Captain), Tamryn Rodda, Lauren
Workman, Sophie Lewis (Vice-Captain), Isabel Malzer, Roselly
Hamlett.
Most Improved Player: Tabby Anderson and Lillie Franks
Most Valuable Player: Ellen Bailes and Sophie Lewis
Coaches: Rebecca Hughes and Janice Watts
Rebecca Hughes
U15B
Played 10, Won 7, Lost 3
Most Valuable Player: Phoebe Workman
Most Improved Player: Ella O’Hare
The season started with a small seven in the U15B team, and
competition for places was high. There was very little difference
between some players in the Bs and Cs, so after a few games the
likes of Connie Jobling and Becky Frost stepped up and represented
the team well. The season began with seven girls in seven positions
who knew exactly where they wanted to play.
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It was pleasing, however, to see that a couple of players were able
to step out of position on occasion and offer other options, which
meant the team became stronger, even with the same talented girls.
Alex Malzer went into a shooting role and Rosie Boggis stepped into
the defence, and was successful in her positions as GK and GD. The
importance of players to show versatility and willingness to adapt to
the various match situations was key in this team and, as the weeks
progressed, this became more evident. Hopefully this can continue into
next season, where success should be achieved right from the word go.
The girls demonstrated their improvement over the season by taking
time on the ball, dodging well, and creating space.
Mrs Hill and Mrs Mackay-Bulger are to be thanked for their well
thought-out training sessions for the squad.
I have enjoyed watching the team play and wish the girls all the best
for the future.
The girls went on to win the majority of their games quite
comfortably. They were able to bond as a team, and were unfortunate
to lose some of their games, when they played equally as well if not
better than their opposition. I am pleased, however, that most of the
season they came away from the games victorious.
Squad: Charlotte Bridgwater (joint captain), Poppy Deards, Mia
Hynes, Keri Nichols, Ellie Pearson, Emily Robertson, Freya
Thursfield (joint captain), Hope Warren.
Most Improved Player: Charlotte Bridgwater
Most Valuable Player: Mia Hynes
Most commonly voted Player of the Match: Freya Thursfield
Megan Lewis Healy
One of the highlights of the season for the girls would be when,
during the Reigate match at half time, Alice Southwood decided to
practise her shooting from the edge of the D, backwards, and scored!
U15D
Played 10; Won 8; Lost 2
The Most Valuable Player award was shared between Roselly
Hamlett and Lizzie Aronson.
The Most Improved Player was Alex Malzer.
Team: Lizzie, Caroline, Alex, Connie, Alice E, Alice S, Roselly,
Enrica, Becky.
Angela Brassett
The U15Ds were made up of a large squad who played for the team at
different times during the season. Some played each week, some less
frequently, and others, very kindly, played for the U14s when they were
low on numbers. However, all played with absolute determination,
enthusiasm and good spirit. This was particularly impressive for
the number of girls who had never played Netball before – Isabella
Karcher, Olga Krasnenkova, Angel Lam, and Amy Specogna.
U15C
Played 6: Won 4, Lost 2
Goals: For 95, Against 52
Our first match was a triangular tournament against Eastbourne
and Christ’s Hospital, which resulted in close loses of 2-4 and 8-13
respectively. Both matches were well fought, particularly when
Isabella Karcher went over on her ankle and we were down to six
players. Still we rallied through, and we might have secured a victory
had we been equally matched.
The team has enjoyed a successful season. They have shown good
determination, team spirit and have played well together as a team.
An excellent start to the season was seen with a 36-2 win over
Lancing. Passing was quick and shooting accurate. This was followed
by a 20-5 win over Eastbourne. Phenomenal interceptions were seen,
the girls encouraged each other and, again, the shooting was excellent.
Christ’s Hospital took the next game. We had a decent first half,
losing by just 6-7, but we needed to slow down the play at times.
Against Caterham, the girls never gave up hope. Caterham had the
lead from the start but we never let them get far ahead and kept
our heads up. Ellie Pearson kept an eye on the score and, towards
the end, encouraged the others not to let the opposition score
another goal. A goal was slotted away in the last minute and our
girls took the game!
Sevenoaks were a force to be reckoned with and, again, our girls kept
up the fight. Sevenoaks won the game, although not by very much.
A 19-13 win against Epsom College was a good end to the season.
We played a very strong Sevenoaks side in our second match, and
were truly beaten. However, the girls impressed everyone with their
very positive attitude and fast pace of play. We kept the pressure on
our opponents and went for every interception we could. Annika
Hilgert in GD and Olga Krasnenkova worked particularly hard. At
the end of the match the girls held their heads high and gave the
loudest cheer for the opposition, demonstrating a very impressive
attitude in the face of defeat.
In our final match against Epsom we secured a very exciting 21-16
victory. The girls managed to keep their heads throughout, with the
goal team of Phoebe Holder, Aleksandra Kwiatkowska, and Karen
Mak ensuring that we made the most of every attacking passage of
play. Isabella Karcher and Amy Hichens kept up a great pace of play
across centre court, with Ashley Mulligan, Tegan Davis and Olga
Krasnenkova preventing Epsom from capitalising at their end of the
court. Throughout the season all girls played with real heart whether
winning or losing, and represented the College excellently.
For their transition from novices to key members of the U15D
team, Olga Krasnenkova and Isabella Karcher were named Most
Improved Players. For leading the team as Centre and Captain,
and maintaining a positive team spirit throughout the season, Most
Valuable Player went to Amy Hitchens.
Annabel Hawkins
U14A
What a rewarding experience it has been coaching the Ardingly
U14As Netball team this year! From the very beginning, the athletic
128
ARDINGLY annals 2015
ability and co-ordination of each girl in the team made selection for
the 14As obvious, but having all come from different prep schools
meant it was a new experience for everyone to be playing together
as a team. Furthermore, having an abundance of shooters and few
defence players made for some difficult positioning, however, every
single one of the girls is to be commended on their attitudes and
performance in the new positions they adopted. With close wins
at the beginning and end of the season, as well as some ‘learning
experiences’ inbetween, it has been an absolute pleasure to get to
know each of the girls and see them develop, both individually and
as team, over the course of the season.
Our captain, Jennifer Chee, was an inspiration to the team in her
incredible athletic ability to run around as Centre for an entire game
without losing her breath and hardly breaking a sweat. Furthermore,
despite any scoreline, Jenny’s positivity was infectious, and the
consistent encouragement she provided to the rest of the team was
greatly appreciated.
Derval Branaghan was always a pleasure to watch on court; with
such poise and grace, her ability as a Netball player was obvious.
Derval’s sweet and caring nature was appreciated by all, though her
angelic demeanour was sometimes tough to break when it meant
being aggressive towards the opposition.
Emma Tardrew was another greatly valued member of our team,
with quick and aggressive play on the centre court, but also stepping
up to the position of Goal Defence when needed. It seemed as
though nothing could stop Emma until an inopportone injury at
Rodean which unfortunately meant that her absence was felt for the
remainder of the season. Looking very much the part of a netballer,
Cleo Tuttle was a great asset to the team, not only in ability to utilise
her height in defence, but also developing into a proficient and
accurate shooter throughout the course of the season, Not only this,
but Cleo was also a wonderful team player who I don’t think I saw
frown once over the course of the season!
Also developing into a reliable and consistent shooter was Maya
Kent in Goal Attack. A natural sportswoman, Maya’s athleticism and
aggression were always evident on court, rarely conceding a centre pass
and sometimes beating opposition defence players at their own game.
As previously stated, the defence players of the U14As deserve
special note, not only for their gracious attitudes in taking on new
positions, but also the determination and effort they applied against
many experienced teams. Poppy Barrott’s unfortunate injury in the
first few weeks of the season meant that Moanna Newington stepped
up into the primary positions of Goal Defence. Moanna’s consistent
defence was appreciated in the goal circle as well as in the centre
court, often helping to move the ball to our own goal third.
Lotte Burkill came to us late in the season, but we were very glad
she did, as her attentiveness and diligence in Wing Defence made a
big impact on both an attacking and defending front.
Finally, Verity Carman was named Most Valuable Player for her
services to the team in adopting the new position of Goal Keeper.
Having previously been a shooter, Verity’s experience in the D
helped her closely mark her players and always jump for rebounds.
She has shown tremendous potential, and I have no doubt that she
will continue to improve next year.
It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know every one of the girls
in the U14As Netball team, not only as players but also on a more
personal level. I am greatly saddened by the fact that I will not be able
ARDINGLY annals 2015
to continue coaching them next year when I move back to Australia. I
know, however, that after now having played together as a team for the
2014 season, the 2015 U15As team will be an impressive collection of
not only talented individuals, but a strong and supportive team.
Tori Ingram
U14B
Played 9: Won 2, Lost 7.
Goals: For 61, Against 149
Saturday 10th January: v Lancing College
Won: 18 – 2
Player of the match (as chosen by Lancing): Hannah Smith.
A windy day on the coast was the venue for our first match. The
girls played like they’d been preparing for this match for years
and obvious excitement and enthusiasm when we took an early
lead were clear to see. Good passes from Elisa Bernardo-Chavez,
confident defending from Hannah Smith and Daisy Gould, and
some deadly accurate shooting from Meghan Kalvey and Emily
McGinniss saw us three goals ahead in the first quarter. The goals
accumulated as we went through, while also holding Lancing to
the two goals they scored in the first quarter, with an impressive
seven scored in the final quarter (just one shy of the target I set
the girls!) We will need to work on our passes and marking in
preparation for the next match.
I had told the girls that they should never be afraid to claim the
ball as their own but we saw some solid – and what can only be
described as aggressive – behaviour from Charlotte Bradley in this
match.
Thursday 15th January: v Lingfield Notre Dame
Lost: 19 – 4
A confident and well drilled Lingfield team started strong and
taught the U14Bs the true importance of marking your player,
and that passes have got to be made. Our shooters made the most
of the chances they had, and there was strong goalkeeping from
Daisy Gould. Charlotte Bradley was great at offering support up
and down the court. We had spent most of Tuesday going over
spacing, and this was something that was, unfortunately, not
applied in this match.
Sat 17th January – Triangular
v Eastbourne
Lost: 7 – 9
In a very evenly matched game, it was neck and neck throughout
most of the match, but the opposition pulled away when our girls
started to tire. Eastbourne chose Maya Kent (centre) and Daisy
Gould (GK) as their Players of the Match. Hannah Smith and
Charlotte played well too. We must continue to work on set plays as
we lost more centre passes than we won.
v Christ’s Hospital Won: 12 – 7
A superb first half (aided by the rest in between matches) saw us
7-2 up with every shot at goal making it through the net - a much
better game from Meghan and Emily. Our shooters are learning
how to find a space, and Emily finally saw what can happen if she
holds her attacking place near goal rather than always chasing the
ball in centre court. CH re-grouped and matched us goal for goal in
the second half (with sloppy play on both sides due to the extremely
cold weather) but they couldn’t do enough to reduce the lead the
girls had worked hard for in the first half. This was the first time
our girls looked convincing as a real team. Daisy was again chosen
by the opposition as Player of the Match. That said, we would have
been lost without Maya (from the A team) as she offered support
all over the court and rallied the team and shouted advice on
positioning.
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v St George’s Weybridge
Lost 20 – 1
It was a frosty day and we matched that with a very frosty start to the
match, not engaging from the off. We had to manage with quite a few
C players, and this showed. Movement was poor in mid court - we
conspired to lose more centre passes than we ‘won/kept’ and our
shooters (when they did get the ball!) could not match their GIANT
GK. Player of the match was Hannah German (as chosen by them
and me). I had made Hannah Captain, and she was the only member
of the team trying to get them to keep their heads up and encouraging
them to space out – something they are still quite poor at.
Sat 7th March – Triangular
v Sevenoaks
Lost: 29 – 3
The first actual sunny day for us to play away and to be able not to
blame the cold for ‘hands that won’t catch’! Alas, against the might
of a Sevenoaks team that have more than three times the number
of girls in their Year 9, meant that were we out-classed and put into
place. The goals we did score were very well executed, with Meghan
Kalvey in her first match as GA. Angélique Cadle was instrumental
(and chosen ‘Girl of the Game’ for both of our matches this day)
in the movement of the ball up the court, but our defence was no
match for this formidable team.
v Caterham
Lost: 12 – 1
We were certainly better matched to this team, but Ardingly girls
were now very tired after a very physical first round. Again spacing
on court was our downfall – bees to the honey pot each time we
won the ball, which meant there was nowhere to pass to.
v Epsom
Lost: 31 - 6
Angélique Cadle was chosen as Girl of the Game in a toughly
fought match. The girls got blown up for ‘held ball’ in every quarter
which showed a continued need for work on spacing on court and
working on movement.
v Mayfield
Lost: 20 – 9
A very evenly-fought match that saw us 7-6 up after the second
quarter; the opposition raised their game and scored an impressive
nine goals in the third quarter. We couldn’t recover from those
frantic ten minutes, and the score ended in their favour. Girl of the
Games was chosen by Mayfield as Meghan Kalvey; I would add C
team players Annabel Parker and Danielle Magrath to that though.
Most Valuable Player: Daisy Gould
Most Improved Player: Meghan Kalvey
Nicola Burns
U15C
Played 4: Won 0, Lost 4
The Under 14C team had its ups and downs this season, but every
player was determined to learn and improve her Netball skills.
All players were committed to improving in every training session
and in every match. We had a variety of players on the team each
week. Steph Tui and Lotta Theyssen were particularly impressive
as they had never played Netball before. We would like to thank
the Under 15s who allowed us to borrow some of their players.
Saturday 17th January 2015
v Eastbourne College Lost: 2-27
v Christ’s Hospital Lost 3-14
Our first game day saw a triangular tournament at home against
Eastbourne College and Christ’s Hospital which resulted in a loss
for the team in both games.
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The first game, against Eastbourne College, was a steep learning
curve for the team. This was a new team that had never played in a
game together. They had to learn quickly to work together as a team.
The second match was against Christ’s Hospital. Annabel Parker
stood out in this game: as Centre, she was quick and played a central
role in this game. The team’s attitude was a mixture of nerves and
enthusiasm; for some players it was their first ever Netball game,
while others enjoyed being back on the court.
Saturday 7 March 2015
v Caterham School Lost 3 - 11
Annabel Parker was selected as team captain for this game.
Daniela Magrath followed Annabel’s lead, and was excellent in
defence as GD; showing true defensive strategies, she really stuck
to her partner. Both girls worked well together in moving the ball
into our attack. Both Steph and Lotta were understanding the
rules of Netball. Lotta also became key to our defence plan as GK.
The more games Lotta played, the more confident she became
as GK. Her interceptions were key to moving the ball out of
danger. Steph worked well as GS and had some excellent goals in
pressurised game situations.
Saturday 14 March 2015
v Epsom College Lost 2 -17
In our final match, the team looked confident in a cold and wet
game. Daniela Magrath and Annabel Parker took the lead and
stood out throughout the game. They worked very well together
intercepting and moving the ball up the court. The whole team
looked strong, but a strong Epsom team took the lead in the third
quarter. The team was gracious in their defeat and loudly applauded
the Epsom team.
I would also like to mention Grayce Davis, as she could not play
matches on Saturday but was committed to training every week.
She improved her Netball skills and also supported her teammates
during training.
Awards:
Most Improved Player: This player has transformed into a
competitive leader of the team. She is focused and determined, and
has honed her Netball skills. She has become a solid defender, and I
look forward to seeing her develop further and compete for a B team
spot next season: Daniela Magrath.
Most Valuable Player: This player has played a key role in our team.
She has a spring in her step and runs circles around others. She
has captained the team for most of our matches, and is an effective
Netball player. I look forward to seeing her develop further and, like
Daniela, compete for a B team spot: Annabel Parker.
Eleni Megoran
RUGBY
First XV
Played 6: won 5, lost 1
The 2014 season was always going to be an incredibly difficult act to
follow; with seven members of last year’s starting fifteen leaving, the
Rugby club was in great need of players to step up from last year’s
Second XV. Much to their credit, a number of these players did
make the step up, Viktor Nave and Abimbola Ashiru most notably
gaining the accolades of ‘Most Improved Player’ and Joint Top Try
Scorer respectively. The XV finished with a record of played 6, won
5, lost 1, an outstanding achievement, particularly given the loss of
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personnel. Those departing the College this year who have played in
the last two years can look back on a record of played 12, won 10,
drawn 1 and lost 1; not bad for a ‘Football school’.
The first game was against Emanuel School in south west London.
Emanuel had already played a full term of Rugby; this proved to
be a difficult opening fixture. An undercooked XV took to the field
without superstars Fergus Wood, Alex Hodgins, and Carlos Sandin.
Andy Mackay assumed the captaincy in Fergus’s absence, and did
his utmost to rally the troops; it was in vain, however, as the XV
fell to a painful 49–0 loss. The combination of only a few training
sessions, playing a very strong side, and notable absentees meant
that we could have no complaints; it was a fair reflection.
Following a weekend of snow, the next game was against Latymer
Upper School, another school playing Rugby as a primary sport.
This should have presented a stern test. However, an outstanding
performance from the XV led by the returning skipper Fergus Wood
scoring two tries and three conversions meant that the opposition
were defeated 39–10. Further tries came from Paul Bortnowski,
Lewis O’Shea, and first Ardingly tries for the First XV by Ollie
Pleasants and Diego Llantada.
City of London Freemen’s came to play at Nine Acre in the first
game after Long Leave. A strong Rugby school for their size, CLFS
sent a first team without their Sevens players. The game started
slowly but, after building pressure, Ardingly built a good lead
through making good use of the wide pitch, scoring tries through
Andy Mackay, Paul Bortnowski (2), Barnaby Anderson, Fergus
Wood (2), and Abimbola Ashiru. This was certainly Barnaby
Anderson’s breakthrough game for the First XV. Having begun the
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season at stand-off for the Second XV, he made the unprecedented
move to the second row. He made a great impact and was soon
rivalling the likes of Paul Bortnowski and the Mackay brothers for
impact in the collisions on the field. Viktor Nave was beginning
to form a particularly strong partnership in midfield with Carlos
Sandin, and his dramatically improved understanding of lines of
running and handling laid on a great try for Fergus Wood, Viktor
was rightly given his first Ardingly Man of the Match award.
In the next game, against local rivals Worth, the side were
magnificent. The scrum was particularly impressive in this game.
Fergus Wood was absent again, this time through commitments to
the First XI Football team, setting the stage for a dramatic return
from injury for Alex Hodgins who, after a number of months on the
sidelines and in spite of barely having played there before, stepped
into the playmaker stand-off role and pulled the strings with the
skill of a veteran. This proved to be a hard fought game and, had
it not been for the outstanding tight work of the forwards close to
the defensive line using the ‘spike’ balls, we would have struggled.
Shifting the ball away from the point of contact quickly meant that
the retreating Worth defence struggled to cope with our big runner;
both Andy and Colin Mackay made large dents in the opposition
defence, and both were on hand to assist Paul Bortnowski in scoring
his two tries. A well-taken conversion by Alex Hodgins meant that
we held on for a narrow 12-10 victory. Perhaps the most pleasing
performance of the season.
The Hampton Third XV presented the next obstacle. This was a
new fixture and one that held some trepidation, given that Hampton
is a school of 1200 boys. With Fergus being wrapped up in cotton
wool ahead of the ISFA Cup final a few days later and Alex Hodgins
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not be possible without the coaches, so I would like to take this
opportunity to thank Matt Curran who was influential as ever
in shaping the game of the forwards. Simon Dungate who was
responsible for the flair in the back division, sadly will be leaving us
this year, and the Rugby Club wishes him all the best for the future.
Finally many thanks to all of the parents who have lent their support
over the last few years; it has been a pleasure getting to know so
many of you and I know you are all very proud of the efforts of your
boys, as am I.
Sam Shelley
being away on a Model United Nations trip to UWC Mostar, Tristan
Young and Lewis O’Shea filled in at stand-off. Tristan delivered
a goal-kicking masterclass, putting one over from the touchline.
After a low-scoring first 20 minutes, the match exploded into life;
Tristan converted a relatively simple penalty before tries came from
Abimbola Ashiru (2), Carlos Sandin, and Tristan Young. Hampton
roared back for a period which coincided with a yellow card for
Barnaby Anderson for killing the ball. Thankfully the side managed
to hold their nerve, and a late try from Abimbola secured victory
36-19.
The final game was against The Harrodian School who have always
offered stiff opposition and are very well coached. In spite of giving
away a great deal of size to us, the Harrodian boys tackled valiantly,
but the big runners proved too much for them and tight tries from
Paul Bortnowski and Alex Hodgins opened up space out wide for
Abimbola Ashiru to grab two tries and join Paul as top try scorer for
the season.
In Sevens the boys were limited to two tournaments. Having been
deprived by the weather of the opportunity to defend their title
at the ‘Sussex Development Sevens’, and in view of preparing
for Rosslyn Park, we entered the Worth Sevens and performed
admirably. Without key players Carlos Sandin, Andy Mackay due
to injury, and Fergus Wood due to selection for England Counties,
Lewis O’Shea led the side superbly and was without doubt our
Player of the Tournament. After a tough opening game against
Campion where we were off the pace, excellent performances
brought victories against Brighton College B and Hurst B; serious
scalps for us. A semi-final of the B tournament beckoned against
Hampton B. Drawing 5-5 at half time, a few unlucky bounces of the
ball meant that we lost out 17-5 by the final whistle. A valiant effort
and a very successful day.
The season finished with the annual National Rosslyn Park Sevens.
We were drawn in what can only be described as ‘a group of
death’ featuring Royal Hospital School, Cheltenham College, RGS
Guildford and Worksop College. Playing schools of this calibre was
always going to be a very tall order and so it proved, with our best
performance coming against RGS Guildford, a close run 26–14
loss. Stand-out performers were Alex Hodgins, Lewis O’Shea, and
Andy Mackay.
To follow an unbeaten season last year with such a strong record
shows just how far Rugby at Ardingly has come. The departing
Upper Sixth have been the stand-out year group in the College for
the last few years, and their presence as Upper Sixth Formers was a
great foundation on which to build a very strong team this year.
A superb season, as always it was great fun to work with such a
committed and enthusiastic group of boys. This of course would
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Second XV
The Seconds had a very eventful season, with some great
performances. The majority of the squad had never played Rugby
before, and several players’ introduction to Rugby amounted
to no more than watching part of the occasional international
match on television. This did not deter the players in any way. The
commitment to learning the game and its laws was impressive, as
was, on occasion, the interpretation of those laws.
Of course, the boys faced significantly more experienced opposition
and therefore, in the course of providing great entertainment and
demonstrating some great individual skill, learned to concentrate on
teamwork; in the words of Rudyard Kipling, they learned to treat the
imposters of ‘Triumph and Disaster’ just the same.
The season started with an away game against Box Hill. The ground
was icy and the air cold, but the boys were determined to put their
skills on show. They played brilliantly. Some great interplay between
forwards and backs, strong tackling from Johannes Studier-Fischer
and Konstantin Krome, and strong forward work from Tristan
Inglesfield put us in front. The tempo of the game was high, and
Ardingly held their lead until the last three minutes, when Box Hill
managed to equalise.
Next was Emanuel School, away. This was a learning curve against
a much practised side. Although a defeat, great team play from
Ludwig Habsburg-Lothringen and Max Reynolds showed the
team’s strengths.
Latymer a week later proved to be another useful opportunity for
the boys to practise their defensive skills against a well organised
side. The forwards worked hard and gave a good game, with
Tristan, Ferdinand Essing, and Ludwig leading the way on tackling
and ball retention.
The next game was the game of the season. A superb display
of learned skill put to effective use against Box Hill, who had
supplied that cruel draw at the start of the season. Ardingly
were dominant throughout with tries scored by a combination of
individual brilliance, team work, and quick thinking. The Try of the
Match epitomised Ardingly’s new found confidence, with Tristan
Inglesfield storming through the opposition and scoring the boy’s
pick of the match.
The remaining games of the season were against experienced sides
and continued to see determination and team ethic exhibited by
the team. Notable memories include the extraordinary comeback
against Lancing. The first half proved to be a real battle, with a
number of tries against us. The response from the boys will live
long in the memory. Ardingly scored more points than Lancing
in this half and, although not sufficient to overcome the first half,
embodied the determined spirit of Ardingly sport. We declared
every player to be Man of the Match.
ARDINGLY annals 2015
The last game was a demonstration of perfect schoolboy Rugby
tackling. The boys would simply go for every man with a ball,
making it very difficult for an organised team. Who can forget
Johannes Studier-Fischer taking down three players in succession,
whilst on his back, following a previous hard tackle.
Great, entertaining Rugby from a team who showed the best of
spirit and determination.
Miles Porter
Rugby Tour
On Friday 13th February, a combined squad of First and Second
XV comprising 16 Ardingly pupils and two members of staff set
off on an exciting Rugby tour organised by the Head of Rugby, Mr
Shelley, and our correspondents at Duke’s Sport. As a rugby squad,
we were accompanied by: Mr Dungate, a young, athletic rugby
coach; Mr Wood, a young and enthusiastic Hockey coach; and Ian,
a Golf specialist.
At Heathrow airport, the coaches presented us with the tour
mascot: a small pink stuffed bear, which would be given to be taken
care of by the member of the squad who annoyed the staff the most.
The first caretaker of the mascot was none other than Max Reynolds
for being late to catch the bus first thing in the morning.
At Perpignan, our destination, our Duke’s Sport representative,
Ian, met us. The transit to the hotel was very lively and filled with
singing and ukulele playing by the members of the team. Once
settled at the hotel, we had our first meeting, where we spoke
about the plan for the coming days and, more importantly, our
first match later that day!
After lunch, we hopped on a coach that took us to the training
centre of USA Perpignan, a professional French rugby union
team, where we had a two hour slot on their Astroturf to do some
drills. The tour captain, Andy McKay, took charge of the forwards,
Mr Dungate took charge of the backs, whilst Mr Wood and Ian
organised the nutrition by slicing some delicious local blood oranges
for the squad. Needless to say, while they may not have been the
rugby experts, their orange cutting was immaculate.
After a light training session we were directly taken to the stadium
of our first opponents of the tour, Stade Eugène Ribère. Due to
some flood light failure on the local team’s rugby pitch, the two
teams were forced to migrate into the next-door football stadium.
The football goals were taken out and - as this had probably
happened before - the try lines were already drawn in, so we were
ready to go. One slight difference was that in this game of rugby,
there were no posts, and therefore no conversions.
exchanged gifts and enjoyed our meals and then, once the tables
were all clear, we were on the road again. Back at the hotel, we held
a short team meeting and then we could finally get some rest.
The second day, we were all up bright and early, and after breakfast
we set off to the beach to play some beach rugby – something not all
of us were very good at. The more agile players, such as Benny Ernst
and coach Mr Wood, excelled in the environment, but the more…
‘sturdy’ players had a pretty hard time.
We set up two try lines and played for a couple of hours after
a few brave members of the team had a dip in the very cold
Mediterranean Sea. After the beach we were off into Perpignan to
explore. We all browsed around and got to know the town in which
we were staying a little better.
Once our adventure time was up, we hopped on to a coach, which
took us to the USA Perpignan training facilities again. We started off
on the astroturf, running some drills and playing touch-rugby, before
we were lucky enough to have a chance of a gym session in the club’s
professional gym! Everyone pushed themselves to try all the state-ofthe-art gym equipment they had to offer, and a couple of the boys even
had a go at the punching bags. The most popular exercise was probably
the ‘box-jumps’, which resulted in a bruised shin or two in the team.
After our gym session, we had another run around in the sun
to make the most of the great Mediterranean weather, before
getting on the coach again to go to a Super League rugby match:
the Catalan Dragons vs the Castleford Tigers. The journey to the
stadium was supposed to take a couple of hours, but instead it only
took fifteen minutes, so we had to wait around a while, but we also
got asked to play a game of the new craze-sport, Zorb Football, for
the half time show!
Ten audacious Ardingly pupils stepped up to the task, and we will
hear more about how they got on later…
Half time came after a tense 40 minutes of great rugby, and the
Ardingly crew took the centre-stage. If you have never heard of ‘Zorb
Football’, it is essentially football, except the players are in massive
inflatable balloons with only their legs sticking out to run. It is very
funny to watch. To start it all off, two members of the team bashed
into each other, which encouraged a loud cheer from the crowd.
They came off exhausted. Needless to say it was very entertaining.
The second half of the game got underway, and it was just as
exciting as the first (but not as much as the half time show). We
were all very much into the game, but no one seemed to be very
faithful to either team, we just wanted to see some tries Once
Our first game proved to be a very tough contest. Having 13
Ardingly boys joined by two players of the opposing team after only
a single training together, one thing that became obvious was our
lack of organisation. By half time our boys were showing great spirit,
despite being about 20-0 down. At the start of the second half,
Ardingly were ready to come back and show this French side what
we were made of. We made a tactical swap and got two different
players from the opposition, which proved vital to us. We managed
to score a try but we couldn’t help but concede another two as well.
We lost our first game of the tour 30-5, with our only try coming
from Paul Bortnowski, the captain for that game.
The match tea was hosted at the ‘buvette’ in the stadium, where
we were treated to a local delicious dish, paella. The two teams
ARDINGLY annals 2015
133
the match was over, we went out for dinner as a team in a local
restaurant, which was a nice experience. The locals were all very
welcoming and friendly to us all.
Game day! We all woke up and had breakfast, ready to impress for
our second game later that day. Before lunch, we had a light training
session and enjoyed our lunch in the sun. Once we had given a bit
of time to let our food digest, we got on the road to take us to our
second opposition’s stadium: Stade François. The team we were up
against had recently got through to a regional semi-final and had won
the regionals the previous year, so we knew going into the game that
it definitely wasn’t going to be easy. We showed great spirit to keep
fighting and carry on. The captain for that game was Lewis O’Shea,
who played a key role is scoring our two tries of the game, which the
tour captain, Andy, scored. The final score was 66-12.
The post-match meal was much more interesting this time around.
We all sat at our tables and were given lots of food to eat before the
other team’s coaches started telling us to sing a song! We weren’t
quite sure what to sing but they seemed like they were asking for the
national anthem so we gave it a try but, having only ten Englishmen
in the squad, it’s fair to say that it wasn’t much of a success. In
return, we ended up singing some hymns, which they seemed to
enjoy. After the singing, they brought out the snails. Traditionally
cooked over a fire on a metal tray, they didn’t appeal to everyone,
but we were all encouraged to give them a try. Some developed a
love for the snails, and some people’s hatred of snails grew deeper.
After the snails, we exchanged gifts, and we were finally on our way
back to the hotel where we had a movie night and got some much
needed rest.
The following morning, we had time to take it easy and rest after the
tough game we had just had. It was becoming evident that the squad
could only bear this amount of exercise for so much longer. After
lunch, we went to U.S.A. Perpignan’s stadium for a proper tour of it.
Our guide was the current manager of the team, Perry Freshwater,
who is also an ex-England international. He was a very interesting
man who knew a lot about rugby. We were very lucky to meet him.
We were also fortunate enough to step onto the first team pitch and
watch the professionals at first hand and even meet a few of them –
they were immense!
We made it back to the hotel in time to relax a bit before we went
out to a lovely restaurant for dinner, after which we had a quiz night
organised by the staff, which was lots of fun. Each member of the
team was presented with a certificate. Once the fun was over, we all
headed to our last night’s sleep in Perpignan.
We spent our last morning in France shopping and browsing around
Perpignan for the last time. A couple of the boys made the most of
the local ‘boulangeries’ whilst they still could.
After lunch we all gathered at the coach and set off for the airport
for the final stretch of the journey back home. Once we had passed
through security, we were set free to roam around the airport but,
before everyone dispersed, Sam Cutler, who had won the ‘teacher’s
pet’ certificate, took it upon himself to present Mr Wood and Mr
Dungate with their very own USA Perpignan rugby polos which
the whole team had chipped in to buy for them. And then we were
finally home-bound.
It was a great experience; we all bonded as a team, and learned
a lot, not only about the French style of rugby but also about
French culture.
Sam Cutler (Lower Sixth)
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Fergus Wood – England Counties 2015
First XV Captain Fergus Wood leaves the College this year, and
what a year it has been for him. Fergus was an integral part of the
Boodles ISFA Cup winning Football team whilst at the same time
working through a series of Rugby trials finally to gain selection for
the England Counties XV.
Fergus’s Rugby journey began at a young age and though he is
fond of and very able in other sports such as Football and Tennis
(representing the College first teams in both), Rugby is where his
true passion lies. He has represented Sussex for a number of years,
and spent three years as part of the Harlequins Academy.
I first met Fergus when he was in Remove – I arrived to my first
Rugby session having been told there was a chap who was part
of the Harlequins Academy. It didn’t take long to work out which
player it was, it was clear that Fergus was a very gifted player.
What struck me the most is that there was no arrogance, no ‘Big
Time Charlie’ about Fergus. He played the game for the love of
it, and enjoyed playing with his friends. When it came to playing
in tournaments, he was without doubt our ‘go to player’; he was,
however, exceptionally well supported in what has been a ‘one off’
year group in Ardingly Rugby with the likes of Andy Mackay, Lewis
O’Shea, Carlos Sandin, Giles Gill, Jesse Lee, Alex Summerfield,
Jonah Adomakoh, and Jamie Braysher. This group of boys enjoyed
great success: winning the Plate Competition at the Llandovery
Sevens, playing in the first ever Independent School Rugby League
tournament in Leeds, and coming second to Dulwich College in a
competition in Gibraltar.
As this group progressed through the College, some were lost to
other sports, but Fergus and a core remained right the way through
to the First XV, where they were vital to the success that has been
enjoyed over the past two years. Fergus has been Captain for the
past two seasons, and it is testament to both his playing ability and
his temperament that he was able to captain boys in the year above
him so well. He remains a very humble player, and has always been
on hand to help develop those around him.
Being selected to represent his country this year was reward for
all the hard work and dedication that Fergus has put into Rugby.
For Ardingly to have a player of this calibre has been a joy and, on
behalf of all the College, I would like to thank him for his enormous
contribution to Ardingly Rugby, and wish him all the best for his
future endeavours.
Sam Shelley
BASKETBALL
The team had another fantastic season, losing only one match and
foregoing another. This means they won the South East Independent
Schools Basketball League again, for the fifth year in a row.
Full Colours were awarded to Preston Ng and Adam O’Dell.
Both have had a fantastic season, contributing greatly to our
success and also playing for teams outside school. They are good
ambassadors for the sport and will no doubt have a leading role
next year. Miguel Rodriguez-Ruiz remained our highest scorer and
he inspired the other players in his role as Captain. He continues
to play national league.
We welcomed a fantastic new coach, Karl Youngman, who brings a
youthful and focused approach to our games. He worked really hard
to develop their skills with few training sessions between matches.
ARDINGLY annals 2015
He also managed to gain places for some of the players on local
teams. We look forward to more success next year!
Daniel Davies
SAILING
Ardingly Sailing continues to impress on many fronts. We have
competitive sailing in the Preparatory, Senior and the Old Ardinian
Sailing Association.
The Preparatory School continues to impress. At the end of last
year, in the first Ardingly IAPS Championship, under the captaincy
of Sebastian Walton, Ardingly came first, second, and third out of
12 entries from schools as far afield as Oxford and Devon. Then
in September 2014 Ardingly won at Spinnaker, the National Team
Championship. This clearly places Ardingly as one of the leading
Preparatory sailing schools in the country. At the time of writing we
are preparing for the National Championships held at Weymouth in
late May. We wish our sailors every success.
The Senior School‘s young development team, under the watchful
eye of our retiring sailing captain Philip Binns, continues to
impress. They came twelfth out of 25 teams at the Eric Twiname
Championship in October in very strong winds with gusts up to 35
knots, and third in the BSDRA King’s Regatta. We are now at the
time of writing preparing for the Hoad Shield, the local area and
National championships.
The old Ardinians competed in the Arrow cup, held off Cowes,
under the kind and watchful guidance of Rory Davis. The Arrow
cup was greatly affected by light winds, with the second day’s sailing
cancelled due to drift conditions; we came 15th out of 25 teams.
We would also like to thank our retiring sailing captain Philip Binns
whose kind stewardship and patience has helped us produce one of
our best set of results. The baton is now being handed over to our
next captain Harry Tucker. We wish him every success next year.
Andrew Spiers
BADMINTON
Badminton fixtures got underway early in the Michaelmas term,
with new and old members alike training hard to gain a chance at
making the team. There have been some superb additions to the
team this year, in particular Ansen Lee, George Lawrence and
Dennis Kurtalic who have contributed hugely.
our hard work paid off though, and we came away with a win, the
final score being 12-6.
To wrap-up the season, thirty individual students (15 pairs) took
part in this year’s House Badminton competition in the final week
of the Lent term. It was the largest number of participants to date,
so boys were split into two groups at random, with the top pair from
each group going through to the final. The finalists for the boys were
Jonty Russ and Harry Bartley representing Crosse, and Ferdinand
Boucher and Dennis Kurtalic representing Hilton. The final match
was well fought but Crosse came out victorious, winning 11-5.
The girls’ competition was very close, with Toynbee pair Phaii
Tarasansombat and Holly Hill narrowly beating Aberdeen’s
Sacha Listermann and Ally Kwok overall. Great House spirit was
shown, and the large numbers of supporters and spectators really
contributed to the atmosphere. Well done to the winning Houses
and to the Ardingly Badminton team who trained so well this year
and drummed up a good deal of support for this College event.
Katherine Ward
CROSS-COUNTRY
The Cross-Country squad have made great strides this year under
the leadership of captain Sean Pontikos, who showed excellent levels
of commitment during training and at race meets. It is pleasing to
note that the number of students choosing X-C as a Games option
has continued to grow and I look forward to welcoming even more
keen athletes to the fold next year. Whilst it was exceptionally
disappointing that the Ardingly Octavo relay had to be cancelled
at very short notice, there have been a number of highlights
throughout the year. Most notably, these include Flo Ertl’s top half
finish at the Knowle Run hosted by Sevenoaks School in Kent.
This race featured many of the top X-C schools, and Flo produced
The first match played was against Lancing, and the Ardingly team
won convincingly with a score of 13-19. This early victory was secured
largely thanks to some hard-fought games played by the first and second
pairs, consisting of Jake and Geoffrey Wong, Jason Ho and Kevin Yu.
Our second opponents were Christ’s Hospital, who really challenged
us. Dennis and George deserve a special mention for winning five of
the seven games they played, and Jack Kei was congratulated by their
coach on some superb serving. Despite this, and some excellent play
by others in the team, we narrowly lost overall. This is the first season
we have taken five doubles pairs to a fixture; Ferdinand Boucher and
Phaii Tarasansombat played particularly well as a mixed doubles
pairing against an all-boys Christ’s Hospital side.
Our Charterhouse opponents were a good match in terms of ability,
and the majority of games were very close games indeed. Overall,
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popularity is reflected by it being over-subscribed (40+.) This year
we have had more Fencers from both Prep and Senior schools
(58) represent the College in more fixtures (17) involving more
team matches (93) than ever before. Not including external
tournaments, our Fencers have notched up a very respectable
number of hits:
Foil
for 1426, against 1126
Épée
for 335, against 312
Sabre for 171, against 222
Given the relative inexperience of our fencers, especially in sabre
and épée, compared to the schools we have competed with, their
achievements are impressive.
In Foil, our Sixth Formers have fenced heroically against usually
more experienced students. Club captain, Josh Hardy (+44) had a
much improved season as he led the team to frequent victories. In
this he was well supported by the ever-improving Polina Popova in
this, her third season, and against boys too (+4). The newbie to the
team, Maxwell Pierce, stepped up to the demands well (-14.) This
team’s consistent run of good form saw them through to the semifinal stage of the British Schools Team Championships, where
they were narrowly beaten 41–45 by Eton in a thrilling finale to
an excellent season, securing them a well-deserved third place and
bronze medal.
a fantastic effort to finish so highly. Additionally, James Price and
Andrew Telford produced excellent times at the Wellington Relay,
despite the wintry conditions. Outside the College, James and Flo
continue to impress with their triathlon meets. This year’s Steepo
competition was a highly contested affair, but ultimately Charlotte
Childs and Chris Holman blew away the female and male fields
respectively to win the senior event. Perhaps what has been most
enjoyable about the season is that runners of all abilities and times
have felt welcome to attend and attempt to improve their fitness,
running style, and times. Next year’s captain will be Andrew Telford,
ably assisted by Flo Ertl as Ladies’ Captain, and I am sure that they
will help the squad go from strength to strength.
Chris Quayle
FENCING
Last year I ended this report with the prophetic remark, ‘2013-14
was a very good year for Ardingly’s Fencing Club but 2014-15
will be even better,’ and so it has been. Not only has the club
grown in size to near double that of last year, but our teams and
individual fencers have been more successful too. It truly has been
a Year of Medals.
In the five years since Ardingly’s Fencing Club was formed, it has
grown from three fencers to 80 plus. Back in 2010 our fencers met
and changed into their fencing kit at the CCF Hut and walked over
to the Old Gym. With Steven Hughes’s adept coaching, we quickly
expanded and attracted fencers from the Prep School as well. Now
the Fencing coaching team includes fencing expertise in the Prep
school (Miss Clutterbuck), an armourer (Mr A Huckle), and two
further professional coaches, Matt Brigden and Mark Barrowcliff.
As a club we now train in all three weapons (foil, épée and sabre)
and compete with these as well.
In the last twelve months, the Fencing Club has doubled in size,
with a Friday Fencing session exclusively for the Prep school. Its
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The Upper School Foil team was well led throughout the season
by veteran Toby Brann (+15) and supported by relative newbie
Sam Sheridan. He and Cameron Elder, competing in his first
year, found the going tough at times, but displayed ever-greater
determination and improved technique as the season progressed.
We look forward to hearing of their progress next year.
But, once again, it was the Middle School Foil team, where our
successes regularly came. This ‘dream team’ only lost twice
throughout their entire season, and one of those was in the British
Schools Team final, and that was a close run thing too! They
thoroughly deserved their silver medals and second place. Their
competitive and professional attitude is a sterling example to all of
mental toughness, leadership, and intelligent match-play. Theirs
was the lynchpin for many a hard-fought victory elsewhere. They
dominated oppositions and accumulated points with ease and
did so with humility and the right ‘Ardingly’ spirit. All captained
at some point during the year, and so they are a thoroughly well
rounded side. Alec Watson improved upon his impressive season
last year of +34 to end with +94, a club record. Lucas Williamson
ended on a splendid +61 and, injury-hampered, Matthew Geddes
improved slightly on his excellent +71 to end with +77. The quality
of all their Fencing stepped up a league this year, and bodes
especially well for the future.
In Épée, only the enigmatic Oli Clark McCullagh (+1) remained
from last year’s debutants and with young novice, Colin Cook
(-23), entering the side, it was reasonable to expect that this year
would prove to be one of consolidation only. Not so: Bryan Chiu’s
(+55) arrival at the College and on the side galvanised the other,
relatively inexperienced, players, and helped them to believe in
themselves and play to their best. Whereas last season matches
were mostly lost, this season matches were invariably won, thanks
to an unusual combination of attitudes that just seemed to work.
Usually, team matches are not won by one player alone and time
and again, each épéeist lifted their side at crucial moments to help
secure victories against, quite frankly, better épée teams.
In Sabre, the novice-cum-crazy gang, ably captained and most
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certainly led astray by Michael Awang together with Harry Ward,
Patricks Moore and O’Brien, had an extraordinary season. Theirs
did not get off to a good start, losing to St Benedict’s, St Paul’s
and Tonbridge, all schools with good sabreurs in their sides.
But then they travelled to Harrow in December, and something
clicked. They discovered self-belief and depths of determination
that had hitherto eluded them. And they won on the hallowed
piste in the loft. It was a galvanizing performance that led them
to fence well against St Benedict’s in January and then on to
the British Schools Team Championships, where they secured a
thoroughly deserved third place and bronze medals. The joyous
beaming smiles on their faces at the medal ceremony will be one
of my highlights from this season.
The highlight of any school’s fencing calendar, though, is the
Public School’s Fencing Championships in March. It was a
gruelling three days at Crystal Palace, with over 1500 competitors
entered across 18 different categories, and while we did not
bring home any silverware, the sheer effort, concentration, and
improvement by all of our 18 fencers was a marvellous sight
to behold. Most were unlucky with who they faced in the early
rounds of direct elimination after dominating their pool stages, but
special mentions go to Lucas Williamson, Polina Popova, Colin
Cook, and Josh Hardy for doing as well as they did. Nevertheless,
we are delighted by the talented ‘young bloods,’ Daniel Bedford,
Cameron Cairns, Louis Inglesfield, and William Price, coming
through from the Prep School. Next season’s Shell Foil team will
be a force to be reckoned with!
But the icing on the cake for the Fencing Club has, once again,
been the excellent individual successes of our Fencers in county
and regional competitions. Polina Popova had a purple patch
run of success in the South-East Regionals, winning a bronze
medal and also earning a further silver medal in the Intermediate
category. At the same tournament, Josh Hardy also secured a
bronze medal in the fiercely contested Intermediate category. At
county level, Daniel Bedford earned a silver medal in the Boys
U14 foil competition. Pleasingly, in the Sussex County Boys’
Junior Team Foil, our ‘dream team’ of Matthew Geddes, Alec
Watson, and Lucas Williamson won silver medals.
And as the season comes to a close, please excuse me while I
reminisce on its many highlights and try and pick out my favourite.
Seeing the ‘dream team’ win with style again and again was a
real pleasure, especially when other sides struggled at prestigious
bastions of Fencing. Watching the eclectic épéeists win matches
and observing the incredulity on the faces of their opponents was
another. But seeing our club eclipse its former rivals St Benedict’s
in January and especially Worth in March by conclusively winning
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four out of four matches was a truly satisfying day. Perhaps it is
not so much the victory but rather the sudden arrival of self-belief
that was my highlight of the season, as when the sabreurs travelled
to Harrow and won against a very good team. That change in their
mental approach and that spring in their step showed me that, as
fencers, they had come of age. And of course, there were the two
crazily successful days, also in March, at the British Schools Team
Championships, when our U15 and U18 Foil teams and our Sabre
side all earned medals; the first in our club’s history. Perhaps I am
being a touch sentimental here, but I think my highlight is seeing
the Sports Hall full of Fencers, coaches and parents, week after
week, especially during the Inter-Prep school competitions when
our seniors superbly helped to set up seven pistes and lay out all
the kit, and then marshalled and refereed all of the matches. With
half a dozen schools represented across the county, our Fencing
Club is a beacon for what sport is about.
The finale to our year was when the Fencing Club celebrated in
style with our third annual Barbecue at the start of June. Our
Guest of Honour, the new Commonwealth Épée Gold medallist,
and friend to our club, Dudley Tredger, gave a short address and,
together with our Chair of Governors, Jim Sloane, presented the
Ardingly Sword and the Prep School Trophies to the Fencers
from Senior and Prep schools respectively who had contributed
most to the success and right spirit in the club. But perhaps
the highlight of this ceremony was the presentations to the five
leavers and stalwarts of the club (two of whom had been with
it since its earliest days); captains Josh Hardy, Michael Awang,
Polina Popova, Bryan Chiu, and Oli Clark-McCullagh. We will
miss them. Their many contributions were loudly celebrated and
those assembled thoroughly enjoyed this, followed by watching the
demonstration bouts of foil, épée and sabre.
2014-15 was a great year for Ardingly’s Fencing Club and was
also my last. The baton now passes to Mr Jerrit, who will join the
College in September, and I hope 2015-16 will be even better for
the Fencing Club.
Matthew Jennings
EQUESTRIAN
It has been an excellent year for the College’s growing Equestrian
team. The year started well when Roselly Hamlett and Poppy
Barrott won individual first and third places at the Hurst InterSchools Team Showjumping Competition at Hickstead in
September. Roselly, Poppy, Lauren Workman, and Amy Hitchens
have also represented the school at various Equestrian events,
the highlight of which has been 14 year old Roselly’s huge
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achievement of being crowned 2014 National Schools U19
Arena Eventing Champion. Watch this space as she recently beat
off stiff competition to go through to the 2015 national final.
Very honourable mention must also go to Jamie Butt who is the
reigning Senior Boys’ Pony Club National Tetrathlon Champion.
Tetrathlon is a very demanding sport where participants compete
at swimming, shooting, running and cross-country showjumping (ie
the Modern Pentathlon without the Fencing).
Karen Maurice-Jones
GOLF
Ardingly Golf this year has shown huge development, both in terms
of participation and success. We have just this year formed an
association with Haywards Heath Golf Club, and are doing Golf
as an activity during Monday’s slot. We have had more new players
than ever picking up Golf, which is great to see.
The Ardingly Golf team was made up of three players, Giles Gill,
Tim Finnerty, and Patrick Jacobs, and they made it all the way
to the National finals, beating the likes of Lingfield Notre Dame,
King’s Canterbury, and Hurst on the way. This was played over two
days at Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, and our final
position of fourteenth puts us amongst the best golfing schools in
the country, a tremendous achievement.
Six Ardingly golfers from Shell and Remove also recently
participated in a match against the Old Ardinians, in what was a
showcase of the breadth of talent across the school; four of the
golfers have handicaps of below 14, which is very impressive for
such a young age. The students managed a narrow victory over the
Old Ardinians and the future looks bright for Ardingly Golf.
Paul Utting
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SOCIETY
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DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI OFFICE
The Development and Alumni Office is the umbrella organisation
working closely with and supporting the ‘Ardingly Network’,
which includes Old Ardinian Society, the Friends of Ardingly,
and everyone who shares an affinity for the College.
In order for us to maintain a strong link between the groups, the
Development and Alumni team co-ordinates the many and varied
alumni activities and events, and is also the administrative centre
for College fundraising initiatives.
OLD ARDINIANS
Events for Old Ardinians have grown, both in terms of number
and attendance, with more year group reunions being planned,
business networking events being held in London, and nationwide
reunions, with more than sixty OAs meeting the Headmaster
and other members of staff in Munich, Germany in April this
year. The fantastic Veterans’ Lunch in September is the highlight
of the events schedule to many over-60s, with 150 Veterans
attending this year. The day coincided with the First World
War commemorations at the College, and the Veterans were
delighted to be entertained by a wonderful marching band. The
Sports reunions, oversubscribed over-60s London Lunches, and
record numbers attending OA Day, show that the Old Ardinian
community is going from strength to strength. We also welcomed
a huge number of Alumni back for tours, and saw many even
enquiring about putting a second or third generation of Ardinians
through the College. We welcome back anyone who has a
connection with the College, and look forward to seeing more
Old Ardinians at our future events.
THE FRIENDS OF ARDINGLY
This year, the Senior School Friends have been focusing on their
three main events: Burns Night, Cabaret, and Quiz Night, and
their efforts were not in vain, as all three sold-out events were the
best the College had ever seen. Thanks to the efforts of the House
Parent Reps there have been numerous dog walks and Christmas
drinks in the Senior School Houses. In the Prep School, 25
excited mums got to experience boarding as they spent one night
in the Prep Boarding House; the Prep School Friends also hosted
another successful Christmas Fair and Categories Evening. Pre
Prep have had a very busy year, organising their Pamper Evening,
Cake Sale, Christmas Disco for the Children, Quiz Night, and a
Summer Fair.
DEVELOPMENT
With the arrival in the summer of the new full-time Development
and Marketing Director, Paul Virgo, the Development operation
at Ardingly College will continue to increase its profile and involve
more supporters who wish to help support the College in a
variety of projects. The Patrons’ Circle, introduced last year with a
memorable launch at The Foundling Museum, has been a superb
addition to the Ardingly Development Programme, as each Patron
has expressed a wish to make a meaningful commitment towards
the College’s infrastructure and facilities (the ‘Capital Fund’), or the
School’s means-tested Bursary Programme (the ‘Bursary Fund’).
Iona Mackay Bulger
Alumni and Events Manager
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Original artwork:
P2 – Alice Burke U6 A2
P4 – Zara Shams L6 AS
P15 – Chloe Hague 5th GCSE
P33 – Jacky Lai L6 AS
P43 – Hannah Cullis 5th GCSE
P51 – Joyce Jin 5th GCSE
P59 – Grace Pangrazi U6 A2
P139 – Ashley Johnston 5th GCSE
P142 – Georgina Grafin-Kersenbrock 5th GCSE
Photographs by Sara Pugh, Andrew Hasson, Tim Mercer and the Ardingly Paparazzi.
The editor is deeply indebted to Rebecca Allen, Samantha Bowen, Narelle Doe,
Markus Klinge, Father David Lawrence-March, Chris Parke, and Mark Watson
for their invaluable assistance.
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143
www.ardingly.com