Autumn 2012 - Marlborough College

Together
MARLBOROUGH
AUTUMN 2012
A Global Perspective:
Marlborough’s many and
varied international connections
Marlborough College Malaysia Opens
George Cotton’s Legacy
Master’s Welcome
AS I TAKE UP MY POSITION AS MASTER, I am delighted to introduce this
autumn edition of Marlborough Together, which focuses on the College’s
international outlook.
Having led schools on both sides of the Atlantic, I am only too aware of
the importance of global connectivity. It is my intention to align both the
international and local position of Marlborough through emphasising and
enhancing high academic potential and the will to diversify and graduate
pupils around the world.
I am very much looking forward to becoming part of this vibrant and
increasingly international Marlborough community.
JONATHAN LEIGH, MASTER
A Global Perspective
After sixteen years as Housemaster of C2, Mark McVeigh takes on
responsibility for developing Marlborough’s International Links.
VICTOR HUGO ONCE SAID, “There is nothing more powerful
than an idea whose time has come.”
In 2008, the Master and Council of Marlborough College
articulated the idea of extending the College globally, but with
an aim of retaining strategic control through Marlborough
centrally: an expansion of our educational provision in its
widest sense.
This vision becomes reality as the founding Master of
Marlborough College Malaysia, Bob Pick, transports the
ethos of Marlborough to a Malaysian environment. The
‘Marlborough DNA’ will be well established as many Council
members, beaks and GAP year students in Malaysia are
Old Marlburians.
The international dimension is important to the College, not
least to equip young Marlburians with the skills to enable
them to flourish on an international stage and to prepare them
to exercise influence over public life within an international
setting. Our future international links will maintain and
enhance the College’s reputation as one of the world’s leading
co-educational, full boarding schools.
We have already established many links overseas, notably
with Waterford Kamhlaba UWC in Swaziland and Bishop
Cotton School in Shimla, India. I was fortunate that
Tanaka Jimha, Waterford Rosedale Fellow, was in C2 in my
last two terms as Housemaster. He was an outstanding
addition to the community and when I asked him to
summarise his exchange, without hesitation and with a
beaming smile, he said, ‘an enriching experience’. It is our
hope that we will be able to widen the opportunities for pupil
and Common Room enrichment.
I take up the newly created role of International Liaison
Coordinator and will be engaging in research in order to
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Marlborough College Malaysia ready to open
develop a proposal for the international strategic direction of
the College with the aim of enhancing and strengthening the
school through international development. Our link with
Marlborough College Malaysia will be the cornerstone of this
strategy. In future, pupils from the two schools will be offered
extended periods of study overseas. The two Common Rooms
will also be presented with the opportunity to teach in the
sister school to further professional development. In the long
term we plan to establish ‘international centres’ in each
location to house exchange pupils and staff.
This edition of Marlborough Together illustrates, the
philosophy of the College’s international outlook with the link
with Marlborough College Malaysia at its core.
MR M W MCVEIGH,
INTERNATIONAL LIAISON COORDINATOR
Max Adams and
Rory Manley
The Cotton
Connection
Cotton’s Sporting Legacy
THE ORIGINS OF ORGANISED SPORT and
sporting traditions in this country are
often not appreciated. There is, of course,
a general awareness of village
competitions and the development of
athleticism at Oxford and Cambridge,
and it is well known that Webb Ellis of
Rugby School developed the sport of
rugby by disregarding the rules, catching
the football and running forward.
Thomas Arnold, the famous
reforming headmaster, had no
particular interest in sport and the image
depicted of sport at Rugby in Thomas
Hughes’ well-known novel Tom Brown’s
School Days is a projection of the prevailing muscularity of the late 1850s
onto his own schooldays of the 1830s.
The little-known Marlborough connection in this novel is a depiction of an
enthusiastic young schoolmaster, supposedly George Edmund Lynch Cotton,
Marlborough’s second Master, who arrived at the recently established School
after the near disastrous ‘revolution’ of 1851.
Cotton was no great sportsman himself, but he appreciated that directing
boys’ great energy towards sport would divert them away from troublemaking. From the Chapel pulpit, Cotton preached the Greco-Renaissance
concept of the whole man, and Marlborough became one of the cradles of
English sporting life.
At the same time, Thring of Uppingham and Vaughan of Harrow also
encouraged boys to play games, and as a result of the enthusiasm of pupils
from these schools, Oxford and Cambridge became sporting powerhouses.
It was the playing fields of these three schools – rather than Eton – that
inspired traditions which ultimately helped to prepare the way for the modern
sporting life of the nation and indeed the British Empire. Something to
be remembered in this Olympic year.
DR NIALL HAMILTON, SENIOR ADMISSIONS TUTOR
Marlborough College and Bishop Cotton
School, Shimla, have strong historical
and cultural links. Max Adams
(C1 2006-11) and Rory Manley (TU
2006-11) were the first two pupils to
spend a term in Bishop Cotton School,
Shimla, India as part of a planned ongoing
pupil exchange.
GEORGE COTTON SHAPED many ideas
and systems still in use in boarding
schools today. After six years as Master
of Marlborough, during his tenure as
Bishop of Calcutta, he set up a boarding
school, Bishop Cotton School (BCS) in
the surreal location of the Himalayas.
Built on the same founding principles
as Marlborough, BCS is a formal and
traditional all-boys Public School in a
fast-changing, dynamic India. We were
struck by the anomaly of an Anglican
foundation school with predominantly
Hindu pupils attending daily services in
the Chapel and singing English hymns.
We were welcomed into the school
community by pupils, staff and Old
Cottonians. Over three months at the
school, we covered teachers, coached
sports and much in between. High
points were coaching the debating team
to the final of the North India Debating
Championships, and supporting the
cricket tour to Assam in Eastern India.
We intend on returning soon and wish
the boys coming to Marlborough from
BCS next year the best of luck. We hope
they gain as much from the experience
as we have.
MAX ADAMS AND RORY MANLEY,
EXCHANGE PUPILS
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A Connected World
SINCE ITS INCEPTION as an Anglican foundation school, an
ethos of service has been at the very heart of the Marlborough
philosophy. This edition of Marlborough Together celebrates
Marlborough’s increasingly international outlook, and
illustrates how the school develops pupils to become
independent thinking and morally responsible global citizens.
By encouraging international dialogue, exchange and
cooperation, as well as developing leadership, thinking and
communication skills, Marlborough is preparing pupils for
the vicissitudes of a highly competitive, increasingly
complex world.
This map gives a snapshot of some of the pupil trips, visits
and exchanges undertaken in the last two years.
Exchanges
• Remove French Exchange to Picardy
• Lower Sixth French Exchange to Orléans
• Lower Sixth Spanish Exchange to Santiago
• Upper Sixth German Exchange to
Salem International College
Languages
• IGCSE German Trip to Lindau
• Russian Study Trip to Moscow
• GCSE Spanish Study Trip to Nerja
• IB Italian Trip to Oriveto
• Post-IB Examination Trip to Rome
Sport
• Gothia Cup World Youth Football
Tournament in Sweden
• OM Football Tour to open Marlborough
College Malaysia
• Cricket Tour to South Africa
• Netball & Girls’ Hockey Tour to South Africa
• 1st XV Rugby Tour to Australia
• U-15 Rugby Tournament to Paris
• Pre-Season Tennis in Portugal
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Study Trips
• Sixth Form Art History Trip to Paris
• Politics Study Trip to Washington
• Classics Study Tour to Greece
• Art Trip to New York
• English Study Trip to Dublin
• Creative Writing Trip to Pembrokeshire
• Choir Tour to Rome and Tuscany
OA Trips
• Climbing in the Italian Dolomites
• Post-GCSE activity week in North Wales
• Trekking in Ladakh in the Himalayas
• Ski Instructors Training Course
(Jasper National Park, Canada)
Experience Trips
• Shell and Remove Sinai Desert Expedition
• Swaziland and South Africa Wilderness Trip
• Tiltshift International Conference, Singapore
5
Going to
University Overseas
THE BENEFITS OF STUDYING ABROAD are well documented.
Pupils learn about other cultures, values, systems of
government and languages; they also reflect on their own
culture and values and begin to prepare for an international
career. Even the process of applying to study abroad, and the
first few months of living overseas, develop problem-solving
skills, increase independence
and widen horizons.
As a consequence,
demand from pupils and OMs
wishing to study overseas is
steadily increasing. As you read
this, many of our Lower Sixth
pupils will have prepared
applications and chosen
destinations. Pupils in the Shell,
Remove and Hundred will also
have been introduced to the
Adrian Gaussen (C3 2007-12)
idea of studying overseas.
has gained a place at the Ivy
The key focus for the year has
League, University of
been
the development of a
Pennsylvania
programme to prepare Lower
Sixth pupils applying to overseas universities. Events and
initiatives have included a visit from the American Community School guidance counsellor who ran group seminars and
individual consulations with pupils and parents, and the
Fulbright Fair which offered pupils a good opportunity to talk
to admissions tutors from ‘high order’ US universities (Ivies
and ‘premiership’ colleges). Fourteen Lower Sixth pupils also
attended an in-house course over three Sundays to prepare
them for taking the US SAT Reasoning Test. This was
administered by the College and taught by Greene's of Oxford.
Recently, Marlburians have gained admission to European
business schools such as Bocconi (Milan), IE (Madrid) and
ESADE (Barcelona). We are now seeing increasing numbers
considering degree courses in Holland, Germany and
Belgium. Pupils have also expressed interest in studying in
Australia and Canada. Recently, Merit Scholarships have been
offered to pupils at Bentley, Bryant and Dickinson Universities
in the USA, with further scholarships offered and accepted at
U Penn University and NYU Abu Dhabi. In total, 18 pupils
were offered places at overseas universities in 2012.
ALYS LANGDALE,
HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS
Alys Langdale has written more about Marlborough’s
partnerships and international vision in Conference and
Common Room Magazine, Summer 2012. Just click to
http://bit.ly/partnership_ article to page 29 ‘The importance
of partnership’.
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Personal Reflection
Zhivka Ivanova is the recipient of the Susie Freason
Memorial Bursary which enables two Eastern Europeans
to study at Marlborough. Zhivka comes from Bulgaria and
spent a term on exchange at the Salem International
College in Germany.
I NEVER THOUGHT I would do an exchange in my first year
away from home, but I just couldn’t say no to spending six
weeks at the Salem International College, Southern
Germany, situated minutes away from Lake Constance.
The micro-culture that had formed at Salem was the
most interesting part of the exchange. There were students
from Korea, Russia, Spain, Romania, Ukraine, Thailand,
India, Canada and even Bulgaria like me. I joined an
international group of IB students.
A typical day at school would involve a 15-minute walk
to lessons through a nature reserve and a field, while
looking at the Alps. The view was astonishing – the best
possible start to the day. After classes, we would go to
Vesper (a meal of just pudding) and then study, go to
Überlingen (the nearest town), take a boat out on the lake
or just go for a walk.
There were also a few special occasions, like the Spring
Ball and the Benefizlauf, the whole school charity run.
I was very sad to leave my new friends at Salem but
looking back I feel fortunate to have had the experience.
ZHIVKA IVANOVA (TU, LOWER SIXTH)
Restored Glory
Just Click . . .
THE COLLEGE IS PRIVILEGED to have many wonderful
historic buildings and one of those, the 19th-century Cricket
Pavilion, is to be restored thanks to the generosity of the
widow of an OM.
Mrs Jane Rose is also to provide a cricket bursary in the
name of her late husband Henry (C1 1953-57), which has
been awarded to a potential pupil for Michaelmas 2012.
The Pavilion was completed in 1874 and was designed by
Alfred Waterhouse, who went on to design many famous
buildings including the National History Museum.
“Henry absolutely adored cricket and watched it all the
time. The Pavilion is so English and traditional and Henry
would love that it is being restored. He was also passionate
about seeing cricketers fulfil their potential and I know he
would have liked to have helped a young cricketer. I am so
pleased that my gift will be used for these purposes; it is very
fitting,” explained Mrs Rose.
“The College is thrilled that Henry and Jane Rose together
with her trustees have made this extraordinary gift. It will
ensure that not only an old and important building will be
renovated back to its former glory, but Henry’s name will
also live on in The Henry Rose Cricket Award,” said
Foundation Director Neil Croucher.
“Much of the College in its present form has been given by
benefaction, and Legacy giving is a superb way to
contribute,” adds Mr Croucher.
The 1843 Legacy Society meets annually for luncheon
and enables the Master to let members know what his
plans are for the future. If you require further information,
do contact the Foundation via email at
[email protected] or call 01672 892439.
Visit www.marlburianclub.org to access details of all
Marlburian Club events, including international, national and
sporting affiliate events. Here, Club Members can register
online to update contact details, add announcements or search
for and contact other Club Members.
Anyone can subscribe to news feeds and get regular updates
on Old Marlburian and other Club Member news at
www.marlburianclub.org/news.
Václav Jelínek (CO
1968-69) and Olof
Olsson (CO 1968-69)
popped in to the Club
Office in June. Olof is
Professor in Molecular
Biology at Lund
University, Sweden.
Václav, currently a
trader in futures,
options and stocks following a long career in management,
is resident in Prague, Czech Republic.
Andrew Linn (B2 1955-59),
Affiliate Club Secretary for
Spain, will be organising an
event shortly. Contact
[email protected].
We are also delighted to
welcome Richard Hilton
(BH 1982-87) as our
Man in South Africa:
[email protected]
See www.marlburianclub.org/
affiliates for contact details for all Club Affiliates.
The indigenous communities of
Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, are
fighting to establish nature reserves
to conserve their forest. Freddie
Lazell (BH 2004-09) is creating a
community-based programme of
environmental stewardship with
The Nature Conservancy and is
also researching the beliefs, culture
and oral history of the people.
Marlborough Association, Marlborough College
Wiltshire, SN8 1PA
www.marlboroughcollege.org
www.marlburianclub.org
www.marlboroughfoundation.org
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Mayoor Patel and current Lower Sixth Former Annabelle Coulson
on experiencing Marlborough as an overseas pupil.
Then & Now
Mayoor Patel (PR 1973-77]
I WAS WELCOMED at Preshute House with Kevin
Maxwell as my ‘guide’. I was the only Hindu in
the College but MC was flexible and adaptable.
Boarding was a new experience, as were the
dull, dark days of winter.
Well-organised activities structured around
academic life helped me to settle in. The
Wednesday afternoon ‘circus’ introduced us to
different sports and helped evaluate who was
good at what. An introduction to the CCF
and inter-house sports, quizzes, plays and
competitions helped me integrate into the life
of the school.
My day school in Uganda had a student population so
large that half the pupils attended in the morning, and half
in the afternoon. Boarding was strange initially. Students
brushing their teeth after, as opposed to before breakfast, was
new to me. A pleasant change was that the British police
were helpful towards the general public and the military did
not interfere with civilians! The mere sight of police or an
approaching military vehicle would strike fear in our hearts
in East Africa!
Changes I would have made to the Marlborough
experience? Vedic Maths would have been of great benefit
(using the natural propensity of the human brain physiology
to effortlessly achieve more) along with meditation, which
complements every aspect of life. Many students could have
done with spending a few days (or weeks) living with some
of the least-privileged communities in the world.
Marlborough enhanced my life and prepared me well
for the future, and I hope I contributed to its steady
development towards becoming a more inclusive and
international school.
Mayoor Patel spent his childhood in East Africa and came
to the UK as part of the exodus of refugees from Uganda.
He is now a partner and co-founder of financial services
company Robertson Stirling. Along with his brother, Arun,
he set up a charity called Polio Child, which works primarily
in India. Mayoor serves as an advisor to several
international charities.
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Annabelle Coulson (MM 2008-)
BEFORE COMING to Marlborough College in
September 2008, I had never properly crossed a road,
used public transport or been on an aeroplane by
myself. This quickly changed.
The first time it hit me that I had left my little prep
school, Pembroke House, hidden in the small town of
Gilgil in Kenya, was when a few friends and I arrived
late to the first Chapel Service. In Shell, you want to
keep your head low; walking into Chapel with eight
hundred eyes staring at us was one of the most
terrifying experiences of my life.
The differences
between my prep school
and Marlborough are
extreme. At Pembroke
there was no such thing
as ‘health and safety’.
The students carried
Swiss army knives as a
privilege when they
turned 11! Back in Kenya
it was normal for
students to go snake
hunting or cycle around
the school bike course.
At Marlborough, students are more worldly. This took
a bit of getting used to as I had a certain innocence
coming from Kenya, but I quickly learned to love the
character of a Marlburian – witty and outspoken.
Marlborough offered a huge amount of support to
me as an overseas student. I love my Boarding House,
Mill Mead, which has a real family feeling. On arrival,
Shell pupils are given a ‘buddy’ from the year above.
Mine was Lara Good who always kept an eye out for
me. At the start I found it desperately difficult to settle
in; everything was different: the environment, culture
and people. Once I got used to everything
Marlborough was, and still is, an amazing experience.
It has encouraged me to become an independent
thinker and make the most of all opportunities offered
both on and off the sports field.