End of term letter, Summer 2009
12 July 2009
Dear Wilson parents,
Once again I am writing with news of sporting and other successes in Wilson at the end of a busy summer term and a fulfilling academic year. In sport, pride of place once again must go to the seniors, who have secured victories in many of the inter-House sporting competitions, although some fine performances at the end of term from the 3rd form might suggest that the next wave of sporting talent is ready to emerge. I would like to congratulate all those who have tried so hard, working and competing so well in all that they have done.
This term has been dominated by public exams and all those from the sixth and fifth, and some from the fourth form, now have a tense wait until the results are published in August. During the examination period, the atmosphere in Wilson was one of calm studiousness, so I hope all those concerned will be confident and that the wait is not too painful.
One of the first major events of the term was the House photograph, taken on the Headmaster’s lawn. For the first time for a number of years, there were no absences and the result was excellent. For those still wishing to purchase the photograph, the details of how to order can be found below.
www.tspc-shop.co.uk
Blue triangle
Username: FFSEKDX
Password: TB6JNE
In sport, we congratulated Jon Best and his senior cricket team who beat Seymour convincingly to get through to the senior inter-House cricket final against Crake. The final was a very close affair which Wilson narrowly lost on the last ball of the game. There were some good performances: top batsman was Harry Loxton with 80 in the first game and 40 in the final, and Jon Best and Paddy Kellett did well in both matches too.
Celebrating a wicket in the final
We said well done to Chris Fox, who scored a century in the 2nd X1 game against Shiplake, and to Tom Gurney on his selection to the Northamptonshire U15 cricket team, and in the last 1st XI game of the season Jon Best scored a century too.
In swimming, Chris Price and his junior team did well, but pride of place went to the seniors who won every race, creating a new School record in the process. We commended captains Chris Fox and Hugh Brockman, and the rest of the team: Jamie Walker, Grant Scrase, Paddy Kellett, Dom Albans, Jon Best, Nick Best and Harry Loxton.
The inter-House athletics was a fine occasion, if a little chilly, and we congratulated all of the Wilson competitors. Top performers in the juniors were: Adam Gilmore, who won the long jump and was 2nd in 100m, George McCloghry, who won the Javelin, and Rob Dixon, who was 2nd in high jump. In the senior section, Nick Best won 100 and 200 metres, while Jon Best won the 400 and 800 metres. Chris Grayston won the High Jump and Chris Fox won the discus. There were many more strong results in the senior competition, including first place in the relay, and Nick Best and his team were delighted to retain the trophy.
In the inter-House sailing, Rupert Agius and Alex King did well, achieving joint second place overall.
Following the flurry of sporting activity at the beginning of term, points were awarded and I was delighted to be able to award Doug Westwood, Ed Pigott, Tom Pick and Alex King their Colours ties. In addition, Jon Best reached the elusive total of 100 points and I was very pleased to be able to present him with his 100 tie.
Jon Best
The junior inter-House cricket competition was saved until the last two weeks of term and it was an inauspicious start in the first match against Crake, but, following an early morning training session, the second match against the eventual winners, Seymour, went much better, with George Howson top scoring on 65 although the match was eventually lost. In the final match of the campaign, Ben Young and his team finally secured a victory by 57 runs against Egerton, with top performers being George Howson, Ben Young and Will Richards.
Prior to the third form sports we congratulated Louis Toyne and Will Richards, who both did well in the North Oxfordshire Athletics trials. Louis competed in the 200 metres and High Jump, coming 2nd in both, while Will in the 100 metres and Long Jump finished 2nd and 3rd.
The third form sports took place on the final day of term and the Wilson third form did the House proud by winning the competition. The top performer was Leo Coucher, who won all of the events that he entered, which included the 400 and 800 metres, the Long Jump and, with Will Richards, Louis Toyne and Oliver Pelendrides, the successful relay team.
Leo Coucher Will Richards
One of the highlights of the term was the House Communion, which was the final House service for the leavers. It gave each of the upper sixth a chance to say what their lasting memories will be and it was particularly poignant for me as this group joined Wilson as the third form as I took up the post of Wilson Housemaster. It was a very moving service and I am sure it will remain in our memories for some considerable time to come.
The Wilson leavers (taken in 2004)
In drama, we celebrated the fine performances of Harry Cox and Sam Prior in the L6th Theatre Studies play “The Collection” by Harold Pinter and congratulated Oliver Pelendrides and Chris Bastable for their starring roles in the 3rd form play. For many, the highlight of the term was the staff production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”. Four Wilson staff took starring roles: Rob Hastings, Douglas Perrin, Charles Atkinson and Andrew Whiffin, in whose honour the production was performed, in order to celebrate his fine service to the English department and to drama at the School.
In other events, we congratulated George McCloghry, who was the 5th form representative in the School Reading Competition, where he did very well. In debating, we said well done to Oliver Pelendrides and Louis Toyne who had the difficult task of debating against the motion “This House celebrates Wimbledon”. We also congratulated Sam Prior on his appointment as Chairman of the debating society for the academic year 2009-2010.
Headmaster’s stars are awarded for excellent effort in orders. Following the summer term orders, a record number, seventeen, were awarded to members of Wilson. We congratulated two 3rd form: Oliver Pelendrides and Dominic Craven, two 4th form: Kieran Howard and George Howson, three L6th: Max Heaver, Tom Pick and Sam Prior, one U6th: Ed Pigott, and we said a particular well done to nine 5th formers: David Bletsoe-Brown, Rob Dixon, Rory Kellett, Alex King, George McCloghry, James Rodriguez-Hughes, Grant Scrase, Jamie Walker and Joe Heaver - a very impressive tally.
Douglas Perrin is going part time in September and was hoping to retire from his role as a Wilson tutor. His replacement will not be with us until Christmas, so we are grateful that he has agreed to stay on for another term.
Andrew Whiffin has been a member of the Wilson tutor team for 14 years, the first nine years of which he served as Assistant Housemaster, which is a mammoth innings. His sense of duty, care and attention made him a very valuable asset to the House. All of his tutees past and present will be most grateful for the time he has spent with them and the guidance he has given. I would like to thank him personally for all the help he has given to both the House and to me personally. He is retiring from teaching in order to pursue his acting career with more vigour and we wish him luck.
Andrew Whiffin
Andrew’s replacement is Tom Tuthill. Tom is joining Bloxham as he makes a career change into teaching. In his first year he will complete a PGCE through Buckingham University in Politics & Humanities. Prior to joining the school, he spent a decade working in the Sports Television Industry. He worked as a Producer for Sky Sports, BBC, British Eurosport and many other broadcasters as he travelled the world covering high profile sporting events. His love of sport will be put to good use at school as he will coach Rugby, Hockey and Cricket. He is married to Claire, who is a Maths teacher at the Carrdus School near Banbury. They have two children, Isabella and Daisy.
Tom Tuthill
In the end-of-year assembly, it was good to see so much success being celebrated and, in particular, the following academic prizes were awarded to members of Wilson: Joe Heaver won the Junior German Prize, Robert Dixon won the Junior Electronics Prize, Ed Pigott won the Senior Geography Prize, Jae Jung won the Physics Investigation and Senior Maths Prizes while Doug Westwood won the Senior PE and CCF Prizes. In sport, Harry Loxton was presented with the prestigious trophy awarded to the individual who has made the most significant contribution to the sporting life of the School.
Harry Loxton
In the last House assembly of the term we congratulated both Tom Pick and Will Powell on their appointment to the School Prefect team and on being appointed as House Captain and House Vice-Captain respectively. We also congratulated Harry Cox on his appointment as House Sacristan. We wish them all the best as they take up their duties.
Two dates for your diary are:
· the House Concert in the week before the October half term break,
· the House Dance, on 6th February 2010, when we will expect a good turnout from parents and that a lot of fun will be had by all.
I would like to wish good luck to all those expecting results in August, and also good luck to all of the leavers, whom we will miss. I wish you all a good summer and look forward to the boys’ return in September when they will be relaxed and ready for the challenges ahead.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Skevington.
printed from Bloxham School website at http://www.bloxhamschool.com/article_630.php