November 2012 Newsletter

Transcription

Victoria College Foundation Newsletter Volume 12 November Edition 2012
Victoria College, Jersey JE1 4HT Tel: 01534 730464 Email: [email protected]
Hail to the conquerors – page 7
Celebrating a
Year of Success
Inside this Issue
Page 3 President of the OVA
Page 4 Chairman, Board of Governors
Page 5 Chairman, The Foundation
Page 7 Sport past and present
Page 9 From the archives
Page 10 Tilling Memorial
Page 11 New classrooms
Page 12 Richard Le Brocq tribute
Page 14 Letters
By Alun Watkins, Headmaster
At our recent prize giving and
speech day, attended by General Sir
John McColl, Lieutenant Governor
of Jersey, and Lady McColl we were
able to celebrate much success in the
summer public examinations.
However, nationally the results produced their fair share of alarmist headlines:
‘Teenagers flocking to traditional subjects’.
‘First fall in 21 Years for A Level A grades’.
‘Top A Level passes fall for the first time in 2 decades’.
We were informed that the overall pass rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 98% - the
30th successive increase. The proportion of A and A* grades was down to 26.6%,
compared with 27% in 2011 and that A*s were awarded to 7.9% of entrants compared
with 8.2% in 2011. Well 11.8% of all our entries were awarded an A* and 25 out of 36
candidates in English achieved A* to B. 28 out of 31 candidates in Mathematics achieved
the same, whilst 19 out of 24 candidates in Chemistry achieved A* to B.
We congratulate Peter Hucker on achieving three straight A* grades and Oliver Johnson,
Sean Le Cornu, Jack Messervy, Rupert Orr, Hugo Powell and James Walwyn who all achieved
4 A-Levels at A* or A grade.
Following the publication of the GCSE results, further headlines included:
‘Protests as GCSE grades in English fall sharply’.
‘Hundreds of Schools facing closure over stalling GCSE results’.
‘Top GCSE results fall for the first time in History’.
Whilst nationally, the overall pass rate increased from 92.7% last year to 93%, the
proportion of A* - C grades awarded declined from 69.8% to 69.4% and the proportion of
A* or A grades declined from 23.2% to 22.4%. What is perhaps significant is that in
percentage A* - C, girls out-performed boys in 33 of the 36 subjects featured in much of the
research, the exceptions being Physics, Economics and Maths. Girls continue to perform
better at the top grades with 25.6% of their passes at A* - A compared with 18.9% for boys.
Well, at GCSE our results didn’t really follow the national trend with 96.3% of all examinations
taken awarded A* - C grades and our figure of over 99%, 5 A* - C grades including English
and Maths an improvement on the high percentage achieved by last year’s Year 11. We were
delighted that over half of the year group achieved at least 5 A* and A grades or more.
A new dance? Find out on page 5
Volume 12
Notices
Celebrate in stylish
surroundings
It’s not easy these days to find a unique and
stylish location for your special event but the
College has just the answer.
You can hire the Great Hall for special
occasions: steeped in history and magnificent
to behold, the Great Hall could be the perfect
location for special birthdays, weddings,
corporate hospitality or conferences.
If you would be interested in using this
unique location, contact Carolyn Ferguson
on 638259 or by email [email protected]
Page 2
From the Headmaster (cont’d)
We congratulate Andrew Bastiman who achieved a clean sweep with
A* in all 12 of his subjects. A further 11 boys achieved A* or A grades
in all of their subjects. They are John Benest, Charlie Hurst, Jack Mills,
Robbie Powell, Gareth Rees, Andrew Robertson, Thomas Sinel,
Alexander Touzel, Liam Waugh-Bacchus-Millen and Max Willing.
Stunning Scientists
Once again our top Year 10 scientists, who take examinations early,
have produced some stunning results. 23 boys sat GCSE examinations
in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. 50 grades were awarded at A* level
and 19 at A Grade. 11 students achieved three straight A* grades and
one student, Toby Johnson scored 400 out of 400 in Chemistry, 400 out
of 400 in Physics and 398 out of 400 in Biology. So as you can see there
is clear evidence of under-achievement in at least one of those subjects!
Once again I would like to congratulate all our examinees on their
tremendous summer performances but I would also like to thank my
colleagues for their hard work, their dedication and their professionalism
and indeed you, the parents, for your continued support of your sons,
especially during the examination season.
I am delighted to report that the majority of our leavers have been able
to take up places at the university of their choice. Last year I mentioned
that an unprecedented 16 OVs were off to Durham. Well I can report
that this year, 6 boys are going to Bath, 4 to Northumbria, 4 to Cardiff
and we are delighted that three of our boys will be going to Oxford.
Jack Chown to read Music at St Hilda’s College, Sean Le Cornu to read
Chemistry at St Catherine’s College and Ralph Spencer-Tucker to read
Law at Exeter College.
Bursaries
Great Hall - perfect for functions
Waiting list for
Centenary OV Dinner
It’s standing room only at the moment for
this year’s Centenary OV Dinner, being held
in the Great Hall on the 20th December.
Ben Toudic and his team have done an
excellent job in selling tables for the event,
which pretty quickly became oversubscribed.
If you want to get on the list, email
[email protected]
Plant a memory
As reported in the last Newsletter, the Board
of Governors has launched a scheme to
plant more trees around the College Field.
We are looking to plant hawthorn, rowan
and white beam. Each tree costs £150 and
that covers ongoing care from The Men of
the Trees. If you are interested please email
[email protected]
On this occasion I should like to acknowledge the support given to our
leavers by various Island companies, many of whom are offering
significant bursaries to Old Victorians. Alex Gavriel has received a
bursary from the JSCCA, Steven Le Cornu from Bedell, Rufus Scholefield
has a State Street bursary, Peter Hucker has gained a bursary from Carey
Olsen, James Walwyn from Altis, Christopher Le Cornu, who left in
2010, has a Consolidated Minerals bursary as indeed does Luke
Gallichan. Luke has also obtained paid work experience on a mine in
Australia and Oliver Johnson and Henry Johnson have both received
Morris bursaries to support their studies in Medicine and Veterinary
Science, respectively.
You may have also read quite recently in the JEP that last year’s Head of
School, Ben Cochrane is the first recipient of a new bursary scheme
awarded by Jersey Electricity. Ben will be studying Mechanical
Engineering at Bath and will receive financial support from Jersey
Electricity to help with tuition fees and living expenses. He will also
benefit from six to eight weeks work experience and mentoring during
the holidays. On behalf of our students I would like to take this opportunity
to thank those companies who continue to sponsor our OVs.
We have had a very busy start to the new academic year and I am pleased
to report that we have been granted planning permission to begin building
a new classroom block on the site currently occupied by our sixth form
recreation room. I will say more about this in future Newsletters. The
creation of four additional classrooms will enable us to convert current
accommodation to create five much needed houserooms for boys in years
7 – 11. We firmly believe this will enhance our pastoral provision.
Alun Watkins. November 2012.
Victoria
Volume 10
12 November
November Edition
Edition2011
2012
Victoria College
College Foundation
Foundation Newsletter
Newsletter Volume
Volume
Volume
1012
Victoria
College,
Jersey
4HT
01534
730464
Email:
[email protected]
Victoria
College,
Jersey
JE1JE1
4HT
TelTel:
/ Fax:
01534
730464
Email:
[email protected]
Page
33
Page
OVs Continue to Impress in
a Number of Arenas
From James Le Feuvre, President of the OVA
Dear Fellow Old Victorians,
I am, once again, grateful for the opportunity provided by the
Foundation to reach so many of you in the comfort of your
own homes.
We have had another busy year with
a full range of sporting activities,
interspersed with further careers
related evenings - which I hope are
fast becoming a fixed feature in our
calendar – and still some time to
plan the all-important OV Dinners.
In the sporting domain OVs have
been very active and have continued
to impress in a number of arenas.
Whilst our cricketers have done
their very best this season they were
unable to repeat the clean sweep
made in 2011.
The annual Athletics triangular
match between Victoria College,
Jersey Spartans and the OVs was
held on Monday 21st May at the FB
Fields. We were delighted that Mike
Stafford once again travelled to the
Island to join us and present the
Stafford Trophy to the College team
who beat off the OVs, with the
Spartans trailing home in third
place. Mike Tait (OV 67-74) again
organised a very successful – and
well supported – golf tournament,
followed by dinner, at the Royal
Jersey in June.
One of our priorities is to continue
to forge strong and more meaningful
links with the College. Tangible
evidence of this approach can be
seen in the success of a series of
careers evenings that we help to
co-ordinate. These sessions are
aimed at students, aged 15 years or
over, and provide them with an
opportunity to meet informally
with a range of OVs currently
working in the field that they might
be contemplating. Over a buffet
supper they have a chance to learn,
first-hand about the ins and outs
of specific careers including the
points of entry and training that will
be required.
We are very grateful to a second
cohort of OVs, this time from the
Business, Accountancy and Finance
industry, who gave up their time
earlier in the year and met with an
enthusiastic and inquisitive group of
students from years 10 – 13. The
students have all been, without
exception, a real pleasure to meet
and are a great credit to Victoria
College. They are bright, articulate
and interested and their ability to
mix comfortably and be at ease
with more mature Old Victorians is
impressive.
By the time this newsletter reaches
you we will have followed this up
with our third careers evening, this
time focused upon opportunities in
the legal and associated professional
areas.
Old Victorians who are keen to
get involved, and give something
back to the next generation, are
warmly invited to come forward
and help us deliver further events
in areas such as Construction and
Architecture, Engineering and
Surveying and any other fields that
you think we should cover.
The planning for both of our annual
dinners started early this year and
we are delighted with the response
that has been generated. I am very
indebted to three young OVs –
Tobias Cook, Aston Roberts and
Ben Toudic – who, as members
of the OVA Council, have worked
very hard to ensure that all the
arrangements are in place.
On Friday 30th November the
London Dinner is afloat on the
Thames as we have managed to
secure HMS Belfast as our venue.
This vessel is administered by the
Imperial War Museum and our
excitement in securing it has been
shared by many as tickets sold out
by early October with a long waiting
list arising.
OVs will have an opportunity to
be shown round the ship before
dinner by OV Cliff Le Quelenec
who served on board and is also to
share memories and some of the
history of HMS Belfast with us after
dinner.
On Thursday 20th December we are
very proud to be hosting our
Centenary Jersey Dinner, once again
in the Great Hall. This special event
has also proved to be very popular
indeed and we are expecting a full
house on the night. Many tickets are
already sold and OVs out there who
are contemplating coming will need
to move very quickly and contact
the Foundation office or email
[email protected] if they are to
be squeezed in.
I would, once again, like to express
my thanks to my fellow Council
members who work hard in support
of the Old Victorians Association.
Finally I would like to send you
all my best wishes; I hope to
meet some of you at either of the
forthcoming dinners or at other
events in the months ahead.
Volume 12
Page 4
Money has changed hands!
By Clive Barton, Chairman Board of Governors
Dear Fellow Old Victorians,
In the last Foundation newsletter I was able to advise you that
matters had at last started to move with regard to the Foundation’s
exciting building project to establish four new classrooms in the
area behind the old arts school.
All the various permissions appear
now to be in place, thanks to the
continued tenacity of the Philips
Syvret and Le Brocq. A project
manager has been appointed and
funds have been transferred from
the account of the Foundation to the
States in anticipation of the placing
of a contract to commence work on
the new building. I hope that by this
time next year we will have had the
topping out ceremony and be
preparing to move in to these new
surroundings.
Changes at the Foundation Office
In the Foundation office there has
been a change in personnel with
Karen Stone resigning due to family
matters and Rachel Lucas stepping
seamlessly into her place. I would
like to take this opportunity of
thanking Karen for all her hard work
on behalf of the Foundation over
several years.
been reduced to a shortlist of
individuals who will be interviewed
during the course of November and
it is hoped that an appointment will
then be forthcoming. Of course,
Philip Le Brocq is an impossible act
to follow and the new Director will
bring a different approach and style
to the role.
The festive season is fast approaching
and tickets are available for both the
London OV Dinner, which is being
held on HMS Belfast, and also the
centenary Jersey Dinner to be held
in the Great Hall.
Old Cheshire Cheese
Following the dinner last year at the
Old Cheshire Cheese in Fleet Street
organised by Tony Coleman and
based on a hair brained scheme by
yours truly, over 20 ex College
House boys have pledged funds for
the installation of a clock on the
granite façade above the front door
of College House. Planning permission
has been obtained, an order to the
manufacturer has been placed and it
is hoped that the installation might
be complete before Christmas this
year. If you are an ex College House
boy and I have somehow missed
you off my mailing list and you
would like to contribute to this
memorial, please contact me
directly as soon as possible.
Robert Tilling commemoration
On Saturday, 29 September, the
late Robert Tilling’s birthday, the
Foundation was delighted to host a
reception in the old arts school for
Thelma Tilling and her family and
friends, together with colleagues of
Bob, in order to witness the unveiling
by Thelma of a plaque specially
commissioned by the Foundation
naming the building in memory of
Bob. It was a very happy gathering
and, as you would expect, many
stories and anecdotes concerning
Bob were exchanged over champagne
and canapés.
The Chairman of the Trustees and
Director of the Foundation, Philip Le
Brocq, continues to try and escape
the shackles that bind him to the
organisation and, having recently
advertised the position of Director in
the Jersey Evening Post, there was an
encouraging response of over a
dozen applications and these have
For the full story on the
unveiling of the Robert
Tilling plaque, please turn
to page 10
Thelma Tilling is photographed at the unveiling of the plaque in memory of her late husband Robert
Victoria
Volume 10
12 November
November Edition
Edition2011
2012
Victoria College
College Foundation
Newsletter Volume
Volume
Volume
1012
Victoria
College,
Jersey
4HT
01534
730464
Email:
[email protected]
Victoria
College,
Jersey
JE1JE1
4HT
TelTel:
/ Fax:
01534
730464
Email:
[email protected]
Page
53
Page
Planning go-ahead for new
classroom block
By Philip Le Brocq, Chairman Victoria College Foundation
The Foundation moves forward steadily towards the completion
of the new Four Classroom Building under the steadily persuasive
eye of Governor Philip Syvret, who has set things in motion to
raise the final cheque so that the project’s budgeted costs of
£1,122,061.15 can be met. Within this sum are many “potential
risk” sums, which may be saved in the end.
Richard Cheal from Education, Sport
& Culture has confirmed that we
have a Planning Permit for the
building and the plans now go to
Bye Laws. The Building is running
five weeks late but we hope to
pick up on a few weeks as the Bye
Laws Permission is, apparently, fairly
straightforward.
Building should be able to start in
January or February 2013, and be
ready in April 2014.
Foundation Office
I am sad to report Karen Stone’s
resignation from the role of
Foundation Administrator, due to the
continued illness of her father and
would like to record our great thanks
for all she has done to keep the
Foundation running smoothly over
the past few years. With her help we
have recruited a successor, Rachel
Lucas, who has already made her own
significant mark on organising the
office, and setting up the arrangements
for recruiting a new Director.
Director
After long and productive discussion
and debate about the need for a
Director as well as an Administrator,
the Trustees have decided that a
single dynamic and committed
Director must be the best way
forward. The process of selection
and appointment should be
completed by the end of November.
Mount Pleasant Society
Members of the Mount Pleasant
Society, who attended the Tilling
unveiling ceremony (see below) and
who have pledged money in their
Wills to furthering the work of The
Foundation, received their specially
designed ties on that occasion. If any
of you reading this would like to
support the College in this way,
please contact me at The Foundation
for further details. It costs you
nothing, but shows your willingness
to support us in the future. So far we
have over 40 members. Please join us!
Philip Le Brocq wearing his
Mount Pleasant Society tie
College 160 and the Tilling Plaque
Because of a disappointing response
for the reception to mark the 160th
Anniversary of the College, which
was due to be held on 29th
September 2012, the event was
converted into a more domestic
occasion.
Thelma Tilling, Robert Tilling’s
widow unveiled a plaque in memory
of her husband on 29th September,
which was also Robert Tilling’s
birthday. Those who were due to
attend the Anniversary Reception
were invited to the unveiling and
dedication of the Art Block, after
which the architects for the project,
Morris Architects, gave an excellent
and well-illustrated report on the
new building. This was very well
received and some 90 people
attended. In his unveiling, Chairman
of the Board of Governors Clive
Barton, reminded people about the
history of the Art Block and spoke
passionately of Bob Tilling’s time as
Head of Art at the school.
Thelma Tilling thanks Clive Barton for his kind words at the unveiling
of the plaque in her late husband’s memory in the old Art Block
For more images of the new classroom block, turn to page 11
Volume 12
Page 6
160 Years and Still Going Strong –
Granny Le Sueur would be Proud!
On 29th September 1852 a very young Jersey girl was present at the ceremony to open Victoria
College. 160 years on, to the day, her grandson was a guest of the Foundation at the small reception
to mark the anniversary.
Retired teacher and local historian Bob Le Sueur spoke a few words at the reception –
and this is what he said:
The opening of Victoria College on 29th September 1852 – attended by Bob Le Sueur’s paternal grandmother
“My paternal grandmother was born in 1849 in February and
would have been 3 1/2 at the time [of the opening of the
College] in September 1852.
Granny Le Sueur died aged 94, during the Occupation of the
Channel Islands, probably carried away prematurely by a
constant diet of root vegetables and little else.
She could recall being taken by her parents to a place where
there was a big building on the hill and there was the sound
of a band. She could see nothing, so pushed, (she remained
pushy all her life!) her way between a gentleman's legs.
She was a mine of anecdotes of the early years, and those of
her maternal grandmother, who lived to be nearly 100 and
whom the young married couple had to look after. There
was no Silver Springs, Pinewoods whatever in the 1870s!
Instead of pushing her back, he lifted her onto his shoulders,
which must've irritated the people behind; she saw the band!
Later, the family went into this big building and there were
lots of stairs and her father carried her into a very large room.
She remembered nothing more and, possibly, she dropped
off to sleep.
Those of you who are present now will be able to tell your
children and grandchildren that you heard the story of
someone who, aged 3 ½, had entered the original Great Hall
of Victoria College!
Picture courtesy of the Illustrated Evening News
The Rep Book
Martin Bithell, who looks after the Archive at Victoria College, has asked if anyone has a copy of “The Rep Book”, a collection
of poetry that was used by students, possibly during the 1950s. If anyone can help, please contact the Foundation Office
Victoria
Volume 10
12 November
November Edition
Edition2011
2012
Victoria College
College Foundation
Newsletter Volume
Volume
Volume
1012
Victoria
College,
Jersey
4HT
01534
730464
Email:
[email protected]
Victoria
College,
Jersey
JE1JE1
4HT
TelTel:
/ Fax:
01534
730464
Email:
[email protected]
Page
73
Page
Sport - Victorians present and past flying the flag
Hi ho, Silva Lining!
The 2011/2012 Year 6 Football 1st X1 at Victoria College Prep had
an astonishing, record-breaking season. Coach Ben Silva took the
team to the pinnacle of the sport in the primary schools age group,
winning both local honours and national admiration.
The team not only won the local
schools league and Primary Schools
Cup, they took top honours in the
five-a-side and beach tournaments as
well. But it was their performance in
the ESFA Cup competition that really
set them apart as they finished
runners up out of nearly 3,000
schools across the nation.
Their journey to the final began with
victory in Guernsey, to win through
the Channel Islands round of the
competition, earning them a place at
the regional finals in Bristol. Here they
dominated the competition with
skilful, disciplined performances and
reached the finals, held at the Watford
FC training ground in May. It was here
that the eight best teams in the
country in this age group met to
decide who was the best of the best.
VCP got off to a nervous start, only to
be expected on this stage but regained
their composure to win their group
stage, quarter and semi final games to
reach the final against Gladstone. In
the end the difference between the
two sides was Gladstone’s Under 14’s
Stoke City player, who scored both of
the opposition’s goals to win.
But VCP could hold their heads high:
not only had they entered the Channel
Island record books for going further
in the competition than any other
team before them – they also upheld
the College’s reputation for discipline,
fair play and sportsmanship. And the
good news is, they are all now in Year
7 at Victoria College!
The squad was made up of Oscar
Nash, Ben le Chevalier, Will Watts, Ed
Giles, Ben Le Rougetel, Pieter Stein,
Tom Bolton, Kieran Rabet
Picture courtesy of the Jersey Evening Post
Temps Passé –
the crowd of ‘67
Jan Hadley of the Jersey Evening Post is always
extremely helpful to us when we are trying to
locate interesting photographic memories from
the annals of sporting history.
She dug out this great picture of a well-dressed crowd of
supporters watching football on the College Field in 1967.
According to Jan there was a fair sized crowd, including many
OVs and friends of the College, who braved what looks like
cold weather for the annual Victoria College v Old Victorians
encounter in November 1967. The OVs won the match 5-2.
Pictured in this photograph are from left: Lt.-Col R Eden,
Vice Principal of Victoria College; Mr EH Le Brocq, former
president of the Old Victorians Association (and of course
father of our own Foundation Chairman); Mr P Boleat, the
sitting president of the Old Victorians Association; Mr JG
Spear, Honorary Secretary of the Old Victorians Association
and Captain NC (Paddy) Blomfield, Games Master at Victoria
College. And not a tracksuit or ‘Beanie’ hat in sight…
Picture courtesy of the Jersey Evening Post
If you are part of a current OV team, or have fond memories of your ‘sporting prowess’ when you were
at the College, we would love to hear from you. Send us your stories and photos, either to the
Foundation Office or to [email protected]
Volume 12
Page 8
College take honours in
Stafford Trophy
Athletes from Victoria College put in terrific performances in May to
win the Stafford Trophy over the Old Victorians Association.
The competition is part of the annual triangular match between the
College, OVs and Jersey Spartans Athletics Club.
College came out of the meet with a
total of 89 points, to the OVs 52.
Jersey Spartans put in a respectable
54 points. Marc Alner of the Victoria
College team won the high jump
with a new Stafford Cup record
jump of 1.95 metres and OV and
present Victoria College Prep
headmaster Russell Price (pictured)
threw a distance of 40.59 metres to
win the javelin event.
Strong performances from Rory
You Must
Remember This!
Mike Bree sent in this photo for the last
newsletter and you may recall it is of Mike’s
Victoria College Prep class who had just returned
from swimming training at Havre des Pas.
Mike is third from the right in the back row and reminded
us the sea temperature at that time of year (May) was a
‘refreshing’ 12 degrees.
Someone else that recognised himself in the picture is
Pierre Horsfall CBE, former Senator and ‘Chancellor’. He
says after just one dip he switched to shooting because it
enabled him to ‘lie down’ in warmer surroundings.
Pierre went on to make the shooting eight and was called
to compete at Bisley. There was a small problem in that his
Biology O Level was on the day of the competition. No
problem: Colonel Eden arranged for young Horsfall to sit
the exam in a tent at Bisley, watched over by him. Horsfall
passed and College won the 1956 Cottesloe Vase. Pierre
is second from the left in the back row of the picture.
Anyone else recognise themselves?
Russell Price launches the Javelin
Forrest, Grant Stenhouse, Tim
Rogers and Jonny Gough for the
OVs were not enough to see off the
superior efforts of the College boys.
Anyone for Cricket?
We wonder if anyone recognises a family
member in this photograph? It was taken in
1867 and features the College Cricket 1st X1 in
a somewhat relaxed pose on the main steps.
It’s the sort of photograph that these days would pass for
a model shoot! There’s an odd array of clothing and
‘uniform’ from the checked shirt of the young man seated
on the steps with the bat, to the decorative belt of the
dashing lad with the strategically placed cricket ball
standing just to his right and above him.
There is an interesting collection of headwear and overall
there is an air of despondency about the team. Are they
perhaps not very successful or is this just the sort of
moody shot that would be appropriate for the time?
If anyone can shed some light on this photograph, which
is from the Jersey Evening Post, (courtesy of the Société
Jersiaise) then we would love to hear from you.
Please write to the Foundation Office,
email [email protected]
or contact the Editor direct [email protected]
Victoria
Volume 10
12 November
November Edition
Edition2011
2012
Victoria College
College Foundation
Newsletter Volume
Volume
Volume
1012
Victoria
College,
Jersey
4HT
01534
730464
Email:
[email protected]
Victoria
College,
Jersey
JE1JE1
4HT
TelTel:
/ Fax:
01534
730464
Email:
[email protected]
Page
93
Page
From the Archives
Stored away in attics, cellars, dusty old boxes and desks are many precious documents and pictures
that give us an idea of what life was like at the College in its early days. It was a time before digital
technology and ballpoint pens, before plastic balls and indoor swimming pools. We are extremely
grateful to the OVs and their families who share these precious memories with us.
Colin C. Marie
We have been privileged to glance
through a collection of rare and
insightful documents belonging to
Colin C Marie, who we believe left
Victoria College in 1921.
The collection includes the letter written
to him by the Master of Pembroke College
Oxford, informing him that he had been
awarded the King Charles I scholarship to
attend the College, various menu cards for
the Society of Old Victorians at Oxford,
for dinners held at the Clarendon and for
the Victoria College Debating Society
(held at the Beresford Tea and Luncheon
Rooms) in 1920.
Delicacies to be enjoyed included :
Vegetable Essence
Slab of Sole with a Slap of Sauce
Brace of Lamb Cutlets
with a Spot of Spinach
Young Duck, Young Peas
and Young Spuds
Followed by Princess Pudding and a banana!
Also in the collection are programmes for
the Pembroke College Smoking Concert,
featuring the ‘Isis Trio’, a production of
Shakespeare’s As You Like It (in which
Colin played a Lord at Duke Frederick’s
court) and pamphlets detailing which
scholars had been awarded Kings medals
and prizes.
It was the order of the day to collect the
signatures of one’s peers and colleagues
at these events and clearly legible on the
documents are the names of L Le Sueur II,
Guy Malet de Carteret, REB Voisin as well
as De Fayes, Le Geyts and Du Feus
Volume 12
Page 10
Thelma Tilling Unveils Plaque in Memory
of Former Head of Art
Robert Tilling was an inspirational artist, musician and teacher. World renowned and respected for his
talent as a painter, he was Head of Art at Victoria College for many years and his passing at a relatively
early age was a sad time for his family, friends, former pupils and colleagues.
It was fitting that on Founders Day,
29th September, which was also
Bob’s birthday, a plaque was
unveiled by Thelma Tilling, at a low
key ceremony to commemorate his
contribution to the school.
The Chairman of the Board of
Governors, Clive Barton, made a
brief but poignant speech:
“Thelma, ladies and gentlemen,
It’s my most pleasant honour as
chairman of the Board of Governors
of Victoria College and one of the
Trustees of the Victoria College
Foundation to welcome you all
here on Founders’ Day but, more
particularly, for the formal naming of
this building.
Before I go any further, the
Headmaster, Alun Watkins, sends
his apologies for not being with us
today as he is away in England at the
HMC annual conference.
This wonderful building, which was
designed and built in the 50s as a
memorial to fallen Old Victorians
in the Second World War, was
specifically created as an art school
with large north facing windows in
the main classroom. With the everpresent pressure on amenities at
College for space some years ago,
the building was changed from an
art school to the sixth form centre.
However, with the funding and
creation by the Foundation of four
new classrooms just outside, the art
school will be refurbished and
returned to its former glory.
During his time as Head of Art at
Victoria College, this was very much
Bob Tilling’s kingdom where he
inspired so many of the pupils who
were taking art in their curriculum.
Thelma and her daughters – Delia and Isabel
Bob had the amazing ability to
improve those scholars with
genuine artistic skill and yet at the
same time provide hope and
encouragement for those who
were sadly lacking in the talent
department.
I know that he spent many, many
happy years in this building and
found the surroundings and the
input from his pupils an inspiration
for his own work. With Robert’s
sad and premature passing last year,
the Island lost one of its greatest and
most productive artists and he is
still sadly missed by all those who
knew him and admired his work.
Earlier this year, Angela Stevenson
approached me with the brilliant
idea of naming this building in
Robert’s memory and I agreed to
take the matter up with the
Headmaster. I was delighted that he
instantly agreed to this proposal and
hence we find ourselves gathered
here today at this ceremony to
create a lasting memorial to an
exceptional artist and teacher, a
talented musician, a greatly loved
and much liked all round good
bloke.
Therefore, without further ado, i
would ask Thelma to unveil this
memorial plaque dedicating the
building in Bob’s memory. “
Victoria
Volume 10
12 November
November Edition
Edition2011
2012
Victoria College
College Foundation
Newsletter Volume
Volume10
12
Volume
VictoriaCollege,
College,Jersey
Jersey
4HTTelTel:
01534
730464
Email:
[email protected]
Victoria
JE1JE1
4HT
/ Fax:
01534
730464
Email:
[email protected]
Page
113
Page
Feisty Scot who designed the Art Block
A competition was held to find the best design for the War
Memorial Art School, and a feisty Scot, who had more
experience designing aerodromes for the War Ministry during
World War II, won it.
Margaret Brash Brodie was born in Glasgow in 1907, the daughter of John
Brodie who was a civil engineer. Margaret studied at Glasgow University and
later at the British School in Rome. She came to the attention of the architectural
world with her drawings for the Paisley Infectious Diseases Hospital and spent
several years working in London.
When the Second World War broke out, Margaret moved to East Anglia where
she designed aerodromes for the Air Ministry. After the War she moved to
Edinburgh before starting her own practice in Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire. Her
work was mainly domestic at this time but her success in the competition to
design the art block for Victoria College was a notable success in her career.
Margaret never married, and she died just shy of her 100th birthday in April 1997.
New Classroom Block designs show
changing times for the College
As Clive Barton mentioned in his opening remarks in this edition of the newsletter, work should begin
very shortly on the new four-classroom block at the rear of the Tilling Art Block. It’s an exciting time for
the school and the Foundation, which helped raise the funds for the project. Here are the architects’
designs for the new building.
The building work will start next year
and it’s hoped the project will be
complete by spring 2014. The scheme
will cost in excess of £1.2 million, which
has been raised by the Foundation.
Volume 12
Page 12
Richard Le Brocq
Tribute
Wing Commander Richard Le Brocq died in
Jersey in October, at the age of 76. He was
indefatigable in his pursuit of doing the right
thing, and was the embodiment of the values
of Victoria College. The following is taken from
the eulogy read at his funeral by his good
friend and OV, Bruce Willing.
Richard was born in Petersfield on 15th January 1936, and
the family returned to Highfield in Jersey on the partition of
India in 1947 (where Richard’s father had been serving with
the Indian Police) and Richard went to Victoria College,
where, like his father, he was Head Boy and excelled at sport,
particularly cricket, as a batsman.
Richard was always serious, believing in the importance of
being correct, almost to the point of Victorian formality. His
great ambition was to fly and he entered RAF Cranwell in
January 1955 where it quickly became clear that he was
pretty good at it. Having passed out second in the order of
merit, Richard was commissioned in December 1957 and
was posted to fly fast jets, the Hawker Hunter, in 20
Squadron, which he joined in May 1958.
In the meantime a certain Mary Scriven had entered his life
and they were married on 1st October 1959 and because
Richard was under the age of 25, not only did he have to ask
his Squadron Commander’s permission, but also they were
not entitled to a married quarter.
In May 1963 Richard was posted to Randolph Air force Base
in San Antonio, Texas, and the next two and a bit years were
extremely happy ones with highlights like Richard borrowing
a T38 jet to fly to a wedding in California and then, at the end,
handing over to his brother-in-law, Ted Nance, who had married
Mary’s younger sister Jane in 1960 and who sadly passed
away earlier this year, 6 months to the day before Richard.
Wing Cmdr Richard Le Brocq
Of all Richard’s flying career, the most significant was flying
the Hawker Harrier. Once the various experimental aircraft
had been developed, Richard took over as head of the
conversion team to bring the Harrier into RAF service. To do
this, first he had to learn to fly a Whirlwind helicopter, as the
training version of the Harrier had not been developed.
From there he went on to run the operational conversion
unit and, at the very young age of 35, was promoted
Wing Commander having been awarded the Air Force
Cross for his bravery, steadfastness and leadership. He
then commanded one of the first operational squadrons,
coincidentally his first squadron, 20 Harrier Squadron, at
RAF Wildenwrath in West Germany.
However, after that Richard had to fly a desk and so at the
age of 40, in 1976, he left the RAF and returned to Jersey with
his family.
Richard found civilian life different, initially as the managing
director of Aviation Jersey and later as an entrepreneur,
developing a cleaning business that refurbished the grease
traps in the kitchens of hotels and restaurants. His sons Peter
and David vividly remember being tasked to clean the
kitchen stove grease traps at the Hotel L’Horizon, overnight,
during a school week. The team effort to dissolve the grease
in chemical filled tanks at Highfield is a memory for both of
them that has not dimmed with time.
Richard was an expert fly fisherman, a relationship that had
started early and he had a particular skill at tickling trout out
of the stream that is today Grands Vaux reservoir. Dexterity
was needed then, and later throughout his life in repairing
things, for one of his other passions was DIY.
Duty was hard wired into Richard. He joined the St. Saviour
Honorary Police in 1977, rising to the rank of Chef de Police.
In 1979 he and Mary volunteered as honorary ADCs to the
Lieutenant Governor and in 1986 he was appointed Assistant
Secretary and ADC, a post he held until he retired in 2001.
Braithwaite and College flags at the half mast for Richard’s funeral
Our condolences go to Richard’s family including, of course,
our chairman Philip.
Victoria
Volume 10
12 November
November Edition
Edition2011
2012
Victoria College
College Foundation
Newsletter Volume
Volume10
12
Volume
VictoriaCollege,
College,Jersey
Jersey
4HTTelTel:
01534
730464
Email:
[email protected]
Victoria
JE1JE1
4HT
/ Fax:
01534
730464
Email:
[email protected]
Page
133
Page
Denis Clift A Man of Many Talents
Old Victorian Denis Clift passed away this year in March, at
the age of 91. Pilot, linguist, businessman, golfer and pianist:
these are just some of the many talents possessed by Denis
Clift, as remembered here by his nephew, Haydn Taylor.
Denis Clift was born in Argentina in
July 1921, the son of Vernon and Doris
Clift. Vernon Clift was a Director of the
Jersey Overseas Trading Corporation
and the family spent a great deal of
time travelling to South America.
Eventually Denis settled in Jersey
where he attended Victoria College
where he quickly established himself
as a fine athlete, excelling at football
and being appointed Captain of the 1st
X1. Among his contemporaries was the
classic British actor, Sir Kenneth More.
After the untimely death of his father in
1938, Denis realised he would need to
find a suitable occupation to support
himself, joining J Lyons and Co in
London as a chemist. When War broke
out with Germany, Denis signed up for
The Church of St Margaret, Yatton Keynell
the RAF and having earned his wings,
was transferred to Canada where he
trained pilots for the British and
Canadian Air Forces. He later returned
to England where he continued to train
new pilots before being posted on
active duty in Italy, Palestine, Libya and
Egypt, flying Wellington bombers.
With the War over, Denis returned to
Jersey where an old school friend, John
Huelin, arranged for him to meet his
father, who owned the timber and
builders’ merchants Denis’s first
position was to supervise the
manufacture of boxboards in Portugal
for the Channel Islands’ tomato
industry. He set about teaching himself
Portuguese, using a Linguaphone
course he had acquired and quickly
mastering the language.
In the late 1940’s Denis returned to
the Channel Islands with his new wife,
Greta, and took up a role with Huelin’s
in Guernsey as Sales Manager. Over the
next 40 years Denis built an exceptional
career in the timber trade that spanned
the Globe, from Edinburgh to Gabon
in Africa, eventually owning his own
company based in Yatton Keynell, near
Chippenham in Wiltshire.
Denis Clift flew Wellington bombers
during World War II
Having retired in 1938 Denis Clift
continued to play an active role in the life
of the village where he and his wife lived
for 38 years. He became a Governor of
the Claremont Residential Home and
of Yatton Keynell School. In his leisure
time he played golf at the Chippenham
Golf Club and played a lead role in
establishing the North Wiltshire Indoor
Bowls Centre, becoming Chairman
in 1996. Denis also continued his
lifelong interest in languages and in his
retirement taught himself German and
French to GCSE standard. He used these
skills to help others, teaching at the local
school and at Chippenham College.
Music played an important part in Denis
Clift’s life. He was a gifted pianist, able
to play a wide range of music and in
particular mainstream traditional jazz.
Denis was one of life’s great gentlemen
and an immaculate dresser to boot. He
was never without a comb in his back
pocket, after a fleeting encounter with
the Queen at Sandringham in his
younger days. He kept a comb there
just in case she invited him to tea!
Ironically, when the invitation to
Buckingham Palace finally came, Denis
was too unwell to attend.
Bernard Pettifer OV
Brian Lempriere
1947 – 1953
1933 – 2010
Bernard John Simmonds Pettifer died in Tasmania in
August at the age of 76. Bernard served in the RAF for a
number of years before becoming an Air Traffic Controller
and moving to Australia in the 1960s. There he switched
careers, becoming a teacher and eventually headmaster at
a number of primary schools in Tasmania.
Brian Michael Lempriere died in Bellevue, Washington at the
age of 77. Brian was born in Mauritius but moved to Jersey
as a young boy, where he was educated at Victoria College.
Bernard was a keen bowls player and enthusiastic club
netball coach, as well as being an avid cricket fan. After
he retired he made a number of trips to Jersey and
visited his old school. Bernard leaves a widow Ree, and a
son James.
He obtained degrees in Aeronautics in London and the
United States and had a PhD from Stanford University.
Brian was an engineer at Lockheed Missiles and Space and
spent more than 20 years with Boeing. He was a keen
cyclist and sailor and devoted a lot of his time in retirement
to helping his local community.
Brian leaves a widow, Cherie, a son and daughter and three
grandchildren.
Volume 12
Page 14
Letters to the Editor
The Editor is very keen to hear from OVs and to receive memories and photographs of your days at
Victoria College. If you are happy to share these with your fellow OVs, please send them either by
post to the Foundation Office, or by email to [email protected]
Weddings, anniversaries and
great grandchildren in Lancashire
John Linane has written from Lancashire with a very kind donation for the Foundation, and to update us on his busy life – at 88!
John is married to Dulcie and recently returned to Jersey to have a tour of the school, conducted by Philip Le Brocq. It’s a busy time
for John and Dulcie, who now live in Lancashire, as they celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary on Founders Day, 29th
September 2011. The celebrations involved people from as far away as New Zealand and 18 members of John’s extended family.
This year two of John’s grandchildren have had babies, making him and Dulcie proud Great Grandparents and this month
there’s been an Irish wedding in the family, with his grandson Daniel getting married.
John was in Braithwaite and remembers his House Captain, Alan Ingram and Deputy House Captain, Richard John Jouault.
Sadly both men lost their lives flying with the RAF. Does anyone else remember John during his time at Victoria College? If
so drop us a line and we will try to put you in touch.
Sharp Nails
and French
Posters
Cats, Dogs and
Mysterious Women
Peter Miller has sent in this intriguing photograph from what we
believe to be Victoria College Prep, just after the Occupation.
Peter’s brother, John, is sitting on the ground on the right of the group and Bill
Thorne is the gentleman in the middle of the picture, with the dog sat on his
lap. We don’t know who the four ladies in the picture are, but perhaps one of
our readers will be able to help out.
Third from the left at the back is, Peter thinks, Martin Stevens, whose father
owned Cory’s Cleaners in La Motte Street.
“I knew Joe Holmes well”, writes Alan
Corsane, responding to our earlier
articles on former teachers at the
College. “I was also interested in the
articles on Miss Aubrey and Miss
Casimir, both of whom taught my
father and I. Miss Aubrey took kids in
to live at her place – one of them
being Bonnie McCalla, I remember.
Miss Casimir had the most wonderful
posters in 3C to aid us with our French
vocabulary but Miss Durand replaced
her in Year 4 and was much stricter.
She had a nasty habit of tapping you
on the head with her sharp nails if she
felt your were underperforming.
Frank Lewis was wonderful and always
cheery! In fact we were blessed with
all our teachers.
Peter’s family owned the Palace Hotel, which caught fire during the Occupation
and is now, of course, a large residential area. Peter left Victoria College in 1945
– his brother in this photo was born in 1937. Peter went to Sussex University
and now lives in Surrey.
My father was Head Boy at Victoria
College in 1938. During his time he
did some excellent posters in black
china ink of teachers such as Tatum
and Rowley.”
Who is holding the cat in the back row? If you know, tell us.
From Alan Corsane
Victoria
Volume 10
12 November
November Edition
Edition2011
2012
Victoria College
College Foundation
Newsletter Volume
Volume10
12
Volume
VictoriaCollege,
College,Jersey
Jersey
4HTTelTel:
01534
730464
Email:
[email protected]
Victoria
JE1JE1
4HT
/ Fax:
01534
730464
Email:
[email protected]
Page
153
Page
Examination 1850’s-style: tales of excellence,
cheating and inter-island competition
Rare exam paper donated by OV
OV Brian Astbury (1947 – 50) has kindly donated this rare examination report from 1858 to the Foundation.
Produced in June 1858, just six years
after the College opened, it gives
a fascinating insight into the
studies of the day and the exacting
expectations of the first students of
the school. The paper offers detailed
reports of the examiners in the
subjects of General Classics,
Mathematics, French, German and
Fortification. This last Class was for
an understanding of Military Art
(design) and the examiner, Lt.-Col
WT Renwick of the Royal Engineers
found that the students’ work was
very satisfying.
The examiner in Classics, Charles
Boase, who was Fellow and Tutor at
Exeter College, Oxford, claimed the
standard of the Victoria College
students was very high and he
hoped to see more of them applying
for places at universities in the UK.
“In conclusion”, he wrote, “I wish to
reiterate what I said last year, that
there is so much promise in the
Sixth Classical, that one hopes for
more students at the Universities
from the Channel Islands…A fair
number come to us from Guernsey
and I trust Jersey will not be far
behind her sister Island.”
Sadly Mr Boase also had to exclude
one boy’s answers for cheating: “I
hope it may prove a lesson that
honesty is the best policy, even in
those little things which boys do not
think so much of, and I trust the
school-feeling of honour towards
one’s comrades will prevent any
such thing in the future.
Brian Astbury has had the document
for many years but cannot remember
how he came by it. We are,
nonetheless, extremely grateful to
him for bringing it to us.
Volume 12
Page 16
Arkwright for College Boys
Three College boys have been awarded the prestigious
Arkwright Engineering scholarships.
Marcan Mather, William Hall and Max Willing travelled to London recently
with teacher Martin Taylor to receive their awards.
More than 1,100 students are put forward for the scholarship but only 15
are awarded, following a rigorous assessment process. The aim of the
Arkwright Scholarship Trust is to create leaders in the field of engineering. It’s
an immense achievement for the three College boys, who will receive £600
towards books and study materials.
OVs of steel?
It seems two of the Cavill brothers – Henry
and Nik – are making a bit of a name for
themselves as men of steel.
While actor Henry is busy building up his
part as Superman – the iron-clad superhero
of comic book fame - his brother Major Nik
Cavill has been awarded an MBE for his
role in the capture of Taliban leaders in
Afghanistan.
OV Nik (1986 – 91) received his award in March. He is serving with the Royal
Marines; helping to lead counter-insurgency campaigns alongside Afghan police
officers He told reporters his formative years in Jersey helped him to deal with
the different tribal factions in Afghanistan. Was he perhaps referring to the House
system at Victoria College? (Nik was in Sartorious by the way).
Arkwright Scholarships
Top: Marcan Mather Middle: William Hall
Bottom: Max Willing
Stuart’s carving a niche
in China
OV Stuart Gates has been
living in Hong Kong for
more than 20 years and is
now working at one of
China’s biggest banks.
Stuart recently contacted the
Foundation and sent in this
photograph of him at work at the state-owned China Construction Bank,
where he heads up the trading and dealing division.
Stuart says he is a passionate trail runner (up to the top of the Peak and back?
Ed). He says it gives him freedom and fresh air from all the noise and
pollution of Hong Kong. If anyone remembers Stuart and would like to get
in touch, let us know.
Your
online
With all the content of the printed newspaper, page by page,
plus useful extra features that include a seven day rolling
archive of past editions, searchable text and printable pages,
the Jersey Weekly Post online edition is a great way to keep
in touch with all that’s happening in the Island.
Subscribe for only £12 a month at
www.thisisjersey.com/jeponline
For enquiries, please contact:
[email protected]
Send us your letters, views, comments and memories. The Foundation Newsletter wants to hear from you.
Please either write to the Foundation Office or email [email protected]

November 2012 Newsletter

Transcription

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