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2007-2008
Fanfare Mount House School 2007/2008 Mount House School, Tavistock 2007/2008 Fanfare STUDY View from the Study The view from this study this morning is one of rural beauty and timelessness. In the distance Tavistock is cloaked in a layer of mist lying beneath a deep blue sky. Grand and ancient trees provide shape and colour to the view, which slowly evolving, would have been familiar to many generations of pupils, parents as well as headmasters in reflective mood. At my back are the stately buildings of Mount House with their own permanence and rich history, full of happy, eager youngsters. All of this seems entirely at odds with the current turmoil in financial markets and the rising sense of disquiet among many ordinary people as the implications of recent events slowly creep into our understanding. As we slowly unravel this complex trail of credit, debt and security we come to question how much of the relentless increases we have seen in our material standard of living has been built on smoke and mirrors and what will be left behind when we get back to the heart wood. The annual conference for prep school headmasters was held in Liverpool this year. As European city of culture it seemed full of life, optimism and the spirit of regeneration. What struck me most though were the fabulous older buildings around the dock area, monuments to a bygone age of corporate grandeur, wealth and permanence. The White Star building seems to say ‘Here we are. Ours is a great company and we have an enduring sense of purpose.’ Within its walls one suspects that, rather than being incentivised by share options, bonuses and short term contracts, their executives were deeply committed to the ideals and aims of the institution (misguided though some of them may have been). The fact that company profits were used to build such a grand statement about the company was deemed appropriate and it is easy to see how this would have enhanced the status of the company in the eyes of the public and inspired loyalty, service and pride from its employees. Perhaps too much of our social and economic culture has become dislocated from those fundamentals of purpose, theme and service. In schools and as parents we and not Mr Darling have the ultimate responsibility to bring up our children with strong values and not frothy aspirations. As the city and society stumbles around trying to find a new paradigm I am deeply reassured by the view from this particular study, both out ahead and at my back. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 2 Jim Massey GOVERNING BODY D.S.B. James, BA (Chairman) Mrs S.E. Coryton T.D. Cunningham I.R. Davenport BA Dr. J.Evans, MA, FRCS(Ed)Plast., FRCS R.C. Franklin, FCA M.R. Johnson BEd A.H. Monro, MA G.S. Sayers, BSc Mrs V.Tuck, BA, MA, MIL ACADEMIC STAFF J.R.O. Massey, B.Sc Headmaster J. Symons, B.Ed. Deputy Headmaster & Head of History M.J. Bassett, B.Ed Senior Master, Director of Studies, Head of Mathematics, SENCO J.H. Banyard, BA, PGCE French & Head of Religious Studies Miss C. Brereton, BA Junior Subjects Dr E. Chakrabarti, Ph.D Lab Technician Mrs S. Butcher, BA, PGCE Latin A. David-Ward, BA, PG Dip, PGCE Head of PE & Gen. Subjects Dr A. Eagleton, B.Sc.Science, Ph.D Head of Science Miss C. Grubb, BA, PGCE Junior Subjects J.Hammond, B.Ed Head of English and Latin, Girls’ Houseparent Mrs S Hammond, B.Ed Junior Subjects Girls’ Houseparent Mrs E. Harris, BA, PGCE English A.R. Lamb, B.Ed Head of Geography H. Myott, BA, PGCE Director of Communications, Boys’ Housemaster Mrs S. Phillips, BA, PGCE Head of Art P. Stephens, B.Ed General Subjects Miss S. Symons, BA Junior Subjects N. Waitz, B.Sc, PGCE Junior Subjects H.J.C. Walkington, BA, U.Ga Head of French Mrs G. Waters, LRAM Grad Dip.Mus. PGCE Director of Music G. Whaley, Cert.Ed, Dip.Ed Head of Design & Technology PEOPLE Governing Body and staff ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF N. Jory, ACIB GradICSA Bursar Mrs C. Cheshire, ACA Assistant Bursar Mrs L.P. Cowie School Secretary Mrs A. Granger Clothing Shop Mrs J. Massey, MA (Cantab.), MI Struct E, MICE Clothing Shop Mrs P.S.Tear Headmaster’s Secretary CATERING, GROUNDS, HOUSEKEEPING AND MAINTENANCE STAFF L. Mitchell Caterer Miss G.P.Thomas, Miss H.M. Palmer D.J. Hammond Head Groundsman B. Willcocks Mrs. S.M Maclaren, RGN, RM Head Matron Miss S.A Witherall Senior Assistant Matron Miss K. Butler Assistant Matron Miss S. Williams Assistant Matron Mrs S.R. Da Rocha Housekeeper Mrs M. Hall Assistant Housekeeper Mrs H. Allin, Miss L. Blowey, Mrs M. Beresford, Mrs J.A. Carter, Mrs S.C. Crowell, Mrs E. Davies, G. Davies, Mrs D.M. Dingle, Mrs L. Greenwood, Mrs S. Hall, Mrs. G.M. Hancock, D. Harrison, Miss S. Hickman, Mrs V.D. Howe, Mrs A. Ishmail, Miss R. Myott, Mrs D. Nolan, Mrs. L. Phillip, O Reid, Mrs. A.J. Sanderson, Mrs. A.Tully, Mrs. E.J. White J. Brimacombe, Head of Maintenance J. Blowey, S. Howells, E.G. Mason VISITING STAFF Miss R. Ballantyne, BA, Flute Mrs C.M. Burnham, LTCL, B Mus. PGCE Piano Mrs. A.V.Chichester Dance Mr Finch, Oboe D.S.Grove Fly Fishing P. Jones Brass Mrs K.E. Keith-Hill, Cert.Ed Woodwind R. King Guitar & Drums J. Lewington, LTCL Singing Mrs O. Loewendahl, BA, PGCE Cello A. Miller Drums Mrs C.Thom, M Mus., B Mus., FTCL, LTCL, LRAM Classical Guitar Mrs C.Thompson, LTCL, A Mus. LCM Piano Mrs M. Willmott, BA, PGCE Violin Jono Jackson Teaching Assistant Sam Willetts Gap Year Student Tiggy Johnstone-Burt Gap Year Student Waithera Junghae Gap Year Student P.R. Bond, B.Sc (Hons), PGCE Squash Mrs S.V. Walsh, M.Ed, BA, Cert.Ed Learning Support G. Bush, Cert.Ed Learning Support Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School Mrs J. Hallinan, MA Head of Pre-prep Miss M. Pole, B.Ed Pre-prep Year 2, Deputy Head of Pre-prep Mrs J.A. Best, NNEB Pre-prep Year 2 Mrs H. Cooper, Classroom Assistant Pre-prep Year 2 Miss J.A. Edmonds, Cert EYP (open) Pre-prep Year 1 Mrs N.A.M. Gabb, Cert.Ed Pre-prep Year 1 Mrs D.B.Hone, NNEB Nursery Miss R. Iles, NVQ2 Nursery Mrs A.Y. MacDougall, NNEB Nursery Manager Mrs A. Malcolm, LLB, PGCE Reception Mrs E.A. Morgan, NVQ3 Reception Miss R Myott, After School Club Miss H. Rickard, NVQ3 Foundation Unit 3 PEOPLE Honours Board Cousens, Michael Dance, Edward Davies, Rhys Dickinson, Flora Fujita,Yume Redman, Emily Salmon, Henry Searight,Tristan Sutcliffe-Maynard, Georgina Sylvester,Tom Toynton, Fern Zajicek, Flora Zajicek, Flora Harrow Sherborne King's College Taunton Blundell's Sherborne Girls Sherborne Girls Malvern Bryanston Bryanston King's College,Taunton Canford Blundell's Blundell's All rounder - academic with sport Academic exhibition Sport Major academic Major music Academic Sport Art All-rounder Design & Technology Design & Technology All-rounder Music Scholarship successes: Twelve scholars won 13 awards to join the schools of their choice. Set Leaders & Prefects Prefects Head Boy Head Girl School Prefects 1st XV Rugby Captain 1st XI Girls' Hockey Captain 1st XI Boys' Hockey Captain 1st VII Netball Captain Sevens Captain 1st XI Cricket Captain Rounders Captain Head Choristers Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 4 Head Librarian Colours Arts Freddie Jayarajah India Leigh Michael Cousens Edward Dance Jacca Deeble-Stone Flora Dickinson Hannah Donne Jack Galsworthy Elizabeth Jervoise Emily Redman Georgina Sutcliffe-Maynard Tom Sylvester Fern Toynton William Wells Rosie Yeoward Flora Zajicek Michael Cousens Fern Toynton Julian Bertie Rosie Yeoward Flora Zajicek Michael Cousens India Leigh Edward Dance Flora Zajicek Edward Shackle Jacca Deeble-Stone Yume Fujita Eleanor Hayward Ruairidh Matthews Emily Redman Tristan Searight Georgina Sutcliffe-Maynard Tom Sylvester Flora Zajicek Alexander Zervudachi Sport Julian Bertie Michael Cousens Edward Dance Rhys Davies Hannah Donne Freddie Jayarajah India Leigh Tommy Lyon-Smith Phoebe Malcolm Edward Mann James Mann Jonathon Parsons Emily Redman Oliver Sale Henry Salmon Tristan Searight Harry Sharp Fern Toynton Elliot Woodhead Rosie Yeoward Alexander Zervudachi Rugby, Hockey Rugby Rugby Rugby Hockey, Rounders Rugby, Hockey Hockey, Netball, Rounders Rugby Rounders Rugby Rugby, Hockey Rugby Hockey, Netball, Rounders Rugby Rugby Rugby Rugby Hockey, Rounders Rugby Netball Rugby FORM 3JB 1SS 3CG 3CG 5LC 4NW 2CB 1SS 2SH 2SH 2SH 3JB 6HW 5LC 5JH 4NW 5LC 5ADW 1SS 3JB 2SH 5ADW 4PS 2CB 4NW 2CB 4AL 6HW 2CB 2CB 4NW 1SS 6HW 1SS 6JS 5JH 6HW 6HW 5ADW 4PS 6HW 1SS 5JH 2SH 4NW 4PS 3JB 4PS 1SS 3JB 2SH 6JS 5ADW 5LC 6JS 4AL 3CG 5JH 2CB 4NW 4PS 6JS 5ADW 2CB 3JB 3CG 5JH 2SH 3JB 5LC 4AL 1SS 4AL 4PS 6HW 3CG 4PS 6JS 4AL 2CB 3CG 5JH 3JB 3CG 5ADW 3CG LEIGH, India LEWIS, India Beatrice LEWIS, Madeleine LOPES, Henry LOPES, Ralph LOPES, Sascha H LUNDY, George LUTHER, Rosie A LYON-SMITH,Tommy P MACEACHARN, Charles J MACEACHARN, William H MAJORIN, Alexander MALCOLM, Giles MALCOLM, Phoebe MANN, Edward MANN, James MANTON, Emma MASNYK, Andre J MASON, Harry MASSEY, Jonathan MASSEY, Lucy MATTHEWS, Ruairidh G MAY SOMERVILLE, Elizabeth P MCCORMICK, Joseph MCCORMICK, Lucy MCGONIGLE, Olivia F MCKELVEY, Henry R MCNAIR SCOTT, Alexander G MEASELLE, Luke MILLAR, Rory MORRIS, Frederick MORRIS, Georgina K MULES, Henry MUSTARD, Oscar NEWMAN, Jeremy R NEWMAN, Georgina D NEWMAN, Henry R NORRIS, Isabel NORRIS, Oscar OXENHAM, Izella PARSONS, Jonathon J PAULL, Emma PAULL, William PERRING, James REDFARN, Jamie REDMAN, Emily REDMAN, Lucy A RENWICK, Jamie E RIDGERS, Henry A ROBBINS, Gemma V RODGERS, Oenone ROSE, Finlay RYDER-GREEN, Meaghan RYDER-GREEN, Oliver SALE, Eliza M SALE, Harry R SALE, Oliver R SALMON, Henry SAVCHENKO, Konstantin SCAGLIONI, Nicolas SEARIGHT,Tristan SHACKLE, Edward A SHARP, Henry G SHIRLEY, Brett SMITH, Louis SMYTHE, Dylan G SPIERS, Zach STEED, Jeremy C SUTCLIFFE-MAYNARD, Georgina E SYLVESTER, Nicholas A SYLVESTER,Thomas J TAYLOR, Max TELFER-SMOLLETT, Lucy TOYNTON, Fern TRENEER, Barnaby UNSWORTH-WHITE,Tabitha UNSWORTH-WHITE, Samantha R VILLAQUIRAN, Christopher J VON WENTZEL, Christoph F WELLS, Henry B WELLS, William WESLEY, Bethan WEST, Sophie R WILLETT, Ryan G WILLIAMS, James S WILLIAMSON-CARY, Thomas WILSON, Beatrice 6HW 4PS 2SH 4PS 2SH 5ADW 5JH 3JB 6HW 3CG 5JH 5JH 3CG 5ADW 6JS 6JS 1SS 2SH 2CB 4AL 2SH 5JH 2CB 1SS 2CB 5LC 6JS 2SH 3JB 2CB 5ADW 2SH 3JB 4PS 2CB 5LC 4AL 5JH 2SH 3CG 6JS 5ADW 3JB 4PS 5JH 6HW 4NW 4AL 2CB 4PS 2SH 1SS 3JB 1SS 4PS 1SS 5JH 6JS 2CB 5JH 6JS 6JS 5ADW 4NW 3CG 4PS 4PS 3JB 6JS 5LC 6JS 5LC 5JH 6JS 2CB 3CG 1SS 1SS 1SS 5LC 6HW 2SH 1SS 4NW 1SS 3JB 2CB Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School NAME ANDERSON, Jamie N ANDREWS, George BALL, Gavin BARLOW, Edward R BARLOW, Henry D BARRASFORD, Conor BARRASFORD, Karis A BARRASFORD,Talia H BARTLEET, Edwin T BATE, Olga BEACON, Charles BERNA, James A BERTIE, Julian BIRKIN, Benjamin C BUTCHER, Louisa CARRICK, Marina D CAVE, Harriet P CAVE, Frederick S CHESHIRE, Benedict E CHESHIRE, Lucy M CHOROSZEWSKA,Tean CHOROSZEWSKI, Michal CHOROSZEWSKI, Sam CLARK, Hector M CLARKE, Benjamin CLAYTON, Augusta D COOMBS, Andrew E COUSENS, Michael E COX, Isabel F CROFTON, Angus D'ENTRECASTEAUX, Benjamin D'ENTRECASTEAUX, Alexander DANCE, Edward DAVID-WARD, Jacob Thomas DAVIES, Rhys DE FALBE, William A DEEBLE-STONE, Jacca DICKINSON, Flora DOLLARD, Dominic S DONNE, Alice DONNE, Hannah DONNE, Sophia N ESSEX, Sophie R FARR, Charles FARR, James FARRINGTON, Jamie W FEARNLEY, Elizabeth FERGUSON, Alexander O FITZGERALD, Edward G FITZGERALD, William D FORREST, Jennifer FUJITA,Yume FULFORD, Edmund B GALSWORTHY, Imogen R GALSWORTHY, William GEORGE, Abigail GILLARD, Guy F GOFF-WHITE, Jonson H HADOW, Wilf P HARDING, Benjamin N HARRISON, Guy M HARRISON, Peter W HARTLEY, Poppy K HARVEY-BRADE, Jessica HAYNES-PARRY, Caitlin G HAYWARD, Anthony M HAYWARD, Eleanor H HAYWARD, Max W HOOLASH, Ben A HUGHES, Henry A HUGHES-CHAMBERLAIN, Meg HUNTINGTON, Jessica HUNTINGTON, Julian JACKMAN,Thomas E JAYARAJAH, Freddie JAYARAJAH, Bertram D JERVOISE, Cecily JERVOISE, Elizabeth JORY, Nicholas KENT, Elsa T KENT, Laurie J KIDNER, Eloise M KIDNER, Isabel S B LAMBETH, Billy L LAWSON, Ralph LEE,Taylor PEOPLE School List 2007/2008 5 PEOPLE School List 2007/2008...continued WILTSHIRE, Ben WILTSHIRE, Charlotte WIXON, Holly WOODHEAD, Harrington J WOODHEAD, Elliot H WOOLCOCK, Alexander 1SS 3CG 4AL 5JH 6JS 5LC WOOLCOCK, Alice WOOLCOCK, Eleanor YEOWARD, Rosie ZAJICEK, Florence ZERVUDACHI, Alexander A 2CB 2SH 6HW 6HW 6HW MEASELLE, Rory J MILTON, Angus S NOORDEWIER, William NOORDEWIER, Charlie PATTERSON, Nicholas PEETERS, Leopold PEETERS, Beatriz PERRING, Harry R PHILLIPS, Jessye G RAMNARACE, Jonathan C RAMNARACE, Joshua RIDGERS, Camilla S SARKAR, Francesca SARKAR, Lauren E SEARLE, Benjamin SHARP, Amelia E SHARP, Jack SMITH, Alexander C SMITH, Charlotte A SMYLY, Jamie C SMYLY, Jack A SNOW, Isabella SPENCE, Jacob STONE, Betty STONE, Felix M STONE, Hebe TEAGUE, Amy L TEAGUE,Toby VILLAQUIRAN, Matthew A WEST, Juliette S WHITBREAD, Ottilie WHITBREAD, Rose WILDMAN, Charlie WILSON, Florence WILTSHIRE, Alexandra R WRIGHT, Annaliese Year 2 Year 2 Reception Year 2 Nursery Nursery Nursery Reception Year 1 Nursery Year 2 Year 2 Reception Reception Nursery Year 1 Year 2 Nursery Reception Reception Year 2 Reception Nursery Year 1 Nursery Nursery Nursery Year 2 Year 2 Year 1 Year 1 Reception Year 1 Reception Reception Reception PERRING, Harry R RIDGERS, Camilla S SALE, Harry R SALMON, Henry SAVCHENKO, Konstantin SHARP, Amelia E SHARP, Jack SMITH, Alexander C SMITH, Louis SPIERS, Zach TEAGUE, Amy L TRENEER, Barnaby WESLEY, Bethan WEST, Juliette S WEST, Sophie R WHITBREAD, Ottilie WHITBREAD, Rose WILLIAMS, James S Easter Term 2008 ANDREWS, George BARKER, Finlay N CORMACK, Henry O HARVEY-BRADE, Jessica HARVEY-BRADE, Kitty G RAMNARACE, Jonathan C RODGERS, Oenone Summer Term 2008 GEORGEL, Cameron J LUTHER, Rosie A NEWMAN, Jeremy R ROSE, Finlay SEARLE, Benjamin SPENCE, Jacob STONE, Felix M Reception Year 2 1SS 6JS 2CB Year 1 Year 2 Nursery 3CG 4PS Nursery 2CB 2SH Year 1 1SS Year 1 Reception 1SS Pre-prep List NAME BAJABER, Abdul-Rahim M BARKER, Charles M BARKER, Finlay N BARRASFORD, Riley BATE, Celia BAYS, Harry BAYS, Oliver BAYLIS, Loelia A BELLAMY, Jack BIRD, Siobhan CLAYTON, Luther F COLERIDGE, Marcus CORMACK, Henry O COX, Agatha R DANVERS, Maisie DANVERS, Susie DAVID-WARD, Phoebe B E DU'GAY, Joseph J ELDER, Martha FARR, Henry FORGAN, May GEORGEL, Cameron J GRIER-REES, Alfred G HARVEY-BRADE, Kitty G HAWKINS, Oliver HEAL, Amelia K INGLIS-JONES, Lara INGLIS-JONES, Leila JACOBS, Martha JERVOISE, Ralph C LAMB, Alice LAMB, James F LOPES, Olivia J LOVE, Charlotte R MANTON, Rebecca FORM Nursery Year 2 Nursery Year 2 Year 1 Year 1 Year 2 Year 1 Year 1 Year 2 Year 1 Reception Nursery Reception Reception Year 2 Year 1 Reception Nursery Year 1 Reception Year 1 Year 2 Year 2 Nursery Reception Year 2 Reception Year 2 Year 2 Reception Nursery Year 1 Nursery Year 1 Salvete Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 6 NAME Christmas Term 2007 BAJABER, Abdul-Rahim M BERNA, James A ELDER, Martha FEARNLEY, Elizabeth FITZGERALD, Edward G GOFF-WHITE, Jonson H INGLIS-JONES, Lara INGLIS-JONES, Leila KIDNER, Isabel S B LAMB, James F MASNYK, Andre J MASON, Harry MCCORMICK, Joseph MILTON, Angus S PATTERSON, Nicholas PEETERS, Leopold FORM Nursery 3JB Nursery 3JB 1SS 5JH Year 2 Reception 3JB Nursery 2SH 2CB 1SS Year 2 Nursery Nursery 1SS Nursery Nursery 2CB Year 2 Nursery 2SH Year 1 3JB 2CB 1SS Nursery Nursery Nursery NAME Easter Term 2008 BAYS, Oliver BAYS, Harry FARR, James PATTERSON, Nicholas Summer Term 2008 BERTIE, Julian CLARK, Hector COUSENS, Michael DANCE, Edward DAVIES, Rhys DEEBLE-STONE, Jacca DICKINSON, Flora DONNE, Hannah ELDER, Martha FARR, Charles FARR, Henry FUJITA,Yume GALSWORTHY, William GEORGE, Abigail HARRISON, Peter W JAYARAJAH, Freddie JERVOISE, Elizabeth LEIGH, India LYON-SMITH,Tommy P MALCOLM, Phoebe MANN, Edward MANN, James MCKELVEY, Henry R PARSONS, Jonathon J REDMAN, Emily DESTINATION Sherborne Bedales Harrow Sherborne King's College Taunton Bryanston Blundell's Canford Plymouth College France France Sherborne Girls Sherborne St Joseph's Sherborne Eton Sherborne Girls Bryanston Exeter Cheltenham Ladies' College Blundell's Blundell's Blundell's King's College Taunton Sherborne Girls SALMON, Henry SEARIGHT,Tristan SHACKLE, Edward A STEED, Jeremy C SUTCLIFFE-MAYNARD, Georgina E SYLVESTER, Thomas J TOYNTON, Fern WELLS, William WILLETT, Ryan G WOODHEAD, Elliot H YEOWARD, Rosie ZAJICEK, Florence ZERVUDACHI, Alexander A PEOPLE Valete Malvern Bryanston Sherborne Lockers Park Bryanston King's College Taunton Canford Exeter Plymouth College Sherborne Bryanston Blundell's Eton Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 7 ACTIVITIES Remembrance Service Disco for Shelter Box Rear Admiral Morris was a pupil at Mount House at the time when it moved from its original home in Plymouth to the site that it occupies today. He recalled being taught in “The Stables” before they were converted into the bright, modern classrooms that they are today. Everyone was determined to enjoy the evening and over £400 was raised for this most worthy of causes. Louisa Butcher, Izzy Norris and Phoebe Malcolm were a most helpful and enthusiastic Disco Committee and I thank them for their support. The photograph shows Rear Admiral R O Morris with Jim Massey, and Ruairidh Matthews, who played the Last Post at the Service of Remembrance. My thanks go to you all, and especially to Neil Jory, John Blowey, John Brimacombe and Jacob Stephens for their help in setting up the equipment on the afternoon of the event. / NEWS The Service of Remembrance was attended by Rear Admiral R.O.Morris CB, who was returning for the first time in 62 years to the school he attended as a boy. Almost the whole school attended the disco for Shelter Box on 23rd June 2008 and I was absolutely overwhelmed with the support that I was given. J.Banyard. VIDEO CLUB This year the main pupil-led project was done by a group of fourth year pupils as a goodbye to Abigail George. Nostalgia was the name of the game as a pre-prep location was chosen for the setting of the song, Wake Up. All the pupils appeared to have a great time in the making of the video. Other projects have included the tenth anniversary of the French Trip, French Day, The Senior Play and Hats Off. J.Banyard Visiting preachers Sunday 7th October Mr SF Eliot Headmaster of Sherborne Saturday 10th November Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 8 Rear Admiral RO Morris, CB (Remembrance service) Sunday 25th November Mr WJ Hughes-D’Aeth Headmaster Milton Abbey Sunday 3rd February Mr RRB Biggs Headmaster of King’s College Taunton CHRISTMAS TERM 2007 WINNER 1st XV Tackling Trophy 1st XV Endeavour Trophy 1st XV Most Improved player Best 1st XV Forward Best 1st XV Three-Quarter 1st XV Captain's Cup 1st XV Captain's Prize Colts Captain's Prize Colts Outstanding Player TRISTAN SEARIGHT TOMMY LYON-SMITH JAMES MANN / EDWARD MANN JULIAN BERTIE MICHAEL COUSENS / RHYS DAVIES HENRY SALMON MICHAEL COUSENS DYLAN SMYTHE ZACH SPIERS GIRLS' HOCKEY WINNER Set Hockey ELIZA JERVOISE ROSIE YEOWARD INDIA LEIGH FERN TOYNTON FLORA ZAJICEK FLORA DICKINSON HANNAH DONNE EMILY REDMAN (+ FERN TOYNTON + INDIA LEIGH) = 17 Goals KANGS ART WINNER Most Improved player Endeavour Cup Captain's Cup Outstanding Player (Smythe Cup) Defender Cup MLG Top Defender award Services to Hockey Top Goalscorer's Prize (Newman Plate) Christmas Card Competition Christmas Tree Competition JUNIOR ACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD BEST DECORATED DORMITORY SASCHA LOPES, ELLIE HAYWARD, HANNAH DONNE HOLLY WIXON, BERTIE JAYARAJAH WINNER GILES MALCOLM, IZELLA OXENHAM, ANTHONY HAYWARD WINNER Girls Boys EDWARDS (4) RODNEY (6) BEST DORMITORY Girls Boys JAMES (4) DRAKE (8) SET DUTY CUP KANGS PLUSES AND MINUSES CURRENT LEADERS (END OF CHRISTMAS TERM) WINNER WINNER WINNER SPOKEN ENGLISH Junior Prose N/A Junior Poetry Christopher Villaquiran Intermediate Poetry Izella Oxenham Senior Poetry Izzy Norris Senior Prose Flora Zajicek HOUSE CROSS Junior Girls 1st 2nd 3rd Junior Boys 1st 2nd 3rd Intermediate Girls 1st 2nd 3rd Top of the Form George Andrews Barnaby Treneer Olga Bate Louis Smith Izzy Kidner Dylan Smythe Brett Shirley Jonnie Massey Emma Paull Olivia McGonigle Lucy Telfer-Smollet Eliza Jervoise Mikey Cousens Cashell Cup Easter Egg SUBJECT PRIZES COUNTRY Gold medal Silver medal Bronze medal Easter Egg 1769 1615 1535 1545 Morgan Cup to be presented at end of Summer Term FORM PRIZES Owls Eliza Sale Cecily Jervoise Lucy Redman Kangs Alex Hay Cup Hawks Smyth Cup Hawks Charlotte Cowie Cup Otters Easter Eggs SUMMER TERM 2008 Book Token Book Token Book Token Book Token Book Token Gold medal Silver medal Bronze medal Bermuda Cup Hugh St. Aubyn Cup Cup MacKenzie Cup Lucy Redman Owls 951 Hawks 854 Kangs 813 Otters 779 Owls 2720 Hawks 2469 Kangs 2348 Otters 2324 Rotary Cup Benjie Dudgeon Cup Rory Benham Cup Venetia Maitland Cup Harry Sale Wilf Hadow Oscar Norris McCormick Cup Plus & Minus scores Individual 1 Set (Easter Term) 1 2 3 4 Set (running total) 1 2 3 4 Otters Kangs Hawks Owls Gold medal Silver medal Bronze medal Hawks Holly Walker Cup Otters Dormitory Cup Easter Eggs OWLS Rory Cumming Cup PRIZE Elsa Kent Beatrice Wilson Augusta Clayton Gold medal Silver medal Bronze medal OTHER PRIZES Best Hockey Defender (B) James Mann Best Hockey player (B) Freddie Jayarajah Netball Captain Rosie Yeoward Best Kept Dormitory MACARTHUR (Girls) Best Kept Dormitory (Boys) DRAKE Set Duty Cup SET CUP Otters Hawks Jeremy Hill Shield English Mathematics Science Science Prize French Latin History Geography RE IT DT Senior School (6th and 5th Forms) Emily Redman Flora Zajicek Ed Dance Eliza Jervoise Mikey Cousens Mikey Cousens Flora Dickinson Hannah Donne Hannah Donne India Leigh Tom Sylvester & Fern Toynton Form Tutor's Prize Harry Sale Wilf Hadow Andre Masnyk Tabitha Unsworth-White Luke Measelle Zach Spiers Ryan Willett Holly Wixon Edmund Fulford Henry Barlow Izzy Norris Fern Toynton Julian Bertie Middle School (4th and 3rd Forms) Oscar Mustard James Perring Alex Ferguson N/A Dylan Smythe Holly Wixon Guy Gillard Alex Ferguson Eliza Sale Sam Choroszewski Dylan Smythe Junior School (2nd and 1st Forms) Olga Bate Barnaby Treneer Ralph Lopes N/A Madeleine Lewis N/A Hector Clarke Barnaby Treneer Jenny Forrest Isabel Cox Augusta Clayton Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School DRAMA Actor of the Year Flora Zajicek Services to Senior Drama Alex Zervudachi Cameo Performance Tristan Searight Angela Bradford Cup Gold medal Silver medal Bronze medal OTHER SET SPORT Set Netball HAWKS Set Sevens KANGS Set Football KANGS Set Hockey (B) HAWKS 1SS 2CB 2SH 3CG 3JB 4PS 4NW 4AL 5ADW 5LH 5JH 6JS 6HW EASTER TERM 2008 Gold medal Silver medal Bronze medal / NEWS RUGBY Intermediate Boys 1st Zach Spiers 2nd Jamie Farrington 3rd Ben Harding Senior Girls 1st Rosie Yeoward 2nd Harriet Cave 3rd Hannah Donne Senior Boys 1st Ralph Lawson 2nd George Lundy 3rd Harry McKelvey Best Effort in the House Cross Country Spencer Williams House Cross Country Cup KANGS ACTIVITIES Prizes 9 ACTIVITIES Prizes continued SUMMER TERM 2008...continued / NEWS THE ARTS Pottery / Sculpture Drawing Imaginative Composition Best Marine Painting (Myles Varcoe Cup 1996) Leaver Willoughby Cup for Most Improved Artist Junior Artist of the Year Middle Artist of the Year Artist of the Year Trophy Services to Music Rachael Kimber Cup Effort in Music William Luke Cup Most improved Chorister Best Chorister The Lawson Cup Contribution to Strings String 'em up Cup Flora Dickinson Flora Zajicek Henry Barlow Charlotte Wiltshire Jacca Deeble-Stone Emily Redman Finley Rose Eliza Sale Tristan Searight Flora Zajicek & Yume Fujita Fern Toynton Pheobe Malcolm Flora Zajicek Alex Zervudachi CRICKET UNDER 9 CUP (Laurence Jarrett-Kerr 1995) COLTS ALL-ROUNDER (Williams Cup 1992) JUNIOR SET CRICKET (J. Banyard Cup 1995) SENIOR SET CRICKET (Healey Cup 1958) 1ST XI ALL ROUNDER 1st XI FIELDING (Davis Cup 1927) 1st XI BOWLING (Toase Cup 1962) 1st XI BATTING (George Sharp Cup 1978) Wilf Hadow Henry Lopes Otters Owls Freddie Jayarajah Rhys Davies Ollie Sale Mikey Cousens OTHER CUPS AND TROPHIES ARCHERY Kettle Trophy JUNIOR GOLF Inman Cup 1990 Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 10 Ben D'Entrecasteaux Andrew Coombs SENIOR GOLF Grierson Cup 1960 JUNIOR TENNIS Stramdell & Asher Trophy INTERMEDIATE TENNIS Bayliss Shield SENIOR TENNIS Dawson Cup JUNIOR FLY FISHING May Somerville Trophy Jacca Deeble-Stone Ralph Lopes Henry Lopes Poppy Hartley N/A SENIOR FLY FISHING Lombard Hunt Cup 1973 SET ROUNDERS SERVICES TO ROUNDERS SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR Morwenna Armstrong Cup SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR Andrew Leather Cup 1973 DORMITORY CUP Kangs Hannah Donne MIDDLE SCHOOL EFFORT PRIZE Christopher Anderson Cup OUTSTANDING EFFORT KirbyHarris Cup COMMON ENTRANCE Crosthwaite Cup 1986 ACHIEVEMENT Tavistock Rotary Club 1980 ENDEAVOUR Stannus Cup 1982 ALL-ROUNDER James Petrie Dragon LEADERSHIP Justin Gibbs Shield 1990 OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE James Cup 2004 HEADMASTER'S PRIZE Secombe Cup for Junior Drama SET DUTY CUP The Rory Cumming Cup HOUSE CUP (PLUS & MINUSES) Holly Wixon - Mikey Cousens Boys Girls Raleigh Darling William Wells Freddie Jayarajah Emily Redman Jack Galsworthy Rosie Yeoward Fern Toynton & India Leigh Tom Sylvester Georgina Morris Owls Owls ENGLISH COMPETITION EASTER TERM 2008 ACTIVITIES THE SPOKEN / NEWS ‘A celebration of prose and poetry’ - Adjudicated by Mr Ian Davenport Headmaster of Blundell's School FINALISTS Christopher Villaquiran Elsa Kent Philippa May Somerville Lucy McCormick Max Hayward Jenny Forrest Jacob David-Ward Creative Writing Slinky Malinki The Big Grump Do We Have to Kiss? Homework Oh Homework Rabbit A Teacher's Lament POETRY by Gervaise Phinn by Lynley Dodd Anon by Lindsay MacRae by Jack Prelutsky by Mary Ann Haberman by Kalli Dakos 3rd & 4th FORMS Izella Oxenham Anthony Hayward Giles Malcolm Caitlin Haynes-Parry James Perring Oscar Mustard Holly Wixon Colonel Fazackerly The Pig The Spot on My Bum Boogie in the Garden Please Mrs Butler The Laughing Taxman Our Hippy Teacher POETRY by Charles Causley by Roald Dahl by Gez Walsh by Alexandra Pirrie by Alan Ahlberg by Ronnie Barker by Miriam Swinger 5th & 6th FORMS Georgina Sutcliffe-Maynard Eliza Jervoise Izzy Norris Phoebe Malcolm Ellie Hayward POETRY What Teachers Make The Good Little Girl A Nightmare My Teacher The Three Little Pigs by Taylor Mali by A.A. Milne by W.S. Gilbert by Gervaise Phinn by Roald Dahl 5th & 6th FORMS PROSE by Morris Gleitzman by Philip Pullman by Michelle Paver by Anthony Horowitz by Deborah Veal by Louis Sachar by Sharon Creech Flora Dickinson Eloise Kidner Tristan Searight Louisa Butcher Sascha Lopes Lucy Telfer-Smollett Flora Zajicek Once The Amber Spyglass Wolf Brother The Blurred Man Rowing it Alone Holes Walk Two Moons Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 1st & 2nd FORMS 11 ACTIVITIES The Spoken English Competition 2008 / NEWS The overall standard this year, from each of our finalists, was incredibly impressive and made Ian Davenport's role as adjudicator for the evening an unenviable and almost impossible task. His reflections on each of the finalists were insightful and encouraging and well received by all. From the outset the 1st and 2nd form poetry category set the benchmark with some unbelievably composed performances with each child holding the stage brilliantly. Christopher Villaquiran's piece, 'Creative Writing,' was delivered with good pace and an understanding of the humour of the poem which he conveyed beautifully to the audience. Elsa Kent's obvious warmth and enjoyment of, 'Slinky Malinky,' was clear to all and Phillippa May-Somerville recited her poem, 'The Big Grump,' with impressive balance and poise throughout. Lucy McCormick deserves special mention for achieving a place in the final of this competition, as a year ago it would have been very hard to believe that she would have had the confidence to do so. Her engaging poem, 'Do we have to kiss?,' was performed well and with obvious relish - savouring the punch line at the end. The first of the three Hayward children performing this evening, Max showed lovely rhythm in, 'Homework, Oh Homework,' which he managed to sustain throughout and Jenny Forrest recited, 'Rabbit,' with clear diction and excellent dynamics. Jacob David-Ward was able to convey the emotions within his piece, 'A Teacher's Lament,' powerfully which is not an easy thing to do and he held the stage very well. Christopher Villaquiran received the winning honours for this first group. The 3rd and 4th Form poetry was begun by Izella Oxenham's assured delivery of, 'Colonel Fazackerly.' This was a first class performance and the eventual winner of this section. Izella spoke with wonderful diction, managing to relive the poem for her audience by extracting each little nuance within the piece and portraying it with clarity and confidence. Anthony Hayward's enjoyment of his poem, 'The Pig,' was a pleasure to witness and he used pauses effectively to ensure he conveyed the humour to his audience. Mr. Davenport, as a Headmaster, felt he should have disapproved of Giles Malcolm's, 'The spot on my bum!' Giles' cheeky delivery of this slightly naughty poem was a joy to watch and he managed to control the humour of the poem which is never easy in an overly humorous piece. Caitlin Haynes-Parry was deemed to have had the hardest piece to perform in this category and she recited her, 'Boogie in the garden,' with real rhythm and a sense of dynamism, changing the pace effectively. James Perring's characterisation in, 'Please Mrs Butler,' was brilliantly communicated especially with his exaggerated smile which added to the sense of the dramatic. Oscar Mustard's fantastic facial expressions and engaging start to his piece, 'The laughing taxman,' instantly received the support of the audience and his direct delivery to Mr. Davenport regarding tax avoidance was a charming touch! Holly Wixon recited her poem with clear diction and good pace coupled with some thoughtful timing and variety of expressions. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 12 Georgina Sutcliffe-Maynard, who has matured into quite an outstanding and accomplished performer, took to the stage and began the 5th and 6th form poetry category with the poem, 'What Teachers Make.' Her performance was fantastic and deemed by Mr Davenport to be well beyond her years, conveying a sense of power through her excellent control of the emotions in the piece and captivating the audience to such an extent that there was absolute stillness in the room. Eliza Jervoise's recital of, 'The Good Little Girl,' was delivered with good intonation and maturity showing a real insight into the piece. Izzy Norris, the eventual winner of this section performed, 'A Nightmare,' which was a 'fiendishly difficult piece,' and despite a few stutters was able to keep the flow of the piece going, engaging her audience with excellent eye contact and expression and showing a real understanding of her poem by guiding us through the complex clauses within sentences. Phoebe Malcolm's poised performance of, 'My Teacher,' was full of expression and warmth and Ellie Hayward delivered her poem, 'The Three Little Pigs,' with superb projection and characterisation which held the audience tremendously well. As is customary the 5th and 6th Form Prose category concluded proceedings. Flora Dickinson's calm and measured reading of, 'Once' drew out some of the complexities of her piece well and Eloise Kidner's 'intellectual reading of, 'The Amber Spyglass,' (a difficult extract to read with some tricky sentiments to convey in such a short extract) was a solid performance.Tristan Searight, the only boy who had managed to make the Finals from the 5th and 6th Forms read confidently from, 'Wolf Brother’, at times he relied a little heavily on his script. Louisa Butcher's reading from, 'The Blurred Man,' showed great characterisation and she drew out the comedy of the piece beautifully with good eye contact and facial expressions. Sascha Lopes', 'Rowing it Alone,' was a powerful extract and she conveyed effectively the sense of isolation and desperation. Lucy Telfer-Smollett read thoughtfully and portrayed wonderfully the scene being described in her extract from, 'Holes,' with good diction and delivery. Flora Zajicek, the winner of this category again this year too, showed her confidence and ability when performing as she delivered an excellent reading from, 'Two Moons,' with an outstanding American accent that she managed to maintain all the way through despite some difficult words to pronounce. As is the sign of a true performer she left the audience wanting to know more at the end of her piece - a deserved winner. The standard of this year's performances was first class and ensured that the evening was a great success for both the audience and Finalists. I would like to thank the members of the English Department for all their hard work in preparing the children and also Ian Davenport for his comments and reflections on each child which all added to another excellent competition. Jon Hammond ACTIVITIES French Experience 10 / NEWS 31 children, accompanied by Jonathan Banyard, Jon & Suse Hammond, Sarah Symons and your correspondent set off for France in early April, eager to repeat the action-packed week that is the “French Experience”. Although the weather was colder and wetter than in previous years, this in no way reduced the determination of all to throw themselves wholeheartedly into all the activities, with the result that a highly enjoyable time was had by all. We enjoyed our Paris marathon under probably the best weather of the week, and managed to pack in the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre pyramid, the Champs Elysées and a boat ride along the Seine into the day. surprising themselves with what they managed to achieve. No-one however could emulate the feat of Monsieur Hammond who bravely tackled Level 3 of the course, often about fifty feet off the ground and swinging through the trees like an over-dressed Tarzan. As has been mentioned in previous accounts of the Experience, we have built up a relationship with a nearby French collège, and were delighted this year to be invited to visit their school as part of our trip, so that the 6th formers could meet the children with whom they had been corresponding. This was a huge success, with our children overcoming understandable nerves very quickly; conversing at the lunch table and then playing a massive game of football afterwards [France won!].The linguistic confidence gained from this encounter must have been enormous. We also revisited Monsieur Martin at his goat farm, enjoying the circus tricks his goats performed as they were milked. Staff members were posted at all the exits to ensure that no pupil was tempted to smuggle a small goat out as a souvenir! The sand yachting at Cherrueix was as popular as ever, with the usual suspects guilty of dodgy overtaking manoeuvres, but everyone managed to build up a good head of steam. Accrobranches, the high ropes activity, was as popular as ever, with many Hugh Walkington Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School This year the children did the pilgrimage crossing of the Baie du Mont St Michel, following the ancient route of the pilgrims in medieval times between treacherous quicksand and tidal rivers. It was a cold day, and the icy wind sweeping across the expanse of sand meant that all were thankful to reach the shelter of the Mont, together with the opportunity to change into dry clothing and spend some pocket money. Finally, this was our tenth trip with Normandie à la Carte.They have been more than colleagues over the last ten years, as they have really gone the extra mile [or should that be kilometre?] to make sure that everything is just right for Mount House pupils. They are consistently warm in their praise of the children, both for their courtesy but also their enthusiasm and readiness to participate. However, they had a surprise in store for one member of the party…your correspondent. I found myself early one morning, strapped to the back of what appeared to be an overgrown lawnmower with a propeller on the back and a hang glider stuck on top, before being propelled up to 3,000 feet in an unforgettable flight, buzzing the pupils who were arranged in the shape of an enormous “10” in the grounds of the gîte, before soaring over the Baie du Mont St Michel. If you have never been up in a microlight, I can thoroughly recommend the experience - what a way to round off the first decade of this school event! 13 ACTIVITIES Oracle Lecture series: The Oracle lecture series continued this year, once again seeking to inform, inspire and entertain. / NEWS Hektor Krome, the eternal backpacker, came to give us his insight on the real India as he sees it, far from the usual tourist trail. His mission is to convince young people that it is still possible to travel the world for very little financial outlay, and to learn from other cultures and lifestyles. His slides conjured up a picture of India that few get to see. In a completely different way, Colin Javens inspired all who were privileged to hear him describe his epic journey across Africa, travelling north to south in a specially adapted Land Rover. Specially adapted, because Colin is paralysed from the neck down, with only very limited movement to his arms. Born in Kenya, he had always dreamed of driving across the continent, until a diving accident at the age of twenty seemed to have dashed all hopes of achieving his dream. He jumped off a pier into shallow water, breaking his neck and permanently paralysing himself.This is a lesson in itself to all people fascinated by the dangerous pastime of “tombstoning” which has become so popular around the south west’s coastline, but it is the story of his refusal to give up that was the real lesson. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 14 Against all adversity, he raised the finance for his trip, learned to drive in appallingly rough conditions, and overcame personal injury and pain, including scalds and sores to complete his mammoth journey.We were all humbled and inspired by the matter-of-fact manner in which he told his story, and it was an easy decision to dedicate the sponsored walk this September to his charity. Hats Off! ACTIVITIES Presented by The Saturday Morning Drama Club, Summer 2008 / NEWS house and 'memory lane'! Lucy Massey was a vision of beauty nonetheless. Philippa's singing voice commanded a respect from the audience that a milliner has probably not seen before! Georgina Morris held her own as Mrs Sarah Darby and would most certainly have worn the trousers, if Victorian ladies were adept to such frivolities! The clarity of her voice was impressive, as it filled the auditorium. A combination of aesthetics, clever delivery and musical resonance, lulled the audience of 'Hats Off!' into an ironic sense of dramatic security on both evenings.The stage design and set created a staggering platform for the actors to play off and perfectly framed the Victorian vision. Written by Sue Gordon and adapted by Mrs Elizabeth Harris, the script undulated appropriately as the actors delivered both witty and sober lines on the back of a year's hard work. The cast engaged maturely with the story as they explored the novelties, inventions and nuances of the Victorian world. Christopher Villaquiran as Mr Joshua Barker had stage presence beyond his years, with considered facial expressions and speed of line delivery. As owner of 'Barker's Bonnets' Mr Barker possessed an unnerving air of pride and power, cleverly portrayed through Christopher's characterisation. Philippa May Somerville as milliner Mrs Green, continually spun witty remarks to her 'two sandwiches short of…' apprentice Miss Gladys Day, who was interested only in finding the location of the local pasty Ben Cheshire, as the youngest member of the cast at just eight years of age, played opposite Georgina as her prosperous businessman husband, Mr George Darby. His careful movement around the stage mirrored his character's conservative, old fashioned demeanour. Thank you to all those who helped, but we all take our hats off especially to Mrs Harris (Director), Mrs Waters (Musical Director), Miss Toynton (Assistant Director and 'life saver'!) and of course, the cast, for a production which would challenge other eight and nine year old thespians for miles around. Miss Catherine Brereton Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School Isabel Cox, Tean Choroszewska, Beatrice Wilson, Karis Barrasford and Jessica Harvey-Brade made up a colourful gaggle of Mrs Darby's friends and ladies of the day. They carried off their lines (and wigs!) in true style and the costumes were fabulous. 15 ACTIVITIES Mount House School Ski Trip 2008, Valloire, France / NEWS Early arrangements for the school ski trip were disrupted when the tour operators failed to honour our booking and left us with little choice but to return to Valloire for the third time. This was disappointing but we were confident that we knew the resort and what it had to offer. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 16 The staff set out with the unaccompanied members of the party and some early risers at the crack of dawn one Sunday morning in April for Bristol Airport. The rest of the party (family groups), joined us in the departure lounge. After an uneventful flight to Geneva and subsequent coach journey, we arrived at the resort ready to collect our equipment and prepare for the slopes the following day. Spirits were high when we walked from the hotel the following morning, despite grey skies and falling snow. We managed to grope our way around the slopes (more difficult for those who did not know the layout of the resort!) and we were all able to enjoy the first day. Aching limbs the following morning did not deter those starting at the ‘École de Ski’ which started at 9:00 am prompt and meant an early start to the day. As the week wore on, this became less and less popular to some of the party! Lunch break was taken from 11:00 till 13:00, before classes recommenced for another couple of hours. After the first day, the sun shone and we were treated to excellent conditions throughout the week, and could enjoy packed lunches on the mountain most days. The tuition was divided into a number of ability groups and we shared instructors with a party from Sedbergh Junior from Cumbria. Mount House unaccompanied boys Dominic Dollard and Nic Sylvester were both experienced skiers and were able to join the more advanced groups enjoying some fast and furious skiing. Nothing could keep Miss Grubb from joining Mr and Mrs Myott on the trip for the second year running and Miss Brereton, who was a novice skier this year made amazing progress throughout the week. She has thrown away her ‘L’ plates, invested in some serious ‘gear’ and can’t wait to be reacquainted with powder snow in 2009! As in previous years, Skibound, our tour operator, filled our evenings with some quality entertainment, including ice-skating, bowling, bum-boarding, karaoke and quiz night. We were truly amazed at the extraordinary efforts which went into the creation of some legendary fancy dress costumes (theme: Nursery Rhymes) – the d’Entrecasteaux clan as the Queen of Hearts’ clan will stay in the memory for many years to come! Tui and Steve Shirley’s method acting (using their professional experience!) deserved more than the meagre prizes on offer! Unfortunately, we did have one ‘slip-up’ as Christoph Von Wentzel broke his leg mid-week and had to return home early. After a break in 2009, it is planned that ‘normal service will be resumed’ for the following ski season. Thank you to all those families who supported Kate and Hugh Myott and played a part in making such a fun trip! ACTIVITIES Dartmoor Rescue / NEWS In the summer term the fourth form had the great privilege of seeing the Dartmoor Mountain Rescue’s dog team in action. The volunteers gave of their time on three Monday afternoons and provided the pupils with an experience that they will always remember.The exper t knowledge and techniques were highly reassuring to listen to and observe. The highlight of the sessions saw the pupils hide in groups of four to be searched out by the dog. One lucky pupil was then checked over for signs of injur y, bundled into an extremely comfor table cocoon like protective bag (making the other pupils beg to be injured as well!) and rescued by the team using an allterrain stretcher. The sessions concluded with a tour of the vehicles and demonstrations of the advanced medical gear designed to minimize any fur ther injury during the injured party’s transit to A&E. The pupils all expressed a real sense of security that such professionalism and care were available to anyone lost on the moor. We cannot thank the volunteers enough for their time and for delivering such a memorable experience. A huge thank you also to Mr. Myott for coming up with the idea and arranging everything at the Mount House end. Nick Waitz Second Form Lydney trip On Monday 25th February the Second Form set off on a history trip to Lydney House in Gloucestershire, full of excitement and enthusiasm. After a successful but lengthy journey, we were greeted by Viscount Bledisloe, and his dog Santa and given a fascinating history of the house and the Roman remains surrounding it. We enjoyed a typical Roman feast of soups, meats, cheeses and much more, with minimal cutlery, true to the Roman era. After lunch we marched up to the camp, where we experienced the remains of a Roman temple and baths. We were also told of a trip made to Lydney by Tolkien and discovered wooded areas which may have inspired him. It was a fascinating day and an experience that will definitely be remembered. Thank you to Miss Grubb for accompanying Mrs Hammond and Miss Brereton and helping to enable the day to run smoothly. CB Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School We headed down to the house for a trip to its museum where many Roman coins and interesting artefacts had been re-discovered. 17 ACTIVITIES The School makes its Debut at Equestrian Event / NEWS It has been with great excitement, during 2008, that Mount House, for the first time, has entered equestrian teams in three major events Stonar One-Day Event, South West Interschools Showjumping and Blundell’s One-Day Event. Sadly the poor weather over the summer caused the unfortunate cancellation of the event at Blundell’s but the other two events have been a successful foray into this new team sport. At the end of last year, it was realised that we had a very accomplished and growing number of talented equestrian pupils. Consequently, a number of parents have come together to create and train the Mount House equestrian team with the assistance of Angela Coward, a local instructor based in Bridestowe. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 18 On Saturday 17th May 2008, two teams from Mount House School participated in the Inter-Schools Mini Equestrian One Day Event at Stonar School, Melksham, Wiltshire. It was a very early start for all eight riders and parents.We had to be at Melksham to warm up for the dressage by 8.30am and the journey took about three hours. Everyone arrived on time with beautifully presented and plaited ponies. A number of sensible parents had hired a horse box and driver between them, whilst one set of parents arrived along with their six week old baby! True dedication. The Mount House Blue team consisted of three young members - Madeleine Lewis riding Rosie, Barnaby Treneer on Miligan and Edward Barlow on Misty.The team rode very well scoring good dressage results. In the show jumping section two team members were eliminated following three refusals leaving Edward Barlow to go forward to the cross country section. He completed the course with admirable style and determination but sadly missed a fence on the way round and was therefore also eliminated. The young members showed steely determination and courage. They are very promising riders for future team events. The Mount House Red team included Tommy Lyon-Smith on Matthew, Harry McKelvey on Birchill Brigadier, Henry Wells on Izzy and India Lewis on Robbie. All four members rode extremely well with a high level of professionalism and courage. Their dressage scores were very respectable and in the show jumping stage all four rode accurately and with confidence. The cross country phase was over some full height fences with technically difficult aspects. India Lewis and Harry McKelvey both achieved double clears in the show jumping and cross country coming within 4.5 seconds of the optimum time on the cross country section. All team members should be congratulated on such a fantastic effort. The red team scored a final combined penalty total of 153.4 placing them approximately in 15th place out of a total of 50 teams. ACTIVITIES The School makes its Debut at Equestrian Event...continued / NEWS The parents should be congratulated for their enthusiasm and commitment. Of particular note were the Kent family who drove up to support the teams for the day despite not having a competing pupil. They spent the day helping with children, ponies and handing out chocolate! It was a long day with most of us setting off at 5am and not returning home until 9.30pm. Sadly at the end of the summer term we then lost Harry McKelvey and Tommy Lyon-Smith to their new schools where they have been instantly snapped up into equestrian teams at Exeter School and Blundell's. We wish them every success with the future equestrian teams and extend our thanks to the dedication of their parents. It is hoped that we can maintain an equestrian squad for future interschools events at both show jumping and one-day eventing. Many senior and junior schools seem to offer participation in equestrian activities and maintain teams for these regular competitions. In 2009 we hope to enter again for Stonar and Blundell's one-day events. It is also anticipated that we can send a number of individuals and pairs through for the Southwest Interschool Mini Team Showjumping in the spring, as well as a team for the Senior Interschool Showjumping in October.We now have the benefit of two instructors offering their involvement - Angela Coward and Pat Thomas - and we are planning to organise training sessions during holidays and exeats for interested pupils. If any pupils, with their own ponies or access to a pony, are interested in participating in future team training sessions please can they contact Julie Lewis on 01837 861173 or email [email protected]. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 19 ACTIVITIES / NEWS Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 20 The top marks from each form were as follows: Samantha Unsworth-White with 92 2SH: Ralph Lopes with 96 2CB: Rory Millar and Barnaby Treneer with 92 3CG: Charles MacEacharn with 94 3JB: Issy Kidner and Luke Measelle with 95 4NW: Ben D'Entrecasteaux with 96 4PS: James Perring and Sam Choroszewski with 95 4AL: Holly Wixon with 90 5JH: Lucy Telfer-Smollett with 96 Although as a school the majority of people made a super effort with this competition, special mention must go to the following for their excellent personal achievements this year: Joe McCormick, Oscar Norris, Ella Woolcock, Ed Barlow, Henry Newman,Alex Woolcock & Julian Huntington / NEWS 1SS: ACTIVITIES The Payne Cook Spelling Competition 2008 The overall winners were as follows: In Bronze Position: Issy Kidner, Luke Measelle, James Perring and Sam Choroszewski with 95 In Silver Position: Lucy Telfer-Smollett, Ben D'Entrecasteaux and Ralph Lopes with 96 In Gold Position & Winner of this year's competition: Flora Dickinson with 98 JH 5ADW: Michal Choroszewski and Freddie Morris with 92 5LC: Olivia McGonigle with 90 6JS: Fern Toynton with 93 6HW: Flora Dickinson with 98 1. ham 27. staring 53. concentrate 79. frequency 3. sit 29. component 55. marketing 81. onomatopoeia 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. box fox soft help nest lick stop 10. stuck 11. zoo 12. meet* 13. spoon 14. sleep 15. mumps 16. volley 17. triangle 19. nineteen 20. welcome 21. cakes 22. rough 23. direct 24. route* 25. library 26. aeroplane 30. hyphen 31. moustache 32. slaughter 33. autumnal 34. visibility 35. processor 36. participate 37. contour 38. memorial 39. marginal 40. controller 41. refreshment 42. house 43. radio 44. physical 45. increase 46. obscure 47. menu 48. language 49. ruin 50. striker 51. agreement 52. yacht 54. fluoride 56. pastoral 57. collaborate 58. conceive 59. dictionary 60. secretarial 61. kilometre 62. cavalier 63. commence 64. unfortunately 65. canoeing 66. infer 67. saxophone 68. initially 69. medallist 70. referee 71. impatient 72. ruffian 73. lieutenant 74. wicket 75. tournament 76. cupboard 77. disappeared 78. talented 80. marriage 82. believe 83. genetic 84. covenant 85. especially 86. investigate 87. parallelogram 88. rumour 89. attractive 90. sophisticated 91. particularly 92. argument 93. conscientious 94. demeanour 95 flounder 96. hierarchy 97. embarrassment 98. indiscreet 99. approximately 100. congruence Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 18. heroic 28. startling 21 ACTIVITIES The Shackleton Award 2007-2008 / NEWS The fourth formers’ navigation has again been a highlight with trips to Pew Tor with Mr. Myott. Love in a box drew to a generous conclusion with a great many gift boxes wrapped and ready to send to Bolivia, care of Mr. Hammond. Camp craft also concluded well with fires being competently started after recent rains drenched all the available kindling and to heat a well-earned hot chocolate for all. Junior: In gardening club Jenny Bennett and her green-fingered pupils have festooned the organic garden with bird feeders which have already been visited by a pair of rare Nuthatches. Art and craft have produced a stunning display of Snowmen on a snowy evening, again many thanks to Lizzy Harris for the creative direction. Catherine Brereton has been running ‘love in a box’ and the number of gifts has been very generous. A large contingent used the time rehearsing for the junior play with Susan Hammond & Sarah Symons. Christmas Term Senior: Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 22 This last year’s Shackleton has seen the staff involved provide yet another incredibly varied year of activity.The school year started with the gorge walk and weir experience.The divers’ entry into the salmon leaps leads to more committed pupils somersaulting underwater and surfacing very much disorientated, much to the amusement of everyone else.The tree climb has seen the level of challenge extend to test even the most confident in the fifth and sixth form. These both took place alongside some more homely activities. Dr. Eagleton served up some cake and sweet recipes just perfect for afternoon tea. These were cooked and decorated in the science lab and some included a handmade gift box in handy time for Christmas. Conservation has continued and has focused on planting daffodils and removing the ever encroaching rhododendron in order to plant native species. First aid made its obligatory appearance to see just how much had been remembered from the summer term. Easter Term Senior: The fourth form had a first aid crash course with ABCDE and bandaging covered. Whilst parallel groups began work on the farm with Geoff Whaley and set up nature trails with a view to guiding reception age children around their activities with Chloe Grubb. Junior: The activities have also been varied and many enthusiastic pupils have made the most of the clubs they chose. Art and Craft took a natural tack and made boats using recycled materials. Nature Diaries Club made excellent use of the grounds and many pupils showed excellent environmental awareness and consideration. Another group used IT to manipulate computer graphics in many weird and wonderful ways. Scavenger hunts allowed a degree of freedom and really tested the pupils’ searching skills. Some ingenious riddles made the finding tricky and rewarding. Summer Term Senior: Kayaking and raft building have again shattered the mirror-like tranquility of the lake.The tying techniques are sometimes done well and sometimes not with obvious wet consequences. Lizzy Harris has again supervised the challenging climbing tree. Increasing confidence up high has been a great reflection of the trust that has developed as a result of competent belaying. Local food, championed by Jonathan Banyard, led on to a biscuitmaking extravaganza with some delicious ingredients.The term’s highlight was an epic river walk in half of the Tavy that borders the school.The sight of dippers and trout were rewarding though fleeting as they swiftly fled or hid from the pupils brightly adorned in their safety gear. A deep fast flowing section made the perfect venue for some defensive swimming and throw-line rescues. All of the pupils had a go with many being rescued two or three times. / NEWS A lot was made of the Moor this term. Navigation exercises introduced land features, maps and compasses finally combining all three for a search-and-rescue exercise. Catherine Brereton used her passion for running to set sawdust trails on the moor over Tors and through streams to ensure that all had a very healthy appetite on their return. Hugh Walkington celebrated astronomy and made good use of the new interactive whiteboard to bring the history of star gazing and futuristic journeying through space to life. ACTIVITIES The Shackleton Award 2007-2008...continued The fourth formers also kayaked and made use of the Tavy for team challenges and river safety on the sunny Monday afternoons. On dry land Gutter ball was a great team activity that not only pits one team against the other in terms of their ingenuity and ability to cooperate but then asks both teams to cooperate to a joint objective and this year’s groups enjoyed the challenge and communicated well. They also set up camps with fires, shelters and some home comforts such as seats and a food preparation area. Junior: Clubs this term included natural sculpture on the banks of the Tavy. Nature diaries tracked the changes to areas around school with photographs, describing the present and predicting differences. Treasure hunting was a very active pursuit and set the scene for orienteering in later years. Shelters looked at the ways to stay dry in the wild and mini-shelters were made for Action Man and tested with watering cans. The organic gardeners harvested a bumper crop of broad beans and sowed sweet corn for the summer. In such a busy school it is incredible that so many staff can continuously come up with such creative and motivating activities. It is clear from listening to pupils discuss their afternoons that the efforts are very much appreciated! Nick Waitz Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 23 ACTIVITIES Summer Climbing and Kayaking Courses / NEWS Kayaking is one of those activities that many people look at with trepidation. As such the first day is all about allaying the fear of what will happen in the likely event of a capsize. Many different activities lead to capsizing and underwater games which at the end led to the sensation of being submerged losing most of its mystery.This means the mind can relax and so too the body allowing the new techniques to be practised with a confidence that really progresses the learning. Days two and three took us to the fantastic Roadford reservoir or the tidal stretch of the Tamar between Cotehele and Gunnislake.The real joy of kayaking is the journey and as such we made sure the start and finish points were different. Experienced coaches led the expeditions and filled the rest stops with bushcraft and picnicking skills.The timelessness of a campfire by a river was something that really made the days special. The forward paddling skills evolve on these trips and the mild current of an ebbing tide allowed some advanced skills such as ferry gliding to be introduced. Bethan Wesley proved to have considerable kayaking skills, demonstrating how time and effort lead to a fluency of movement in the boat that really makes the river a rewarding play ground. This summer’s atrocious weather was no deterrent to adventure. The climbers got to know some classic granite routes at Dewerstone and the kayakers enjoyed journeys through some spectacular landscapes. The Kayaking was very well attended and most who were on for the three full days earned their Paddle Power Passports. The courses were again designed to instill new skills through challenge and promote a positive attitude through trust. Making the outdoor experiences complete was bushcraft which included fire skills and shelters to give a central social focus during lunch breaks. Both activities made use of the best local venues, many of which are renowned nationally, though the foul weather did lead to us making some very thankful indoor use of the impressive climbing venue The Barn. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 24 Much of the climbing took place at the Dewerstone, an impressive and scenic series of granite buttresses swathed in myth and legend. The climbers applied themselves with grit and were justifiably rewarded for their tenacity; a stunning view greeting them as they finally stood at the very top! A new venue above the main area offered a slab climb to test balance, a beautifully formed gully climb as well as a woodland abseil. The gully climb led to the panoramic summit and a real feeling of achievement. Wilf Hadow and Jamie Anderson built on their already confident climbing skills by hard wiring the bowline knot in record time and making excellent progress with mantle shelf and slab climbing techniques. At The Barn Jamie went on to really impress a hushed audience as he made the necessary big moves on small holds to ‘bag’ a 30o overhanging problem at the climbing wall, topping out to a huge cheer! All the climbers were great company and their determination led to many moments of real success at making a move or developing their technique. Many thanks go to Martin Weaver and Laura Russo for their competence in coaching the new BCU Paddle Sport Kayaking Awards.A big thank you to David Sherratt for sharing just a few of the climbing skills and stories he picked up on his travels through Africa in such an accessible way. The biggest thank you goes to the children who have such a positive will-do attitude that makes the courses a real pleasure to be a part of. Let’s hope for better weather next summer! Nick Waitz The Summer term saw a team of inspectors from OFSTED come in to look at our boarding and welfare provision. Over the course of three days they looked at everything from our child protection policies to the way we run the laundry. They carried out a parent and pupil questionnaire beforehand and interviewed groups of children as well as key staff. There were very many positive comments, but the one that I felt most pleased about was the following: OFSTED grades the provision in various categories, which makes for a fairly rigid framework. There is no real distinction in importance for example between the happiness of the children and the spacing of the basins, but we were delighted that the inspectors were so complimentary about Mount House. In all but one category Mount House was judged either ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. The one ‘Satisfactory’ cited the boys changing rooms as in need of some improvement, for which we have duly budgeted for next year. All of the staff at Mount House are involved with the care of the boarders and the high quality of our boarding provision is testament to all of them and their skill and dedication, most particularly the Hammonds, Myotts and Sue McLaren’s team of matrons. ACTIVITIES Boarding Inspection / NEWS ‘Good communication within The School, positive reward systems and a strong commitment to the well-being of each child underpins the outstanding levels of pastoral care provided to the boarders.’ I would be amazed if there was a group of boarders who were happier and better looked after: anywhere. Jim Massey Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 25 ACTIVITIES There's much more to boarding than just boarding / NEWS In addition to taking part in the full range of school activities, the boarders at Mount House have the opportunity to live in close proximity with their peers, and this gives them a solid foundation for their future. Weekend Activities The variety of weekend activities arranged for the Boarders has continued to grow through the year.The highlights for this year included……… War Games A new venture in the programme of weekend activities for boarders both boys and girls - was a day trip to the Big Sheep Battlefield Live attraction at Bideford. The children were able to have a go at war games without the pain, and experience the heat of battle using state-of-the-art, eye-safe laser guns. This system is used by Special Forces around the world for combat training. The laser guns have a range of up to 500 feet outside in full sunlight and their onboard computers set the number of shots and the number of lives each combatant was given. Sensors on the hats and the guns themselves provide the target zones and the game took place in a specially-designed 5-acre combat zone. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 26 The group was divided into two teams - the Elite Swat Group and the Freedom Fighters, and each “soldier” was equipped with combat suit, camouflage face paint, and armed with a sub-machine gun, assault rifle or sniper rifle.The two teams fought out a draw, with the Swat Team wiping out the Freedom Fighters in the first engagement, then being overpowered as the Freedom Fighters fought back for a just cause against an evil enemy. Gorge Walking at Meldon 24 children set out from The School to Meldon gorge, on the slopes of Yes Tor on the northern part of Dartmoor, near Okehampton.At first sight the gorge appeared somewhat tame, but the steep waterfalls and deep pools offered some interesting challenges to the enthusiastic participants. The highlight was a waterfall that could be completely dammed. Here some of the boarders blocked the stream by sitting in it until the water behind them built up, then released the deluge of white water on to their friends below.There were also many pools to explore and waterfalls to climb. Near to the gorge, Meldon reservoir is held by the huge dam that attracted a lot of interest, as did the organised games of three-legged rounders and monkey football that brought the day-out to an end. Boarders Adopt a Lobster Boarders went on a trip to explore the River Camel in North Cornwall, and ended up adopting a baby lobster. After walking the five miles from Wadebridge to Padstow along the old railway track beside the river, the children stopped for a rest and some lunch before visiting the National Lobster Hatchery (NLH) in Padstow. The work of the NLH is centred around their lobster restocking project. Local fishermen bring “pregnant” female lobsters in to the hatchery, to give them a chance to release their delicate offspring in captivity, where there are no predators. The young lobsters are then raised to a size where they can be released back into the sea and look after themselves. As the NLH is a charity relying on contributions from the public to continue its work, it gives visitors the chance to directly help by adopting a baby lobster. They are able to name a lobster and the money raised goes directly towards the costs of raising the lobsters. The School adopted a lobster, which they named 'Pincer'. Pincer was later released into the wild and the Hatchery kept the boarders informed of progress through their website. Their first Sunday there was not too warm, but the second session was blessed with excellent weather, with the sun shining, and clean if not particularly high surf conditions. The boys and girls were split into groups according to ability, and although Jacca Deeble-Stone and Tom Sylvester were the most competent, everyone made good progress and enjoyed themselves. Almost all managed to catch some decent waves before the end of the session. Rainy Day Out at Buckland Abbey A visit to Buckland Abbey proved to be a great way of spending a rainy day. The boarders turned a wet morning into a fun event when they learned how to make pictures out of felt, after first making the felt from merino wool. / NEWS Surfing Lessons A group of boarders started to learn to surf under the guidance of Head of PE Ashley David-Ward, with the experts from the “Surf's Up!” school at Polzeath. ACTIVITIES boarding...continued They started by designing, the pictures then laid them out using coloured wool and finally turned their creations into felt by rolling them vigorously in bamboo mats. The results were some excellent felt pictures. After two hours of intense physical effort, the exhausted children returned to the School, determined to have another go as soon as possible. The Circus Comes to School One of the most successful weekend activities for boarders during Easter term was the circus workshop. The children watched the professionals doing the circus routines, then learned a few tricks of the trade before having a go themselves. Having started on a wool theme, the group toured the other sheep-related activities around the Abbey, and then took a 3mile letterbox trail around the Abbey grounds looking for hidden stamps. The rain stopped in time for the children to end their visit by watching some traditional local Morris dancing. The finale was watching the circus show on a big screen at the end of an exciting and enjoyable day. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School The day began with “Elfic the Jester” demonstrating his extraordinary skills juggling with all sorts of things from rubber balls to china plates, and then playing an accordion whilst riding a six-foot unicycle. He showed the children how to juggle, starting with one ball, and progressing to three. He went on to demonstrate the use of other circus equipment including diabolos, stilts, pedal-gos and Chinese fireballs. Then the children were given a chance to practise, before putting on their own show. 27 ACTIVITIES boarding...continued / NEWS Nun's Cross Camp The boarders set off after tea under ominous cloud, but in cheerful and excited moods. Those who had been last year were anticipating another 24 hours of fun and games, whereas some of those who were not quite sure what they had signed up for looked a little nervous, not knowing what to expect from a night in the middle of the moor! On arriving in the little car park with no sign of a building anywhere, just vast expanse of moor with a few sheep, the heavens opened and we all had to stay in the minibuses until the skies brightened enough for the walk to Nun's Cross Farm. The time was not wasted as the four teams - Red, Yellow, Green, Blue - worked on their team song as part of the overall competition. The buses were almost “rocking” for a good 20 minutes in the pouring rain! Despite evening showers, everyone kept a bright smile and played various team games, mostly involving running around the moor, interspersed with hot chocolate and biscuit breaks. At one point we managed to fit all 43 children and 5 adults into one of the small downstairs rooms to avoid the rain! Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 28 Some of the boys had a slightly “wild” time in their tent, caused by wind and rain buffeting it most of the night, but everyone woke early to a dry, clear morning. The games started right away while the camp fire was being lit ready to cook bacon and sausages for breakfast. The bacon rolls were one of the highlights - keeping everyone sustained through a morning of fancy-dress relays, making shooting water rockets, four-way tug-of-war and enormous games of 'flags' Mr & Mrs Myott were grateful to the boarders for their enthusiasm and spirit, and especially for their tidiness around the camp, which made such a difference to the clear-up operation. Also a huge thankyou to Mr Waitz and Mr Weaver with their amazing energy for devising fun games for everyone, and to Miss Grubb for her unstinting efforts all around. Pool party and Touch Rugby Tournament This was a weekend of challenges for the boarders.We made the most of the early morning sun with a two-hour pool party straight after breakfast with all sorts of team competitions, such as target practice with wet sponges and the unsuspecting Mr Hammond and India Leigh, best team entry into the pool, ball scramble and some spectacular diving slip catches into the pool followed by a glorious hour's free swim before the rain came down.After a roast lunch the teams reassembled in some fairly extravagant team “uniforms” cobbled together using bin bags, the cleaners' aprons, revolutionised school uniform and even pyjamas for the touch tournament which was eventually won convincingly by the “Stanley Knives”.After letterwriting which took the form of designing our own postcard, most of the boarders opted to watch England v Barbarians on the big screen. Louisa, Emma and Izzy wowed us all with their winning dance routine in the dance competition after tea which, followed by a New Zealand victory over England in the sevens watched by several boisterous England supporters and a lone Kiwi, topped off a super day. Boarding Reflections Boarding at Mount House is an enriching and enjoyable experience, and two of this year's leavers passed on their impressions of boarding, and their feelings as their Mount House careers drew to a close: There are so many things I'm going to miss on the boarding front, such as Banny's video party and the annual Christmas Dinner. I remember Mr Hammond driving us up to the main school in a minibus, very safely of course, for the Boarders' Christmas carols! The one thing that has always been amazing ever since I was seven is Collingwood. The people are fabulous and the annual competitions really make it a special place. The dance shows and plays lighten up the house but mainly our house parents, Mr and Mrs Hammond create this atmosphere. They are so supportive and kind, are easy to talk to and keep us content and busy all the time. I will miss them loads when I leave! by India Leigh (6HW) I have been a boarder for 6 years - I remember walking up the front stairs for the first time and being so scared because I was the only one in the first year but I was taken in by Hugh Bailey and Harry Heal. I remember when Tris Searight came to trial board and he ended up in Hugh Bailey's bed - it's a long story! I also remember the dorm in the 5th Form in Jellico with Cuz, Fred, Manny, Scags, me and eventually Will and Tris. I have great memories with these guys. I have great memories of boarders' carols with all my friends and then of Banny's video party where Peter became a bit excited and fell off his chair dancing to Madonna! by Julian Bertie (6HW) ACTIVITIES Mount House Meet The School held a meet of the Spooners and West Dartmoor Hunt, outside the front porch. / NEWS The Spooner's and West Dartmoor Foxhounds trail hunt an area of country centred on Tavistock on the western edge of Dartmoor, extending from Postbridge in the east to Gulworthy in the west and from Okehampton in the north to Plymouth in the south. 11 Mount House pupils were on horseback and about half the school were watching. The front of the school was busy with horses and people. A great supply of food came from the kitchen including sausage rolls, mini pasties, sandwiches, and much more – all the ingredients for a fantastic hunt! Lots of photos were taken at the meet and while we were on the moor, Mr Myott bravely came out on foot with his camera! It was a great experience to be part of the first Mount House Hunt…. and I hope we have another one next year! By Cecily Jervoise (4PS) Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 29 ACTIVITIES Organic Garden La Journée à la française: / NEWS It may have been an appalling summer … but it DIDN’T rain on French Day!! For only the second or third time since we started nearly ten years ago, the sun shone, and silliness of a kind only devotees of TV’s “It’s a Knockout” can truly appreciate broke out on the athletics track and in the pool. Blindfolded waiters, footballers negotiating Fairy Liquid-soaked plastic track, reluctant clients at a restaurant where all the food is ferried from the other end of the swimming pool … the day had everything. Jon Banyard showed the video of this year’s French Experience to an appreciative audience, and Sarah Symons and Chloe Grubb force fed everyone with pains au chocolat and jus d’orange, raising money for Shelterbox along the way. The organic garden adjacent to the Science laboratory is now into its fourth year and really developing into a wildlife haven. Jenny Bennett runs a junior garden club and sows a variety of seeds, harvests herbs, creates micro-habitats and plants native tree seeds. The pupils have learned a lot about what it takes to produce food from scratch and have been rewarded with some bumper harvests. There have to date been four sales of the produce including garlic, potatoes, mint, broad beans, bedding plants and sweet corn! As the garden and gardeners settle into the seasonal cycles the harvest will increase offering more organic vegetables and ornamental plants for sale. All of the proceeds are ploughed back in as tools, seeds, watering cans. There is now also the welcome addition of a huge green house. This will offer the gardeners shelter during inclement weather, extend the growing season and allow some sensitive species to be sown and tended. A heat-sink sustainable technology project has also been incorporated to keep out the frost and will be run on a 12v solar powered circuit. The winter season's vegetables have been planted so look out for signs of a sale.These always take place by the front porch only on Monday afternoons. Nick Waitz Hugh Walkington Charitable donations The RNLI The Institute Trust Fund Family Holiday Association Macmillan Cancer Support Save the Children Shelterbox Operation Sunshine Spinal Research WMB St Luke's Hospice Children with Leukaemia The Meningitis Trust The Charlie Sumption Memorial Fund Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society Children's Hospice South West £ Total 4753.84 Young Chemists win Silver Award 163.77 185.84 732.74 164.87 226.00 461.07 168.30 290.03 149.47 1000.00 139.38 364.60 116.06 591.71 promote the appreciation of chemistry and related sciences among the young. They are run by Salters’ Institute in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry, and provide the opportunity for enthusiastic young students to spend a day in a university department and to take part in practical chemistry activities. Cash and prizes are awarded to the winning teams. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 30 In the morning the ten school teams taking part were asked to conduct a “who did it?” style investigation. The Mount House team made a great impression on the chief judge with their quiet efficiency and ability to work as a team. In the afternoon, Plymouth University set the teams the task of identifying an unknown substance. The teams were judged not only on their results, but also on the way they went about their investigations, their understanding of the principles involved and their application of laboratory safety standards. A team of four sixth formers, Emily Redman, Flora Dickinson, Edward Dance and Michael Cousens represented The School in the annual Salters’ Festival of Chemistry at Plymouth University. The Salters' Festivals are one-day fun events held at Universities throughout the UK and Irelend, with the objective of helping to At the end of the day there was an exciting demonstration of fizzes and bangs before the announcement of the winners and presentation of prizes. The Mount House team won the Silver Award and £50 for The School, as well as some goodies for themselves. ACTIVITIES The School Launches Environmental Initiative / NEWS The School has embarked on a major initiative to reinforce in the children the twin concepts of sustainability and stewardship, which are widely recognised as vital for the future of the environment. Mount House is believed to be the first independent school in the country to make these themes a permanent part of a newly-developed Sustainable Design and Technology curriculum.The aim is to counter the culture of instant gratification, celebrity-worship and electronic games by instilling in pupils respect and appreciation of natural beauty, and of things which are enduring. Flowers and plants native to the area, including lobelia, foxglove and buddleia will form a nature garden to encourage bees, butterflies and other insects for the children to study. The grove of leylandii has been replaced with indigenous trees - field maples, hornbeam, holly, birch and beech - to provide habitat for more wildlife.The timber from the felled trees has been used for fencing, rustic steps, a woodpile for insects in the nature area, and the remainder shredded and used on the paths. Eating, dessert and mixed apple trees were planted last year to form an orchard. The School processes used cooking oil from the kitchens into diesel to fuel the estate machinery. Fencing made from the trunks of some leylandii trees has been erected around an area that will be devoted to growing plants - mostly vegetables - that the children will nurture from seeds, pass on to the kitchens and eventually eat in the dining room. At their Christmas dinner this year, the children will eat parsnips, swede, sprouts, potatoes and carrots that they have grown themselves.This area will be irrigated by natural water from a borehole which has been sunk in the grounds, through a wind-turbine powered pump. It is hoped that one of the pigs will be mated so the children can learn all about the pig's life-cycle. Several old oak trees in the grounds have already been stripped of the ivy that was strangling them, and are successfully regenerating. Their crop of acorns will be used to supplement the pigs' diet. In addition to one double period every week, children who show particular interest in and aptitude for the project can spend extra time on it. The Sustainability and Stewardship programme will also have crosscurricular benefits in other subject areas including science, geography, maths, history, art and English. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School A 3-acre site has been set aside in the grounds, and many changes associated with it are already apparent. As well as the nurturing of plants and the energy and water conservation, the children will learn about animal husbandry, and the livestock has begun to take up residence in the areas that have been prepared for them. Chickens, geese, pigs and alpacas will be followed by Dartmoor ponies as The School takes part in a programme of adoption, care and release of rare pure-bred foals. 31 DRAMA Junior Play – Greece - Sue Gordon Grubb) and of course, the vocals, which played a significant part in the performance. Gill Waters' tireless efforts, both in and out of lessons, ensured all children chortling correct chords at appropriate times, with genuine smiles on their faces. Hugh Walkington and Tom Sylvester shined light on these stunning apparitions with their expertise and generosity of time and Tiggy Johnstone-Burt created the beautiful back-drop to put the performers in context. Outlined below are a few of the shining moments which cannot go unmentioned: “A truly professional performance.” Just one of many like-minded comments heard as the parents and pupils piled out of the Wortham Hall after both performances of Greece. The out-of-hours put in, throughout the Christmas term by “the new Steven Spielbergs”, Suse Hammond and Sarah Symons, notably developed a large percentage of the junior forms' dramatic skills. Never was there a hint of directors or pupils drowning in the end-of-term flood of rehearsals, nor the monsoon season that hit Tavistock that week; the cast raised their voices to rise above the occasion. Ironically there were so many special moments surrounding the trouble on Mount Olympus, as a result of slick delivery of a clever script, effectively simplistic costumes (thank you Mrs Cheshire and Miss Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 32 • Giles Malcolm, Izella Oxenham and Anthony Hayward were superb soloists who certainly surmounted any performances of Danny and Sandy! • Izella Oxenham delivering comical lines aplenty of Heracles, concerning the “Pre-Trojan K294F model that went out of production 600 years ago” and the heavy breathing to “put the customer on the defensive.” • Prometheus' sparkling operatic performance of 'A Rough Old Life', from the docks. • Icarus proclaiming he had “too much sun, what can one do?” whilst justifying his 'cooked' appearance. • The suspicious vulture noises, courtesy of Mr Hammond's CD collection. • Tabitha Unsworth-White as a dark horse on the stage; not only a highly convincing male but also a well-practised drunk! • Bertie Jayarajah's pink leg warmers, (glad I could be an inspiration to you Miss Symons!) • The customary sweet throwing with a twist; the younger members of the cast were adamant to retrieve and consume what they had just thrown whilst drawing their scene to a close! • Anthony Hayward's choreography and the whole cast's delivery of the chorus song 'Zeus is angry' with immaculate timing and clapping…and lunging! I am entirely aware that I have missed out so many special moments but words are never enough to relive time and praise performance; it was the rapturous applause on both nights that portrayed the excellence. I think it can be confidently said that all involved gained great cultural insight and we can now sleep easy with the knowledge that it was Zeus' small fire in his boiler that made the whole of the Industrial Revolution possible! A classic retelling of a classical period! Catherine Brereton DRAMA Senior Play - Our Finest Hour un triomphe pour Monsieur Hammond persuasion of the whole audience to rise and sing La Marseillaise, before the entrance of Tristan Searight playing Alan Sugar – a super performance by a leaver whose acting has also gone from strength to strength over the years – and who seems to blossom under the disguise of a costume. The scene was altogether (“excellent, professional and funny” - a visitor to the school). Scene Four had three clearly modulated voices ably (“presenting their lines well” - a dad) and led into an innovative and effective video, which moved the plot on to Scene Five, where we met the school staff for the first time. Teachers in the audience nervously wondered on whom these sixth formers had modelled their performances – careful with that cane, Mikey …, and the scene prepared us successfully for…. Scene Six, and the real humour of the staff INSET session. Even Julian’s astonishing emu outfit could not steal the show from some first rate cameo performances, with special mention to Ruairidh Matthews, who held the stage effectively, and to Oscar Mustard, whose comic timing raised probably the biggest laughs on both nights. Get that boy an agent, someone ….. And so to the denouement of Scene Seven, with a gaggle of excited school children, and the arrival of the dreaded school inspectors, whose calm and mature presence brought the evening to a close. The only disappointment of the whole evening was the no-show by Martha: one can only conjecture that the bins of Tavistock proved more alluring than the boards of the Wortham Hall. March 2008: two full houses waited expectantly in the Wortham Hall for M. Hammond’s latest offering. As the curtains parted, they were not disappointed. A superbly painted backdrop, replete with subtle culinary puns (Tiggy Johnstone Burt), and gently tinkling ivories, announced that we were in Café René, and the action began… (“spectacular” - a dad) Scene One: saw Alexander Zervudachi smoothly assuming his role as René. His facial expressions on Saturday, as he gained in confidence, his swelling waistcoat and his practised Franglais, made Alex one of the hits of the show. This scene also saw two exotic cameos from Georgina Sutcliffe-Maynard and Lucy Telfer-Smollett….(“cool shoes!” - a brother). The clumsy diggers brought comic relief and the audience felt in safe hands as the show got into its stride. Scene Three: Here we found a posse of startlingly grown up boys planning their escape – their simple but hardhitting biker-meets-Che Guevara costumes setting the scene for the Mann brothers’ “gentle” Both Jim Massey and John Symons praised the cast, the stage hands, the lighting boys, and the many backstage hours spent creating costumes and applying make-up by mothers and staff members. Sitting in the audience, listening to people’s enjoyment of the end result, I can assure all these children and adults that their immense efforts were appreciated. “Accomplished, “, “professional, “ and “funny” were frequently-heard words of praise, and the maturity and aplomb of the young actors, who all gained in confidence as the performances progressed, were particularly praiseworthy. Children gain an enormous amount from being in or involved with a school play. Jon Hammond scored a real “triomphe” with this one: it was colourful, entertaining, witty, and above all, an ensemble effort. I think the final words should go to a 5-year-old pre-prep pupil, who saw the play twice:“I laughed!” and so did we all. Sally Butcher Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School Scene Two: six fearsomely gorgeous schoolgirls…(“stunners!” - a mum), three befuddled members of the escape committee, and some fast talking, paved the way for the arrival of the perfectly pitched performance of Flora Zajicek as Mrs da Rocha, complete with windowpane check apron and Dame Edna eye make-up. Flora has played many roles in school performances, but this was her finest hour: (“we were in stitches” - the real Mrs da Rocha); (“amazing” - an older sister); (“really good” - a 4th form boy). The success of her characterisation was that one really forgot it was Flora. Two more (“sexy!” - another mum) schoolgirls led us into…. “Our Finest Hour “ was a real success. Buckets of praise must go to Jon Hammond, not only for rewriting a script to give a Mount House audience huge pleasure at the beautifully observed injokes, but also for the much harder task of marshalling 64 young actors and taking them through the grind of linelearning and rehearsals, with enthusiasm and good humour. As a 5th form boy said on the Monday after,“it was really fun doing rehearsals, and really annoying when it finished!” 33 PRE-PREP Pre-prep At the end of the Summer term we said farewell to Julia Hallinan, head of the Pre Prep for four years. Under her watchful eyes the number of children joining the Pre-prep had increased to its highest level, and the bright classrooms were full of busy people, both pupils and staff engaged in a huge variety of activities. She instigated the parents’ notice board; and encouraged curriculum letters and weekly timetables allowing everyone to see what was going on both in the classrooms and the Prep school, and her computer and organisational skills were a force to be reckoned with as she produced high class illustrated newsletters and programmes accompanying all the different events that the Pre-prep took part in. With her love of music, and in partnership with Gill Waters, she created the Pre-prep choir that not only went on to win prizes at the Saltash music festival, but inspired the children with a love of singing, as well as providing embryonic members of the Prep school Chapel and Junior Choir! Whilst often appearing to have a stern exterior, the children and many parents came to see the warm and kindly persona that Julia was able to bring to her professional life and parents needing to see her were reassured by the care and knowledge she had of all the individual children. We have fond memories of Julia in all sorts of situations, such as sitting in the Police helicopter on a trip up to Middlemoor, and having a lapful of children all wanting to tell her what they have been doing, as well as the ever popular end of term productions and concerts that she poured her heart and soul into. At the end of the year a great tribute was paid to her by Anthony Danvers on behalf of all the parents, and she was sent on her way with a very snug goose-down duvet to brave the Welsh winters and an ornamental planter to remember her time with us at Mount House. Remembering her great passion for her Welsh upbringing we now wish her “Pob lwc” in her new role as a Pre-Prep head in a school in Cardiff. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 34 The Pre-prep was a busy place to be last year. During the course of the year we welcomed eighteen new children. Eleven in the Nursery, two to the Reception Class, one to Year One and four to Year Two. We saw Heather Rickard become a full time member of staff in the Foundation Unit, Jane Watercolour by Martha Jacobs,Year 2. Her interpretation of Claude Monet's “Garden in Bloom at Sainte-Adresse Best and Sarah Luscombe join Year 2 as part-time Classroom Assistants. Sarah Luscombe also became the leader of our After School Club which continues to be extremely popular. Addy Chichester once again ran the Dance Club and the children gave a grand performance of Sleeping Beauty. It was wonderful to witness their confidence and obvious enjoyment as they danced and leapt around the Wortham Hall. The Julie Edmonds Art Club again proved very popular and the children produced some fascinating pieces of work. The children worked very hard to produce some beautiful poinsettia clay bowls for Christmas. They also became most creative with lentils; creating some interesting frogs for the pond! The watercolour reproductions were quite spectacular and Martha Jacobs amazed us all. SUPERB MARTHA! Donna Hone managed the aspiring footballers amongst the Year 1 and Year 2 children.The climax of the season was a close match where both sides were rewarded for their efforts with a medal. SMILES ALL ROUND! Performances this year included our Harvest Festival where each class presented a short item about the Harvest and all the children sang songs and hymns. The Nursery told us the story of the Combined Harvester, the Reception class presented the story of Dear Ameena,Year 1 offered an alternative Harvest prayer and Year 2 talked about Harvests around the world; looking at the foods we eat without realising where they have come from. Our Christmas production was ‘The Disgruntled Snowman’ which involved every child from the youngest to the oldest – the Year One and Two children taking the spoken parts. Matthew Villaquiran took the lead role as the Snowman and is to be congratulated for looking disgruntled as this is not a look Matthew is familiar with. Our Pre-Prep choir again performed magnificently at the Saltash Festival receiving a distinction for their performance. Several children from the Reception to Year 2 entered the solo classes where once again the standard of singing was exceptionally high. We also took the opportunity of taking part in the Mr Men Marathon Challenge, raising money for children with leukaemia. Each class was asked to take part, the Nursery played 26-layered pass the parcel, Reception collaged 26 Mr Men, Year one had 26 spellings to learn and year 2 were given 26 bizarre words to fit into a story. Shaun the Sheep proved to be a very popular character in these adventures. A superb total of £1000 was raised. A huge Thank You to everyone who took part. PRE-PREP Pre-prep • John the storyteller turned our woods into a mythical land with surprises at each turn. • Simon worked with Nursery to create a Hazel fence which they had to weave themselves. An amazing experience which we will certainly repeat next year. The term culminated with a performance of “Cinderellie at the Hoedown” by the Year One and Two children, who thoroughly enjoyed experimenting with accents and walks! The Foundation Unit presented us with ‘The Teddy Bears’ Picnic’, which proved to be very entertaining. A sad goodbye was said to Mrs Hallinan who was moving on to pastures new in Wales (the love of her life) after four successful years at the Pre-prep. The children all signed a plate so she could remember each and every one of them. We wish her well in her new position in Cardiff. We are justly proud of the children in the Pre-Prep. They are happy, confident and eager to learn, and an absolute pleasure to teach. We strive to ensure that each learning experience is both fun and stimulating at all times. If you have not seen us in action then please do come along, we are always eager to show off our work and share some of the fun! Michelle Pole During the Summer term we held a Forest School week. By participating in engaging, motivating and achievable tasks and activities in a woodland environment each child has a chance to develop an intrinsic motivation, sound emotional and social skills.These, through self-awareness, can be developed to reach personal potential. This allows children of all ages to have the opportunity to learn about the natural environment, how to handle risks and most importantly to use their own initiative to solve problems and co-operate with others. We aim to develop: • • • • • • • Self-awareness Self-regulation Intrinsic motivation Empathy Good social communication skills Independence A positive mental attitude, self-esteem and confidence. • Tom Sobey from Dartmoor National Park went orienteering with Year1 & 2 and then told us some myths and legends. • Westcountry Rivers Trust brought along the most amazing equipment so we could magnify all finds from the lake onto a laptop. Incredible close-up views.The children could not get enough of this event. • Julia Greaves from Going Potty introduced wood art and decorated the tress and made 3D sculptures in the woods. • Chris Salisbury introduced woodland skills – using adult loppers to create woodland nymphs, minibeast hunting and photography. We also made our own BBQ and dined outside. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School Let me assure you all of the above took place. The Pre-prep was buzzing with excitement. We went out in all weathers, we used tools for play and work, we got very dirty and had tremendous fun.We had several visitors: 35 PRE-PREP Nursery September arrived, and with it the start of the academic year. Fresh faces entered our doors as we settled down into the new term. What better way to get to know the new children and their families as we embarked on the theme, ‘Ourselves’? We began by making pasta faces for the Rogue’s gallery; hand-printed trees sprouting up on the display boards and little foot prints dotted around the classroom. Our trip for the term took us to Babbacombe Model Village where the Nursery and Reception classes were able to see their world in miniature. Many of them wanted to climb into the towns, and be part of a football game or a guest at a wedding. Charlotte was eager to put on a hard hat and be a construction worker on the building site and Oliver looked around for the zebras when we pointed out the zebra crossings. grandson and that growing older comes with many privileges, not about what you can no longer do. Alison Malcolm then arranged for a police visit where the children were able to wear some of the clothing and test out the many gadgets the policeman keeps hidden in his many pockets. A few children were eager to get inside his van with the caged door, and very excited when he put on the siren and flashing light. I am not sure this was the reaction we were looking for! Inside the classroom, Mr Sarkar, a cardiologist, came to talk to the children on staying healthy. He brought in a very expensive piece of equipment that took an x-ray of internal organs. Using his daughter as a patient, he was able to show all the children a beating heart, which was not only fascinating for them, but the teaching staff as well. Looking after ourselves and staying healthy stirred much discussion with us all, but not all of us are blessed with fully working organs. This leads me to our next visitor. Organised by Julie Edmonds, Mr Sutton-Shaw arrived on our doorstep with one of his faithful friends. He is one of the trainers for ‘Hearing Dogs for the Deaf ’. He showed the children how a trained dog is able to alert his master when the telephone or doorbell rings. We were all impressed by the intelligence of such an animal. January was quite kind to us this year and we used the grounds as much as possible as Mount House began to wake up from its winter sleep. Inside, the Pre-prep was buzzing with preparations for the theme of ‘Celebrations’. Nicholas dressed up as a handsome Scotsman in kilt and sporran as we celebrated ‘Burns Night’. The children tried out some Ceilidh dancing with some piped music but none of them was too keen to taste the delicacies of the traditional meal of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties. Believe me it is an acquired taste! Chinese New Year arrived with the year of the ‘Rat’ which the children all wanted to be when play-acting the race, as he wins by default. We were fortunate to have Beatriz’s nanny, Wei, to show the children how to cook a Chinese stirfry, was enjoyed by all as Mrs Peeters gave each small person a pair of child friendly chopsticks. I was disappointed to learn that they do not do adult sizes. The children learnt a Chinese rhyme and how their name was written in Chinese. With Valentine’s and Mother’s Day fast approaching a trip to the Hairdresser’s was in order. Joseph Du’Gay’s grandmother came to talk to the children about being a grandmother; it was quite uplifting to hear the joy she experiences with her Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 36 The term ended with the Christmas performance of ‘The Disgruntled Snowman’. The Nursery was integrated with the older children from the other three classes and followed the lead from them. Martha twinkled creatively, setting the stage alight with her fellow stars. Jane and Sarah from ‘Cutting Company’ in Yelverton had curling tongs and styling gel at the ready to transform 10 wind-swept little people into well groomed starlets. To pay for the privilege they swept the floor and helped the hairdressers with their obliging clientele. The homecorner became our hairdresser’s in the following week and Mrs Hone and I had some very interesting hair styles that turned a few heads on our way home. The term finished with the Easter assembly where Jacob made his debut as he recited the words perfectly to a spring poem, along with his fellow classmates. During this term we said goodbye to Rachel Iles who left us to have her baby and set up home in Swindon with her partner. We later learned that a baby girl arrived safely and both Mum and baby are doing well. Nicholas also leaves us this term to begin a new life in Norway. Summer crept up on us, with a few sunshine spells. ‘Land, Air and Water’ was the topic of the term; water being the operative word, as we had plenty of it. Not to be deterred by the grey skies, with waterproofs and wellies as the essential kit, we ventured out as much as possible. Plymouth airport was our first trip and how we wished we could climb on board the first plane to take us off somewhere warm, dry and exotic. Not sure how restful it would be with sixteen children in tow. We took a good look around and were given a fire safety talk by a Mr Rob Wise. There were opportunities to see aircraft take off and land. Forest School week proved a huge success and we were lucky enough to have picked the driest and warmest week in the summer term (there was one!). PRE-PREP Nursery.....continued The children spent every waking minute outside exploring the grounds and listening carefully to the educational talks. It proved to be a valuable experience for everyone and the Pre-prep buzzed with excitement, with the children eager to take their lessons under the sky. The pace of the days did catch up with the smallest explorers, so they recharged their batteries on camp beds under the trees. The outdoor sounds were more soothing than Brahms’ Lullaby and in no time the sweet birdsong was replaced by plenty of snoring. Mrs Peeters accompanied the Nursery class on a steam train ride from Buckfastleigh to Totnes where the children stopped to have their picnic and see some ‘Rare breeds’ of Farm animals. The highlight for Hebe was the beach trip to Wembury where she could not wait to take the first dip in the sea. We were so lucky with the weather again and the setting with its lovely sandy beach and numerous rock pools encouraging the inquiring mind to explore the uninvestigated territory. The term came to an end with the Sports Day. Abdul had worn his running shoes from day one in anticipation of this event. The rain just about held off for all the team events and, as always, the day was thoroughly enjoyed from the youngest contender to the eldest. The element of camaraderie on this occasion warmed up the dullest day. I would like to thank Vanessa Peeters, Becky Lamb, Kate Hawkins, David Sarkar and Granny Louise for their invaluable contribution to the term events and Mrs Hone and I would like to say thank you for all the happy memories from 2007 from all the children mentioned in this article. Andra MacDougall Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 37 PRE-PREP Reception Reception has had an exciting and productive year, starting in the Autumn term with our theme of ‘Ourselves’. We focused on all aspects of the children’s immediate homes and families including amusing ‘guess the baby’ photographs and some lovely drawings inspired by a Chagall painting. As part of the theme we were able to visit the opticians in Tavistock and William and Annaliese enjoyed sitting in the special chair and trying on the different sorts of glasses. I am pleased to say that we all passed our eye tests with flying colours and came away with all sorts of Resources to enhance our role-play area. We were also very fortunate that Francesca and Lauren’s parents David and Tracy Sarkar, both doctors, came into school to talk about keeping healthy and to show us some of the tools and instruments that they needed to use in their work including an extremely expensive and remarkable machine that allowed us to look at our hearts working! All the children had to speak and sing in our Harvest assembly about a poor child’s view of our western food. Charlotte and Jamie had particularly loud and clear speaking voices, and May and Millie learnt their words really quickly. The class enjoyed our wet trip to the model village at Babbacombe and Leila, Alice and Florence loved looking at the little figures and trying to spot all the funny things going on in the scenes such as the traffic warden and the small car accident! The Spring term saw our focus move to ‘Celebrations’.This meant that the class were able to look at the more familiar festivities such as birthdays, baptisms and weddings as well as Chinese New Year, Holi and Purim. We all had great fun making and cooking pancakes for Shrove Tuesday; and Isabella’s mummy Sophie Snow came in to help us make large lantern structures with willow and paper to celebrate the lantern festival. Joseph and Aggie painted their feet and used the cut-out footprints to measure around the school. Our theme this term was ‘land sea and air’ which gave us lots of opportunity to go out and about exploring different modes of transport. We had a wonderful trip to Plymouth going on the train from Gunnislake, followed by a picnic on The Hoe and a boat trip across the Sound looking at all the vessels coming in and out. We debated catching the ferry to France but decided that we wouldn’t make it back for pick-up time! A few weeks later we went to Exeter to visit the Police headquarters at Middlemoor to see police cars, dogs and, most importantly, the police and air ambulance helicopters. Everyone got a chance to sit in the helicopter but Mrs Hallinan didn’t look very comfortable, perhaps she was worried it might take off with her still in the front seat! We loved our wonderful Forest Schools week, when all activities were taken outside utilising all of the extensive school grounds. We had lots of outside visitors inspiring the children to look around them with new eyes. We went river and pond dipping, listened to stories, and created natural art. Francesca made a lovely caterpillar and Harry and Maisie were very adept at crossing the stream on a fallen log. We finished the year with a brilliant sports day that all the children enthusiastically took part in, matched only by the enthusiasm of the parents to join the BBQ and Pimm’s queues when the events had finished. The children also had to design and make Easter bonnets and hats for our end-of-term Easter Egg hunt and Alexandra, Rose and Marcus were justifiably proud of their efforts. With all the children confident, and ready to move on to the greater challenges of Year 1 we wish them all the best as they move on further up the school. We welcomed fifteen children into Year 1 in September including two new faces, Ottilie Whitbread and Millie Sharp. Everyone settled in well and soon got back into the swing of things after the long summer holiday! Our visit to Earth, Paint and Fire was also a great success, with the children designing and painting mugs to give to their fathers for Christmas. They were fired and glazed and brought back to school where the children made and decorated boxes for them. Just so that the mums didn’t feel left out the children also made bracelets for them, spending a considerable amount of time selecting each and every bead! Year 1 Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 38 In the summer term we were blessed with good weather and were able to have lots of outside activities going on with sand and water exploration, the tuff spot with paint and sponges, as well as taking our maths and science investigations into the garden. October 31st was, for once, during time at school, and we all loved cooking, decorating and dressing up for our party which we had in the afternoon. Everyone had a great time and there were some very scary looking witches and wizards! Our trip to Buckland Abbey went well and everyone dressed up in Elizabethan costumes, the boys looked very dashing in their doublets and hose, and it was noted, made more trips to look at themselves in the mirrors than the girls!! Everyone liked doing the brass rubbings which came back to adorn the walls of the school. The spring term arrived and with our topic being Celebrations we learnt about Chinese New Year and visited a Chinese supermarket looking at the many unusual foods. We came back with fortune cookies and lots of optimism! Also during this term we studied the life and times of the Vikings.The children enthusiastically learnt about Viking houses and were thrilled to learn of their Viking names, they even produced a Viking edition of the class newspaper! PRE-PREP Year 1.....continued The summer term arrived and with it came Cameron Georgel, who joined the Year 1 class this term.As the term began it came with the hope for a long awaited hot summer. Sadly this was not to be, although we were incredibly lucky that our ‘Forest Schools’ week had probably the best weather of the term. Everyone enjoyed doing the many activities organised and our final barbecue day down by the river was voted a great success.The cooking and eating of the marshmallows was a highlight! During that week we also had a visit to my farm. Again, the weather was fantastic and what with the picnics, raft making, paddling and swimming in the river everyone had a great time. It was topped off by ice lollies whilst waiting for mums who lived nearby, and then the brief drive back to school for the rest of us. Another successful trip was to the aquarium in Plymouth.There is always something different to see and the children also enjoyed making their own aquariums in the newly moved educational rooms. Our final trip was to Widemouth beach and although the weather wasn’t at its best at least it stayed dry and, as the day went on, blue sky appeared. Many thanks to the mums who came along to help – Donna Forshaw and Amanda Wildman. It makes a more relaxing trip to have extra pairs of eyes watching on the beach. The children found lots of crabs, shrimps and other interesting bits and pieces although the highlight was probably the baby bird which came and sat on the stone I was holding, for several minutes, completely unafraid.We had lots of ‘sleepers’ in the bus coming home – everyone exhausted but happy! All in all, the year went by in a flash and it was time to look forward to that lovely long summer holiday! Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 39 PRE-PREP Year 2 As an increasing awareness of a more environmentally sound unit I introduced a gardening club to run alongside cooking club. We visited Long Ash Garden Centre where we learnt all about the items we could grow in school. We looked at organic products, composts, bulbs seeds and how we could possibly encourage more wildlife into our gardens. Following the trip we melted lard and added nuts, fruit and bird seed to help the birds survive winter. However, apparently the smell of melting lard is not particularly attractive… I believe ‘yuck’ and ‘gross’ were the usual expressions, but the birds ate well. Year 2 started their time in Year 2 with gusto.A ratio of 13 boys and 6 girls could only mean one thing – Dennis the Menace was bound to be just around each corner.Tactical planning was the only response for this teacher. Luckily being a football and rugby fan I was on solid ground and did my utmost to inspire the class to support the only true champions. I will leave it to you to work out who that was. Several of the class saw sense but I was unable to help others who stuck with Chelsea! As you may have guessed a good sense of humour was required to survive this year. Our first trip took us to the wild moors. Who could know what we would experience on our adventure into the unknown! We trekked across river and mountain, carrying our supplies with us? Wellies were called for as were waterproof coats but we were strong and continued our journey until camp. One whole mile later the tents were up and the exploration began. We took nets to dip in the river, art materials to record our observations and a camera in case we caught sight of Vixena the Witch.Whether she was watching from afar I do not know but we were surrounded by a spooky atmosphere and were very careful where we walked. We were then joined by Dartmoor National Park who told us even more scary stories about the moors. Following lunch we hiked back and visited Hairy Hand Bridge and the Devil’s fields by the Warren Inn. We survived the trip but the recollections of the adventure were noted with a sense of apprehension. All stories were shared with parents who I am sure had difficulty sleeping that night. In the summer term we had the most amazing trip to the theatre - Mary Poppins.The performance was almost three hours but not one child took their eyes off the stage.An incredible event which young and old enjoyed. We even tried to spell THAT word: SUPER……………………… Can you do it? We tried but did not quite manage it. Year 2 also discovered the history of Tavistock. We visited the museum and were surrounded by artefacts of the past. Quite tricky to get your head around the geography of the place as it was then. I myself had to work hard to get the vision of the past. However, our real find was Heather Cooper who accompanied us on the trip and was a mine of information.Thank You Heather. I would most definitely recommend a trip to the museum it is quite simply fascinating to see the changes. We absolutely loved our Forest School Week. All learning was undertaken in the great outdoors. Dens were constructed in the woods and in the playground. However, Miss Pole’s group had to work significantly harder pulling up their branches on sledges and then cutting to size with saws and clippers.We used an A frame to construct our hide and it was used throughout the summer term. One challenge set to the children was to build a bird’s nest – seems easy- but they had to build as birds do, with feet and beaks only.The class did rise to the challenge and proud nests were on display for all to see. We also constructed bird houses using mud, water and sticks. Messy but great fun. This also provided us with an opportunity to have a mud pie fight, I found out too late I was the prime target. OH DEAR! Several showers later I was fine. The most wonderful thing to come out of this whole week was to watch the team work and hear the children offering supportive comments. A wonderful experience which will be repeated next year. At Harvest we had great fun trying to find food from around the world. A shopping trip on the internet revealed some surprising results. We suddenly discovered we ate food from all around the world already. The children were set the task of discovering some facts about a country and its harvest. I was proud of them for working so hard on this and they presented their findings beautifully. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 40 The Disgruntled Snowman was our Christmas presentation and wow the children had some tricky lines to conquer. However, with much perseverance they were successful and the story of the Nativity was told from a different point of view (that of the Snowman). He suddenly realised how lucky he was and decided being happy was much better! Easter saw Year 2 visiting Castle Drogo, thanks to Fiona Ridgers. It was the most amazing castle to visit and we were all astounded by the technology as it had been designed so many years ago.The children were able to try on chain mail and helmets and then tried to move in it, which, to their surprise was incredibly difficult. The children suddenly began to comprehend just how fit the knights must have been. We then went on a treasure hunt where we discovered more facts about the Castle and its designer. Do you know who designed the castle? As the day neared its end we received a bag of goodies each, which we very grateful for. We highly recommend a visit. We ended the term with a performance of Cinderellie, which was terrific fun to put together.The children were able to use their own imaginations for costumes and many splendid speaking parts were delivered in western style.The line dance we ALL performed was even more amusing and teachers did their best to join in. I do hope we didn’t let the children down! A fantastic term which I thoroughly enjoyed and I would like to thank the children for so much fun. Michelle Pole MUSIC Music Chapel Choir The Chapel Choir has had another busy and rewarding year, leading the school’s worship at school services as well as performing at recitals … and a wedding! Edward Dance and Flora Zajicek were exemplary Head Choristers, ably supported by other “veterans”. Our anthems during the Christmas term were “Here I am Lord” by Dan Schutte, and “Miracles” by Sally deFord. “So they gave their bodies” by Aston and the “In Paradisum” from Fauré’s Requiem were the anthems for the school’s Remembrance Service, which was extremely well attended this year. The Carol Service featured “Myn Liking”, “Joy to the World” [complete with trumpet descant provided by Mrs. Waters], the “Coventry Carol”, “Ding, dong merrily on high” and “Love came down at Christmas”. Hugh Walkington Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School The Easter term has a shorter programme, but is no less ambitious for that.The first service featured the “Litany to the Holy Spirit” by Hurford. For the second service, we adopted our “Mount House Evensong” format, and the Choir performed Walmisley’s Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis in D minor. This is a major work for any prep school choir to take on, and an appreciative congregation enjoyed an excellent performance. During the Easter term, we also attended the parish church’s “Education Sunday” service, which invites the choirs of all the local schools to participate. We reprised “Here I am Lord” from the previous term to a packed congregation. Shortly after the end of the Easter Term, we had the highlight of the entire year, which was to sing at Lizzy Covey’s wedding to Paul Harris in the parish church. We sang “Panis Angelicus” by César Franck and the “Irish Blessing”, and it was a real privilege for everyone to be involved in such a special event. The first anthem of the Summer Term was slightly unconventional, being a jazzy arrangement of “Swing Low” and “When all the Saints”. One of the highlights of the term was our recital at Emmanuel Church, Mannamead. It was an opportunity for the Choir to reprise much of the material of the last couple of years, but perhaps the most ambitious part of the programme was to perform three movements from Fauré’s Requiem. Seven instrumental soloists: Alexander Zervudachi, Meg Hughes-Chamberlain, Ruairidh Matthews, Eleanor Hayward, Gemma Robbins, Yume Fujita & Flora Zajicek delighted a small audience with the skill and sheer musicality of their performances. The year was brought to a happy conclusion with an outing to Megabowl and subsequently chez Zajicek for tea to thank the choristers for their hard work throughout the year. At the summer concert, we performed the “Swing Low” arrangement as well as a beautiful three-part setting of Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven”, before rounding off the year in suitable style at the end-ofyear service.“Panis Angelicus”, together with “The Lord bless you and keep you” by Rutter and “The Journey” by Lole made up the programme. My thanks are due as ever to all the adults who willingly give up their time to sing the lower parts and to Jonathan Banyard for his indefatigable assistance as accompanist. 41 MUSIC Music Christmas Term and theatrical. Flora has flourished as a violinist and singer, gaining a music scholarship to Blundell’s. Alexander Zervudachi achieved his Grade 7 violin with distinction and has also managed to pursue his love of rugby playing an important role in the 1st XV. Georgina Sutcliffe-Maynard came to Mount House along with her celtic harp and left with a rather larger one and a scholarship to Bryanston. Arts Colours were also presented to Alex Zervudachi, Flora Zajicek, Eleanor Hayward,Yume Fujita and Ruairidh Matthews during the year, for their outstanding contribution to the musical life of Mount House. For me, the highlight of the year was to see these pupils making music together in formal and informal situations and seeing the enjoyment that they gave to many as well as themselves, especially at the Leavers’ Concert. Of the five years that I have been Director of Music at Mount House, it was evident from the start of the academic year 2007/08 that it would be a most rewarding and exciting year in the Music Department, and the best to date. Pupils have given amazing concerts, recitals and performances in various competitions and achieved higher and better music examination results than ever during this year. Ruairidh Matthews and Eleanor Hayward have successfully auditioned for and attended courses with the National Children’s Wind and String Sinfonias. Such standards have been achieved not only through some excellent teaching but in some part by the inspiration of some talented pupils.Yume Fujita came to Mount House from Japan with very little English but as a very technically assured pianist. Over her time at Mount House she became a confident, inspirational pianist, percussionist and organist.Yume was awarded a top Music Scholarship to Sherborne School for Girls. Her love of music and enthusiasm have permeated throughout the Music Department. Yume struck up a real friendship with Flora Zajicek, who throughout her time at Mount House has been involved in all things musical Mr. Banyard, who has been at the school for a number of years said that the performances this year and the Leavers’ Concert were the best he had known…..and he has witnessed a fair few! However, none of this was achieved without much practising and dedication to finding time to do so in the very busy Mount House day. With respect to that, it has to be said that the staff at Mount House try very hard to work together and give and take especially within the arts and sports time to create an atmosphere where pupils can fulfil their potential. During the Christmas Term pupils prepared for an Informal Concert, Senior Musicians’ Recital at Meavy Church, Christmas Concert, Carol Service, Associated Board Music Examinations, and the Saltash Music Festival (to take place early on in the Easter Term).The Pre-Prep also got down to some serious singing for their Harvest Celebration and Christmas production. The Senior Musicians’ Recital at Meavy Church was a showcase of the best of our musicians. I’m not sure if the concert or the relaxing time and food provided by the Zajiceks were the highlight for the performers! Mount House Senior Musicians’ Concert Meavy Church Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 42 YUME XYLOPHONE FLORA EMMA GEMMA VOCAL VIOLA FLUTE YUME PIANO INDIA VIOLIN EMMA VOICE GEORGINA FLORA HARP VIOLIN CHARLIE IS MY DARLING ARR. J FAULKNER I KNOW WHERE I’M GOING KUHREIGEN IF I WERE A RICH MAN SUMMERTIME DR. GRADUS AD PARNASSUM DEBUSSY SELECTED J.S. BACH THERE’S A SUNNY SIDE TO EVERY SITUATION O LOVELY NIGHT THE SILVER TEARS OF THE MOON MEG CELLO YUME ELLIE XYLOPHONE VIOLIN RUAIRIDH VOICE ALEXANDER VIOLIN YUME RUAIRIDH PIANO TRUMPET ELLIE VOICE CONCERTO IN C 1ST MOV. VIVALDI NORWEGIAN DANCE GRIEG RUDOLPH RAG CINQUANTAINE GABRIEL - MARIE SELECTED ROMANTIC PIECE NO.1 & 2 DVORAK SELECTED ALLEGRO AND SICILIANO TELEMANN TWILIGHT AUBREY BESWICK MUSIC Music The term concluded with the Christmas Concert in the Wortham Hall and the Carol Service at the Parish Church led by the Chapel Choir. The Christmas concert involved over 100 pupils participating in percussion, brass, flute, string and swing ensembles as well as in the Concert Choir, Chapel Choir and Orchestra. Mount House Christmas Concert ORCHESTRA STRING ENSEMBLE ROCK BAND GUITARS FLUTES SWING BAND CONCERT CHOIR CHRISTMAS MEDLEY CHRISTMAS MEDLEY TALK - COLDPLAY SO HERE IT IS - SLADE CHRISTMAS CAROL WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS STAND BY ME HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY XMAS A CHRISTMAS WELCOME LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH A LOVELY CHRISTMAS FEELING ORANGE AND LEMONS LITTLE DRUMMER BOY SENIOR ENSEMBLE AUTUMN AND WINTER MOUNT HOUSE SINGERS BETHLEHEM HARP (Georgina) & VIOLIN (Flora) O HOLY NIGHT EVERYONE WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS BRASS ENSEMBLE In what has become an annual event, some musicians went to entertain the residents of Crelake House with items from the Christmas Concert and also to enjoy some pre-Christmas treats! Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 43 MUSIC Music Easter Term WINNING PERFORMANCES AT SALTASH MUSIC FESTIVAL Girl’s Solo 12 years & under Organ Recital 13 years & under Piano Recital 13 -15 years Percussion 13 years & under Piano Duet Grade 1 Eleanor Hayward Yume Fujita Yume Fujita Yume Fujita Isabel Kidner / Elizabeth Fearnley Saxophone Solo under 10 (novice) School Instrumental Ensemble 18 years & under Wilf Hadow School Orchestra 18 years & under Song from a Show 12 years & under Viola Solo 11 years & under Violin Solo Grade 4/5 Vocal Solo 10 years & under Vocal Solo 12 years & under own choice Novice Brass Class (under 11) Up to Grade 1 Violin Saxophone Solo Grade 2/3 Junior Novice Solo Class (10 & under) Saxophone Solo up to Grade 1 Double Bass (13 years & under) Junior Boy’s Solo (10 & under) Piano up to Grade 1 Cello Solo (9 years & under) Piano Solo Grade 4/5 Recorder Solo novice (9 & under) Boy’s Solo 14 & under School Ensemble Composition 11 & under Junior Novice Solo 13 & under Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 44 Boys’ solo 12 years & under Boys’ solo 6 years & under Brass Solo 11 years & under Cello Solo 11 years & under String Recital 12 years & under Cello Solo 13 years & under School Choir up to 13 years Flute Solo Grade 2/3 Harp Solo 13 years & under Instrumental Ensemble 13 years & under Junior Folk Song 12 years & under Ruairidh Matthews Jack Smyly Ruairidh Matthews Meg Hughes-Chamberlain Meg Hughes-Chamberlain Fern Toynton Mount House Concert Choir Gemma Robbins Georgina Sutcliffe-Maynard Mount House Brass Eleanor Hayward / Flora Zajicek Mount House Senior Ensemble Mount House Orchestra Eleanor Hayward Emma Paull Flora Zajicek Isabel Kidner Eleanor Hayward Ben Cheshire Augusta Clayton Flora Dickinson Jamie Farrington Alex Ferguson Anthony Hayward Anthony Hayward Isabel Kidner Madeleine Lewis William MacEacharn Lucy Massey Ruairidh Matthews Mount House String Ensemble Nic Scaglioni Fern Toynton MUSIC Music These winning performances were awarded marks that denote a performance as excellent technically and artistically.Yume’s piano recital gained a mark of 90 which put it into the exceptional performance category. Mount House pupils were invited to take part in the Gala Concert, in front of an audience of some 250, including the Mayor and other dignitaries from Caradon District Council. A presentation of Special awards was made at this event and Mount House picked up several of those: SPECIAL AWARDS Yume Fujita Eleanor Hayward / Flora Zajicek Ruairidh Matthews Nic Scaglioni Overall highest mark for piano Overall highest instrumental mark Rodney Pearce Award, for the performer who in the opinion of the adjudicator demonstrated the most love and enjoyment of music. Overall Girl’s Solo highest mark under 18 Overall Boy’s Solo highest mark under 18 Simon Speare Composition award, Overall highest mark Festivals give pupils invaluable performing experience, a chance to listen to others and discuss the merits of the various performances-even if we don’t always agree on the winning performance! Alongside all the Festival preparations the same pupils and more besides were rehearsing pieces to perform in the annual School Instrumental Music Competition. A Monday night just before the end of term saw a variety of piano, string, percussion, woodwind and brass performances in front of parents and the adjudication panel in the Music Room.Twenty seven of these performances made it through to the Final a few days later, held in the Wortham Hall and adjudicated by Gill Johnson, Director of the National Youth Chamber Orchestra and its associated orchestras and adjudicator for the Federation of British Music Festivals. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 45 MUSIC Music Music Competition Final Pianists Isabel Kidner Jamie Farrington Eloise Kidner William MacEacharn Yume Fujita Up to Grade 1 Isabel Cox Wilf Hadow Lucy Massey Bethan Wesley Tabitha Unsworth – White Madeleine Lewis Strings Louis Smith Meg Hughes – Chamberlain Anthony Hayward Fern Toynton Flora Zajicek Eleanor Hayward Wind and Brass Flora Dickinson Gemma Robbins Bertie Jayarajah Guy Gillard Oliver Sale Ruairidh Matthews Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 46 AWARDS Michael Bawtree Trophy Peter Evelyn trophy Jonathan James Trophy The Beard Trophy The Jenks Trophy Piano Brass Strings Woodwind Drums Angus McBride Trophy Woodcock Trophy The Pippa Sainsbury Trophy Channel Four Trophy Best Junior Musician Best Senior Musician Best Novice Musician Winning Set The winners of the various sections this year were:Yume Fujita (piano), Ruairidh Matthews (brass), Eleanor Hayward (strings), Gemma Robbins (wind), Jonson Goff-White (percussion), Wilf Hadow (up to Grade One) The overall winning Senior performance was given by Yume Fujita and the Junior performance by Isabel Kidner. MUSIC Music Summer Term In what has become an annual event in the calendar, Mount House had once again been invited to perform at the “Tavistock Sings Festival” on 27th of April. This year I decided that we would showcase our Senior Musicians as their talent deserved to be heard by those very much involved in wider musical circles.Their performances did not fail to astound those who listened and the audience found it difficult to believe that they were aged 11, 12, and 13. It was this sort of opportunity and standard that I had set out to promote when I took up my post at Mount House and now it was happening. Tavistock Sings Mount House Senior Musicians’ Concert YUME RUAIRIDH XYLOPHONE TRUMPET ELLIE VOICE FLORA VIOLIN YUME PIANO CZARDINA CANZONA 5 BY BANCHIERI SHE’S LIKE THE SWALLOW WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND SPANISH DANCE BY BOHM GOLLIWOG’S CAKE WALK BY DEBUSSY PANIS ANGELICUS FRANCK CHORAL ITEM FLORA VIOLIN RUAIRIDH TRUMPET ELLIE VOICE ELEGIE BY SHOSTAKOVICH CHANSON NEOPOLITAN BY TCHAIKOVSKY ALEX VIOLIN YUME XYLOPHONE ELLIE VIOLIN RUAIRIDH TRUMPET YUME PIANO ADORATION BY BOROWSKI CLOWNING AROUND PUPPET DANCE SICILIEN &ALLEGRO HOUSE OF ELLIOT BY J. PARKER FANTASIE IMPROMPTU BY CHOPIN The pupils were certainly a credit to Mount House School. Just prior to breaking up for half term, the Set Singing Competition was held on the 22nd of May in the Wortham Hall. This year our adjudicator was Mr. John Jenkins, Director of Music at Sherborne Girls’ School. CASTLE ON A CLOUD BY SCHOENBERG Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 47 MUSIC Music MOUNT HOUSE SINGING COMPETITION WORTHAM HALL - ADJUDICATOR: MR. J. JENKINS, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC SHERBORNE GIRLS’ SCHOOL. JUNIOR BOY Max Hayward Christopher Villaquiran Luke Measelle Giles Malcolm Anthony Hayward A Rovin’ Smuggler’s Song Where is Love Twilight Chim Chim Cher-ee JUNIOR GIRL Tabitha Unsworth-White Elizabeth Fearnley Georgina Morris Samantha Unsworth-White Isabel Kidner Izella Oxenham Whistle a Happy Tune As Long as he Needs Me Morning has Broken Coconut Man Edelweiss The Letter SENIOR BOY Jamie Farrington Henry Newman Ruairidh Matthews Electricity Walking in the Air Tonight SENIOR GIRL Eloise Kidner Marina Carrick Flora Zajicek Part of your World Chim Chim Cher-ee I Know Where I’m Going This year each Set was accompanied by an instrumentalist: Kangs by drummer Ruairidh Matthews and Yume Fujita on Xylophone, Owls by violinist Flora Zajicek, Hawks by trumpeter Bertie Jayarajah and Otters by Alex Zervudachi on the Saxophone. The winning “Set” performance was given by Kangs with Izella Oxenham winning the Junior Girl category with an emotional and extremely musical rendition of The Letter from the musical Billy Elliot. Jamie Farrington won the Junior Boy category, Mr. Jenkins found it impossible to choose between Flora Zajicek’s unaccompanied version of the Irish folk song “I Know Where I’m Goin’“and Eleanor Hayward’s performance of “The Swallow”, so they were jointly awarded the trophy for the Senior Girl’s category. Anthony Hayward was awarded the Junior Boy’s trophy. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 48 It was all credit to all the performers (in fact the whole school, as everyone was included in the Set contribution) that Mr. Jenkins was so impressed and actually sent a letter saying,“all that I said on the day was true…..I was most impressed with the children’s singing not only for its musical and technical assurance but also for the polished, confident way in which they all performed. The boys and girls were really entering into the spirit of the event and enjoying it enormously.” This had also been the case at the Saltash Music Festival and for the School Instrumental Competition. Izzy Norris Elizabeth Jervoise Fern Toynton Eleanor Hayward Memory My Favourite Things Somewhere The Swallow SET SINGING: SONGS FROM SINGING IN THE RAIN KANGS Singing in the Rain OWLS You are my Lucky Star OTTERS Make ‘em Laugh HAWKS Fit as a Fiddle AWARDS Best Junior Boy Best Junior girl Best Senior Boy Best Senior Girl Best Set Anthony Hayward Izella Oxenham James Farrington Ellie Hayward/Flora Zajicek Kangs Having made a super CD last summer which included the Orchestra, Senior Ensemble and Concert Choir as well as soloists there was no intention of doing so again quite so soon. However……It was decided that with so much talent in the school and such amazing musicians we should not miss the opportunity to make a professional recording of them. So it was, that several musicians found their way to Paul Craddick’s recording studio housed in a barn on his farm in the middle of nowhere. At the time of this going to press I have just heard the recording and it is quite special. The Summer Term concluded with Associated Board Music Exams and three concer ts in three days. Firstly the Prep School Summer Concer t then the Pre-Prep concer t and finally the Leavers’ Concer t.The Chapel Choir also led the End of Term Service in the Parish Church. The Summer Concert provided a platform for performance for the Orchestra, Chapel Choir, Concert Choir, Guitar, Flute, Brass and String Ensembles, Swing band and Rock Band. Highlights for me personally were the Orchestra with the 1812 Overture complete with canon effect and timpani. MUSIC Music ASSOCIATED BOARD/TRINITY GUILDHALL EXAMINATION RESULTS Sept 2007/July 2008 Once again this year there has been a 100% pass rate in the music examinations taken. Flora Zajicek was awarded the Hamilton Aketer memorial award for the highest strings mark in Grade 5 or 6 in the Tavistock and Plymouth area. PREP TEST (ONLY A PASS OR FAIL, NO MARK AWARDED) ISABEL COX JENNY FORREST TEAN CHOROSZEWSKA KARIS BARRASFORD CAITLIN HAYNES-PARRY MEAGHAN RYDER-GREEN SAMANTHA UNSWORTH-WHITE BETHAN WESLEY ANDRE MASNYK AUGUSTA CLAYTON PIANO PIANO PIANO PIANO PIANO PIANO PIANO PIANO PIANO PIANO MARK CATEGORIES: PASS, MERIT, DISTINCTION. INITIAL MAX HAYWARD PIANO PASS PIANO FLUTE TRUMPET VOICE VOICE VOICE VIOLIN FRENCH HORN TRUMPET BARITONE EUPHONIUM RECORDER MERIT PASS MERIT MERIT PASS PASS DIST. PASS MERIT PASS PASS MERIT VOICE VOICE VOICE VOICE VOICE VIOLIN CELLO CLARINET CLARINET VIOLIN PIANO PIANO PIANO PIANO PIANO PIANO PIANO MERIT PASS PASS MERIT PASS MERIT DIST. MERIT PASS MERIT PASS MERIT MERIT MERIT PASS PASS MERIT GRADE 2 LUCY CHESHIRE ELIZABETH FEARNLEY CLARINET VOICE PASS MERIT PIANO SAXOPHONE SAXOPHONE VOICE PIANO CELLO VOICE TRUMPET VOICE VOICE VOICE PIANO VOICE VOICE SAXOPHONE VOICE MERIT PASS PASS DIST. MERIT PASS MERIT DIST. MERIT PASS DIST. MERIT PASS PASS MERIT MERIT GRADE 3 JAMIE REDFARN MARINA CARRICK ELIZABETH JERVOISE ISABEL KIDNER FLORA DICKINSON FLORA DICKINSON ALEX MAJORIN MEG HUGHES-CHAMBERLAIN GUY GILLARD JAMIE FARRINGTON TABITHA UNSWORTH-WHITE IZELLA OXENHAM POPPY HARTLEY EMMA PAULL PIANO VOICE VOICE PIANO SAXOPHONE PIANO CLARINET VOICE TENOR HORN PIANO VOICE VOICE VOICE PIANO PASS MERIT PASS DIST. MERIT PASS PASS PASS PASS MERIT MERIT MERIT PASS PASS GRADE 4 MEG HUGHES-CHAMBERLAIN WILLIAM MACEACHARN GEMMA ROBBINS ELEANOR HAYWARD ALEX ZERVUDACHI GEORGINA SUTCLIFFE- MAYNARD CELLO PIANO FLUTE PIANO SAXOPHONE HARP DIST. DIST. DIST. MERIT MERIT PASS Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School GRADE 1 PHOEBE MALCOLM HANNAH DONNE WILLIAM DE FALBE ELOISE KIDNER GILES MALCOLM MARINA CARRICK ISABEL KIDNER BEN CHESHIRE EDWARD BARLOW HENRY RIDGERS BETHAN WESLEY LUCY MASSEY SAMANTHA UNSWORTH-WHITE SOPHIA DONNE HENRY NEWMAN ELIZABETH FEARNLEY HENRY BARLOW TAYLOR LEE MADELEINE LEWIS PHILIPPA MAY-SOMERVILLE HENRY MULES GEORGINA MORRIS OLIVIA MCGONIGLE ELIZA SALE GEORGINA SUTCLIFFE-MAYNARD ISABEL COX TABITHA UNSWORTH-WHITE GUY HARRISON CHARLES MACEACHARN ELIZABETH FEARNLEY ALEX FERGUSON WILF HADOW ELOISE KIDNER ELOISE KIDNER PHOEBE MALCOLM GEORGINA MORRIS CHRISTOPHER VILLAQUIRAN GILES MALCOLM IMOGEN GALSWORTHY MARINA CARRICK ANTHONY HAYWARD KARIS BARRASFORD ELIZABETH JERVOISE FLORA DICKINSON MAX HAYWARD 49 MUSIC Music GRADE 5 ALEXANDER ZERVUDACHI MUSIC THEORY MERIT EMMA PAULL EMMA PAULL EMMA PAULL FERN TOYNTON FLORA ZAJICEK IZZY NORRIS ELEANOR HAYWARD YUME FUJITA YUME FUJITA PASS PASS PASS PASS MERIT MERIT MERIT DIST. FLORA ZAJICEK VIOLIN MUSIC THEORY VOICE VOICE VOICE VOICE MUSIC THEORY MUSIC THEORY ORCH. PERCUSSION VIOLIN GRADE 6 RUAIRIDH MATTHEWS TRUMPET DIST. GRADE 7 ALEX ZERVUDACHI VIOLIN DIST. GRADE 8 YUME FUJITA PIANO DIST. DIST. DIST. Mount House Summer Concert Orchestra March to the Scaffold - Berlioz Concert Choir Louis Smith and Anthony Hayward Classical Guitar Duet Senior Ensemble Chapel Choir Selected Orchestra Rock Band Piano Duet – Arrival of the Queen of Sheba Handel Yume Fujita and Gill Waters Brass Ensembles Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 50 A Tisket A Tasket Grand Old Duke of York Trad. British Grenadiers Trio – Meditation – Charles Gounod Flora Zajicek Georgina Sutcliffe-Maynard Yume Fujita String Group Trio – Alexander Zervudachi Flora Zajicek Yume Fujita Skip to my Lou Susannah and Liza meet Polly at the Races! Minuet and Trio - Boccherini When the Saints You Raise Me Up Hey Mr. Miller Last of the Summer Wine Gallop from William Tell – Rossini 1812 – Tchaikovsky The Leavers’ Concert this year was something special and it was great to see our best musicians involved in “crossover” music with the rock bands. Pupils who had struggled at various times in their music-making were vocalists with the “bands” and it was great to see Peter Harrison playing keyboard so expertly, demonstrating how important it is to enjoy your music making and not being governed by exam success.The highlights for me were Tristan Searight’s vocal contribution to an Oasis song, Yume Fujita accompanying Alexander Zervudachi and Flora Zajicek in the trio and in the 1st movement of Dvorak’s Sonatina for violin and piano, and Yume’s outstanding performance of Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu for which she received a standing ovation. For some pupils, musical activities carry on into the Summer holidays with various IAPS courses and theory courses. There is always something going on in the Music Department at Mount House and we provide a range of opportunities for children with all abilities. We look forward to a similarly busy 2008/09year! ART & LITERATURE Art Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 51 ART & LITERATURE Art Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 52 Creative Writing Christmas Nightmare by Georgina Sutcliffe-Maynard (6JS) Bleached snowflakes drift past my open window like shattered glass that reflect every tone and shade in this bleak world. I hold out my creased hand as the air seizes the chance to drag me in to the snowy depths, I fall into this night's devious trap. Now what used to be an immaculate scene had me a dishevelled wreck lying under the majesty made from gleaming crystals that towered over the tattooed trees. I open my eyes to see I have fallen from my window to the snowcovered floor.This night has done what it had set out to do. Its twisted mind had only one task; to take a life and scar the eyes with the same breathless beginning… Bleached snowflakes drift past my open window like shattered glass that reflects every tone and shade in this bleak world. A Loss of Life by Harry Sharp (5ADW) A loss of life isn't like breaking a toy or losing a teddy. It is having a piece of your heart taken away from you never to return. Memories of happiness and enjoyment are left swimming around my mind. Every time I am reminded of the heart-breaking event my eyes flood with tears, the crying is unstoppable. ART & LITERATURE Literature The Mystery Stones by India Lewis (4PS) I stood there, solitary, in the fading summer sun, watching the delicate golden light play across the formidable grey stones. Surrounding me was a ripple-like circle in the wide, never-ending field. I could hear absolutely nothing. The royal blue sky stretched for miles. But even surrounded by the summer goodness, the stones reached up, towering above me, blocking the sun and giving an air of mystery. I shivered, though it was not cold. Turning on my heel, I hurried on my way as fast as I could from the cold, dark stones. Beyond a Star by Oscar Mustard (4PS) A curling light beamed over the lonely trees in the Andes.These trees may have stood in this dusty, desolate wasteland for many years. Spread far across the murky sky in a spiral, it appears like a giant whirlpool, but it is far from that. From the heart of the spiral, you can see only utter darkness; this is space. A black hole is passing and the trees and bushes of the land are staring into time, space and mass.They are looking into infinite space. Even the slightest glance into a black hole is like a cloudy dream.You may lose your mind, some would run away, some inspired, and some would go mad. Time and space is opening in a beautiful vortex; the trees are gripping the ground and groaning as the young bushes look, mesmerised, into all of the planets, space, the vast catalogue of stars, and Time, the Father of us all. I sit here, knowing that my Granny is now safe, at peace, looking over me, watching me live my life. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 53 ART & LITERATURE Literature A Recipe for The Three Witches from Shakespeare's Macbeth by Anthony Hayward (3CG) The ingredients are: The wing of an owl, The liver of a cow. A dragon's throat The gut of a goat. Ten sharp thorns, Grass from the lawn (Dug up at dawn). Eggs of a frog, The ears of a dog. The brain of a rat, A sweaty old hat. One hundred rotten eggs, A spider's legs. And just to give the taste, The blood of a plaice. CHUCK THE WHOLE LOT INTO THE POT, GET IT HOT, EAT THE LOT! My Tranquillity Dylan Smythe (4PS) Calm seas, endless as the tranquillity in my heart. The same tranquillity that relaxes me when I anger. The same tranquillity that clears my mind under pressure. The same tranquillity that keeps my thoughts in difficult times. The tranquillity, that deep within their souls, everyone has. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 54 Magical Scene by Emma Paull (5ADW) I stand there, I could die, any minute, any second, if that volcano exploded. It’s inactive, asleep; but it is just waiting, waiting for the right time. It starts to eject hot flaming ash, the clouds flare up into the dark, black, frightening sky. It spouts magma and lava from its dangerous devil mouth. It rains rocks, they fall onto the black ash-ground below. It’s a devastating, dramatic scene, but all the same, wonderful! My feet want to move me to safety but my legs stand their ground. My mind wants to see more, to capture more images. I do not care if I die today, for I have witnessed this magical scene. Script, inspired by Shakespeare’s Macbeth by Gavin Ball (3CG) Cast List: Witch 1: Gavin Witch 2: Izella Witch 3: Charlie Action takes place in a thunderstorm. Witches appear in a dark, gloomy cave and stand around a cauldron full of water. Actors are to speak in eerie voices. Witch 1: Hello, my sisters of the crazy Bababababababooon! Witch 2: Hello, my sisters of the Ugly Camel! Witch 3: Hello, my sisters of the Wild Wild West! Witch 1: stirs the cauldron as all witches add ingredients. Witch 1: Stir in the sick of a dog and the eye of the frog. Witch 3: Drop in the hair of the deer and the tongue of the meer cat. Witch 2: Mash up the guts of the snake at war and crunch up the bones of a baby monkey. Witch 1: Frozen toad’s leg; put it on the fire! Witch 3: Let it burn under the cauldron’s desire! All: (walking around the fire) Hubble, trouble, the eye-ball of a gubble, make it flame and make it bubble! Witch 2: Gas and steam, make it fubble, then add cat’s blood to make more trouble! All: (walking around the fire) Hubble, trouble, the eye-ball of a gubble, make it flame and make it bubble! The Witches repeat their mantra and then disappear in a puff of smoke. The Storm by Gemma Robbins (4PS) Volcano by Harriet Cave (5ADW) I looked out from the window.The farm was bleak, almost lifeless. The torrential rain forced the trees to bang against the glass. The house shivered. Slowly, I started to move towards the radiator.The heating was stubborn. Refusing to come on again. I was frozen cold and the house had seen better days. What a great example of Summer; trees blowing, rain crashing down on the grass, nothing better! I could hear the thunder and lightning starting up already.The farm would be a wreck in the morning. I grabbed my coat and rushed out to the dogs; they would die out there. The oak tree creaked. I hoped it would not fall; if it did it would crush the dogs’ kennel flat. I put the dogs on the leads and pulled them quickly inside the house. The window had shattered.There was glass everywhere.This will take ages to clear up I remember thinking, not to mention the cost of a new pane of glass. I put the kettle to warm up and turned on my mobile phone. The signal had gone; now I couldn’t get help! The kettle started to scream at me to release it from the heat. I added some coco powder and a dash of milk to the water.That was better. Why did this happen to me? It was meant to be a great day. I was going to go shopping and then for a long walk with the dogs. The weather-man said it would be a beautiful day! This just illustrates to me to always be properly prepared in case something goes a bit pear-shaped. Always have hot chocolate ready! Asleep. We think it’s died. Then there is a Blast! Red Lava comes gushing down, Raining Rocks ruin the landscape! Splish! Splash! Crash! Gone. It will never come back! Why did God create these monsters that kill innocent people? What a violent thing. ART & LITERATURE Literature God’s Anger by Henry Barlow (5LH) God’s anger lies deep underneath all our souls, Dormant, waiting for us to do something wrong. Suddenly all his anger will eject from its seat Blasting from nowhere, raining rocks and burning ash like His ration of toenail clippings being flung. Shaking the world in His hand Waiting for the moment to throw it somewhere, Ash burning through anything is Somehow a resemblance of the heat in His anger. All we can do is watch in despair. The Big Blasts by Georgina Newman (5ADW) She erupts at unexpected moments Like a tiger ready to pounce. Nothing can stop her raging, she’s alone, everyone’s afraid until she is extinct, gone from the world. The chaos she creates is terrible to explain. There is not much alarm, and when it is light it turns to dark, Nothing stands in her way. She has no conscience but a soul of lava. The Cheetah by Henry Hughes (5LH) Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School She’s fast, she’s elegant. She glides like a sailing boat on a mirror-flat estuary. She has the quickest eye, the quickest legs, and her streaked coat hides her in the long Savannah grass. No gazel can out-run her, no springbok can out-step her, she over-powers them all. But when a beast has fallen into her jaws and a hungry pack of hyenas come to drive her off the kill, she goes with an empty stomach. 55 ART & LITERATURE Literature Midget’s Dream by Izella Oxenham (3CG) My Garden at Christmas by Lucy Cheshire (3JB) aged 10 I hear the water hissing, The sun shines in my eyes. The boat is almost flying Towards the sun rise. I am alone on the sea Just my boat and me, Sailing away from everyone, I want to be free. No one being mean to me, No one taking care of me. On my blue boat I feel like a queen. As I walked into my garden, an icy wind greeted me, biting my cheeks and lips.The garden orchard trees had long lost their leaves and they shivered as the snow fell on their bare branches.The pond had a layer of fine snow screaming to be played with. As I bent down to make a snow-ball, it stopped screaming and laughed with me. The Storm by Jamie Farrington (4PS) The howling wind whispered in my ears as I struggled to get up. Debris and leaves pricked into my face as I pushed for my life through the forceful weather to get to the nearest shelter. I managed to scrabble to a small bus shelter nearby. Suddenly, I heard a crack and an ear piercing scream. My Mum was holding on by a branch of a tree and it was about to crack. “Help!” She screamed. I rushed into the storm and grabbed her hand. “Noooo!” I screamed as her hand slipped and she disappeared into the misty fog. Reflections on my time at Mount House by Jonny Parsons (6JS) When I reminisce over the past’s memories, I am saddened by the thought of those I will miss. Mount House has influenced me a colossal amount. My friends have consoled me through some tough times and sympathised with me through struggles and hardships. They have congratulated me when I have done well and we have had loads of fun. (Pillow fight anyone?!) Mount House has helped me enhance my personality and helped me to be my own person. It’s a small community and I have loved mixing with people of all different shapes and sizes. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 56 The Old Oak Tree by Phoebe Malcolm (5ADW) If I had to describe The Old Oak tree in a couple of words they would be stunning, old, enormous and many more, that I will not list for you because there is so much more to tell you about this beautiful creature, starting with a story many years ago. I was only small, about four when I first saw The Old Oak Tree. It was magnificent and that’s when it all started; the tree and I. I would go there every day after school and play, until one day when I was about nine. Instead of letting me go to the tree; my mother brought me in to find my father packing, all dressed smartly in a uniform. “Father,” I asked, “are we going away?”There was a pause, then he scooped me up like he used to when he was younger and placed me on his knee and said, “You know Hannah, there is going to be a war, and they want me to fight.” “So will you be home next weekend?” I added. “No, I could never come back!” I jumped off his knee and rushed out the door. I didn’t want to be with anybody apart from the tree. I sat beside it, head in hands, blubbering all over my jersey.The rumours were true; there was going to be a war, and soon by the looks of it. Over the next couple of days, father left, and I lost my smile.The nice old man next door built us a bomb shelter and wished us good luck and left, for he was also going to battle with father. I watched him climb into the truck to go. His family, with tears running down their cheeks, were worried about their father. I was too, about my own father. So worried in fact, sweat was running down my forehead and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I decided to climb the tree and maybe it could hear me. I climbed to the highest branch of the tree; it was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen apart from the tree itself. I closed my eyes and lay back; the world suddenly became so wonderful. I awoke with a shout below of, “Hannah, Hannah, Hannah wake up!” I sprang up not realising where I was and nearly fell. Luckily, I stabled myself and kept my balance. “What are you doing up there? They’re here!” “Who’s here Mother, who, who?” “Them, the bombs! Now get down from there and get in the shelter.” I had no time to say goodbye to my beloved tree. My heart was pumping, “Thump…Thump …Thump.” I had a rough night with the bombs and the thought of my poor tree.Then, there it was, the all clear! I rushed out of the shelter to find it there, not a branch was gone. It still stands there today, mighty as can be, my beloved tree. Pastures in the Distance by Sascha Lopes (5ADW) The Naughty List by William Paull (3JB) I have lost the battle. No longer grasping the will to live. I feel wind on my face, a pain in my heart and fear in my soul. I follow a road. It is not yet discovered. Searching for a light that cannot be seen. To Imagine is to Create, to Find is to Discover and to Wish is to Hope. People will die and children will cry all over the face of the earth. I may not escape my doom or my fate. But I must fight. I must break through to pastures green. On Christmas Eve I was getting ready to go to bed, when suddenly I heard a clicking noise. I went downstairs, I went into the lounge. I saw the carrots and milk were gone! Then I saw a chubby figure so I hid behind the sofa. It was filling the stocking up! The figure went to my stocking… He filled my stocking up with coal, and my sack! I was shocked like a little bunny being pounced on by a jaguar! After a while, I figure out I was on the Naughty List. I was about to sneeze; I tried to hold it in but I couldn’t so the figure looked, but luckily he didn’t see me. So I ran up the stairs into my bed and I said to myself, “I’ll never be on the Naughty List again!” Rage by Tom Jackman (4PS) My eyes are fireballs, My head is a furious river, My conscience is screaming. Bang! Pop! I lose my head. A fuming, bubbling temper rises up in me. I strain, I struggle to resist. Then the anger explodes, it rushes out. Everything in my way will crack and shatter as my boiling mass engulfs it. I run down the stairs knocking pictures off the wall like a river going down a volcano. One last burst of anger. It screams, it screeches, it reaches out for me. then all is quiet. ART & LITERATURE Literature A secret hiding place (2CB) by Barnaby Treneer I open the door. I don't know where I am going. I step out onto the damp leaves. I see the crystal clear lake. I blunder forward. A beautiful red stag darts out in front of me. I stop suddenly and look down a deep dark hole. I see an old rotten ladder. I start to climb down the ladder. I feel cold. A rut I am standing on breaks and I fall.The air rushes past me upwards. I land with a thump. I'm freezing, cold and lost. I find myself in a sophisticated maze of tunnels. I walk forward. I feel spikes in my hair. I look up see the branches of the tree. I follow the long thick branches of the tree back to the trunk. I see fiery red apples in the tree. I climb up the bristly trunk and pick one. I sink my teeth into it and its delicious flavour flows through my mouth. I sit on a bow and go to sleep. A squeaking rat wakes me. I jump out of the tree. I sprint up the passage to the ladder and start scampering up it. My foot slips. But I don't care now. I hang on when I get to the top. I start to slink home. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 57 ART & LITERATURE Literature Discovery by Laurie Kent (3CG) The Windmill by Issy Cox (2CB) We drove along the winding road, through the roaring hills of the Scottish highlands. We stopped occasionally to watch the bounding deer dart between the coniferous trees. I walked along the old cobbled pathway to the mill.The long sticks of wheat danced in the golden rays of sunshine.The rusted wind spinned in the breeze. I trod slowly down the cobbled path with my brown pack slung over my hard shoulder. I nibbled on a small Cornish short-bread biscuit I had bought. I walked by a rusty chicken hut, the food troughs by it lay dry and empty. A snowy seagull glided above my dirty head.The windmill had come in sight.The slow wings churned slowly in the autumn breeze. Eventually we parked and got out of the car. I was not here for a picnic.The treasures that might lie in their peaty waters were within my reach. Net and bucket in my hands, I quivered as I peered over the edge into the first pond. But there was nothing.The same happened with the second and third. I began to lose faith in my quest. Was I in the right place? Was it perhaps too cold? The snow was still on the peaks. But the fourth pond was different. As I gazed at the glistening water I saw a frog not like the type that I had expected, not the European. This one was unknown to me. He was a lucid bright green with black spots all over its body! This was too good an opportunity to miss. Thrusting my net in the water, the frog struggled and made for the weed. So I quickly guided my net round and the emerald frog swam straight into it! As I lifted my jewel out of the water, I examined every detail. His eyes were a bright orange. His muscular hind legs flowed into his powerful webbed feet. A creamy underbelly was dotted with grey and his glistening, mucus covered skin squelched in my fingers. After photographing him several times, I set him free and watched him hide back down in the green weeds.Would he ever meet a human again? Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 58 I turned the latch slowly and quietly.The inside had walls of a dark brown oak.There was one small candle on a small chestnut table in the middle of the room.There was a decrepit cupboard at the far end of the room.There was an old rusty smell around the place. The balcony was made of old wood, I could see the golden cornfield leading to the wood.The atmosphere was rich, mellow and peaceful. I felt the Cornish air flowing into my strong lungs.There were small patches at the end of the glowing cornfield that had green circles in the rows.The sun crept over the hills and a rich orange spread all over the sky. My heart danced. I was overwhelmed. The Wreck by Ben Hoolash (3JB) I looked out at the icy water The ships sails stood out against the pitch black sky Shipwreck by Charlotte Wiltshire (3CG) I looked out at the icy water The freezing water splashed against my body I watched as the sea swallowed the rocks and the sand As it gurgled in the pools and swirled out again. I looked out at the icy water The icy sea pushed me back to shore There was a ship in the distance Its sails bright in the stormy sky. I looked out at the icy water The ocean air blew against my face The sea was throwing her around Sweeping men into the icy sea. I looked out at the icy water The intimidating sight of the ship keeled over She was out of control Her keel crashed down and tipped to one side. I looked out at the icy water The cold rain dripped down my back like a ice cube What do I do? Men are screaming How can I help? I looked out at the icy water The people screamed for help on deck It was all so fast Before I knew what to do, there was no more. I looked out at the icy water A wave crashed into the boat like a stone shattering glass Silence. Gone. Never to be seen again. The Wreck by Henry Mules (3JB) The Windmill by Lizzie Fearnley (3JB) Her white sails stand out, Like the moon against the black sky. Shining like a candle . The waves were lashing against me, We were tossing and turning. Children screamed. It was devastating. She has capsized, The icy cold waves crashing at the keel. Lashing at the deck. The waves are pushing her onto the rocks, Her keel splashes down. Like boulders on sand. She is stuck on the rocks, She is snapping in half. She is falling to bits. The Wreck by Jamie Anderson (3JB) The The The The waves attacked the boat rapidly. boat sat in the claws of a beast. boat waited sadly. rocks defended madly. The white sail in the sky. Wind gusted loud and clear. Like waves howling. Waves were ploughing. It's as if a dead animal was being eaten. Fish scraping its corpse. The towns men cried. Hundreds of citizens died….. The The The The thunder moaned. sea bed shook. sails fluttered. inky sea muttered. The day went by. Still shaking, terror waiting. The decks flowed. Crows circled crows. ART & LITERATURE Literature Panic came, I was rushing like a bull. The boat was crashing, What could I do? People got dragged in. I screamed for help. The white sail flapped violently in the black sky. I was afraid. Suddenly, The boat shattered into bits. We had no choice but to swim to shore. My heart sank. We were swimming furiously, The waves were so hard. We couldn't get back. The gig was over. The Beach by Edmund Fulford (5ADW) The wafting smell of salt sea breeze on your face and the smell of fish and chips tickle your taste buds.You look down on the golden sands of the beach and look out to the turquoise sea. In the faint background you hear the screeching seagulls and they whistle past you like flying darts.The boats bob up and down like rubber ducks in a bath. Rock pools are like stadiums with children gathered round them watching the colourful creatures lurking inside.The surfers get tossed and turned in the sea like they are in a washing machine.The children are begging their mums and dads to give them money for ice creams. When you're in the water the waves crash and it sounds like there is a thunder storm around you. To me the beach is the best place for a holiday. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 59 ART & LITERATURE Literature The Beach by Georgina Sutcliffe-Maynard (6JS) The wood by Ralph Lawson (5ADW) The blazing sun shone, blinding me and my silent body.The azure sky so pure, not a speck of cloud could be seen by the naked eye. A distant roe deer pounces up above the bright green grass, while the squirrels watch the elegance of it in astonishment from the tree tops. In the corner of my eye I catch the red of a fox its colours clashing amongst the blossoming blue bells and the trees interlacing around each other, with the vines and moss getting in the way of their growth. A sudden rush of wind caught the intensive smell of the sea, its rolling hips moved with an ease, up down, up down, it gently twists itself, but never tangles.The circulating waves crash everlastingly on the smooth, translucent sand which envelopes me, sucking me into its silky lair. Rock faces, old and hideous, glare upon me, their blank expression gives no sign of their history which they have seen unfold. Anemones sway flowing with the breeze of the current, swinging their overgrown, hair-like tentacles. Coloured stars swim frantically above the uneven sea bed. Floating green and brown wigs bob up and down lolling lazily in the shallows. Small brightly coloured suns are dotted here and there around the place, their patterns and ridges are tattooed on the backs of them, but when upside down a smooth pearly white texture meets your fingers and the engraved backs turn into bowls to hold sea water soup. I have a sudden urge to move myself from my sand sun bed to walk gently to the open inviting mouth of the sea. I feel the sea's presence manipulating me to venture out into the unknown. My curiosity gets the better of me and I begin my descent into the blue throat, leaving my life behind me. I sink rapidly so my head enters the water, cold knives pierce my head and I am immersed in this mass of blue. I look through my blurry eyes to make out shapes of colour and stone, this truly is a mysterious place. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 60 I can hear summer all around, the soft leaves rustling together, fighting for the most sun.The crack of a deer's hoof on the twigs every so often, scaring the one of many squirrels back up the tree. But when I stop to listen very carefully, I hear nothing, just the blood rushing through past my ears, or every so often the slight rumble from a motorbike in the far distance. The stench of a near fox forces me to protect my nose from the pure reek of it, but as I carry on walking the strong smell of garlic overwhelms the recent pong. I stop and spread my hands to find to my disappointment that it's raining and soon the drizzle creates a wondrous fresh smell of damp fresh grass. When I gently place my hand on the tree the soft bark feebly gives way under my weak pressure. As I walk with no hurry at all I can feel the delicate twigs snapping with ease under my feet, suddenly I step on something soft and so I look down with curiosity to see what is so unusual to all the other hard sensations under my feet, but all it is, is a soft piece of delicate green moss. The wood is brimming with all different sensations, many more than I have just explained. The Beach by Ben d'Entrecasteaux (4NW) The wood by Ben Birkin (5LC) I step onto the rough, brownish sand and take a look at the large rock pools beside the towering cliffs. Limpets cling to the rocks trying to avoid being sucked into the dark blue sea.The air pushing the waves onto the rugged beach, all the sun bathers getting wet.The sea gradually consuming the rocks on the base of the cliff. Surfers hauling themselves into the biggest wave they can find, with the fish joining them. Boats helpless against the tide, seagulls picking at the scraps of fish and chips left from the families. Children play noisily in the rippling waves of the cold seashore. Seagulls cawing as people laugh and talk loudly, the salty air blowing the flowers beside the beach. I'm taking a stroll through our woods on my own I can hear the faint tapping of a woodpecker in the distance, wild garlic sprouts in between colossal trees. As I continue I can just make out the bubbling of the stream. When I look up all I can see are the rich green leaves which cling on to the immense trees that tower above me. I can smell rotting leaves on the damp forest floor. I can feel the dense bark. A robin is humming to itself, then unexpectedly it starts to rain, first one drop, then hundreds, then just as abruptly as it had started it stopped and the sun came out and the entire wood lit up like it was covered in diamonds. The wood by Ryan Willett (4NW) Twenty-Four by Alex Majorin, (5JH) I see the buzzard fly into the canopy of the Willow tree I see the river flowing with the Brown trout swimming I see the big ash, oak, and beech trees with the little ponies standing under them. Tick , tick, tick those re-sounding echoes that plague my mind seeping, into every space and memory I see the mud and old leaves on the floor. I feel the water flowing under me feet as I stand on a rock in the river, I feel the muddy moss sponging it to my trousers as I kneel on it, I can feel the cold breeze blowing up my t-shirt. I smell the strong scent of horse manure, I smell the barbecuing fish that the fisherman is cooking I smell the fresh smell of young, green trees. I hear the wind blowing loudly though the trees, I hear the buzzard mewing in its nest, I hear the trees swishing above my head, I hear the badger moving in his burrow and I hear the river gushing all day long. The Coach Road by Jack Galsworthy (6JS) The old decrepit trees hang loose, their branches old and frail squeak in every gust of wind.Their vast trunks layered with bark pealed and cracked like earth deprived of water.The sparse empty branches shiver with no leaves as the wind weaves in and out of them. In a way these trees are pariahs to the modern world. I prefer to portray the days that I walk through the wood as lost and alone. As I am the only person who seems to think about these old trees I feel great camaraderie towards them and I feel responsible for their well being, although there is nothing I can do. ART & LITERATURE Literature Whispers of my past and voices of my friends crawl through the weakening wall of my mind. I know I will die, but I do not want to die crying. Every moment I have left is like glass, fragile, breakable By cruel hand of fate the remaining essence of my life is slowly being poured away, lost in time. No joy but glimmering shards of remembered happiness return subconsciously, momentarily relighting my spark, before fading into the darkness. Taunting and tempting, the option of just letting go. Embracing the cold heart of death keeps resonating within - like these needles being jabbed into my side. Yet maybe the mysteries of life after death are true but as time fades I fear these are just the futile thoughts of a dying man. Forever until the end of my existence must I reflect on the thoughts and regrets that swim through my head. Love and opportunities never to be reached. Over me, sliding over me are hushed murmurings of the people by my bed – their unanswered questions.The incessant beep of that machine that won’t let me go, that keeps holding on to me. Under the bright lights blazing through my eye lids relighting the past and present - illuminating my loss. Regrets - there are none save one - I will never see my son again. They've seen time and generations pass them by, of all shapes, sizes and moods. I feel that they yearn to be like us, to be able to move freely and it's because of this that I feel for them and I'm privileged to walk among them. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 61 ART & LITERATURE Literature Twenty-Four by Jonny Goff-White, (5JH) Midnight Dreaming By Eloise Kidner, (5JH) Theft - the crime committed on me - he has seized me. I try to retaliate but he has limited my life already. I observe an ink black ocean, The sun illuminates a glassy orb, Rays splintering an ebony sea. Iridescent stars that glimmer, glitter and glow, The soldiers of a silvery lit sky. When will it stop? The constant ticking of the time bomb in my head. It will detonate eventually, destroying the flow of the river that journeys around my body. Everyone is gathering around me - keeping me warm and comfortable in my last hours. I want to be standing next to them, reassuring them but my ticket is already booked. Nostalgia is rushing through my head as I amble slowly towards the fiery door that is death - it draws me towards it, I cannot hold back for long. Torturing my soul, reflecting on my life. Will it be the fiery wrath of hell, or the serene silence of heaven? I question my morality. You once meant so much to me, now you mean nothing as I think only about my own fate. It engulfs me like a demon devouring its bloody meal. It is not my choice, it must be this way. Future - I have no more. It has been trickling away slowly, an ever widening hole appearing, draining it away more swiftly - deserting me. Out of the blue, this death sentence came. It rose up, untameable, uncontrollable. It has consumed me. In vain I try to prepare my family for when I am no more. Undeniable, my certain death.The futility of preparing myself and others at a time like this. It is time to face the inevitable to allow myself to be free of this tortured body. Realistic as I can be, I try to imagine life carrying on. But I am left without hope and dreams of a better life, a different ending perhaps one where I must not face this time so soon.The darkness fades as I feel the anger of the fight, behind these cold rusty doors, between heaven and hell – who wants me more? Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 62 I observe the idyllic moon, Her face like an ornate clock, A child lies as inert as the meadows in summer, Rocked from hands like spun glass. The wind wafts in colossal gasps Through the billowing curtains And trees with gnarled fingers grasp my hands They draw me into the night’s sooty cloak I glide over a sable sea and pass the heavens The stars are like fragments of splintered glass beneath me Hunters guide me towards my abode With arrows of diamonds they escort me home I float over the sky, a ship adrift Feathers of stars on my stern. And soar back into a dream, With just one wink to say goodbye. The Old Man by Lucy Telfer-Smollett, (5JH) The Wait By Emily Redman, (6HW) As I enter the room, I notice his hunched silhouette, sitting slumped in the ancient, fraying armchair.The stale, musty odour of pipe tobacco hangs heavily in the air, masking my view of the old man with its wispy blanket. I peer towards him, and at once I notice his cadaverous frame, gaunt and frail. The rain hurls itself at the window and the pearly tears flow down, creating a maze of silvery paths.The lonely house shivers under the force of the storm, as the wind and rain tried to trample it into the murky puddles on the sodden grass.The bare branches chatter together in fear of their roots being severed from the ground. I fear that for the house too, as I sit bleary eyed watching the mangled candle, on the set dining table, shrink to form an exhausted puddle on its tray. The solitary light source, a single, minute window, does nothing to complement the lavishly decorated study, with its brittle antique chairs and broad sofas, adorned with luscious red satin cushions. Heavy plum coloured velvet curtains suppress the light that streams to invade the shadows through the ostentatious floor to ceiling windows sweeping over most of the east wall. A grand marble fireplace stands lofty and proud directly behind a majestic writing desk, the grate empty and foreboding. Austere portraits glower down at me from the walls, as if I am inferior and unfit to bear their precious family name. A disappointment. Enormous faded tapestries are draped over the walls.They portray dull figures playing various instruments and dancing.Their discoloured ball gowns flying around them, swirling to some long forgotten melody, which has been lost in the churning chasm of time. The aged, withered man gradually raises one long, spindly translucent skinned finger and beckons to me. I tread carefully across the fraying carpet and stutter, ‘I-I-I’m here g-grandfather’. He gazes at me, his solemn, milky eyes wandering several inches from my face. His dilapidated tweed suit is decorated with four military medals, miniature suns in the shadowy void of the room. His emaciated spider like hands trace the intricately carved wood of his desk. ‘W-what is itt?’ I stammer feebly. He frightens me, his sunken eyes and baggy cheeks, and the stump, that obscene stump where his leg must once have been. ART & LITERATURE Literature The wind howls on like a savage wolf as I sit listening to the ticking of the clock. In the menacing sky, a luminous streak of lightning lashes out through the vast, dull clouds, missing a tall, gnarled tree by inches. Shortly afterwards, a loud rumble of thunder echoes through the valley, rattling the ground. I grip the arms of the chair tighter with clammy hands. I go outside, scanning the valley for any sign of him.The storm swallows me whole and engulfs me in a surge of fluttering leaves and chilling wind.The winding lane to the house is empty. Pin pricks of rain stab into me as I think of what to do. Has he crashed in this weather and no one knows? I can’t do anything about it. All power is cut off. I feel detached and alone from the rest of the world, caught in a net I cannot cut open. I am imprisoned in my own house until the storm passes. I gaze up and see the surly clouds still rolling over each other, struggling for space in the sky. I resign myself to wait and sit back in my armchair and watch the bright flames in the fire-place, smother the wood, watching it until it has a coat of grey ash and wonder again how long it will take for him to get here. He gives a single, racking cough which echoes ominously through the dank, concentrated air. I imagine his bitter grief his abhorrence of himself. Mother says he was never the same after the war, that it caused him to immerse himself in an eerie cocoon which acted as a shield from reality. What caused this was surviving, while his admired comrades fell all around him their final screams of terror and intoxicating pain still etched on their mask like faces.Trepidation surges within me and grotesque images float into my mind. I see Grandpa in his military uniform surrounded by dead friends unable to escape from the roiling sea of quietus. He screams his distress, his wrath at his anonymous enemy, his face contorting in spite. As torrential rain pours from the veiled heavens grandpa’s tears fall shamelessly down his scarred face. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School And I am back in the smoke shrouded study gazing with new pity at the same man who is shrieking chillingly in my imagination. A wasp beats its head frantically against the unyielding window almost as desperate to escape from its murky prison as grandpa is to be set free from his own tortured and perplexed mind. 63 ART & LITERATURE Literature Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 64 Excerpt from Bethan Wesley's The Hobbit. Excerpt from Ned Bartleet's The Hobbit. In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a mucky, old, smelly tunnel with soil everywhere though! It was a clean tunnel without any smoke, with dark brown wooden panelling, green velvety carpet and lots of pegs for hats and coats as the hobbit was very fond of visitors. He had a big round, green front door with a brass knob bang in the middle.The best rooms were all on the left hand side, they were the ones with windows looking out. His gardens and fields grew daisies, dandelions and had a stream trickling through it. Every now and then a fish would jump up from it. But the hobbit (his name was Bilbo Baggins) never adventured.There Bilbo was, small and hairy, and a bit plump in the belly. He wore bright coloured clothes and liked songs. He spent most of the day eating and smoking his pipe. He would have breakfast, elevenses, lunch, tea and dinner followed by a quiet sit in his comfiest chair smoking his pipe lazily by the fire side. One day Bilbo woke at 9 o'clock, made his breakfast (as he did in earnest every morning) and sat down to a plate of sausage, bacon, cheese, scrambled eggs and beans. By the time he had finished eating this it was 11 o'clock, time for elevenses! So he got some toast, jam and butter and carried them outside to eat in the sun. Once he had eaten this he promptly fell asleep. He was woken very suddenly from his dream (about roast belly of pork) by a voice booming “Baggins!” in a low, gruff voice. “Yes?” Bilbo answered startled. He looked up and saw a wizened, old wizard with a long, thin black hat and a very long, windy beard with a short moustache. “Baggins, I have a quest to find the stolen treasure from the misty mountains and you are coming!” Gandalf said. “Er, er……um, well….You see, I don't really like adventures so I'm afraid I am altogether the wrong person…..” “Well, you are coming all the same”, stated Gandalf in a matter of fact tone. The scene Bilbo saw in front of him was a terrifying sight.The dragon was colossal, huge, the biggest thing Bilbo had ever seen. “Now do you believe?” said Fili. “Yes!” replied Bilbo. The party of Bilbo, Fili, Bombur and Gandalf set off to try and find the egg. Eventually in the forest they met one of the villagers. Fili asked the man if he knew where the egg was.The man said, “Yes” and then said, “Can you please help me get my son back?” “OK” said Fili, a bit uncertainly.The man took them to a clearing and said something but nobody heard what he said. When there was a crack in the ground and out came a huge trapdoor spider, it asked the man, “What do you want?” but only the man could understand. The man replied in a strange tongue, “Your dinner. Now can I have my son back?” “No!” said the spider. “Oh but you said!” said the man, whose name was Balin. “I know!” said the spider. “I broke my promise”. And with that, the spider had gone back into the tunnel. Balin stood there for a moment and then walked away, his head hung but he was not going in the direction of the village. Balin had decided that he would come back during the night and try to rescue Bilbo, Gandalf, Fili and Bombur and his son before the spider ate them. Balin waited and waited until the middle of the night and walked to the clearing and called the word nobody heard. Excerpt from Lucy Massey's The Hobbit. Excerpt from Jenny Forrest's The Hobbit. The Unexpected Party. “Hello old friend Bilbo”, announced Buzbu. “What a surprise, it's my best friend! I should have known! Come in and have a cup of tea!” suggested Bilbo. “Wait a minute, there are hopefully some more people coming”, whispered Buzbu. “Oh all right then, I'll stay here but you go on in and make yourself comfortable in the living room” said Bilbo quickly. So Buzbu went out of the room. As soon as that happened there was another knock. “Come in!” said Bilbo. It was Ponicatea. “Hello Bilbo my friend!” shouted Ponicatea. “Come in and join in my tea party with Buzbu and me” So Ponicatea went in. Ponicatea is a friend of Buzbu and Bilbo's. She is a powerful witch and is very, very magical. She can disappear whenever she likes. Anyway as I was saying. Ponicatea left her broomstick behind the hat stand. When she came inside, Bilbo noticed that his old school friends were behind Ponicatea. So one by one, Bilbo Baggins greeted them and they all settled down for a tea party. If you like stories about little fairies prancing around holding roses this is definitely not the story for you! This story is about adventure, danger and evil. There was a land far away, well really it was an over sized valley and in this over sized valley there lived all kinds of magical creatures but the one I'm going to say most about is the hobbit generation.The two particular hobbits I am going to tell you about are called Orlando and Handy Perkins.These two hobbits live in a pretty, attractive house but where the house was located is very peculiar.The front door of the house was set into a sloping meadow; in front of the door was an amazingly strange but fabulous garden where loads of exotic plants grew. Beyond the gate to the garden was a little path that joined onto a bigger path then there was a bank and then another few yards of field. Beyond the gate was a steep slope that went down to a village, winding through the village was a small stream (also, the gardens here were very exotic).The small stream joined onto a big river.The house that Orlando and Handy owned was lovely.When you went through the door (the door was green, round and had a brass knob right in the middle) was a hall.The hall was panelled with wood that shined like silver swords and a patterened carpet that was as soft as velvet and there were plenty of comfy leather chairs and wooden tables.There were loads of doors leading out of the hall, on the right hand side were pantries bursting with food and rooms over-flowing with striking, colourful clothes, you see Orlando and Handy mostly liked to be very well dressed. Oh yes bedrooms, bathrooms everything was on the same floor. So not much going up stairs for these lazy little hobbits.They were kind hobbits though and gentle.They loved to chuckle a lot too. The sun was shining over the meadows and village and surrounding area. Orlando woke suddenly as there was a rapping at the door. Orlando put on his dressing gown and slippers on and hurried out into the hall to investigate. He found Handy already in the hall and he was looking as petrified as Orlando felt. Handy stammered “Do you think we should open the door?” Excerpt from Charlie Farr's The Hobbit. Bilbo eats breakfast, elevenses, lunch, supper. He has a large pipe and is very little. He has no shoes and brown hair. He is eating his lunch when the door bell rings. It was 13 dwarves. Their names were Charlie,Tom, Claw, Grommit,Thorin, Fili,Tili, Dwarfin, Harrian, Balin, Nori, Oin and Bombur.They all came in, three by three, but the last three were Gandalf,Thorin and Bombur. Gandalf was the first to speak, “These are my friends, the dwarfs, Bilbo.” “Okay, would you like to come in for some tea?” Bilbo replied. The guests and their host all got along well. After a while (and plenty of pints of ale) they began to sing songs about the dwarves' long forgotten gold far over the misty mountains cold. It was in this way that the dwarves managed to convince Bilbo to go on a quest to the misty mountains and back in order to get the dwarves' gold from the evil Smags. At first Bilbo did not want to go. However Gandalf forced him to. Not unkindly but firmly with a piercing stare and formidable glare. By that time it was night so they decided to set off.They took ponies and a reasonable supply of food - though Bilbo thought the amount was far too meagre. ART & LITERATURE Literature Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 65 ART & LITERATURE Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 66 SPORT Rugby to Alex Zervudachi to score in the corner. Rhys Davies added the conversion. Sandroyd reduced the deficit with a penalty on the stroke of half time. Mount House dominated the second half with superior scrummaging and more aggressive tackling. Cousens, Ollie Sale and Tristan Searight kicked with a good deal of nous and these tactics ultimately won the game for the home side. Mount House could not add to their half time score, but deserved the win through their second half performance in which guts, determination and doggedness compensated for off-colour skills. 1st XV Rugby 2007 The Mount House 1st XV came through the Clifton Festival in good style. They won their matches without too much trouble, their passing, running game winning them many admirers and achieving sixteen tries. Even at this early date there were whispers of an unbeaten season, though it was recognized that some early matches posed the greatest threat to this dream. Mount House dominated the opening match of the season against Kelly College and deservedly emerged as comfortable winners. Kelly defended well and scores were level at half time (0-0).The physical effort of the first half soon caught up with Kelly College and Alex Zervudachi put Mount House ahead soon after the restart. Further tries followed for Michael Cousens from a quickly taken penalty and Alex beating three defenders to score his second. Rhys Davies' conversion took the final score to 17-0. In their third match in seven days, energy levels were noticeably down. Sandroyd, from Salisbury, won this encounter last year and looked well-equipped to challenge us again. In the first half neither side established authority, though Sandroyd dominated the set plays. Mount House stayed alive thanks to some loose ball, mostly won by flanker Elliot Woodhead, who had an outstanding match. The visitors took the lead with an early try, and Rhys Davies struck back with a penalty. Just before half time, a misdirected clearance kick fell to Michael Cousens who slipped a pass Our fixture against King’s Hall is always closely fought. Recently things had gone the way of King's, so this year the fixture was targeted as a key match, and an indicator of the team’s progress.The 1st XV put on a fine display of attacking rugby and the opening score was not long coming. Centre Rhys Davies broke through the King's defence and, when stopped, was driven to the 5m line where quick ball was moved to the wing for Alex Zervudachi to score. King's took advantage of some mistakes to hit back with a good try. This setback generated a fine response. Davies powered over in the corner and then Zervudachi recovered a pinpoint cross kick from Michael Cousens to outpace the cover and extend the lead to 15-5. Mount House dominated the second half with their back row, Elliot Woodhead, Julian Bertie and James Mann, outstanding in the loose and line-out. Zervudachi completed his hat-trick of tries and Davies added a conversion. To their credit King's came back and took advantage of Tristan Searight's departure through injury to score their second try in the final moments. The 2005 Mount House 1st XV suffered one of the school's biggest ever rugby defeats when it lost 0-60 to a very good Blundell's side and it is good to record that this result evens the score. It was very soon obvious that this year's 1st XV was far too strong for its opposite number. Two tries in the first three minutes pointed towards a big win and the half time score was 31-0. Blundell's offered some resistance in the scrum and ruck, but their backs were cut to ribbons, Michael Cousens and Rhys Davies making breaks almost at will.The second half replicated the first for a final score of 62-0. Ten tries were scored, with hat-tricks for Cousens and Zervudachi. Davies added two more, Ollie Sale one and Henry Salmon scored his first for the school with a magnificent run straight from a Blundell's kick-off. Rhys Davies converted six in an excellent display of goal kicking. The match against The Downs, in Bristol, had been targeted as the key game of the season and to come away with a win was an outstanding effort. The handling, passing, catching and running skills practised for hours in Games sessions allowed the 1st XV to run away into a 24-5 lead after five minutes of the second half. For the last 20 minutes The Downs attacked relentlessly, but the front row never conceded a ball against the head and refused to give The Downs a single point throughout that 20-minute onslaught. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School The Firsts produced an outstanding team performance to defeat a big U13 XV from Truro School. Mount House scrummaged well, fought hard in the line-outs and won the battle for loose ball thanks to a great performance by the back row, with Julian Bertie outstanding. The backs always looked superior to their opposite numbers. After Rhys Davies opened the scoring with a huge penalty from the Truro 10m metre line,Truro took the lead with a try from a five-metre penalty. After a period of indeterminate play, fly half Ollie Sale broke the Truro defensive line for the first try of the afternoon, and Rhys Davies' slotted the touchline conversion. (HT 10-5) Truro started the second half by levelling score through the forwards and this early reversal inspired Mount House to greater things. A fine break by Ollie Sale and a well-worked loop by Mikey Cousens and Rhys Davies led to two tries for full back Freddie Jayarajah, both of which Rhys converted for a 24-10 lead. Alex Zervudachi finished the game off when he caught a misdirected penalty 10 metres from his own line and ran 80m to score his 11th try of the season already! This was a wonderful all-round team performance, orchestrated and led by captain Michael Cousens, whose performance at inside centre was of the highest quality. It was to be Truro’s only defeat of the season. The 1st XV delivered a fine performance in the riverside setting at Lympstone. St Peter’s competed well in the set plays and rucks, but the Mount House backs were far more effective with the ball. Rhys Davies and Michael Cousens constantly found holes in the St. Peter's defence and scored to two tries apiece. James Mann added another and Davies' faultless goal kicking saw the half time score at 35-0. In the second half the three-quarters ran through their repertoire of moves, twice putting Rhys Davies in under the posts without a hand laid on him. Alex Zervudachi added two more, the second when Michael Cousens floated a huge pass to an unmarked Alex who almost walked in over the line. Rhys added three more conversions, taking his personal contribution to 36 points in a 61-5 win! 67 SPORT Rugby 1st XV Rugby 2007...continued Easier matches followed. Two tries in the first few minutes ended the game against Sherborne Prep as a contest and new targets were set for this entertaining and prolific team. Better lines of running, support either side of the ball carrier and a clean sheet defensively became the goals of the afternoon. A 40-0 half time lead reflected the visitors’ domination. Alex Zervudachi completed a first half hat-trick of tries while Rhys Davies, Freddie Jayarajah and Harry Sharp (his first for the 1st XV) also crossed the line.Three tries were added in a short second half through Davies, Michael Cousens and Tristan Searight to take the final score to 59-0. Rhys Davies converted seven. Against Wellington there was a positive feeling about the result before a ball had even been kicked. Wellington never looked like winning, though their big pack won enough ball for the result to be much closer.Their failure to score more points was due to the outstanding defensive performance of the whole XV, though Julian Bertie, Elliot Woodhead and Tristan Searight were outstanding. In attack, Mount House moved the ball wide at every opportunity. A try by Alex Zervudachi opened the scoring and a penalty by Rhys Davies opened up a 10-0 lead before Searight escaped down the blind side of a ruck to increase the advantage to 17 points.A try just before half time gave Wellington a glimmer of hope, with the score 17-7.That hope perished as Elliot Woodhead hunted down the kick-off, and his tackle dislodged the ball which was swooped upon by Julian Bertie. Julian set up a ruck and quick ball was transferred to the wing for Rhys Davies to score; time from kick-off to score 35 seconds! Wellington continued to defend well, but Mount House camped in their '22'. Zervudachi scored his second try from a great pass by James Mann and Rhys Davies scored his second with an outrageous one-handed dummy. Rhys's fourth conversion brought his personal total to 21 points and the final score to 36-7. A coach journey from hell may have been the reason for a lackluster performance against St. Michael’s, Tawstock. The home pack was competitive and their backs defended well, if offering little threat in attack. Mount House scored early tries through Alex Zervudachi and Michael Cousens, but lethargy and poor decision-making let St. Michael's back into the game. It was late in the half before Rhys Davies scored the team's third success, and his two conversions took the half time score to 19-0. In the second half the forwards raised their game and the backs worked hard to break the home defence, on a narrow pitch. James Mann was rewarded with a try for some excellent support running, good passing put Freddie Jayarajah over the line and Tristan Searight smashed and bounced his way through to his third try in three games. Rhys's three conversions made the final score 40-0. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 68 The return fixture with Kelly College led to the first signs of jitters as the team’s goal was now so close.Any nerves or doubts were dispelled after only 30 seconds when the forwards chased down Ollie Sale’s long kick off, turned over the Kelly full back and Alex Zervudachi went over in the corner. After resisting a period of Kelly pressure, the home score was extended when James Mann took a short pass off Harry Sharp to score in the corner. Alex scored his second try soon after and Henry Salmon scored another with a searing run following a good driving maul. Rhys Davies’ second conversion brought the half time score to 24-0. Heavy rain made good rugby more difficult in the second half. Kelly’s centre scored a fine individual try only for Rhys Davies to pounce on a defensive mistake, kick the ball over the line and win the race for the touchdown. His conversion took the score to 31-7, and in heavy rain neither side came close to scoring again. It seemed an age since the 1st XV had defeated The Downs in November as the team prepared for their final match against Taunton Prep.This was a tough fixture and the 1st XV had to be at its best to win by a convincing margin. Taunton shaded the set pieces and had more possession, but turnovers cost them dear. By contrast, the home side back row was outstanding in the loose and the threequarters exploited their share of the ball effectively.Two scores in three first half minutes settled the nerves. Ollie Sale won the race to a loose ball over the line, then Alex Zervudachi gathered Ollie’s inch-perfect kick and ran three-quarters of the length of the pitch to score under the posts.The best try of all came when Ollie Sale dummied the cover defence to go over for his second. Rhys Davies' two conversions made the half time score 19-0. Taunton started the second half well but resolute defence kept them at bay. Mount House used the ball well, and as Taunton’s fightback broke on the home side's defensive wall, further tries came for Michael Cousens and Alex Zervudachi. At the final whistle the score was 31-0 and the season’s record a remarkable 12 wins in 12 matches.The mud bath celebrations that followed were a wonderful release of tension and delight though the coaches' enforced participation was perhaps a little over the top. This was a wonderful team, hugely talented with gifted individuals in every position.They had an unquenchable desire for training and a rocksolid belief that they would achieve their goal. They took the field as a 1st XV on sixteen occasions and won every match.The 2007 XV joins the 1977 and 2002 sides as ‘invicta’, though the 2007 will probably claim top spot as they played several more matches than their predecessors. Results Clifton Festival St. John's on the Hill, Chepstow Clifton College Prep B Chafyn Grove, Salisbury Regular Season Kelly College U13 Truro School Sandroyd St. Peter's, Lympstone King's Hall,Taunton Blundell's Wellington School U13 Sherborne Prep School St. Michael's,Tawstock The Downs,Wraxall Kelly College U13 Taunton Prep School A H H A H A A A A A H H W 26-7 W 29-0 W 42-7 W W W W W W W W W W W W 17 29 10 61 22 62 36 59 40 24 31 31 0 10 8 5 10 0 7 0 0 5 7 0 SPORT Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 69 SPORT Rugby 2nd XV Rugby The game against King’s Taunton had a worryingly familiar pattern to it. An enthusiastic start soon became hard work in defence as King’s piled on the pressure and dominated scrum and lineout. Making good use of the ball King’s soon built up a big lead which was never threatened. Back to the drawing board and a radical rethink from the coaches saw the 1st XV and 2nd XV train and practise together. This had an almost instant impact.The match against Blundell’s was a loss 19-0 but the performance was 100% better by all players concerned.There was a fantastic effort from all the boys to improve and put Blundell’s under a lot of pressure. Superb tackling and rucking made Blundell’s work really hard for their win. The second half was brilliant; Mount House parents were very impressed with the team’s massive improvement. Several times the forwards were held up on Blundell’s try line, not able to make that final push forward. This was certainly the metaphorical season of two halves. With a young but eager squad the opening game against Truro was a baptism of fire. Truro had all the right ingredients, a big well-drilled pack with powerful running backs who moved the ball well and never took their foot off the pedal, eventually running out 0–56 winners. After a great deal of soul searching and hard work on the training paddock the next game was against St. Peter’s Lympstone. Another well-drilled pack kept Mount House forwards busy defending. However, more spirit and determination was seen in this game. Despite losing 10–17 there were a lot of pluses to be taken from this game. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 70 Special mention for Michal Choroszewski who was playing his first full game as flanker. He typified everybody’s efforts, tackling hard and tenaciously throughout. Freddie Cave again showed superb captaincy, and Ralph Lawson had an excellent kicking game. The long trip to the Downs was eagerly awaited as the boys were now on a roll both playing and confidence wise.This proved to be their downfall, a slow start allowed a mediocre Downs team to cause problems and sneak a late try in the first half. This galvanised the 2nds who attacked the Downs line for long periods of time. A quick breakaway try on a wide unmarked pitch saw Downs stretch their lead further, for a winning score of 10-0. Rugby Sevens 1st VII This was a frustrating and ultimately disappointing season.This was not because the 1st VII did not play well – it did – but because the best VII the school has fielded in years was endlessly beset by injuries, sickness and absence. Only in the school’s own competition did the first choice VII manage to take the field and play out an entire tournament. That the team went on to win the Blundell’s Sevens and the Downs’ Plate competition and remain fiercely competitive in all tournaments speaks volumes for the pride, guts and no little ability displayed by the 1st VII squad of twelve boys. A determination not to let Sevens interfere with the business of completing an unbeaten 1st XV season meant that the 1st VII entered the Bryanston Sevens somewhat undercooked. That said the VII was still unbeaten going into its final two group matches, early results including an excellent draw against Bedford School, the eventual tournament winners. Fatigue hit the team in the final two matches and the VII was beaten comfortably by good opposition. Results: Port Regis II (31-0), Hazlegrove (26-0), Bedford (7-7), Farleigh (0-17), King’s Hall (7-24) Early in January, on a sodden pitch, Mount House won, for the very first time, its own tournament, the Mount House Sevens. This small tournament proved to be excellent preparation for later contests and the home side’s four comfortable wins deservedly resulted in the trophy remaining in Tavistock for the first time since its purchase. Results: St. Peter’s, Lympstone (29-0), Kelly College (26-0), S. Anselm’s, Derbys (27-0), St. Michael’s,Tawstock (14-5) With snow, ice and rain making life difficult all over the country it is pleasing to report that the Blundell's Sevens was played out in dry, sunny conditions on pitches that were almost perfect. A frustrating early defeat against King's Hall was followed by three matches when the VII cut loose for the first time this term. Group wins over Hazlegrove and St. Michael's, Tawstock saw the team into the semi finals with a growing confidence; aggressive, claustrophobic defence and exciting movement in attack combining to give the team real belief that this could be their day. The semi final, against Blundell's was one way traffic as the team roared to a 28-0 lead by half time. Changes at the half way point cost the team momentum and a little organisation, but the score was 33-0 when Blundell's registered their first score with the final movement of the match. This victory is a major stride forward for the VII. It is fortunate that even without James Mann (just failed weight limit) and with Henry Salmon injured after two matches there still remain players of sufficient calibre to play at the highest level. The VII was competitive in the set plays and the loose, where Edward Mann was outstanding, and looked very solid and organised in defence. In attack options were varied and the speed of Alexander Zervudachi and brute force of Rhys Davies sure-fire ways to finish off the good work of others. Results: King's Hall (5-19), Hazelgrove (29-0), St. Michael's (42-0), Blundell's (33-5), King's Hall (17-0) Weight limits and injury meant that it was a difficult afternoon for the Mount House 1st VII at The Downs Sevens, made even more so by the loss of captain Michael Cousens in the first match of the afternoon.A win over QEH Bristol was not enough to see the team progress in the main competition, but Mount House did the next best thing by winning the Plate competition. Rhys Davies capped a fine afternoon by scoring 12 points in a fine 17-12 win in extra time over Danes Hill from Surrey. Results: QEH, Bristol (19-7 ), Monmouth (5-24), Dragon (0-7), Hazlegrove (31-0),Weston Hornets RFC (14-10), Danes Hill (17-12) Injuries and absentees continued to dog the side and there were several absentees at the Port Regis Sevens. A poor opening game against Colston’s (eventual winners and later, semi finalists in the Junior Competition at the National Schools Sevens) had only one highlight – the best individual try of the season - as Ollie Sale kicked from behind his own line into the arms of Rhys Davies who ran the length of the pitch to score. Better performances followed with wins over Clifton and Port Regis before a quarter final defeat followed against the Dragon. Results: Colston’s (5-33), Clifton (33-0), Port Regis (21-7), Dragon (5-21) As ever, the show piece event of the season was the end of term jamboree in London known as the National Schools Sevens. That is, it would have been, had not the lowest pressure reading since the 1880s result in diluvian conditions, gale force winds with some lightning and thunder thrown in for good measure. With pitches flooded and conditions increasingly dangerous, the right decision was taken to call off the tournament, even though many tears were shed at the moment the announcement was made. Tries: Davies 24, Zervudachi 18, Mann E 8, Cousens 4,Woodhead 4, Mann J 3, Parsons 3, Sale 3, Jayarajah 2, Salmon 1, Searight 1. Cons: Davies 44 Team: Cousens M (capt), Mann E,Woodhead E, Salmon H, Bertie J, Jayarajah F, Zervudachi A, Davies R, Sale O, Searight T, Parsons J, Mann J. The term’s rugby was brought to an end with the House Sevens competition. Evenly matched sides saw some terrific battles with some fine individual efforts and some decent seven-a-side rugby played. At the end of the afternoon the final was won by Kangs, ably led by the Mann brothers and Oliver Sale, who defeated the Owls 14-0, while the wooden spoon belonged to the Otters who lost their decider with the Hawks by 5-10. John Symons Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School The final, against King's Hall, was a perfect chance for revenge. The VII started with a real purpose and exerted a degree of pressure on a talented King's side that was missing in the first match. This pressure sustained throughout the final caused first doubt in the King's VII and then mistakes. By the final whistle the VII had turned the earlier defeat into a well deserved victory. SPORT Rugby 71 SPORT Rugby Colts A Rugby 2007 Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 72 The Colts’ season opened with an away trip to St. Peter’s, Lympstone. The game was relatively even in terms of territory and possession but their more fluent handling and greater pace in the backs saw them score four tries to our two, both scored by Zack Spiers, Henry Lopes converting one.The final score of 26-12 was a fair reflection of the game and highlighted the back line as the area we would need to work on. D’Entrecasteaux, Henry Newman and Conor Barrasford. Two more were added in the second period by Barrasford and Ben Clark. Five conversions were shared between Jonnie Massey 2, Henry Lopes, Ben Harding and Zack Spiers. Though this had not been the most competitive match we had at last moved the ball with greater fluency than previous games. The relatively short journey to Plymouth College Junior saw the Colts gain their first win of the season, though this was a close game. Zack Spiers opened the scoring with a powerful run from a tap penalty, Henry Lopes adding the conversion. Plymouth replied shortly after the break with one of their first attacks of the game. Ben Clark scored our second try after being driven over the line in a maul, Lopes again adding the extra points. The last five minutes saw intense Plymouth pressure as they tried to level the scores but we tackled with determination and prevented any further scores. Our first home game of the season a few days after half-term saw us play Wellington School for the first time.This was another close game with little to choose between the two sides. Alex Ferguson opened the scoring midway through the first half only for Wellington to quickly reply. Zack Spiers restored the lead with two tries from strong runs only for Wellington to take the lead with two converted tries of their own, poor tackling the main fault. Deep in to injury time Zach Spiers sealed a nail biting win as he dived over to score from a 5 metre scrum. King’s Hall away proved another close encounter. A stray pass was intercepted to leave us 7-0 down midway through the first half. This was equalised when Zack Spiers used his pace and strength to score from long range. Both sides had their opportunities to win the game but good tackling and poor passing left the final result 7-7. The long trip to Sherborne Prep provided us with another close encounter. Early forward pressure saw us score two first half tries both by Zach Spiers, one converted by Henry Lopes, to a converted try by Sherborne. Another early second half score from the try machine Zach Spiers gave us a commanding 19-7 lead which we held until the final five minutes. Sherborne scored two well worked tries to level the scores and had a conversion in front of the posts to win the game which, unfortunately for them, they missed. The fixture with Exeter Cathedral gave us a comfortable victory 45-0. We started strongly with some good passing and aggressive running to score five first half tries through Zack Spiers 2, Ben SPORT Rugby Colts A Rugby 2007...continued The journey to St. Michael’s,Tawstock by coach was less than smooth and it was not surprising that shortly after half time we found ourselves 19-0 down. To the team’s credit they battled with great tenacity to score two tries in reply through Conor Barrasford and Zach Spiers with one being converted by Henry Lopes. Unfortunately time ran out before we could give ourselves a chance of levelling the scores.The passing and handling had been patchy but the effort faultless. A welcome home game against Truro Prep started with us conceding a try in the first minute but this only served to wake us up and Zach Spiers with five tries, Henry Lopes with two and Ben Harding and Andrew Coombs with one each gave us a convincing 57-21 win. Our passing and lines of running were particularly good and it was a thoroughly entertaining game. v Wellington School home Won 24-21 Tries: Spiers (3), Ferguson Cons: Lopes (2) Drew 19-19 Tries: Spiers (3), Cons: Lopes (2) v Sherborne Prep away v St.Michael’s,Tawstock away Lost 12-19 Tries: Spiers, Barrasford Con: Lopes v Truro Prep home Won 57-21 Tries: Spiers (5), Lopes (2) Harding, Coombs Cons: Harding (4), Clarke, Jackman v Stover Prep away Won 62-7 Tries: Barrasford (3), Smythe, Harding (2), Spiers (2) Ferguson, Jackman Cons: Harding (4), Lopes, Spiers v Kelly Prep away Won 52-0 Tries: Harding (2), Lopes, Jory, Barrasford, Massey, Smythe, Ferguson Cons: Harding, Massey, Spiers, Coombs, Jackman, Smythe v Taunton Prep away Lost 0-7 We carried on our fluent running rugby against Stover and ran out convincing 62-7 winners, Conor Barrasford (3), Ben Harding (2), Zach Spiers (2), Dylan Smythe, Alex Ferguson and Tom Jackman were the try scorers. Kelly College a week later was again a little one-sided as we comprehensively won 52-0. The try scorers were Ben Harding (2), Henry Lopes, Conor Barrasford, Dylan Smythe, Jonnie Massey, Alex Ferguson, and Nick Jory. The final match of the season was another away trip, this time to Taunton Prep. Neither side dominated territory or possession and try-scoring opportunities were scarce. The game turned Taunton’s way while full back Tom Jackman was off the pitch after a bang to the head and a long kick was gathered by a home player who ran in unopposed. Until then we had coped well with their regular punts downfield which were their main form of attack. Expectations at the beginning of the season were not particularly high and to win six matches, lose three and draw two was a pleasing overall result.The team had improved significantly through the term and worked well as a unit. Colts A Results and Scorers 2007 Venue away Result Lost 12-26 Scorers Tries: Spiers (2) Cons: Lopes (1) v Plymouth College away Won 12-7 Tries: Spiers, Clarke Cons: Lopes (1) v King’ Hall away Drew 7-7 Try: Spiers Con: Lopes v Exeter Cathedral away Won 45-0 Tries: Spiers (2), Barrasford (2) Clarke, Newman, D’Entrecasteaux Cons: Massey (2) Lopes, Harding, Spiers Points For: 302, Points Against: 115 Try Scorers: Spiers 20, Barrasford 7, Harding 5, Ferguson 3, Lopes 3, Clarke 2, Smythe 2, Newman 1, D’Entrecasteaux 1, Massey 1, Jory 1, Jackman 1, Cons: Lopes 10, Harding 10, Massey 4, Spiers 3, Clarke 1, Jackman 2, Coombs 1, Smythe 1 Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School Opponents v St.Peter’s, Lympstone Played: 11,Won: 6, Lost: 3, Drew:2 73 SPORT Rugby Colts B Rugby 2007 Another outstanding year for the Colts B squad. Our usual first match against St Peter’s had a disappointing start with St Peter’s managing to score in the first 2 minutes and it looked like the match was going to be quite a one-sided affair. However, this seemed to be just the kick-start the team needed as the boys showed a much more determined and gritty attitude from then on – running straighter lines in attack and carrying out some hard hit tackles.This led to our first try when after some solid rucking Ben Harding managed to pick up the ball and run in the try. James Perring scored an excellent solo try running the ball in from their 22 line and Anthony Hayward scored a good scrum half ’s try – darting down the blindside from a 5 metre scrum. Our tackling slacked off a little towards the last passage of play which let St Peter’s score an easy try right at the end. However, this was a pleasing first match. Our match against Plymouth College continued the season in a positive frame and our hard strong running lines and some good support play meant that we were able to dominate this match from the outset. Giles Malcolm made an impressive debut and carried out some strong tackles and Anthony Hayward frequently broke the Plymouth College defensive line, managing to offload the ball in the tackle. However, our scrum did not hold up too well against the larger opposition forwards and this was an area that needed some serious attention before our testing match against King’s Hall. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 74 As predicted the match against King’s Hall was a fiercely contested affair between two evenly matched sides. Despite dominating the majority of the territory in this match we were sadly unable to convert this pressure into points when it counted. Often basic handling errors and pointless kicking enabled King’s Hall to win this match as when their opportunities arose to score they took the points by just doing the basics right. There were too many missed tackles in this match which was the major difference from the last 2 games and left us with a disappointing result. The team’s commitment to training following this match was impressive and this positive attitude resulted in some superb performances in their remaining matches. Next up was Wellington in which the boys produced some excellent flowing rugby – moving the ball swiftly down the back line with strong aggressive breaks from both forwards and backs. James Perring played well and used his lightning pace to run in the first try – breaking through a number of tackles. Giles Malcolm had another strong game and tackled ferociously and Billy Lambeth showed that he is beginning to time his pass effectively, creating gaps in the opposition’s defence. Overall a very convincing win and a good start to the second half of term. After a very unpleasant coach journey we arrived at St. Michael’s feeling a little under-par, but again the team rallied themselves and were ready to compete from the starting whistle. William Paull’s tackling in this match was fantastic, frequently securing turn over ball after some solidly hit tackles and his elusive running style was hard for St Michael’s to cope with. Anthony Hayward had a more defensive game than usual, ensuring that any pick and drive breaks from their forwards and his opposite number were contained and he too tackled brilliantly. Despite the pitch and coach journey this was a very good performance from the Colts B team continuing their strong performance this season. From the onset against Truro Prep our backs were able to make decisive breaks and some excellent wide passing saw us move the ball out to Louis Smith who was able to run in 2 very well worked tries. James Perring played his usual gritty role and ensured that we were always going forward. A few opportunities were missed towards the end of the game when people tried to do too much on their own and didn’t look to offload to someone in a better try-scoring position but overall this was another solid performance. Despite atrocious weather conditions the team made a sterling effort and produced some very impressive rugby in the match against Kelly College. The improvement with the passing of the ball out wide resulted at last in William Paull scoring 2 well taken winger’s tries in the corner. Giles Malcolm was a dynamo in the centre and James Perring’s pace and Ben D’Entrecasteaux’s strength, yet again proved too much for the opposition to handle. A very pleasing win, which put the boys in a fantastic position for the final match of the season against Taunton. The final match of the season and the team put on their best performance of the term.The most impressive feature of this match was the team’s support play and ability to keep the ball alive, moving it quickly away from the contact. Taunton were unable to compete effectively with the strength of our scrum and the mobility of our forwards around the field ensured that we secured a lot of turnover ball. Giles Malcolm’s pace enabled him to break through the Taunton backs on numerous occasions and he scored 3 super individual tries. This has been a very successful season for a passionate group of boys who have given their all in every match this term and thoroughly deserve the fantastic results they have achieved. Well done boys! Played 8:Won 7, Lost 1 Results St Peter’s Lympstone (H):W 19-10 Plymouth College Junior School (H):W 49-7 King’s Hall (A): L 0-10 Wellington (H):W 54-0 St. Michael’s (A):W 40-10 Truro Prep (H):W 33-0 Kelly College (A):W 54-0 Taunton Prep (A):W 47-0 The following boys represented the Colts B team: B. D’Entrecasteaux, J. Perring, S. Choroszewski, J. Berna, J. Steed, B. Hoolash, A. Hayward, B. Lambeth, L. Smith, J. Farrington, G. Malcolm,W. Paull, G. Gillard, G. Ball Jon Hammond SPORT Rugby Colts C Rugby The team enjoyed mixed fortunes on the pitch but I was very impressed with the determination shown at all times during the season, especially as the team had to spend much time in their own half in defensive mode. The game against St Peter's was closer than the scoreline suggested, the highlight being a great solo try by Giles Malcolm that was started on the half-way line. At 7-7, things looked good, but, sadly, the team ran out of steam during the second half. A classic match followed against King’s Hall with nothing to choose between the two even and committed teams. Ben Hoolash scored the only try mid-way through the first half, a fitting reward for the hardest working player on the pitch that day. Two matches in four days ended the season. We proved to be rather too strong for Kelly Prep where the highlight was the performance of Luke Measelle, who scored three tries. Taunton Prep were, in turn, too strong for us, despite Jamie Anderson's great tackling. Played 4 Won 2 Lost 2 Results St. Peter's, Lympstone (A) L 7-31 King's Hall, (H) W 5-0 Kelly Prep (A) W 50-15 Taunton Prep (H) L 0-45 The Squad: J.Anderson, E.Barlow, B.Jayarajah, L.Kent, H.Mules, W.Fitzgerald, B.Hoolash, C. MacEacharn, L.Measelle, G.Harrison, O.Mustard, J.Huntington, J.Renwick, B.Shirley, J.Banyard Under 9s Rugby The season started for the Under-9s with a visit to the St Peter's festival where they had their introduction to contact rugby. Though the results were not quite as good as we had hoped, they acquitted themselves admirably and gained valuable experience from this first outing. Next came the Stover tournament where the boys really picked up the pace of the game and won four out of their five encounters. Individual performances of note came from Wilf Hadow and Ralph Lopes ably supported by Jacob David-Ward. The team then had an away match against Wellington in which they played their best rugby of the season and ran out comfortable winners six tries to one. win our final game to get through to the semi-finals. In a fiercely contested match we went down by one try and failed to get through on tries scored. Despite this frustration this group of boys improved immensely through the season and can be proud of their achievements. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School As a result the second half of the season was approached with a degree of optimism. Sadly this was short-lived due to some poor performances in the St Michael's tournament which saw the side lose more games than they won. In the last three games they lost their shape and organisation at critical times conceding unnecessary tries and finding themselves on the back foot. Then in the final game they had to play into a ferocious hail storm which turned the game very much St Peter's way. So it was down to our own home tournament where we got off to a positive start beating Stover. A draw in the second game against Truro prep meant we needed to 75 SPORT Rugby Under 8s Rugby For the ’07 season there was only a handful of fixtures but this did not dampen the boys’ enthusiasm for the game. They worked hard on the games field getting to grips with new skills. The season’s first fixture was a tag tournament at St Michael’s Tawstock with weather so awful that it would have been enough to put anybody off. Our boys were made of tougher stuff and entered in to the spirit of the competition. Our games always started well as we took early leads thanks to strong runs from Harry Sale and Oliver Ryder-Green. But as with most of our matches we allowed the opposition back into the game by conceding soft scores. A close game against St Michael’s resulted to a 4-6 try loss. Kelly College allowed us another good start, but their strong squad of reserves came on to finish us off 4 tries to 9. The boys showed progress throughout the competition organizing defensive and attacking lines more efficiently. In early October Kelly came to visit and this time we found the defence more difficult as we were slow to organize and unable to grab tags. The positive attitude continued as the boys stuck to the task to go down 6 tries to 13. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 76 In November Mount House hosted a tag tournament with teams from Stover, Kelly, St Peter’s and Plymouth College. The standard of rugby was good in all games particularly from the winners, Kelly College. This tournament saw some new potential talent, Alex D’Entrecasteaux, Ben Wiltshire and Spencer Williams who almost scored a great solo try with his battle cry but forgot to ground the ball over the line. I am sure that the boys will be looking forward to the contact element of rugby as they move into the Under 9 age group next season. ARL SPORT Rugby Devon Prep Schools v Somerset Prep Schools The 2007 version of this fixture was in fact the 30th match between the two counties, the first match being played in Newton Abbot in 1977 to celebrate the centenary of Wolborough Hill Prep School.The 1977 Devon XV was selected from eight prep schools and two Mount House players, fresh from their own unbeaten season, made the Devon side. Thirty years on the Devon XV is selected from four schools and ten Mount House players were selected in the squad of twenty players : Michael Cousens, Alexander Zervudachi, Rhys Davies,Tristan Searight, James Mann, Edward Mann, Julian Bertie, Elliot Woodhead, Tommy Lyon-Smith and Freddie Jayarajah. Michael Cousens was also given the honour of captaining the Devon XV. The game itself was a disappointment. The weather and muddy conditions made rugby difficult and the Mount House contingent looked uninterested from the start. The Mann brothers and Tristan Searight enjoyed good games, but for many it looked a game too far. Somerset won the match 22-5 by winning the forward battle, kicking long and exploiting mistakes made by Devon in their own ‘22’. Devon had the final say though as Rhys Davies put Alexander Zervudachi into the corner for the last score of the match. John Symons The match was played at St. Michael’s,Tawstock on a day when storm warnings had been put out on the radio and wind, driving rain, thunder and lightning were the order of the day.The cold put paid to Michael Cousens as he injured his calf during the practice session before the game. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 77 SPORT Rugby Barcelona Tour 2007 One try apiece was scored in the second half, resulting in a deserved 20 points to 10 victory for Mount House. Fred Cave making his debut for the 1st XV made a huge impact during the game and will certainly be pushing for a regular spot in the team.Also James and Edward Mann led from the front, both showing not only great physicality but also outstanding mobility and understanding of the game. Won 20 – 10 Tries: A. Zervudachi (3), E. Mann Wednesday, 24th October vs CEU Barcelona 1st VII The 1st VII exuded real class from one to seven. Their running and handling skills were a joy to watch. Mount House were able to score at will against the bigger but less adept Barcelona team. Rugby Monday, 22nd October vs Colyton Grammar School, Devon Team 1. 3. 5. 7. 9. 11. 13. 15. E. Dance E. Mann J. Parsons E. Woodhead T. Searight A. Zervudachi R. Davies F. Jayarajah 2. 4. 6. 8. 10. 12. 14. F. Cave H. Woodhead J. Bertie J. Mann O. Sale M. Cousens G. Lundy Subs: J. Galsworthy, T. Lyon-Smith, F. Morris, A. Majorin, H. Hughes, E. Fulford, D. Dollard, A. Woolcock Following a light training session on the beach in Castelldefels in the morning the rugby squad travelled to their venue Can Vinader Camp Municipal in thoughtful mood, hoping to continue their unbeaten run but not knowing what to expect from their opposition. The playing surface was a 3rd generation artificial surface surrounded by a stadium which gave the boy’s a real lift. After a thorough warm-up the game commenced with Mount House receiving kick-off. Jonty Parsons fielded the kick and ran a full 15metres and steamed into the opposition setting the tone of the match early on. Mount House played their usual style of inter-passing and quick off-loads in contact. Their superior fitness and slick hands soon told. Early on, the 10, 12, 13 combination of Oliver Sale, Michael Cousens and Rhys Davies put the ‘electric’ Alex Zervudachi into the corner for a try. However, Colyton G.S. replied quickly with a try of their own from their strong running, pacey centre. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 78 As the match wore on Mount House began to move the very large Colyton G.S. pack around the pitch, and began to take a strangle hold on the game. Before half-time Alex Zervudachi and Edward Mann ran in two more well-worked tries without reply. In the second half Mount House were able to experiment with different player combinations and many of the Year 7s experienced the rigours of 1st XV rugby. Although the 6th formers ensured that their younger team-mates were always well looked after, the 5th formers really ‘stumped-up’ showing a great deal of promise and determination. A very encouraging sign for next season. Rhys Davies and captain Michael Cousens were the men of the match running unstoppable angles and creating opportunities for others in the team.The match was halted early on in the second half, such was the dominance of Mount House. Team 1. 3. 5. 7. E. Mann J. Mann O. Sale A. Zervudachi 2. 4. 6. J. Bertie M. Cousens R. Davies Subs: E. Woodhead, F. Jayarajah, E. Dance, H. Woodhead Won 70 – 10 Tries: R. Davies (5), M. Cousens (3), A. Zervudachi (3), E. Mann, J. Mann, J. Bertie 2nd VII A very young 2nd VII took the field and exhibited tremendous determination and no little skill. Mount House 2nd VII handled the contact situations very well and recycled the ball quickly. However, at times they lacked the width necessary to stretch the opposition. Individual running skills were particularly encouraging, especially from the likes of George Lundy, Jonathon Parsons and Alex Woolcock. Both Fred Cave and Edmund Fulford were combative while Freddie Morris, Alex Majorin and Dominic Dollard all tackled heroically and showed tremendous improvement since the beginning of the tour.The final score of 40 points to nil will give the 5th formers great encouragement for the next half of the term and also next year which is likely to be a tough season. Team 1. 3. 5. 7. J. Parsons F. Morris G. Lundy D. Dollard 2. 4. 6. F. Cave E. Fulford A. Woolcock Subs: H. Woodhead, H. Hughes, A. Majorin Won 40 – 0 Tries: J. Parsons (2), G. Lundy (2), F. Cave, E. Fulford, A. Woolcock, SPORT Golf & Skiing British Schoolgirls’ Skiing races That's the British Schoolgirl Races, held each year in Flaine, France, at the end of January, where 50 teams from British schools and clubs fight it out for the top trophies. Previous winners from here now represent their country, including Chemmy Alcott. And this year ex Mount House girls Tamsin and Ella Hartley brought home the coveted team trophy for Bryanston. People have no idea what it is like to be in the starting gate of a slalom race.With a maze of red and blue poles ahead of you, ice beneath you, rather scarey French speaking pisteurs beside you, you've got to leap out of the gate when told to and charge off down the course as fast as you dare, knowing one mistake means its all over. For you and your team. And you're only 12 years old and everyone else seems to be older, bigger, and VERY professional in their rather aggressive looking "cat" suits! Try THAT parents... So considering the circumstances, the girls from Mount House, Poppy Hartley, Izzy Norris and Rosie Yeoward, did exceptionally well. Never likely to be in the frame for victory, there were no less than 10 teams who finished behind us in the final order. Best individual performance was from Poppy, finishing 95th in the slalom. Big deal? Well, 55 girls would rather have been in front of her... Well done girls. Under huge pressure and with precious little experience, they did really well and I think benefitted from and enjoyed the whole occasion. And incidentally, the Organisers LOVE having Mount House at the Races as they always show great spirit, character (boy do you need it) and are exceptionally well behaved. Robert & Jane Hartley Despite Mount House not having any players who had played for the school before, the team gave a good account of itself. The boys, including three fifth years, gained valuable experience for 2008 and finished just 10 points behind the pack. Elliot Woodhead, with 26 points, was the pick of the golfers on the day. I would like to thank the Woodhead and the Wells parents for their help with the transport to the lovely Dorset course. Team: E.Woodhead,W.Wells, H.Woodhead, R.Lawson. J.Banyard. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School Milton Abbey Golf Tournament 2007 79 SPORT Football Colts A A better marking display followed at Plymouth College, always useful at soccer, and the team was unlucky to concede the second goal with the last kick of the match! The final game against Exeter was a game Mount House should have won. Mount House hit a post and Jamie Renwick had a goal ruled out for offside. The determination to keep going after Exeter scored was great to observe. Played 4, Won 0, Lost 4 A somewhat disappointing season in that no games were won but a lot of good soccer was played. St. Peter's deserved to win the opening match but was not four goals better on the balance of play. Conor Barrasford had a particularly good day himself and scored both the Mount House goals. An even closer game followed at Truro, where Jamie Renwick's debut was marked by a great headed goal. Sadly, the home side came out on top and, as at St. Peter's, poor marking was largely to blame. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 80 Results: St. Peter's Lympstone, (A) L 2-6 Truro Prep (A) L 1-3 Plymouth College (A) L 0-2 Exeter Cathedral (H) L 0-1 The Squad: S.Chorozewski, G.Malcolm, D.Smythe, B.Lambeth, H.Newman, J.Renwick, J.Perring,W.Paull, Z.Spiers, L.Smith, C.Barrasford, T.Jackman, J.Banyard SPORT Football Colts B The team had a sound season this year. Our passing developed in accuracy and gave our forwards plenty of opportunities to take shots at goal. Jonnie Massey,Will Paull, Billy Lambeth and Guy Gillard scored some well struck goals and Guy Harrison was always a threat up front, willing to fight for the ball against some much bigger opposition. Our defence was solid and Henry Lopes was strong in the tackle and able to clear the ball effectively and Nick Jory pulled off some impressive saves in goal and showed some excellent accuracy with his kicking from the hand. Results: v St. Peter's lost 2-3 (goals from Jonnie Massey and Will Paull v Plymouth College won 3-0 (goals from Billy Lambeth with 2 and Guy Gillard) v Truro Prep lost 2-0 Under 9 Football The annual Under 9 Football tournament hosted by Mount House was held for the first time on the Astro Turf.This provided excellent play from all teams and allowed the most skilful to dominate. Once again Harry Mason and Jacob David-Ward displayed their football potential. After a slow start to the term there is no doubt that the boys did make good progress and despite no victories they continued to give of their best in matches. ARL Under-9B The football season proved a tough one for the B side.We were often up against schools that played much more football. Mount House boys did not lack determination and with every pupil in Form One or Two representing a team this season all had a valuable experience. After a good rugby season the Under 9 group found that football required different skills and techniques which the boys, as a whole, were slower to pick up. What we lacked in football skill we made up for in heart and determination. Under-9A Against St Michael’s on another heavy pitch we witnessed a good start from Mount House. Passing was accurate as Ralph Lopes proved effective on the left wing. A failure to clear the ball from our penalty area resulted in a St Michael’s goal against the run of play. We made the mistake of pushing up to get back into the game but any error with possession resulted in a one-on-one with the keeper and the result was more often than not a St Michael’s goal. Harry Mason proved his ability on the ball with some fine distribution on a sticky surface. Although results were not going our way we became more competitive against Plymouth College and Stover. Results included Kelly, Lost 5-0 Exeter Cathedral, Lost 6-0 St Peters, Lost 3-0 Stover, Drew 0-0 Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School Our first fixture was against a very strong Kelly College team. We played on a very heavy pitch which should have suited some of our stronger boys. As with any football game better skill prevailed and we conceded goals. Wilf Hadow proved heroic in defence making many solid tackles as a lone defender. Rory Millar in goal kept the score down with some fine saves but positional play and giving the ball away too easily gave Kelly the upper hand. Final result, 6-0 to Kelly. Although we did not win a fixture this season the most notable performance were in the Mount House Tournament when we worked particularly hard and the 2-0 defeat to St Michael's. Our defence showing real signs of improvement with the likes of Henry Ridgers, Harry Sale, Ben Wiltshire and Kosta Savchenko holding firm. In attack new boy George Andrews showed his ability on the ball. 81 SPORT Cross Country Plymouth and West Devon cross country championships at Staddiscombe Park, Plymouth. This was our first outing in the schools cross country scene. We had hoped to compete in the winter league at Plymouth but it did not materialise through ill health of the organiser. It is always an interesting challenge competing with the local comprehensive schools. Each race had a large number of competitors. The year (U-13) boys’ race saw excellent runs from George Lundy 2nd and Ralph Lawson 4th ably backed up by Harry Sharp 20th and Alex Woolcock 36th from 74 runners. Years 8 & 9” (U-15) This is always a tough competition against older pupils. Not only an age difference but physically more developed and stronger. Elliot Woodhead was our first runner home in 18th, followed by Jacca Deeble-Stone 30th, Harry McKelvey 34th, Rhys Davies 58th Alex Zervudachi 60th from 78 runners. GW Devon County Cross Country Championships Held in and around the grounds of Exeter Arena Athletics Club, this was the first time Mount House had managed to get any pupils into the Plymouth and West Devon squad. George Lundy and Ralph Lawson who both qualified early in the season at Plymouth were ready for the bigger challenge of the county championships. A fairly flat and muddy course favoured Ralph’s style as he came in 11th ahead of George who was 13th. These were two excellent performances amongst the top 60 county runners. For the girls we had representation from Harriet Cave and Izzy Norris who had last minute invitations to run. With little time to prepare and train the girls still put in creditable mid-field placings of 32nd for Harriet and 34th for Izzy. This was an exciting morning’s racing, which has given us a greater insight into the cross-county scene in preparation for next year. GW Grenville College Millennium Cross Country Meeting There were 26 schools competing and some very big races ahead. First up were the Under-9 girls in a huge race of 106 runners. In first place was Elsa Kent, 3rd was Beatrice Wilson, 4th Augusta Clayton, 6th Jess Huntington, 12th Issy Cox and 20th Tean Choroszewska. A superb performance by all the girls.This gave us the winning team a score of an amazing 8 points. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 82 The Under-9 boys’ race saw Harry Sale finish 9th overall with Ralph Lopes 11th,Wilf Hadow 14th, Harry Mason 20th and Alex McNair-Scott 23rd.All great performances with again 106 runners in the race.This was enough for the team to claim 3rd place in the team event. The Under-11 girls had Holly Wixon finish 9th, Cecily Jervoise 10th, Eliza Sale 11th and Lucy Redman 14th. Great bunching earned the team a silver trophy for second spot. Again, 106 runners involved. The Under-11 boys feeling the pressure from the girls ran well to record finishes in 4th from Edward Barlow, 11th Ben Harding, 15th Jamie Farrington and a courageous run from Zach Spiers who twisted an ankle during the race but still ran home in 21st place. Again, 106 runners. The team won silver in the team event. The Under-13 girls had a tough race, despite there being fewer runners. Rosie Yeoward finished a creditable 7th, Harriet Cave 11th, Hannah Donne 14th and Poppy Hartley 20th. This gave the team a 4th overall placing. The Under-13 boys had the final head to head between Ralph and George, with George Lundy winning out in 4th place and Ralph Lawson in 5th, Harry McKelvey 11th, Jacca Deeble-Stone 22nd, Max Taylor 24th and William Wells 27th.This gave the team a silver trophy overall. Best award of the day came from the Grenville College Headmaster who complimented all our pupils on their exemplary behaviour and manners throughout the day SPORT Cross Country Stover cross country In what could only be described as perfect conditions Mount House travelled to Stover with a young and ambitious squad. Barlow who was the youngest in the squad (by a year) and was first runner home for the team. First up were the Under-9 girls who all ran exceptionally as a team, finishing 4th overall. A special mention goes to Izzy Cox who despite a bad stitch managed to complete the run and still finish 16th from 34 runners. The Under-13 girls packed all 4 runners in the top 12 places and finished an excellent 2nd in the team event. The Under-9 boys were a young squad who performed above their respective ages, all four boys finishing in the top 14 places. This close bunching was good enough to earn 2nd overall in the team event. Special thanks to Harry Mason for stepping in as an 11th hour replacement. The Under-13 boys gained our best result with all 4 runners finishing in the top 8. Individual winner and gold medal was Ralph Lawson. Individual runner-up and silver medal was George Lundy. 4th Elliot Woodhead, 8th Henry McKelvey and guest runner 12th was Max Taylor. This gave the Under-13 boys First place and the Team Trophy. The Under-11 girls ran another strong team race with a finishing score earning them 4th place once again. A fantastic performance from everybody who took part, position wise not necessarily winners, but, effort wise all true champions. The Under-11 boys stepped up to the mark and put in a great performance to finish 2nd overall. A special mention goes to Edward GW Results of 2008 Set cross country Senior girls Senior Boys Set result Junior Girls Junior Boys Set result Inter Boys Set result (Owls) (Otters) (Kangs) 1st Harry Sale 2nd Wilf Hadow 3rd Oscar Norris (Kangs) (Hawks) (Kangs) 4th avg 3rd avg 2nd avg 1st avg (Otters) (Owls) (Hawks) (Kangs) 29pts 25.6pts 24.2pts 22pts 1st Eliza Sale 2nd Cecily Jervoise 3rd Lucy Redman (Kangs) (Otters) (Hawks) 1st Zach Spiers 2nd Jamie Farrington 3rd Ben Harding (Kangs) (Hawks) (Otters) 4th avg 3rd avg 2nd avg 1st avg (Hawks) (Owls) (Kangs) (Otters) 30.3pts 28.3pts 20.5pts 20.2pts (Hawks) (Owls) (Owls) 1st Ralph Lawson 2nd George Lundy 3rd Harry McKelvey (Hawks) (Kangs) (Kangs) 4th avg 3rd avg 2nd avg 1st avg (Otters) (Hawks) (Owls) (Kangs) 37.6pts 30.3pts 28pts 27.6pts Overall avg score and final cup placings 4th avg 28.9 pts Otters 3rd avg 28.2 pts Hawks 2nd avg 27.3 pts Owls 1st avg 23.4 pts Kangs A superb day for running, every child able to race ran well and a great spectator sport. My thanks go to all the staff who helped marshal and organise the morning, but most of my thanks to the pupils who all gave it everything and still finished with a smile. GW Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School Inter Girls 1st Elsa Kent 2nd Beatrice Wilson 3rd Jess Huntington 1st Rosie Yeoward 2nd Harriet Cave 3rd Hannah Donne 83 SPORT Barcelona Rugby and Hockey Tour 2007 straight on to Club Egara where the girls’ squad played a local school team and won convincingly. Another late dinner of local sea food before bed. Wednesday 24 October We set off after breakfast for a tour of the Camp Nou, the Barcelona Football Stadium, one of the biggest of its kind in the world and home to such players as Henry and Ronaldinho. The children were able to stand pitch side, explore some of the 100,000 odd seats, experience the press conference room, see the trophies won by the city team in the museum and sit on the journalists’ swivel chairs high up in the press boxes.The squads then reboarded the waiting coach and set off for Campo Universitario for the second rugby fixture against CEU Barcelona. A recovery dip in the pool preceded dinner.The evening saw what can only be described as an extravaganza of talent and I’m afraid to say, cross dressing on the part of the first XV members in the form of the end of tour concert.The children entertained each other and the staff with the skits and plays they had somehow come up with in the few minutes of free time snatched here and there throughout the week. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 84 Sunday 21 October From the moment the touring squad set foot on Spanish soil the excitement and enthusiasm were evident from all. The forty children looked very smart (although perhaps a little bit daunting en masse for the Easyjet staff to deal with) decked out in their brand new travelling kit, with sparkling new black, grey and white playing strips (the designs chosen by the children themselves) packed in the slick Samurai rucksacks. After a Chorizo sausage sandwich and a quick exploration of the stylish hotel, pool and mosaic tiles included, it was off to bed after a long day’s travelling. Thursday 25 October Monday 22 October The Hammonds’ Top Five Highlights This is a tough call and difficult to limit to only five favourite tour memories, but in no particular order here goes: • Fern Toynton and Flora Zajicek haggling in Park Guell politely (and quite a lot of the dealings taking place in Spanish) yet making some very good deals on a variety of local jewellery and souvenirs. • Superb sporting attitude shown by both the rugby and hockey squad in all fixtures to their opposition and Spanish officials.This friendliness and general understanding of sport was also evident in the way the boys supported the girls in their fixtures and vice versa with genuine interest and appreciation. • The politeness and cultural sensitivity displayed by every single one of the children throughout the tour.This includes an intrepid, adventurous attitude to the variety of local fish served for dinner, the cries of ‘gracias’ at pedestrian crossings, at the end of each fixture, upon leaving and returning to the hotel or any other opportunity that presented itself to have a go at local language. • Georgina Sutcliffe-Maynard’s stoic and brave stand after falling ill on the second night. She remained cheerful and uncomplaining despite not feeling 100% for the remainder of the trip. • Edward Mann’s thoughtful and accommodating attitude in taking care of the younger members of his dormitory. The children and staff stocked up on breakfast which was to become the favourite meal of the day as we were spoilt for choice with a selection of continental breads, Spanish cold meats, cereals, yoghurts, hot chocolate and a variety of fruit juices.The boys went for their pre-match training session on the nearby beach, while the girls wandered off for a spot of morning shopping after a walk along the canal where the 1992 Barcelona Olympic rowing took place. After meeting back at the hotel for a quick swim and lunch, the rugby team were dropped off for their match against Colyton and the girls trained at Campo Ferrea before playing their toughest match of the tour against Barcelona Polo Club.A bus load of tired children retired to bed after a quick dinner and an energetic first day on tour. Tuesday 23 October The hockey team had a light training session on the beach after breakfast while the boys trained at the Can Vinader Camp Municipal where they had played the afternoon before.A packed lunch was eaten beside a lake in a park opposite the Sagrada Familia, the dramatic Gaudi cathedral in inner city Barcelona, before exploring the interior of this extraordinary building and museum. Next stop on the tour was the Park Guell where the children were able to explore the surreal mosaic patterns, gingerbread house style buildings and take photos next to the mosaic lizard.The squads impressed the local stall holders in the park with their bartering and language skills – the English accented ‘Quanto questa por favor?’ and ‘Gracias,’ could be heard ringing around the park.Then it was A quick trip to the local supermarket after breakfast and packing then we were on the coach - airport bound. The children took the last opportunity to get rid of the last few euros burning holes in their pockets at the duty free shop before the slightly delayed flight to Bristol and then home.The teams, although exhausted from a packed five days away, were impeccably behaved and cheerful on this last leg and I am sure that parents retrieved some fairly worn out but thoroughly contented children that evening. Jon and Suse Hammond Girls’ Hockey - Barcelona After a day’s travelling and a sleepless night, courtesy of a large Spanish dog and his little pal, the girls had a light training session at Campo Ferrea before travelling on to their match against the very select Barcelona Polo Club. Push back was due to be at 6.30pm but following confusion about pitches and the number of players it was nearly 7.00pm before we started. We opted to play three thirds and it took most of the first to get used to the water-based astro and the concept of 11 a-side. Flora Zajicek and Flora Dickinson were notable in defence, captain Fern Toynton was a driving force in mid-field and India Leigh spearheaded the attacks. At the end of the first period of play we were two goals to nil down. The Polo Club were playing very well and were using the full width and speed of the pitch effectively. In the second period we made five substitutions so as to give everyone a game and I must say these players were fantastic. Ollie McGonigle played well on the wing whilst Georgina SutcliffeMaynard and Sascha Lopes were solid in midfield/defence. We conceded no goals at all in the second period of play. For the last session we tried to maintain our game – but tiredness and hunger hit the players, and tears of disappointment were shed from the five girls unable to take the field. We did manage to threaten the Barcelona end on many occasions but legs were weary and our finishing was not strong. Alas our defence was equally tired and three more goals were conceded to end the game at 5-0 to the Polo Club. Although the game was lost, the experience of playing on a top class surface, under floodlights against first class opposition was fantastic. The 9.30pm meal was also very much appreciated when we got back to the hotel! SPORT Hockey for a little light fitness and paddling in the morning. In the evening we had a long journey from Guell Park for our 7.00pm match against Camp Egara. We played two 7-a-side games and the first group, although not playing their best hockey, were individually dominant and won 5-0. India Leigh and Fern Toynton scored two goals each and Ellie Hayward one. Izzy Norris played well on the wing and Eliza Jervoise contributed greatly in midfield. The second group were more evenly matched and following an exciting game the result was 2-1 in Mount House’s favour: Phoebe Malcolm and Imogen Galsworthy scoring the goals. Emma Paull and Poppy Hartley played with tenacity up front, Harriet Cave was reliable at the back and goalkeeper Louisa Butcher made some excellent saves. MJB On the second day we were equally tired (someone was dancing the flamenco outside my room at 2.00am) and so we headed for the beach Girls’ 1st V1I Hockey Played: 7 Won: 5 Lost: 2 Goals for: 61 Goals against: 31 Top goal scorers: Fern Toynton (17), India Leigh (17), Emily Redman (17), Hannah Donne (9) At the Blundell's Hockey Tournament the team could not find their form in the first match, losing 1-0 against Wellington School. In the second game, which was against Queen's College Taunton, veterans Fern Toynton and India Leigh dominated the middle part of the pitch allowing the team to settle. Hannah Donne slotted home a well-places shot and Mount House went on to win the game 1-0. The next match was a tough battle against a big side from Exeter College. The team, now playing some good hockey, was bolstered by the fine defence work of sweeper Flora Dickinson and goalie Louisa Butcher. Mount House launched numerous attacks and an excellent across goal pass from Fern Toynton was clinically swept home by Emily Redman to win the match 1-0. Coming second in their group the team went into the semi-finals, just losing an exciting match against Taunton Our fourth fixture was once again away and we travelled to play St Peter's, Lympstone. St Peter's opened the scoring. They had some fine players and were able to out-hit and out-run our defence. Once our marking was tightened and we started to close players down, we quickly got into the game. The play was quite even and a stunning shot from Fern Toynton, which rocketed into the top corner of the net, saw the half time score at 1-1. In the second half St. Peter's physical advantage began to tell and although the game flowed from end to end their ability to absorb our attacks and to counter attack with such speed meant the match finished as a 3-1 defeat. Being seasoned travellers we next ventured to Cranmore in Somerset to play in the All Hallows Tournament. This was a very enjoyable competition. Mount House gained 8 points from their 5 pool matches but this was not enough to get through to the final play-offs. The strongest aspect of the team's performance was their defensive work with every player making vital tackles. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School In the first match of the season, against Blundell's School, we had a very good first half in which the girls passed accurately and used space creatively. Unfortunately two or three scoring chances were not taken - one understandably, when Fern Toynton let fly on the edge of the circle and the ball shattered into many pieces. At half time we were 1-0 down but looking very capable of turning this around. In the second half Blundell's scored three quick goals when our marking was found sadly lacking. However, the team kept their composure and soon had Blundell's on the back foot. Goals from Fern Toynton and India Leigh made this a respectable first outing, especially considering the heavy defeat suffered aas U-12s last year. We lost the game by 4 goals to 2. Junior School 1-0. Mount House came third overall out of eight schools. We next made the long trip to Canford for a quick training session and overnight stay before playing in their tournament the next day. There were some very sleepy looking young ladies at breakfast on Wednesday morning! The first two games were played in sleep mode but after a few choice words from 'Mr Grumpy' they looked the best team and by lunch were favourites to win the tournament. However, the 'tour mentality' prevailed and having over-eaten at lunch the girls reverted to less than their best and we lost to Heathfield (1-0) in the play-offs, eventually coming 8th out of 16. 85 SPORT Hockey Girls’ 1st V1I Hockey...continued Not wishing to restrict our travelling we ventured down to play Truro School. Although we started with good stick work we were a little slow in moving off the ball. The game however was very exciting, with play going from end to end. The Truro team had an excellent forward line and they often had us under pressure but excellent covering back by Fern Toynton prevented many of their shots from being on target. Both Flora Zajicek and Flora Dickinson also tackled decisively at the back. The end result was a 5-2 victory. The game against Exeter Cathedral was shortened due to illness and despite the atrocious conditions was a very good game. We made excellent use of space and the passing was quick and accurate. Two fine goals by India Leigh and another by Emily Redman saw the final score at 3-0. The short trip into Plymouth to play the College saw the girls feeling positive and after all their perseverance this was to be a muchdeserved victory. The girls' passing was constructive allowing their attacks to flow rapidly into the scoring circle. Their marking and tackling were as determined as ever. A very unlucky accident in the second half brought the game to an early conclusion when the Pymouth side requested an ambulance for an injured player. The response to this from the Mount House girls was most warming and they should be commended for their show of consideration for not only the injured girl but all the opposition. The result? A conclusive 7-1 victory. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 86 After half-term we made the five-hour round trip to play in the Invitation Sevens at Bryanston School in Dorset. In the pool matches we beat Hanford School 2-1 and The Prebendal School 5-0, then lost to Castle Cour t 1-3 and to Highfield in a very close match at 0-1. They then went through to play in the Bryanston Bowl Competition. In a very competitive game against Dumpton School the score was 2-2 even after playing extra time. There then followed a nail biting period when each side had to withdraw one player after every minute. With only two outfield players left on the pitch and five seconds before the next player coming off, Fern Toynton managed to score the winning goal after she and India Leigh ran the whole length of the pitch. The final game of the competition was against Monkton Combe. In what was an excellent display of team hockey Mount House won the match 50 and thereby won the Bryanston Bowl. The finishing team consisted of Fern Toynton, India Leigh, Emily Redman, Ellie Hayward, Izzy Norris, Flora Dickinson and Rosie Yeoward. Other members of the squad were Flora Zajicek, Eliza Jervoise, Phoebe Malcolm and Imogen Galswor thy. This was a thir teen-hour trip and the girls behaved impeccably, showing a great team spirit both on and off the pitch. Our next match was a fine 9-1 win against Kelly College. Initial play was very steady and skills were kept simple but precise. Positional play and the use of space showed that all players were concentrating and had heeded their coaching. An early goal from Emily Redman heightened spirits and the girls moved up a couple of gears. They played with enthusiasm and passion. The ball was moved swiftly between players and by half time the score was a comfortable 4-0. A mention should go to goalkeeper Rosie Yeoward who pulled off some excellent saves, especially in the second half and also to new midfield player Eliza Jervoise whose passing and work rate were very impressive. The IAPS Tournament was played at Millfield. The first match, against Durlston Court, was an evenly balanced game. Durlston took the lead first but a fine shot from Hannah Donne made honours even at the end of the game. The second game, against Chaffyn Grove, was very tough. Two very gifted twins wreaked havoc through our defence and at half time the score was 3-0. A half time chat on tactics brought about a huge improvement and no further goals were conceded, Flora Zajicek playing a major role in this improvement. During the third game, against All Hallows, we sustained a string of injuries. Eliza Jervoise was hit in the shoulder by a dangerously lifted ball and was taken off. Fern Toynton scored and then a little later Flora Zajicek was hit by another dangerous ball and was also taken off and later went to hospital with a nasty hand injury. India Leigh hit back with a great goal which was followed soon after by the opposition scoring. The game finished 2-1 to Mount House. There next followed a 2-1 defeat from Taunton School, our goal coming from Emily Redman. The last game was an evenly balanced game against Rose Hill School. India Leigh cracked home a superb shot but it was disallowed - due to the whistle being blown at the same time for a short corner! The team kept battling however and a short while later a fine cross was slotted home with great force by Emily Redman for us to win 1-0. It was a great day's hockey, we did not quite qualify for the semi-finals but nonetheless did very well. The last match of the season resulted in a fine 6-0 victory against St. Michael's, Tawstock. The whole team deserve a great deal of credit not only for a fine win but for the spirit in which they played the game. The atmosphere in which the game was played was exceptional and the St Michael's girls enjoyed the game despite their defeat. Mount House kept possession for much of the game by keeping their composure and through some excellent passing keeping wingers Hannah Donne and Emily Redman very busy. Although a comfortable win, this was not an easy victory in the sense that every player needed to be fully involved, including goalie Rosie Yeoward and all the various sweepers. Squad: Fern Toynton (captain), India Leigh (vice captain), Emily Redman, Hannah Donne, Ellie Hayward, Izzy Norris, Flora Dickinson, Rosie Yeoward, Louisa Butcher, Flora Zajicek, Eliza Jervoise, Phoebe Malcolm, Imogen Galsworthy, Poppy Hartley and Harriet Cave. Malcolm Bassett SPORT Hockey Under-12 Girls’ Hockey Christmas Term 2007 The Under-12 Girls had a fantastic season that started well and continued to improve over the course of the term. They began with a very early match against Blundell’s which finished with a 0-0 score against an evenly matched team; they kept the ball moving and had a number of shots on goal but were unfortunately unable to convert them into goals. An 8-0 win in their match against Plymouth College set the tone for the rest of the season. This match saw the girls capitalise on all opportunities, particularly well-timed shots from the top of the D. In their first match against Kelly College the team stayed calm under pressure and managed to fend off the Kelly attacks to win 3-0. In the return match all 14 of the Under-12 Girls took part in a match played at Home in pouring rain. The final score of 6-0 shows that they had most of the play, which left the defence with little to do but try to keep warm! The girls beat Truro 2-1 in a hard fought game during which they thought about positioning on the pitch and moving the ball out to the wing. In their final match of the season the team played against St Michael’s. A 5-0 lead at half time gave members of the team the opportunity to play in different positions, but still provided a convincing 8-0 win. Congratulations on an exciting and unbeaten season! Squad: Louisa Butcher Harriet Cave Imogen Galsworthy Poppy Hartley Ellie Hayward Phoebe Malcolm Izzy Norris Emma Paull Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 87 SPORT Hockey Girls’ Under-11 Hockey After a less than successful start to the season the squad was galvanised and ready to compete at a much higher standard. Their performance at the Clifton Mini Hockey Tournament was most impressive. The girls demonstrated maturity and determination from the outset, winning their first match 1-0 (goal scorer Eliza Sale) against Cheltenham College, drawing their second match with St Hugh's and losing to The Downs by the narrowest of margins 1-0.This excellent start put us second in our pool which meant the girls went on to face the cream of the crop of the 28 schools attending, and they did so admirably. The first cup match against St John's proved to be a tough one and Mount House lost this 3-0 but the following game against Paragon (current Avon county champions of their age group) matched the Downs game as highlight of the day as the girls fought bravely to secure a 0-0 draw. At the end of a long day the girls faced Blundell's and lost 1-0 which meant they finished in the top half of the 28 schools who attended. This season’s Under-11 girls are true hockey lovers. Every lunchtime they would be found gathered around the dining table discussing tactics and obscure hockey rules. It was a delight to coach and spend time on the astro with such a dedicated and sporting squad. The results were slow in coming at first however.The fixture against St Peter's was a stark wake up call in which the girls bore a heavy loss of 6 nil. The team was far more systematic and organised after this hard lesson and although the pitch at Plymouth College Junior School was a very different surface to what the girls are used to, they adapted their game quickly and coped brilliantly with the more 'indoor' style of play. Although possession was more or less equal, our girls put far more shots on goal and were unlucky not to plant more than they did and so they had to settle for a 2 all draw. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 88 The team then worked hard on their grass tactics in the lead-up to the traditionally tightly-contested fixture with King's Hall Taunton. Stick skills were sound from both the A and B teams but the A team moved into defensive mode too slowly and did not get the sticks to the floor quickly enough. At half time Mount House were trailing 2 goals to 1 after Eliza Sale scored at the post from a marvellous stroke by Lucy Redman. Alice Donne then made a quick goal early in the second half and a draw, at least, seemed on the cards until the last minute when heads went down and our backs failed to sweep the ball out quickly from the opposition. This basic error of careless timing resulted in two goals being conceded in the dying moments. Despite the best efforts of Izella Oxenham on debut as goalkeeper the B team struggled to a comprehensive defeat with far too much 'flocking' to the ball. The girls then worked hard for the next month in the build-up to the Truro Prep match at home which they won 1-0, but but they were unable to follow up with another victory the following week against Stover and suffered a loss of 5-3 due to playing too much of the game in the middle of the pitch instead of using the wings. Luckily the day was not a total write-off as the Under-10 team put on a stellar display and came away with a first victory. Only days later however the A team put on a great performance in the pool of death at the IAPS hockey tournament at Leweston Prep School, Sherborne. We came up against Chafyn Grove (the eventual tournament winners) first and did very well to hold them down to a narrow one - nil defeat before drawing for the second time this season against Avon county champions, the Paragon.We then came up against an ominous Millfield team but Marina Carrick's resolute sweeping skills (later commented on by an umpire) coupled with great team work in moving the ball away from the danger zone assertively meant we kept them to a no score draw. The team was really unlucky not to walk away victors after scoring early on against Leweston but a lapse in concentration from the girls resulted in the equaliser from the top of the D.The girls took advantage of Sunninghill's reluctance to tackle to get up onto the ball quickly. Izzie Kidner was subbed on and scored within 2 minutes of arriving on the field.This was affirmed again when Lizzie Fearnley moved the ball beautifully up the wing and all 4 of her solid crosses were finished off by Eliza Sale. The tough opposition of Taunton was kept out again by solid defence from the girls who kept possession equal and gave these hockey maestros a real shock when we had it in their D several times but could not quite finish it off. In the play-offs we were up against Hazelgrove but were 0-0 at full time so finished tied in 5th place.This was a super effort to come in the top 5 of 14 accomplished prep schools from the west of England. SPORT Hockey Girls’ Under-11 Hockey...continued The girls finished off the season on a high by beating Kelly College Prep School one-nil in the driving rain on a very muddy, slippery grass pitch. However this was not the end of the girls' hockey year as the Easter term brought the Devon Mini Hockey tournament at Exeter School.While the girls were determined and enthusiastic from the start they did take some time to warm up in their first game of the day against Isca Hockey Club but Lucy Redman and Eliza Sale answered Isca's goal with two more in quick succession.This sparked urgency in the team that lasted throughout the day. Ashmore Hockey Club were unable to penetrate the solid defence from Marina Carrick, Holly Wixon and Cecily Jervoise while Eliza Sale took advantage of two beautifully set up goals from Alice Donne and Lizzie Fearnley. Mount House followed up this success by beating Ashmore, the third hockey club they faced that day, with a convincing three goal lead. Maynard School were kept down to a no-score draw which meant Mount House were winners of their pool by some 5 points. This meant the girls went though to play Exeter School, joint winners of Pool A playing at home with a massive crowd of supporters - it was always going to be a tough match but this is where the girls' hunger and determination was perhaps at its most admirable. Izzie Kidner managed a super goal which was not quite enough to hold off Exeter who eventually defeated the team 3-1. Exeter and St. Peter's went through to the final with St. Peter's winning 1-0. Mount House came third overall. Thank you girls for a wonderful season! Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 89 SPORT Hockey Boys’ Hockey - 1st Team Played:4, Lost:3,Won:1, Goals for: 4, Goals against: 9 The transition from rugby to hockey was very difficult for many of the boys and this was not a good season! The opening game was the inaugural match on the new King’s Hall astro. The first half was competitive and we looked very much in with a chance. James Mann looked composed and effective in goal. Harry Sharp’s timing and execution of tackles brought many King’s attacks to a sudden end and Freddie Jayarajah and Mikey Cousens held the midfield for long periods of play. However, the second half was dominated by King’s as our stamina waned and gaps began to appear in defence. The final result was a 3-0 defeat. In a closely-contested match against Exeter Cathedral School, Ollie Sale scored the first goal with an individual break and a well-taken shot. He then scored our second goal but, unfortunately for us, Exeter scored three. Alex Zervudachi had a magnificent game and was pivotal in both attack and defence. Although our next game against St Peter’s was without much end-toend play, there were long periods of pressure in both circles. Freddie Jayarajah and Ollie Sale managed to slot in a goal each and James Mann kept a clean sheet giving us a well-deserved victory. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 90 Playing our only 11 a-side game of the season against Kelly we produced a ‘game of two halves’. Caught napping early in the first half we conceded three goals and despite our applying much pressure in their circle we simply could not get the ball into the net. The second half saw Mount House more in control but once again we were unable to score. A disappointing season with few matches and yet, rewardingly, many fine performances by the boys. MJB SPORT Hockey 2nd VII Hockey In the first match of the season the 2nd XI faced a very well organised and technically superior King's Hall team. For much of the game Mount House found themselves defending their goal, but this they did with great commitment and vigour.When Mount House did get possession of the ball they gave it away too easily due to inaccurate passing or slow reactions. King's Hall were always a yard or two quicker to the loose ball and were able to use the ball well.Three goals in the first half and two in the second resulted in an overall 5 - 0 loss for the 2nd XI. Goalkeeper George Lundy however worked his circle effectively and made some outstanding saves, while both Elliot Woodhead and Fred Cave worked hard in midfield and made several penetrative runs. An outstanding team effort put a rather inexperienced Truro team to the sword. Excellent inter-passing and speed on the break were rewarded with 4 goals in this shortened match.The goals were shared evenly among the team and each showed great composure in front of goal. Goals were scored by:Tristan Searight, Rhys Davies, Henry Salmon and Jonty Parsons. A magnificent display of hockey against St. Peter's highlighted the huge improvement that the 2nd VII made. The most notable areas of improvement were their improved ball retention and composure in front of goal. Ralph Lawson and Elliot Woodhead both worked tirelessly Against our local rivals, Kelly College, Mount House started the match confidently and soon found the mark with an early goal from Alex Woolcock who dribbled the ball around two defenders and pushed the ball between the goalkeeper's legs. Mount House continued to keep possession but tired in the second half. However, they managed to hold on until the final whistle to win 1 - 0.This was an excellent way to finish off a very successful season for the 2nd VII. Results: Played: 5 Won: 4 Goals For : 11 Goals Against: 5 Drew: 0 Vs King's Hall,Taunton Vs Exeter Cathedral Vs Truro School Vs St. Peter's, Lympstone Vs Kelly College Lost: 1 Lost Won Won Won Won 0 1 4 5 1 - 5 0 0 0 0 Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School With several weeks to prepare, the 2nd VII went into their next match against Exeter Cathedral School in a more confident mood. A determined effort saw the 2nd VII post their finest performance of the season. Ralph Lawson and Elliott Woodhead worked like dynamos in midfield and marshalled the game tremendously well. Improved stick work and shape contributed to this fine win. to gain possession and gave shape to the team, while in defence Tommy Lyon-Smith showed outstanding awareness and control. The wingmen Jonty Parsons, Alex Woolcock and Max Taylor all offered great width and fed a constant supply of ball into the D. Goalkeeper George Lundy maintained excellent concentration to make crucial saves on the rare occasions when tested. 91 SPORT Hockey Colts Hockey 2008 As usual the season kicked off with our annual fixture against King’s Hall. Having had only one Games session both the Colts team put on a brave and determined performance and what they lacked in skill they made up for in heart and passion. In the Colts B match Giles Malcolm scored a well-chased up goal and Ben Harding and William Paull both put in a superb effort in attack and in defence. Final score a 1-1 draw. The Colts A team came up against a well-drilled King’s Hall side and despite some impressive defending were not able to sustain this for the entire match and conceded 4 goals.They had a few chances in attack and on occasions were able to string some useful passes together when given the opportunity. Zach Spiers deserves special mention for donning the goalie kit (having never played hockey before), showing a lot of courage, kicking the ball away confidently and preventing several other well struck hits from becoming goals. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 92 The Colts A were next in action at the Sherborne Hockey Tournament. This was a very positive day for the Colts boys who showed much potential and competed fiercely with some very good hockey sides. It was particularly pleasing too as 4 out of the team of 7 were playing a year young. Jonnie Massey’s powerful strike was effective throughout the day and William Paull managed to take advantage of this in our match against Chafyn Grove scoring a very sweet deflection – resulting in a 1-0 win. Louis Smith and Giles Malcolm were tireless both in attack and defence and Henry Lopes is growing in confidence with his role as sweeper. Zach Spiers was outstanding in goal and stopped several hard-hit strokes, keeping the matches we lost down to 1-0 apiece. Overall a solid day’s hockey with much experience gained. Our next fixture was a home event against Exeter Cathedral School for both the Colts A and B teams. Both Mount House Colts' hockey teams scored good victories, playing with heart and passion.The A team fixture was a fiercely contested affair, with William Paull managing to score the only goal off an impressive strike by team captain Jonnie Massey. The Mount House defence, especially sweeper Henry Lopes, did not allow the opposition to form any meaningful attacks in the home side's D.The B team played very well, inspired by Ben Harding who had an excellent game, scoring all three goals in the 3-0 victory, and using his pace effectively in both attack and defence. The final fixture for the Colts team this year was the Devon Mini Tournament.A very spirited day’s performance from this young team who built upon their success from their last match and managed to achieve a 2-0 win over Isca hockey club thanks to some hard striking from Jonnie Massey and quick deflections from Will Paull in our first pool match. Sadly we lost our next game to Ashmoor Hockey club by the same margin which meant however that we came 2nd in our pool and therefore proceeded into the Cup competition. Here we firstly faced a very impressive Ivybridge side who had dominated their pool and due to some outstanding saves from Zach Spiers we managed to come away with a 00 draw after an enormous effort from everyone. Having given so much in this last game and with an injury sustained to Billy Lambeth we were beaten by both St Peter’s and Exeter Junior School in our last two cup matches. Overall, a really determined and committed effort from all the boys throughout the season and with 4 of the team playing a year young next season looks promising! Jon Hammond 1st XI Cricket Summer 2008 SPORT Cricket with 4 for 13 and Ollie Sale 2 for 16 took the bulk of the wickets. The loss of three early wickets derailed our reply and it only briefly got back on track while Mikey Cousens (32) and Ollie Sale (20) were at the crease. Their dismissals saw a clatter of wickets and we were all out for 93, losing by 72 runs. The visit of Okehampton College in the Devon Under-13 Cup saw us win comfortably by 7 wickets. Okehampton scored a creditable 74 but with William Wells 19 not out and Julian Bertie 22 we were able to pass their score with 6 overs to spare. The 1st XI travelled to Bath to play Monkton Combe as the Devon representatives in the National Under-13 Cup. Despite the long journey and being put in on a damp pitch the opening pair of Rhys Davies (64) and William Wells (14) batted very sensibly to put on 95 for the first wicket. Mikey Cousens with 53 and Freddie Jayarajah 24, both unbeaten, increased the tempo and took the total to an imposing 182 for 2 off our allotted 30 overs. The bowling was not quite as impressive but Monkton Combe was all out for 119 with William Wells and Julian Bertie taking three wickets each. The first round of the Under-13 Devon Cup pitched us against local rivals Kelly College. Put in to bat Kelly could only manage 57 for 5 off their 20 overs, Ollie Sale with 2 for 0 off four overs the outstanding bowler. Rhys Davies 31 not out and Mikey Cousens 14 not out saw us to our target in just 7 overs. Blundell’s away proved a sterner test and we narrowly lost by 7 runs. Blundell’s posted a respectable 87 all out on a damp pitch with little bounce. Fred Cave with 4 for 3 and Mikey Cousens 3 for 7 the most successful bowlers. Our reply began badly, losing three early wickets for just 5 runs. At 45 for 8 we looked a beaten side but Mikey Cousens 33 and Fred Cave 6 not out took us to 81 before a mis-hit pull by Cousens was well caught on the boundary. Last man Edward Dance was then stumped leaving us 7 runs short. The visit of King’s Winchester in the second round of the National Under-13 Cup was a game of ‘ifs’. King’s elected to bat first and were eventually all out for 165. Their opening batsman scored an excellent 93 but was dropped in the first over before scoring and again in the third over; these misses were ultimately to cost us dearly. Fred Cave An unusually weak Plymouth College side visited M.H. in early June. Solid batting from Davies 47, Ber tie 39, Cousens 32 and Jayarajah 42 enabled us to declare at tea on 195 for 7. With only one of their batsmen reaching double figures they subsided to 47 all out. Ollie Sale with 3 for 10 was too quick for most of their players, while William Wells and Julian Ber tie chipped in with two wickets each. For the second year in succession we played Blundell’s in the quarterfinal of the Devon Cup. Cousens with 54 not out and Jayarajah 66 not out gave us a very respectable total of 142 for 1 in our 20 overs.With nearly half their overs gone and only 40 runs scored we should have secured a win but a combination of poor bowling, dropped catches and very good batting saw them secure an unlikely win with 8 wickets to spare and one over. The short trip to Kelly College saw us produce our worst bowling and fielding display of the term, only Jayarajah with 4 for 14 bowled well as they totalled 145 for 7 before declaring. We managed to give away 43 extras of which 36 were wides. It left us just 20 overs batting to reach our target but with Rhys Davies (57) in belligerent mood backed up by Bertie (24) and Jayarajah (23) we cantered to victory with an over and 5 wickets to spare. There had been high hopes for the XI at the beginning of the term but in the important cup matches against King’s, Winchester and Blundell’s we dropped vital catches and allowed the opposition to gain the initiative. In tight games with two well-matched sides the result can often be decided by small margins: unfortunately despite having a number of talented players we were found wanting when the pressure was applied by the opposition. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School A home fixture with St. Michael’s,Tawstock enabled us to regain some confidence. Mikey Cousens dominated the innings with a superb innings of 110. He was backed up by Freddie Jayarajah who hit a belligerent 50. It enabled us to declare on 190 for 8. The St.Michael’s innings never recovered from losing four early wickets, Ollie Sale (3 for 4) and Freddie Jayarajah (2 for 3) the chief wicket takers as the visitors subsided to a paltry 27 all out. St. Peter’s, Lympstone away is always an awkward fixture. We totalled 140 all out thanks mainly to Mikey Cousens’ 70 and Freddie Jayarajah’s 30 in the middle order. St. Peter’s eventually settled for a draw finishing on 91 for 8. Ollie Sale with 3 for 6 off 8 overs was particularly impressive. 93 SPORT Cricket 1st XI Cricket Summer 2008...continued Our thanks once again go to the matrons, the kitchen staff and the groundsmen for their efforts throughout another term in which the weather contrived to pose problems. During the Summer Mikey Cousens, Rhys Davies and Freddie Jayarajah represented Devon Under-13s, while Oliver Sale represented Devon Under-12s. Those that represented the 1st XI were: Mikey Cousens, Freddie Jayarajah, Rhys Davies, William Wells, Julian Bertie, Elliot Woodhead, Oliver Sale, Fred Cave, Nic Scaglioni, James Mann, Jack Galsworthy, Tommy Lyon-Smith, Edward Dance, Jonny Parsons. Record: Played 10 Won 6 Drew 1 Results: Monkton Combe (A) Won by 63 runs M.H. 182 for 2 Davies 64, Cousens 53 n.o. Jayarajah 24 n.o. Monkton 119 all out Bertie 3 for 15 Wells 3 for 22 Kelly College (H) Won by 9 wickets Kelly 55 for 5 M.H. 56 for 1 Sale 2 for 0 Davies 31 n.o. Blundell’s (A) Lost by 6 runs Blundell’s 89 all out M. H. 83 all out Cave 4 for 3, Cousens 3 for 7 Cousens 33 2nd XI Cricket The season started with a 30 over match against a strong Blundell’s Under-12 side that boasted three Devon players. The side bowled well (Edmund Fulford 2-14, Harry Sharp 2-24) and fielded with enthusiasm to hold the visitors to 926 after their time at the crease. Batting second, Mount House lost wickets regularly. Only Henry Wells (20) batted with any conviction, but his contribution could not prevent Blundell’s restricting the Mount House reply to 62-8. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 94 Lost 3 A muggy afternoon in Plymouth meant that the match against Plymouth College was a contest in which runs were difficult to come by. The ball swung in the air and moved off a green pitch all afternoon. Batting first Mount House scored 122 in their allotted overs, thanks mainly to a patient innings of 34 by Harry Sharp and useful contributions from James Mann (22), Ed Mann (14) and Tristan Searight (12). St. Michael’s,Tawstock (H) Won by 163 runs M. H. 190 for 8 Cousens 110, Jayarajah 50 St. Michael’s 27 all out Sale 3 for 4 Jayarajah 2 for 3 King’s, Winchester (H) Lost by 72 runs King’s 165 all out Cave 4 for 13, Sale 2 for 16 M.H. 93 all out Cousens 32 Sale 20 Okehampton College (H) Won by 7 wickets Okehampton 73 for 7 Cousens 2 for 16 Jayarajah 2 for 15 M.H. 74 for 3 Bertie 22, Wells 19 St. Peter’s (A) Drawn M.H. 140 all out St. Peter’s 91 for 8 Cousens 70, Jayarajah 30 Sale 3 for 6 Bertie 3 for 21 Plymouth College (H) Won by 148 runs M.H. 195 for 7 Davies 47, Bertie 39, Cousens 32, Jayarajah 42 Plymouth College 47 all out Sale 3 for 10, Wells 2 for 2 Bertie 2 for 11 Blundell’s (A) Lost by 8 wickets M.H. 142 for 1 Blundell’s 143 for 2 Kelly College (A) Won by 4 wickets Kelly 145 for 7 M.H. 146 for 6 Cousens 54n.o. Jayarajah 66n.o. Jayarajah 4 for 14 Davies 57, Bertie 24 Jayarajah 23 2nd XI Cricket...continued In reply, Plymouth crawled to 81-8 in their overs and could do little against the bowling of Jonny Parsons and Edward Dance who bowled 14 overs for only 21 runs between them. Wicket takers included Edmund Fulford (2-5), Alex Woolcock (2-5), Jonny Parsons (2-9) and Henry Barlow (2-21). Special congratulations to Ralph Lawson for the excellence of his fielding, especially the power and accuracy of his throwing and a fine catch at the end of a long afternoon. The match against St. Peter’s, Lympstone saw the Mount House openers back in the pavilion with no runs on the scoreboard. The middle order rescued the innings with Edward Dance (12), Edward Mann (16), Edmund Fulford (27) and Tristan Searight (13) all making good scores. The icing on the cake however was an SPORT Cricket eighth wicket par tnership of 64 between Alex Woolcock (39) and Ralph Lawson (39*) which took the teatime score to 191-9dec. St. Peter’s batted sensibly and gradually approached a three figure score, but had also lost wickets regularly. In the end, St. Peter’s totalled 113, their wickets falling to Edward Dance (2-18), Harr y Sharp (2-31), Henry Wells (2-19) and Jonny Parsons (2-13). Poor weather badly affected the 2nd XI’s season and it was probably fitting that the term ended in the minibus watching a torrential downpour flooding Exeter School’s wicket.The team always played with enthusiasm and with a smile on its face and generally the standard was sound. My thanks to those now leaving and I hope that this year’s experience will enable those still with us to push on for a 1st XI place next year. John Symons 3rd XI cricket - 2008 The pairs match against St Peter’s was a thumping victory, with aggressive batting, accurate bowling and excellent captaincy from Gus de Falbe. Full of confidence, we then demolished Plymouth College, breaking the record of recent years for the 3rd XI in setting a target of 190. The partnership of 119 between de Falbe and Zervudachi was a particular highlight, with Zervudachi hitting 10 successive boundaries on his way to a score of 57. It was a disappointment therefore to finish the season with a defeat against Kelly Under 12s. A couple of dropped catches proved costly, allowing Kelly to set a challenging target and most of our batsmen lacked the discipline to play straight against accurate bowling. Record: v. Exeter Cathedral 2nd XI LOST MH 43 all out, Exeter CS 44 for 8 The first match of the season was a tough fixture on a very soggy pitch against Exeter Cathedral’s 2nd XI. Timing on such a slow surface was a big headache, and we simply failed to post a big enough target in spite of actually reducing Exeter to 40 for 8 shortly before conceding defeat. This match was followed by a narrow victory against Blundell’s. Again, we struggled to score fluently and from the way Blundell’s started it looked as if we would lose in a handful of overs. However, de Falbe and Goff White turned the match in our favour, Goff-White returning figures of 5 for 14 in his first ever cricket match! v. Blundell’s U-12 “B” WON MH 78 for 6, Blundell’s 69 all out v. St. Peter’s 3rd X II WON MH 330, St. Peter’s 182 v. Plymouth College U-12 “B” WON MH 190 for 5, Plymouth 44 all out v. Kelly College U-12 LOST Kelly 160 for 8, MH 87 all out The following played: de Falbe [captain], Deeble-Stone, Dollard, Goff-White, Hughes, Lundy, McKelvey, Morris, Redfarn, Salmon, Shackle, Sylvester T.,Taylor, Woolcock, Zervudachi, Woodhead H. Hugh Walkington Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School This was another fine season for the 3rd XI, in spite of the weather’s worst efforts, with only one match cancelled. Against genuine 3rd XI opposition we were generally far too strong for our opponents, but the players deserve great credit for the way in which they matched up in their only defeats – to a 2nd XI and to an Under 12 “A” side. 95 SPORT Cricket Colts A Cricket 2007 This was a very exciting season and it was a great pleasure to coach this very motivated group of players. A very exciting draw opened the season against St Michael's Tawstock. Louis Smith and Dylan Smythe helped Mount House to reach 100, setting St Michael's five an over to win. Two good run-outs, an important wicket from Andrew Coombs and equally excellent bowling from Henry Lopes meant that the visitors still needed three to win from the last over, but they could only manage one run! Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 96 Truro Prep proved to be too strong for us this year. Despite an excellent 28 from Jonny Massey, Mount House could only reach 84 all out. More excellent bowling from Andrew Coombs and a tidy spell from Charlie MacEacharn enabled a mini collapse by Truro from 73 for 3 to 82 for 7 before the winning runs were hit. A classic encounter followed against St Peter's in a 20/20 match. St.Peter's posted a score of 111 and in reply Mount House soon fell behind the five and half run per over asking rate. However, an excellent 40 from Henry Lopes put Mount House back on track and, supported by Ben Harding, took us to within 4 runs of victory. Victory followed at Plymouth College, thanks mainly to an excellent innings of 39 not out from Ben Harding that helped to take Mount House to 130 for 9. In the Plymouth innings, some excellent Mount House fielding, which included four run-outs, ensured a very pleasing 27 run victory. The season ended with an amazing draw against Exeter Prep. Exeter was a very strong side indeed and declared at 149 for 7. Wickets fell steadily in the Mount House innings but a defiant knock by Dylan Smythe meant that a draw was still possible. Tail ender Jeremy Steed faced and survived the final over amid scenes of great excitement, an excellent finale to the season! As ever, my thanks go to the parents for so much excellent support during the season. Played Won 5 1 Drawn 2 Lost 2 The Squad: H.Lopes (Capt), D.Smythe, Z.Spiers, B.Lambeth, L. Smith, T.Jackman, J.Massey, A.Coombs, B.Harding, C. MacEacharn, J.Steed. J. Banyard SPORT Cricket Colts B XI after the allotted 20 overs. James Perring (3 for 2), Nick Jory (1 for 2), Ben Clark, Giles Malcolm and Luke Measelle were the pick of the bowlers. Mount House made light work of the Plymouth College total and the result was never in doubt. Ben Clark and Conor Barrasford put on an impressive opening partnership of 55 runs, with both looking extremely composed at the crease. Guy Harrison came in as number 3 batsman and supported Ben Clark to win the match. Mount House finished on 78 for 1 in 10 of the allotted 20 overs. The season started with a gentle opener against St. Michael's, Tawstock in a pairs format. The Colts B VIII put St Michael’s in to bat and put them under early pressure. Outstanding line-and-length bowling and alert fielding limited St. Michael's to 258 runs. Ben Clark, Jamie Renwick, Nick Jory and James Perring were the pick of the bowlers. The opening pair of Ben Clark and Connor Barrasford put on 46 runs in the first four overs to get the Colts 'B' off to an excellent start. Confident batting followed and Mount House raced to an outstanding total of 312 to win the match by 54 runs. Nick Jory (25), Ben Clark (15) and Connor Barrasford (11) all impressed with the bat. The next match was against St. Peter's, Lympstone. Losing the toss, Mount House were sent in to bat. Recovering from the loss of an early wicket the Colts Bs steadied themselves and batted very maturely, hitting the bad balls for 4 and picking the gaps to rotate strike and score singles. Mount House regularly kept the score rate at 5 runs an over and the total soon mounted up. After 20 overs Mount House finished on a very respectable 103 runs. Significant batting contributions came from Connor Barrasford (15) and Jamie Renwick (23 not out).. In their next match Mount House won the toss and put Plymouth College in to bat. After a rather slow start Mount House applied pressure to the Plymouth College batsman with outstanding line- andlength bowling and alert fielding limiting Plymouth College to 76 for 6 Mount House made light work of the Stover total, passing it within 9 of the allotted 20 overs. Mount House profited from the loose Stover bowling, scoring quickly, but poor shot selection led to the loss of 4 wickets. Even though Mount House won by 6 wickets the players recognised this was a disappointing performance. However, the mark of a good team is winning matches even when performing badly. The last game of the season against Exeter Prep proved to be a very stern test indeed. Put into bat first, Exeter Prep batted superbly well against good line and length bowling, scoring at a terrific rate and went on to record 101 runs before being bowled out in just 16 of the allotted 20 overs. Giles Malcolm, Conor Barrasford and Luke Measelle all bowled extremely well. Disastrous batting resulted in early wickets tumbling.The middle order batsman, Sam Chorozewski and Nick Jory offered some resistance, but the damage was done and Mount House were bowled out for only 43 runs. Played 5 Won 4 Drew 0 Lost 1 Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School Early wickets fell for St. Peter's and the visitors struggled with the pressure put on by the Mount House attack and the alert fielding. Wickets were taken by Alex Ferguson and Ben Clark, but the standout bowler was Jamie Renwick who took 5 wickets for 7. St. Peter's finished on 77 all out, 26 runs short of the Mount House total. This match proved to be the best all-round performance of the season with particular improvement shown in the batting performances. Later in the season Mount House travelled to Stover. With Stover College opening the batting, Mount House struggled to control their bowling due to a fierce cross wind that caused all sorts of problems and resulted in far too many extras being bowled. However, Stover scored extremely slowly and the second and third change, medium pace bowlers, discovered some form and bowled a much tighter line. Careless fielding, dropped catches and too many extras resulted in Stover posting 74 runs, Alex Ferguson taking 2 wickets for 2 runs and Nick Jory and Billy Lambeth taking a wicket apiece. 97 SPORT Cricket Under-12 Cricket Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 98 The 2008 Under-12s faced the daunting task of defending the trophy won by the 2007 Under-12s. Luck conspired against the XI as the draw looked to pair prep schools together to prevent them dominating the competition and all fixtures had to be played away from Mount House. Mount House played Bramdean from Exeter in the Devon Cup Quarter Finals. Mount House chose to bat first in this 25 over match, a good decision as it also gave Mount House a chance to see how the home side set a field to defend their small ground. In the 1st Round Mount House travelled to Plymouth College. Mount House batted sensibly through its allotted 30 overs to post a decent total of 144; Oliver Sale (28), Edmund Fulford (26), Fred Cave (23) and Henry Wells (23) made the telling contributions. In reply, Plymouth were never happy against the pace of Oliver Sale (29) and the accuracy of Fred Cave (3-8), Harry Sharp (2-6) and Edmund Fulford (2-6).Their final total left them over 100 runs short of their target. Mount House started well and after 10 overs had reached 49-2 and looked set for a very big total. To their credit the Bramdean bowlers put a brake on the run scoring over the next few overs. Oliver Sale was out for 47 with the score on 82 and it was good to see the middle order resume responsibility and play the remaining ten overs with a good deal of sense. Edmund Fulford (13), Nic Scaglioni (12) and Ralph Lawson (15) were the main contributors and their intelligent play allowed Mount House to achieve a total of 130-8 at tea. Kelly College provided stiff opposition on a wonderfully warm summer's afternoon in May. Electing to bat first, a now familiar pattern began to emerge: Oliver Sale had to bat through if a decent total was to be set while others gave him both support and as much of the strike as possible. Oliver did his bit with 63 while others chipped in to take the score to 93-6 after 20 overs. In reply, Kelly batted competently, but were always behind the clock. After 20 overs they had reached 846, leaving Mount House winners by nine runs. Best of the bowlers were Harry Sharp (2-8) and Nic Scaglioni (2-13). Champagne moment of the afternoon was undoubtedly Alex Woolcock's wonderful catch behind the stumps. Bramdean's response was slow, but effective against a very quick opening spell by Oliver Sale and an accurate spell by Fred Cave. A fine, direct hit run out by Edmund Fulford was the visitors' first success, but at 29-1 the Exeter side's response collapsed against a magical display of bowling by leg spinner, Nic Scaglioni. In two overs Nic took 4 wickets, including a hat-trick, and the Bramdean reply was in tatters at 35-5. Further mayhem followed and after another two overs Nic's figures stood at 7-15, all seven victims clean bowled. Harry Sharp and Ralph Lawson, with a neat caught-andbowled finished the innings with Bramdean on 69. SPORT Cricket Under-12 Cricket...continued At the end of the match, the umpire, Keith Brown, ex Middlesex wicket keeper and cricket coach at Bramdean, kindly presented the match ball to Nic Scaglioni. The semi-final draw pitched Mount House against Exeter School, who had put out Blundell's in the quarter-finals. Exeter, with several County players, batted well despite their openers being given a torrid time by opening bowler Oliver Sale. Restricting Exeter to 43 off of their first ten overs was a great achievement but powerful batters doubled the run rate in the second half of the innings to allow Exeter to finish on 120-3. This team can feel proud of its achievements this year.They bowled well with Oliver Sale and Nic Scaglioni the strike force, ably supported by Fred Cave, Harry Sharp, Henry Wells and Edmund Fulford.They fielded with concentration and determination and created a difficult environment in which to bat. The batting was less secure, with the exception of Oliver Sale who averaged over 65 for the team, but every player defended his wicket stoutly and made a useful contribution at some time during the competition. John Symons Mount House's reply was again built around an outstanding 61* by Olive Sale, helped out by all other bats none of whom gave away their wickets cheaply. In the end, the chase fell 14 runs short on 106-9. Under-9 Cricket Report fine fielding and catching, particularly from Mason, the opposition were always struggling. Lopes and Hadow continued to show Mount House dominance with the bat, Lopes making some fine shot selections. Stover struggled against our sharpness in the field and the accuracy of our second and third bowling pair of Treneer and Norris. Behind the wicket Millar continued to grow in confidence standing ever closer to the stumps. The finest moment had to be a 39 run defeat of Kelly College. Every member of the team worked well to score runs but a number of careless decisions resulted in too many run-outs. Kelly found it difficult to respond to our bowling as every member of the team put in a very disciplined performance with the ball. Norris and Hayward became a formidable bowling pair taking a number of wickets between them, keeping the Kelly batsmen on the back foot. A comprehensive first performance against St Michael's got the season off to a fine start with an aggressive batting contribution from Hadow. A close game against a strong St Peter's side resulted in a narrow defeat. Very accurate St Peter's bowling and a quick wicket keeper left our batting line up badly mauled leaving only a small target of 39 runs for the opposition.To their credit the boys put in their best fielding display of the season epitomised by a super diving catch by Mason. Inevitably with a small total to defend St Peter's reached the target in the penultimate over. Against Plymouth College a win by 24 runs saw some good cricket from the Mount House boys. Accurate bowling from Lopes, Hadow and David-Ward left the opposition struggling for runs. Supported by Many of the boys in this team will I am sure feature in Colts sides next season, where they will be able to make valuable contributions with bat and ball. The '08 season was a very encouraging one for the Colts next season. The Under-9s won all matches except one. An exciting match took place against Kelly. We won the toss and decided to bat. Our bowling performance was severely hampered by the windy conditions and sadly far too many wides and no balls were bowled, allowing Kelly to amass a total of 293 runs. However, a much more determined and impressive batting effort especially from Kosta Savchenko, Oliver Ryder-Green, Alex McNair-Scott and Jeremy Newman who between them hit 7 fours and 2 sixes helped the team’s score to reach 293 and thus drew the match. The match against Plymouth College was also tied at 283 runs each! A solid term’s performance from everyone in the team where all members gave of their very best. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School Under-9B Cricket Report 99 SPORT Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 100 Colts Cricket Hardball Tournament 2008 SPORT Cricket Mount House performed very well indeed again in this Tournament and came second in the Devon Final, held at Exmouth Cricket Club on 18th June. Overall, Mount House finished 2nd out of 32 schools that started the tournament in May. At Exmouth, Mount House beat Hyde Park Junior School from Plymouth and Bramdean from Exeter and lost to the eventual winners, Exeter Prep. Tom Jackman and Jonnie Massey were the only pair not to lose a wicket, scoring 49 runs, while Henry Lopes and Ben Harding hit 52, the most runs overall. Zach was both the leading wicket taker and the most economical bowler on the day. The squad showed a very professional approach throughout the day with lots of keen parental support as well! The squad at Exmouth: Zack Spiers, Jonnie Massey, Ben Harding, Henry Lopes, Andrew Coombs, Charlie MacEacharn,Tom Jackman, Dylan Smythe, Jeremy Steed. J.Banyard Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 101 SPORT Cricket Girls’ Under-13 cricket The Mount House openers Harriet Cave and Emily Redman came in to bat and clocked up a solid partnership of 29 without losing a wicket to put Mount House firmly in the driving seat. Flora Zajicek and Eliza Jervoise batted well, then Fern Toynton came in and punished the Plymouth College attack, scoring 36 from 18 balls, including 22 off one over. Mount House won the match comfortably with a score of 286, and Fern Toynton was deservedly awarded the match ball for her exceptional contributions with both bat and ball. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 102 The inexperienced Under-13 girls’ cricket team at Mount House showed what a promising squad they are when they took on a Plymouth College side that plays regularly in the Junior Hardball League. In the hardball format, the teams start with a score of 200, then add to it as they bat in pairs, and any wicket losses result in runs taken off the total. Mount House got off to an excellent start when Emily Redman took a wicket with the first ball of the match, and then another in her second over, finishing with 2 for 9 from her 4 overs. Fern Toynton put in a great bowling performance, taking 6 for 6 off five overs, and with the help of India Leigh (3 for 28) and Hannah Donne (1 for 23), restricted the Plymouth score to 210. King’s Taunton prep athletics match Mount House athletes scored some notable successes at the annual Prep Schools Athletics Festival at King’s College Taunton. In the under-14 discus competition, James Mann, competing in the discus for the first time, did exceptionally well to finish third. Heading the list was Tristan Searight, who threw the javelin 31m 29cm in the under-14 competition, for a personal best and the Gold medal. Busiest boy of the day was Ralph Lawson, who ran in the 400m, where he reached the final, and the 800m, and competed in both the long jump and the high jump. In the under-14 girls category, Imogen Galsworthy came second in her heat to qualify for the 200m final. There she went one better, beating her rival to the Gold with a well-timed kick over the last 20m of the race. Lizzie Fearnley was the third Gold medal winner for Mount House, in the under-10 girls rounders ball throw. She also came third in the 60m sprint. SPORT Athletics In the girls under-14 sprint relay, anchor runner India Leigh was unfortunate enough to slip and fall whilst in the lead, just a metre from the finish.The girls were allowed to run as a guest team in the final, and finished in a creditable 2nd place. Giles Malcolm won Silver in the under-10 boys 60m, and came third in the cricket ball throw. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 103 SPORT Netball Netball 1st VII Rosie Yeoward (capt), Emily Redman, India Leigh, Hannah Donne, Phoebe Malcolm, Fern Toynton, Flora Zajicek, Eliza Jervoise. Starting the season off against King’s Hall is always challenging however a great learning curve as the opposition are usually strong, and were on this occasion.The girls took the first quarter to get into their stride. They did bounce back but only after half time. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 104 Their second match against Blundell’s saw a similar pattern to that of the King’s Hall match. However being on the back foot entering the second quarter did give the girls the surge of determination that they had needed from the start of the season and the rest of the match was very even. Phoebe Malcolm made her debut for the 1st VII as GD and played the ball swiftly and intelligently down the court from interception. The final result was 16-8. The game was most definitely lost in the first quarter. To right this became a focus for training. Having learnt from their mistakes the team went to the Bryanston tournament on the back of a week’s hard training and excelled themselves, winning 5 of their matches and only losing one, finishing first in their highly competitive pool. Having stepped up a level at the tournament, the girls took to the court against St Peter’s with more experience and fight. They attacked from the start and won each quarter, which had been their objective since their lethargy in the first two games of the season.The girls played with an excellent rhythm off their centre passes and with a quick pace, leaving St Peter’s trailing in their wake. Emily Redman and India Leigh worked together as a smoothly oiled machine, to finish off our attacking play. Fern Toynton, Eliza Jervoise and Phoebe Malcolm intercepted at almost every possible oppor tunity, acting as a springboard for the ball to project off. A superb game with the end result 21-7. Following a lull of three weeks, the girls were determined to attack against Truro from the star t. Game plans were followed rigorously and we were up on Truro 4-2 by the end of the first quarter.The girls came into their own in the second quarter, playing slick, tidy netball. Eliza and Pheobe did not let one single goal through and fed the ball down the court, through a reliable Hannah Donne, in a composed fashion, where Emily and India put away 6 goals between them. The rest of the game followed a similar pattern. However our girls became rather scrappy, responding to an over paced play by the opposition. The final score was 28-10. Practices and set play were put into action and enabled this score to be as high as it was however the girls had lessons to take away with them; they needed to learn to play their own game not their opponents’. The last game of the season was the most impressive by far. We lost narrowly against Kelly who were an incredibly strong team. We realised that an adjustment was needed to a higher level of play from the start of the game and the girls gave 100% throughout. Phoebe Malcolm was outstanding in defence, intercepting with sheer determination and strength, feeding the ball swiftly to Fern and Flora Zajicek who worked together extremely smoothly. Rosie had a tough match against a strong Centre but held her own on the court and displayed raw talent and skill. India Leigh moved herself and the ball down the court and into the circle impressively, finishing off play with numerous goals. The result was 23-20 to Kelly and it was a match in which bloodshed and tears were seen. Through this game, the girls finished off the season, taking their netball to a new level, giving them a taster of what was to be ahead of them at their senior schools. They rose to it, matched it and the score could have gone either way. This team displayed true understanding of the term from the start of the season and developed into a force to be reckoned with. CB Under-13B/Under-12 Netball SPORT Netball Squad: Flora Dickinson, Sophie Essex,Yume Fujita, Eleanor Hayward, Sascha Lopes, Eloise Kidner, Georgina Sutcliffe-Maynard, Isabel Norris, Lucy Telfer-Smollett, Georgina Newman, Emma Paull, Harriet Cave, Poppy Hartley, Imogen Galsworthy, Louisa Butcher, Olivia McGonigle, The U13B/ U12 teams worked hard to develop their skills over the season. Starting the season with the tough fixture of King’s Hall, meant that they had to raise their level of play from the start. Losing that game, they went into their second game against Blundell’s strong from the start. Their determined attitude meant that they fought until the end of the match, which was more evenly matched than the score line of 16-8 showed. We dominated play in the first half, with superb shooting from Imogen Galsworthy and Louisa Butcher. The third quarter saw scrappy play from both teams but the Mount House girls gave the ball away all too often for silly obstruction mistakes. The final quar ter saw cleaner play, with confident interceptions and quicker hands but Blundell’s had stretched just too far out of our reach. The girls’ next match against St Peter’s was an exciting one and the result was close at 7-8. Our girls were the stronger team in the first half, with mature play by Izzy Norris and strong interceptions by Flora Dickinson in particular. However simple mistakes let us down in the second half, which then led to the opposition taking advantage of the penalties and scoring off them. Lessons were taken away from this match of formation play and tidy netball; this became the focus for the next few weeks. We were lucky enough to have two weeks of solid training, before the Truro match. Putting game plans into action, the girls were determined to attack from the start, and were 4-0 up by the end of the first quarter. They continued this pattern of attack throughout the game and won 15-8. The final game of the season was an U12 V Kelly College. We had a win of 24-17. Our girls played a solid, consistent game. Ellie Hayward made her debut for the team and shone throughout. She was a reliable and consistent WA, receiving superb passes from Poppy Hartley at C. Emma Paull was a wall in defence, blocking Kelly on numerous occasions and did well intercepting and sending the ball back down the court.The team set up play competently from the back line and played with intelligence and agility. Louisa and Imogen shot with accuracy. CB Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 105 SPORT Netball Under-11 Netball The 2008 season proved to be a tough one one for the Under-11 squad. First up the girls were against King's Hall Taunton. They played a superb first half that was played goal for goal with the opposition, using the set play with fluidity. Unfortunately the wheels began to fall off after half time due to a lapse in both stamina and concentration.The game ended 13-7 in King's favour. The next fixture was the Bryanston tournament. The U-11 team had a busy and enlightening day against bigger and skilful teams and the girls held their own. The players recognised the need to defend more doggedly and stick to their marked players with stubborn persistence as well as the need to work on taking penalty throws much more quickly and effectively. Holly Wixon was named player of the team by Bryanston staff and Lucy Redman played with increasing assertiveness and persistent pushiness against her opposition. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 106 Shooting accuracy and 'snatching' for rebounds and lost ball were the major focuses in training in the lead up to the next fixture against St. Peter's. Cecily Jervoise fought hard in defence securing many rebounds and getting them off down the line only to be let down by court players letting their markers in front. A lack of possession caused by a deficit of fiery, assertive play meant the girls suffered a 9-4 loss to a team who equalled ours in skill but exceeded ours in determined, dogged play. Pleasingly this assertiveness returned to an extent in the next game against Truro Prep but our ball control and set play fell apart against this strong netballing school. Indecisiveness with the pass meant the girls were beaten 13-2. After this string of heavy or frustrating defeats the girls were hurting and came to each games session focused and ready to improve their game play.This was most evident in the highlight of the season for both the A squad and the B squad against Plymouth College Prep. From the starting whistle both the Mount House A and B team girls took advantage of some weak opposition defence to move the ball swiftly up the court using the set play with autonomy and effectiveness. The shooters Eliza Sale and Lucy Redman performed much more accurately and enjoyed a shooting accuracy in the high 80 percentile - an enormous improvement. The A team finished on top by 15-0. For the B team Tabitha UnsworthWhite intercepted the PCP'S opening centre pass and moved the ball down the court for Izella to score in the first minute.They continued in this vein throughout the game and ended victorious by 14 goals to nil. The Under-10 Queen’s College Taunton Tournament proved to be a not particularly successful day for the squad who failed to really get themselves galvanised, which was most disappointing after an impressive week's training.The only two games that the girls played anywhere near their potential were the drawn game against Maynard and the end-toend play against Wellington which resulted in the narrowest of losses.The lesson for the girls that day was the importance of sticking to set plays and executing sensible passes when under pressure. Izella Oxenham and Lizzie Fearnley had high success rates in goal but sadly were not fed the ball nearly often enough. Unfortunately the Under -11 squad were unable to finish the season on a high. In the final match against Queen's College they lacked accuracy in sensible passing, opting instead for risky lob passes which were frequently intercepted.The fact that the Queen's coaches were selecting from a pool of almost 50 Under -11 players this does not quite make up for the out-of-character sloppiness in marking from MHS which also meant that the Queen's girls went unopposed for far too much of the game. Best of luck to those girls moving into the top game next year. All the girls must remember to stick to their opponents like glue in pressured situations, dodging to get free and moving into spaces to collect effective passes in attack. SPORT Netball Under-9 Netball This was a fantastic season for the Under 9 A team. With a lot of the girls having played for the Under 9 A team as Under-8s the team had plenty of experience before the season began. Some considerable effort in training and some hard-fought matches in the Christmas Term led to an unbeaten season in the Easter Term, the girls winning all six matches, scoring 57 goals and conceding only 19. Early season victories over Kelly Prep (14-0) and St Peter's, Lympstone (7-4) got the girls off to a strong start, and they followed these with wins against Truro Prep (8-3) and Plymouth College by 10 goals to 8 in an exciting, closely-contested match. A comfortable 11-1 win over Stover brought them to the final game of the season against St Michael's,Tawstock. This proved to be the toughest match of the season against a St Michael's team that was also unbeaten. True determination led to a 7-3 win. The team consisted of Karis Barrasford, Tean Choroszewska, Augusta Clayton, Issy Cox, Lucy Massey, Georgina Morris, Bethan Wesley and Elsa Kent, who captained the side with maturity and skill, leading by example at all times. The Under 9B team also had a successful season, growing in skill as time went on. All girls had the opportunity to play and got some good results including wins against St Peter's, Lympstone (3-1) and Truro Prep (3-0). Sarah Symons Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 107 SPORT Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 108 Under-13 and Under-12 Rounders One of the most successful rounders seasons on record for Mount House Senior Girls. The season got off to a great start when we were visited by Sue Manson, Head of Girls Games at The Downs School and former Under-16 England International Coach. Sue took the girls through some dynamic new drills and exercises before looking at the girls in action. Thanks to her invaluable advice the girls were able to vastly improve their batting and fielding technique and get off to super start to a busy season. SPORT Rounders out to be the busiest week of the year for the senior girls, many of whom were also juggling scholarship exams and interviews. We waved goodbye to The Downs girls on Wednesday morning after a lovely evening in Collingwood together. That afternoon we played St. Michael’s Tawstock and The Mount House girls took charge of the match from the beginning. Some superb examples of batting were exhibited by Fern Toynton, Poppy Hartley, Emily Redman and Hannah Donne. That game was secured with a 22-13.5 victory. Two days later and the second round of the Jet League Tournament. This meant fronting up to Taunton Prep who regularly finish in the top three places of the league.The Mount House girls got off to a good start after winning the toss and putting Taunton into bat taking six quick wickets for only 5 rounders. Mount House then went into bat and had trouble reading the spin bowler so too many went up in the air or skimmed backward into the hands of the backstop.The girls lost that match 4.5-14 and were unfortunately then knocked out of the tournament. The girls were quick to pick themselves up however and just as well because the epic week of fixtures was about to culminate in possibly the most exciting day of rounders Mount House girls have ever been involved in:The England International Tournament in Bristol. The first match against Exeter Cathedral School was also the first in the nationwide Jet League Tournament.The girls put on a sound performance with catches from Yume Fujita, Poppy Hartley and Hannah Donne as well as excellent shot placement from Fern Toynton and Phoebe Malcolm. Although there were certain elements that clearly needed work, the girls managed a comprehensive win with 10 rounders (declared) to 8. The Under-13 team were up against Kelly College next and were slow to start in this limited ball game which is the equivalent to twenty/20 cricket as opposed to the ‘test match’ style all-out matches they have been used to playing and training towards.The team were put into bat first and after too conservative an approach only managed to match Kelly’s score and drew 6-all. The Downs were straight back into it however against our Under 12 team which gave the younger girls valuable experience and Ellie Hayward, Emma Paull and Louisa Butcher rose to the challenge by putting on a good batting performance. The Under-12 team put on brave show to match the Under-13s score of 5.5 but The Downs took that match by adding 9 to their total.This week of fixtures turned Now into the swing of things, the girls composed themselves and performed very well indeed in the matches against the Under-14 team which they lost by only 2 rounders, finishing 10-8 in many ways the Under-15 game was probably the match of the season for our girls. Facing a very quick spin bowler and some exemplary fielders India and Emily both scored full rounders followed by halves from Fern. India also managed to catch a speeding ball from their opening batter.This was a truly outstanding and courageous day’s play from a team who were commented on by every coach and umpire we encountered on the day for either their unwavering enthusiasm and positive sportsmanship or their competitive and tough performance on the grid. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School Then it was time to welcome back Mrs Manson who this time brought her Under-13 squad on tour from Bristol, complete with their England rep captain. After being put into bat the Mount House girls took charge in this department, really looking to put force and power into each shot – a refreshing style of play from the often over cautious squad. However the tight bowling and accurate post work from the Downs kept the score down, and they were able to chase it down despite some impressive work from the Mount House triangle. The final score in this match was 8-5.5. It seemed the Mount House team’s reputation preceded them as our Under-13 team were put into the senior A team draw as opposed to the developmental squads draw. After a brief training session with the Under-13 England team and coach, the girls were able to watch a rapid and somewhat intimidating exhibition match between the Under-14 and Under-15 national sides Our girls then went on to play all of these national sides. Facing some of the quickest bowling and strongest skills in the country, the girls rose to the challenge. The organisers even asked that the girls seriously consider trying out for age group national sides. Against the the Under-13 England team Emily Redman took two good catches and two good stumpings at third, and Fern Toynton managed to score a rounder and a half against the national team.This game resulted in a 13.5- 4 loss. 109 SPORT Rounders Under-13 and Under-12 Rounders….continued The next match against St. Peter’s, Lympstone got off to a slow start on Mount House’s part but after a super catch by Olivia McGonigle in the deep a far more systematic and determined attitude was adopted. In their batting innings the girls racked up 12 rounders for only 3 wickets and when it became clear that St. Peter’s were not going to be able to get the other Mount House girls out the team declared.This game ended in another win for the Under-13 team 1910. The Under-12 team finished their season on a high after beating Plymouth College 16-10.5 thanks to some good ball placements and examples of sensible running around posts from Harriet Cave, Louisa Butcher, Poppy Hartley and Georgina Newman in particular. A week later the Under-13 team team almost mirrored this result against the Plymouth College Under-13 team side, winning their final formal match of the year 14.5-8 thanks in no small part to some stellar fielding from Flora Zajicek. A successful season was thus completed with no matches, aside from tournaments, being lost and some fantastic memories established.The only thing left to do then was to enjoy the sun and unleash the now honed rounders skills on firstly the Mount House Association side after the swimming gala and then the following day against the parents. As I am feeling charitable there is no real need to publish a score for either of these matches but I will say this, it wasn’t pretty. In their defence, both visiting sides had not played the game for many, many years, if at all, and for those who Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 110 had it seemed the game has moved on a fair bit in terms of tactics and skill. Highlights from the weekend’s frivolity included Julia Toynton’s stonking hit somewhere into the River Tavy which, as it was being extracted by her youngest sister and peers, she revelled in as she cruised around the posts only to be informed (strategically, one might accuse, after the post had been stumped) her rounder didn’t count as she had not tapped fourth on her way past. I’m sure we all enjoyed Mrs Donne’s gentle jog around the field as she frantically tried to keep her tracksuit bottoms from migrating south as well as Mr Dickinson’s passionate leaps and bounds as backstop. Poor Dr Zajicek had to watch on forlornly as his wife upstaged him with both bat and ball and when he tried to keep up with her standards he nearly took Dr Toynton’s hand clean off with a bullet throw from the deeps! Mrs Leigh had her team well kitted up and India’s face was a picture as her mother and her team mates arrived in what can only be described as ‘granny’ headscarves. A marvellous day was had by all (even those poor unsuspecting leavers who were tackled to the floor by Mrs Walters as they attempted to get to first post) and many, many giggles enjoyed. Well done girls on an immensely successful and dedicated season of rounders.You have been a credit to the school and to the sport itself. Please try to keep it up at your next school as you have demonstrated such promise and potential. SPORT Rounders Under-11 showed so much promise and were determined to change the season around with wins in the last two games against Plymouth College and Stover. In both of these games the team was superb, and having learnt from previous mistakes, was able to play in convincing style right from the start. Plymouth College were restricted to only one rounder with amazing fielding from the whole team. Holly Wixon, Eliza Sale and Alice Donne formed a formidable triangle, getting 5 of the opposition out in a row. Cecily Jervoise demonstrated safe hands with 2 great catches. The girls batted with intelligence and ran the posts with excellent tactics, bringing the score high enough so that the opposition could not catch our total. Well done girls for turning the season around with superb play in the final two matches. After the first few games sessions, the Under-11 girls showed much promise and the foundations were there for a very good season.They worked hard at their fielding and looked as if they would give very little away. The season began for the Under-11 As with a very narrow defeat at the hands of St. Michael’s, Tawstock 13-12. Unfortunately, the first half was marred by dropped balls and mis-fielding, uncharacteristic of a promising team. Mount House also came second best to St Michael’s strong and consistent batting. After half-time, the girls took to the field in a far slicker fashion. Catches by Holly Wixon and Lucy Redman, followed by quick work between first and second post by Alice Donne, slowed St. Michael’s score considerably. Our batting also improved with Lucy Redman scoring 2 stunning rounders to finish off a far better half which led to an extremely close game. The next game against Truro followed in similar fashion with a slow start to the game. Mount House did not play their best rounders until the second innings, by which time it was too late.The final score was 11.5-7 rounders. In the first innings, Mount House struggled to score and could not cope with the big hitters from Truro, who scored 9.5 compared to Mount House’s 3.5 rounders. The girls played much better and actually won the second half 4-2.5 rounders. Mount House were on occasions in all 3 of these matches the better team but were outdone by lethargy in the first innings. The girls had The girls showed great enthusiasm with the experience of Meg Hughes-Chamberlain and India Lewis leading the way. Meg and Izella Oxenham both showed great promise as bowlers. I was also impressed with alert and quick fielding onto second post from Caitlin HaynesParry, Tabitha Unsworth-White and Izzy Kidner who will be key members of the Under-11s next year. Taylor Lee and Lucy Cheshire showed great thought in getting the ball from deep to second post to limit the opposition’s score. Key moments from these matches included Rosie Luther’s superb catch in the deeps in her first ever match against St. Peter’s, great batting from Meg Ryder-Green against Stover to score some crucial half rounders, and the progress, enthusiasm and determination of Charlotte Wiltshire in the second half of term. We look forward to having the experience of the majority of these girls next year in the Under-11s. [email protected]. Well done girls for all your efforts in rounders. RL Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School The girls were getting better in every match, and were looking for their first win. Despite a slicker game, Mount House were still unable to get the better of their opposition, St Peter’s. Fielding first, the girls rose to the challenge of St. Peter’s big hitters and stopped the score at second post on a number of occasions. St Peter’s though were still able to score 6 rounders from 30 balls. Despite such professional fielding Mount House let themselves down with weak hits and were unable to score quickly which is the name of the game in limited ball innings. Mount House woke up in the second innings and with superb fielding in the deeps from Marina Carrick, Lizzie Fearnley, and Gemma Robbins, St Peter’s could only score 1 in the second innings. Our hits improved with Cecily Jervoise and Abigail George taking our score to 7.5, but it was too little, too late as we were unable to catch the score of 11.5 rounders set by St. Peter’s. The Under-11 B team this year was mainly made up of third formers. This young side gained experience in two matches this season and will get more opportunities next year. Despite narrowly losing their first game against St Peter’s, the girls saved their best rounders to win against Stover. 111 SPORT Rounders Under-9 Rounders from taking too many risks trying to get to second post meaning that in some matches too many of them were out. They won 2, drew 1 and lost 2 matches over a fun-filled season. The Under-9 B team played their matches with enthusiasm, and managed to win 3 and draw 1 of them. They also proved that they had fantastic fielding skills and some very big hitters. Congratulations to all the Under-9s; a solid base has been set and is ready to work on next year. The Under-9 Rounders girls spent the Summer 2008 season working on both their individual skills and their match play. They all earned their National Rounders Skills Awards at either Bronze, Silver or Gold level for the hard work they put into their hitting, running, catching, throwing, bowling and fielding. Matches were great fun and all girls were able to be involved. The Under-9 A team played consistently well over the term, putting huge effort into their matches. They demonstrated some powerful hitting and excellent fielding in all their matches; but did suffer Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 112 BABBINGTON, JAMES Engaged in 2007 to Fiona thanks to mutual love of BMWs and spaniels. James is currently at Newcastle University where the Army is sponsoring his degree in surveying and mapping. BABBINGTON,TOM Spent most of 2007 working on the final touches of the new Wembley Stadium and is now off to Malta to supervise building of a block of high rise flats. He has also set up a small adventure training company with a friend offering adventure weekends in Devon to London executives. BERKLEY-MATTHEWS, RICHARD I now live in London from where I run an independent wine merchant business, Clarion Wines, shipping mainly from the classic regions of France and Italy, and selling to private customers, Oxford & Cambridge colleges, St James’s clubs, Livery Companies and city firms. BUCHANAN, JAMIE Married to Tara.Two children. Sam 12 years, Molly 9 years. Orthopaedic surgeon at the Conquest Hosp. in Hastings. Mr Cload's influence continues! Still a keen Fly fisherman and golfer.Took seven months off in 2007.Took the children out of school for two terms and travelled the world. Had a great time, learnt to surf and the childrens' education was better than any private prep school could provide!! CHESHIRE,TOM Live in Tavistock. Since leaving Mount House I went to Marlborough after which I took a year out travelling and then went to Exeter University to read Mechanical Engineering where I met my wife Caroline. I then joined the Royal Navy and decided to train as a Nuclear Submarine Engineer. I have since served in a number of sea and shore jobs that have taken me to diverse places including Hawaii, the North Pole, Australia and….Thurso. We have two children, Lucy and Ben who are currently at Mount House. I am presently working in Bristol although we are preparing for a move to Washington DC in the New Year. CHURCHER,WILLIAM Will has been working in Africa this year, driving the search for more fossil fuels. Having focused initially on the desert sands of Algeria, he has now shifted attention to West Africa, where he might be found within Ghana looking for the elusive black gold. Outside of work, Will has daughter, Lucy. He recently returned to Mount House to take part in the 10 mile sponsored walk for charity, and noted that there wasn’t real ale and pimms laid on in his day! In his spare time he has been throwing himself into charitable work, largely improving the happiness of local residents, and makes the odd guest appearance for the Wanderers cricket team. COOMBS, GEORGE I am enjoying my final year at Winchester College and am Head of Hawkins House. I am Vice President of rowing and play golf in the 1st VI. After Winchester I hope to pursue a career in medicine. CORNISH, JEREMY I left MHS in 1953 to go to Sherborne School, leaving there in 1957. Most of my working life was as a Chartered Surveyor in Plymouth where I have lived since leaving School. Before finally retiring in 1998 my wife and I bought a Post Office which we ran for about 10 years. Still living in Plymouth – no wish to leave our many friends and children and 6 grandchildren scattered between Manchester and Maidenhead, which involves a certain amount of travelling. CROWLEY, DAVID From Mount House to Abbey House, Sherborne School. Joined Royal Navy as a Special Entry Cadet (S) BRNC Dartmouth May 1953. Called to the Bar 1965. Retired as a Commander 1981. Admitted as a solicitor 1981, partner at Woollcombe & Yonge, Solicitors, Plymouth 1981-1986. Own private practice 1986-2000. During this period also Administrator & Appeal Director, St Luke's Hospice Plymouth 19861992. 1992 to date Consultant to Crowleys, Probate, Trusts, Wills and Taxation Service at home at Sparkwell, near Plymouth. DAVIES, DAVID Currently living in Richmond, Surrey and working as a corporate lawyer. Married to Kate and enjoying the "thrills and spills" of the first year of fatherhood (Tabitha was born in January 2008). The little spare time I have is spent sailing on the south coast, the odd round of golf and watching the local rugby. DAY-ROBINSON, EDWARD Another linguist at Sherborne, with German, Spanish and Greek studied. He was confirmed during the year and has played rugby and cricket for the school. His Easter sport is now soccer (!) and he continues to play the saxophone. ELWORTHY, JON I live and work near to Hampton Court. I run my own interior design/architecture practice, undertaking both commercial and residential contracts. I have 2 daughters, Lorna and Charlotte and my wife’s name is Julia. I am the Mount House Association secretary, and organise the Association Day and Wanderers’ annual cricket matches against the school. The team is made up of various talents, so if you would like to play this summer give me a call. I have also just completed the digitalisation of most of Mr Wortham’s film footage, which we hope to have available in DVD format shortly. FERGUSON, LOUIS AND PATRICK Louis and Patrick are now into their second year of Sherborne & enjoying it and still living in Yelverton. FRIEND, PETER Half way through his GP specialist training having spent some of 2007 visiting the Lamb hospital in Bangladesh. GRAHAM, KEITH I moved to Armidale, NSW, Australia with the family in 1970, finished my last 3 years of schooling there then moved to Sydney in 1973 where (apart from a couple of years traveling) I have lived and worked ever since. I currently work in a library which services 5 different tertiary colleges so I meet many interesting people. My hobbies include railways, music and swimming. I would love to hear from anyone from my era; I can be contacted at [email protected]. GRIER-REES, GAVIN Gavin lives and works in Devon. He is the founder of State of the Ark Games which produces very high quality wooden toys. He is an occasional consultant in the field of finance having spent 15 years in The City. He and his wife Sharon Goldstone have had 6 kids at MH one way or another. HAMPTON, BOB Qualified as a Chartered Accountant, now helping to run an event catering company. Married to Philippa O'Keefe, juggling with life in both London & Crete. Founder member of London Cornish RFC. Still working in a small family business. HAY,ALEX Enjoys being in a town school and adding Spanish and Arabic to his language portfolio. Represented Sherborne at tennis, hockey and rugby. HEALE,ANNIE Now studying History at Edinburgh after leaving Sedbergh. HOOPER, EDWARD I left in 1997-8 and I live near Fowey now, and after graduating from the R.A.C in Cirencester where I studied property and the effects of alcohol, I am pursuing a life on the high seas after getting a commercially endorsed Offshore Yachtmaster qualification, due to the lack of employment in the failing property market. I intend to join the Merchant Navy, if I can pry myself away from mother's home cooking! JEFFERSON, MICHAEL Back in England after spending much of 2007 in China and India and now in final year at Oxford. JEFFERSON,THOMAS Back in England after spending time in San Francisco and working temporarily for Ralph Lauren while job hunting in London. CUMMING, LUCY Leaving school was ‘the happiest day of her life’ and her gap year has involved a good deal of travel, working at the Glastonbury Festival, doing a cookery course at the Grange and gaining some work experience at the BBC. Looking for a university to study the History of Art. JOLLY, CHRISTOPHER I live in Chigwell, Essex. I am an educational publisher, with the most popular phonics scheme in schools (and in most of the world too). My authors thought that since the publisher has a funny name we should use it and the name Jolly Phonics has stuck since. DALTON, JOE Joe left Mount House in 2007 and went to King’s College Taunton.. He lives in Tavistock, and stays in touch with many of his old MH friends. At KCT he continues to be involved in all sporting opportunities, is actively engaged in the CCF, is undertaking the D of E award, and still enjoys singing and performing on stage. DANCE, CHARLIE Charlie has played Colts A rugby for Sherborne and joined the debating society. He is an avid reader still. LEIGH, RANALD Happy at Sherborne where he has continued his interests in DT and photography and won a prize in Physics. LUMLEY-HARVATT,ANDREW Married to Lisa and have two young children. Benjamin who will be 7 in October and DaisyRainbow who will be 4 in the same month. LYTLE, ANDREW Spends his time sailing boats in various parts of the world, currently in Palma, Majorca. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School Chairman, Sparkwell Parish Hall & Playground Trust and trustee of other local charities. Married in 1959, 2 children, Clare (has 2 children) and Nick. CUMMING, RORY Spent his gap year traveling the world – South Africa, Russia, China, Australia, NZ, Fiji and Bali – before starting his Spanish, French and Linguistics degree at Edinburgh. / NEWS ASHWORTH, TOBY I Joined RN as an engineer left in '92. Now proprietor of The Nare Hotel, Cornwall. Live in Cornwall with my wife, Katie, and 2 daughters. ACTIVITIES News of Former Pupils and MHS Association Members 113 ACTIVITIES News of Former Pupils and MHS Association Members continued / NEWS LYTLE, ROB Engaged to Dani and wedding planned. Both work as freelance offshore surveyors and thus dash off to various parts of the world at the drop of a hat. REDMAN, HANNAH Hannah is very much enjoying her second year at Sherborne Girls. She came back this summer to play rounders on Association Day for the “old girls” against her sister Emily. MACKENZIE, CLAVIN I live in Salcombe, Devon, I'm currently in my second year studying Biochemistry at Imperial College London. Since being at Imperial I have taken up rowing and won the British University Sports Association Championships in a coxed four and come top 16 at Henley Women’s Regatta. SAYERS, GEOFF After 10 yrs in The City came home to run family farm and marry Zoe, my lovely wife. Now we have Plum aged five and Charlie aged one. Converted the farm to organic production and we now milk lots of cows and try to get closer to the customer via The Well Hung Meat Company and Holy Cow organic dairy products. Am now loving working close to the soil and with animals and of course family life. I have spent the last ten years as a Governor of Mount House and look forward to my trips up the drive almost as much as when I was a boarder in the 70s. Nothing since has come close to the excitement of the tuck allowance being raised from 6 to 9 pence in 1974! MACKENZIE, JAMES I now live between Bath and London. I am a Director at Savills and sell houses across the country. I joined Savills 8 years ago to set up their office in Bristol but have now taken on a more national role. I have four boys William 15, Nicholas 13, Dominic 11 and Alexander 8. They are all at school in Bath. MAYNE,ALAN Came to Australia in 1964 and became a teacher in 1972. I realised I had learning difficulties and compensated by working very hard at times to succeed in life. Retired in 2003 and started a mapping business drawing property maps www.maynemaps.com.au I now drive round the east coast of Australia, recording and mapping large vineyards, vegetable farms, cattle properties, citrus farms and macadamia nut properties. I would be very happy to correspond with some other old boys. MCINTYRE, CHARLES I now live in Suffolk with my wife and our two young daughters.We live on the Stour estuary and have 20' gaff-rigged Norfolk Gipsy. I spend three days a week in London where I have a business that backs media companies. MCKILLOP, PADDY Left Mount House in 1969. Pursued a career at sea in Merchant Navy, reaching rank of captain before coming ashore in 2005. Presently working in Dubai as the Operations Manager for a large company providing services to the Oil and Gas Industry. Married with two grown up children and usual menagerie of animals. "Home" is Loddiswell in Devon. MCKINNEL, JAMES Still reading History at St. Andrew’s and playing fly half for Scottish Universities. Suffered a broken leg earlier in the year, courtesy of an Indian bus driver, while working at the Kerala Orphanage and also spent some time bird watching in Serbia. MOORBY, RICHARD I now live near Usk in Monmouthshire and I retired nearly 4 years ago from a career in the construction industry which took me around the world, including the Gilbert & Ellice Islands in the Pacific for over two years. For many years I was a "Reviewer" for the Institution of Civil Engineers - testing potential members. In retirement I'm on my local Community Council (currently Chairman), Village Hall Committee (Chairman), local CAB Trustee Board (Vice Chairman) and also do voluntary work for CPRW (County Planning Secretary). NEWMAN, ELSIE Travelled for much of 2007 (Australia and NZ) after finishing Art Foundation course in Bristol, before starting a Jewellery Design course in Florence. NEWMAN, LOUISA In her final year at Bryanston where she is Head of House and looking to read Architecture in 2009 after a well deserved gap year. NEWMAN, ROB Reading Marine Biology at Newcastle and partying so much that he was unsure which year of his course he was in! PARSONS, JAMIE Jamie left an extraordinarily close year group at Mount House and many maintain close contact. He enjoys life at King’s College Taunton immensely. In CCF he has joined the Marines and continues to pursue his enjoyment of Art and History and of course his Guitars! PARSONS, JONNY Jonny played for the 1st VII Rugby team at Mount House and he continues to enjoy his rugby at King’s College Taunton, playing for the under 14s A Team. He is enjoying life as a full time boarder. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 114 PHILLIPS, JOHN I continued my education at Dauntsey's then went out to Canada and studied Agriculture at the University of British Columbia ,Vancouver. I later joined the Colonial Agricultural Service after taking their post -graduate course at Trinity College Cambridge & The Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture. I was then in Uganda for eight years.Then was in the West Indies for 5 years as Director of Agriculture in Montserrat. In 1967 I joined the United Nations Development Programme in New York, in due course having posts in Botswana, Ethiopia, Yemen, Pakistan, Kenya and with FAO in Italy. Sue & I were married in 1955. We had 2 sons and 1 daughter. (Our 2 boys went to Mount House, the elder now in New Zealand, the younger in the USA). We have 7 grandchildren, and are happily retired on the Cornish cliffs halfway between Lamorna and Penberth. We are always happy to meet any old boys who happen to be walking the coastal footpath - which goes through our garden. REDMAN, CHRIS Married with 3 children (all girls) one still boarding at MHS, the eldest two are at Sherborne Girls and loving it! Practise dentistry in the Royal Navy as a Surgeon Commander (D). Presently posted as senior dental surgeon at HMS DRAKE, Plymouth. Keep in touch with quite a few old MHS colleagues, many of whom form part of an 'unofficial' annual reunion for the Wanderers matches. Have been browbeaten into acting as Treasurer for the MHA. PS. I would like to state for the record that I am still innocent of the sinking of Tweedle-Dee at Mount House.Those who committed the crime should confess! SCAGLIONI, DOMINIC Well settled at Sherborne, Dominic has represented the school at rugby and played squash for Sherborne 1st V (ranked 4th in school). His cricket is also going well and he is receiving coaching from Jimmy Adams, the ex Hampshire player. SMILEY, PATRICK Director for Smith and Williamson Investment Management having worked in the City of London for twenty years. Living in Suffolk with three children at Orwell Park. Still finding time for camping and fishing as nurtured at Mount House. SMYTH, STUART In his 2nd Year at Durham, playing a lot of good quality hockey, and enjoying his course which involved history and psychology modules. STANNUS, ALEX After King’s Taunton messed around for a bit in Devon, then the inevitable London thing. Ended up working for the Investment Development Department of Chersterton, quit at the grand old age of 24 to go travelling for a year in Africa. On returning it gets a bit unorthodox but includes expeditioning, motorbike despatching, and sub-editing. Father died 1996, and a few years later was introduced by a mutual friend to future wife, Sara. I was made an 'Associate Laureate of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise' (money, nice watch and lots of press) in 1998 but just as this happened an idiot in a Golf failed to spot me on a large motorbike and pulled out right in front of me. His car totalled – me too. Breaks, burns etc topped off by lashings of MRSA. Logic and love dictated I give up expeditions, make Sara wife, acquire sons, brown dog and three more motorbikes. We live and work near Chagford and for several years now running a design business. STANNUS, PIERS Went to Allhallows until 18 years of age (missed the quality of MHS rugby sides). Had my 'gap' year in Oxford and the USA. Went to Birmingham University to read History. Went to London and ended up working as an insurance broker which I still am at HSBC. THOMAS, RICHARD I left Mount House in 1954.We live in Sedbergh where I taught for many years, having now retired. Anyone with Mount House connections is always welcome here. TOYNTON, JULIA Has just completed her first year reading Engineering at Cambridge. She is a member of the Cambridge sailing team that won the universities sailing championships at Liverpool. TOYNTON, ELLA Was a fantastic gap year student during Summer 08 at Mount House. She is now travelling the world,Thailand first stop! TRAVIS, ADRIAN I left in summer 1975. I live in Seattle. I work for Microsoft as a scientist specialising in optics and I seem to spend my spare time playing the piano at this moment. (Quintus, Adrian’s brother, asked that we add that Adrian was awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering Silver Medal this year.) TRAVIS, QUINTUS I left in summer 1977. I live in Seattle. I work for Microsoft and I seem to spend my spare time thinking of England. WEDD, DAVID AND KERRY David and Kerry Wedd have both moved to live in Alderney (Channel Isles). David is busy with his writing and with the Wildlife Trust, whilst Kerry is involved in various sporting projects. WRAITH, NIGEL I am working as a self-employed barrister in Colleton Chambers in Exeter specialising in crime. I live with my wife and 3 children and try to play sport as often as I can (mainly football and tennis). I enjoyed my first game of cricket in 10 years when I played for the Wanderers this summer, and look forward to a bit more heckling from the boys next year! WRIGHT, SIMON I am now farming on the Romney Marsh, just outside Rye in East Sussex. Married with 2 children. The Association Day Cricket Match SPORT Old Boys’ Association Team: Banyard's XI v Association XI Result: Much Hilarity Banyard's XI 115 for 7 (25 overs) Freddie Jayarajah 32, Rhys Davies 21 Association XI 117 for 5 wickets .James Mann 37, Chris Redman 22, Jon Elworthy 15 not out. The Mount House Association won by 5 wickets. An exciting game, limited to 25 overs a side due to the average age of the players! Banyard's team began brightly thanks to an excellent partnership of 44 between Freddie and Rhys. After that the scoring rate slowed down as the Association bowlers got their eye in and became more and more confident. In reply, James Mann and Chris Redman enjoyed an excellent 50 run partnership before Chris Redman generously gave away his wicket (well he had planned to next ball if he hadn’t be caught!) Runs came easily and the Association reached the required total with 27 balls to spare. Team: MHS U13 v MHA Old Girls (or ‘Team Old’ as they preferred to be called). Result: Much Hilarity Comment:The Association team won the toss and put the Mount House girls into bat where they quickly notched up 11.5 rounders off 30 balls. After a promising start from Mrs Malcolm the Association team began to crumble losing 4 wickets for no score after 16 balls.This is when Ella Toynton came into her own (quite literally as she was left to bat on her own once the the Under13s had taken all their wickets, including one great catch taken by Emily Redman) and scored 2.5 rounders at the tail end taking her side to a 3.5. The second innings was a much closer game now that the Association side had warmed up and familiarised themselves with the rules of the game. Despite gallant efforts from Phoebe and Fern the Mount House girls were restricted to 6 rounders and the Association stumped up with 5.5 thanks to the batting performances of Julia Toynton and Ellie Malcolm. The match thus finished as a 17.5 to 9 victory to the Under-13 team. Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School The Association Day Rounders Match 115 SPORT Old Boys’ Association Fanfare 2007 - 2008 • Mount House School 116
