1999-2000

Mount House School
9 9 9 - July 2000
M ount House School, Tavistock
Septem ber 1999-July 2000
Fanfare
1
Fanfare
1999-2000
View from the Study
The class o f 2000 has seen in the new
millennium in style. All the 6th Form
leavers passed safely to their new schools
which fell slightly short o f an A-Z but still
ranged from Ampleforth to Winchester.
Not only did they pass, but a record twenty
scholarships or exhibitions were achieved.
On the material front, the new girls’
boarding accommodation is nearing
completion (pictured, below right)', the
successful music school appeal will allow
that building to be well underway this year
and the lake is being dredged during the
summer holidays enabling that wonderful
facility to return to its former glory.
These improvements quite rightly
suggest that boarding is flourishing, music
is stronger than ever and our beautiful
grounds allow almost every form o f
country pursuits and adventure activities to
thrive. If there has been one disappointing
element this year, it has been the weather,
but that is out o f our control.
So what will the leavers o f 2000
remember? New buildings and new
facilities - yes. Improvements in standards
both in the classroom and on the playing
fields - yes again. A wonderful
environment in which to grow and develop
- yes, we are very fortunate. However,
what I hope that each leaver will have
begun to learn is far beyond academic and
sporting achievement. I hope that they
have learnt to be independent and yet to
live together with others; to learn the ideal
o f service and the responsibility o f
Jonathan Trafford, D.L.
Jonathan Trafford retired as a
Governor in July this year. He was one o f
the original Governors when Mount House
was incorporated, by Tony Wortham, to be
a charitable trust in 1975 under the
Chairmanship o f the Hon. F.F. Fisher. Ten
years later, folldwing the untimely death
o f Frank Fisher, Jonathan Trafford
succeeded him as Chairman and went on
to complete 25 years as a Governor, of
which nearly 14 were in the role o f
Chairman.
There were, o f course, many other
more important calls on his time and
energies, but he was incapable o f doing
any jo b half-heartedly. Even as Senior
Partner o f one o f the most prestigious
groups o f solicitors, director o f several
companies and trustee o f other trusts,
M ount House and its affairs were his
constant concern. He was a fine Chairman
- clear, concise, cautious and yet strong but more than that he was a man o f vision
and he knew what a, school should be
seeking to achieve. His advice to the
Governors and to the Headmaster was
always wise and invariably based on a full
mastery o f the subject and a clear and
concise analysis o f the problem. For those
who worked under him as I did, his
strength and wisdom were a constant
source o f support.
Jonathan Trafford guided Mount
House from its early days as a Trust
through the difficult times faced by every
school to a position o f strength. He
masterminded many o f the splendid
facilities we are able to enjoy today and
will enjoy in the near future. On his visits
authority; to develop self-control and selfdiscipline; to appreciate the balance
between freedom and responsibility; to
pursue interests and to acquire new ones.
Most o f all I hope that they will be aware
o f the enormous possibilities o f life, and to
to Chapel, to meetings or to other
occasions, he would seek out people
behind the scenes - the children, the
administrators, the domestic helpers as
well as those nearer the front o f the stage he wanted to meet them and to encourage
them and to thank them.
Jonathan Trafford served M ount House
as parent, friend, Governor and Chairman.
It was appropriate that my final official
meeting with him should be on board his
beloved yacht ‘M utineer’ flying the Royal
Cruising Club burgee and fitting out for a
cruise to the Northern Isles. All o f us at
M ount House wish him and Barbara ‘bon
voyage’ in their retirement and thank them
both for all they have done for this school.
Charles Price
develop to the full the talents which they
possess whilst holding on to the oldfashioned virtues, which still matter so
much in this fast-changing world.
Charles Price
Fanfare
1999-2000
"D
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Governing Body and Staff
Governors
Administrative S ta ff
P.J.D.Hodgson, CBE, FCA (Chairman)
G.D.Adam, FRICS
T.D.Denner, MA
Dr. J.Evans, MA, FRCS(Ed)Plast„ FRCS
A.H.M onro, MA
Mrs.S.J.M um ford
G.S.Sayers, BSc
P.G.F.Seldon, M IM ech.E, C Eng.
R.I.Smyth, MA
C.A.Stuart-Clark, MA
M.G.Varcoe, FCA
R.P.Wright, Dip. Inst. Du Pantheon Paris
R.J.G.Anderson-Bickley
M rs.M .H.J.Sussex
M rs.S.M .Price
Dr.R.A.Gude, MB, BS(Lond), MRCP,
FRCGP, DCH
M rs.S.M .M aclaren, RGN, RM
M iss S.A.W itherall
M iss K.Butler
Miss K.E.Dover
Academic S ta ff
C.D.Price, BA, IAPS Dip.
J.Symons, B.Ed.
M .J.Bassett, B.Ed.
H eadm aster
Deputy Headmaster & Head o f History
Director o f Studies & Head o f Mathematics
G.R.Allen, Cert.Ed.
B.Arm field, FTCL, GBSM (Hon).,
FLCM, ARCM, PGCE
J.H.Banyard, BA, Cert.Ed.
L. Barnard, BA(Ed)
F.Bush, BA, PGCE
G.R.G.Canning, BA, PGCE
Mrs. M .E.Goldberg, B.Ed
P.R.Hamilton-Leggett, BSc., IAPS Dip.
Miss J.Kibblewhite, BA, PGCE
Mrs. C.E.M orse, BA, PGCE
R.J.Morse, B.Ed.
Miss K.M .Rhodes, BSc., PGCE
P.Stephens, B.Ed.
Mrs.Y.P.Symons, B.Ed., Dip.Ed.(SEN)
H.J.C.W alkington, BA, U.Ga.
Mrs. R.L.Wamer, BA (QTS)
G.Whaley, Cert.Ed., Dip.Ed.
Miss L.M.G.Young, B.Ed.
Head o f Geography
Director o f Music
French & Head o f Religious Studies
Head o f IT & General Subjects
Art
Head o f English
Junior Subjects
Head o f Science
Head o f Classics
Head o f Art
Head o f PE & General Subjects
Junior Subjects & Science
General Subjects
English
Head o f French
Junior Subjects
Head o f Design & Technology
Junior Subjects
C.C.M.Cunningham
J.R.Hudson
W.J.O.Seldon
M rs.E.M .M organ, BA, PGCE
Miss E.J.Came, B.Tec.
Mrs. P.Chespy, B.Ed.
Miss J.A.Edm onds, NVQ3
Mrs.N.A.M .Gabb, Cert.Ed.
Mrs.A.Y.MaeDougall, NNEB
Mrs. E.A.M organ, NVQ3
Miss M .Pole, B.Ed.
Head o f Pre-prep.
Nursery
Pre-prep. Year 1
Reception
Pre-prep. Year 2
Nursery
Pre-prep. Year 1
Reception
Donations to Charity
Tavistock Parish Church
Jeans for Genes
The Wheels Fund
British Legion
Children in Need
Hopes for Homes
Mencap
Wooden Spoon Society
Devon Air Ambulance
Hope and Homes for Children
West Devon Victim Support
Save the Children
The Spirometer
Buskaid
C.L.I.C.
C.L.I.C. (sponsored walk)
3
£100.44
£65.63
£45.19
£126.24
£94.52
£42.60.
£509.55
£77.96
£73.98 '
£114.63
£70.30
£159.99
£99.58
£45.11
£96.38
£1,661.751
M rs.S.R.Da Rocha
L.Mitchell
E.G.W illcock
Bursar
Secretary
Clothing Shop
School M edical Officer
H ead
Senior Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
Matron
Matron
Matron
Matron
Housekeeper
Caterer
Head Groundsman
Visiting S ta ff
J S Boorer, FTCL, AGSM
D A E Crocker, GTCL, ATCL, LTCL, ARCO
Mrs C Diffley, ARCM
Mrs N Exell, BA, Mus. In Ed.
I Goodall
R King
J Lewington, LTCL
M rs O Loewendahl, BA, PGCE
M iss H Parke, LGSM
S D Smith, GTCL, Cert Ed
J F Tinker, CLCM Dip., LGSM
Miss Z M W illiams, LTCL
Mrs M W illmott, BA, PGCE
G Bush, Cert Ed
M rs S V Walsh, M Ed, BA, Cert Ed
Mrs M Bayliss, LTA
P R Bond, SRA
B Easterbrook
Miss K O 'B rien
C Palmer, N DD (Illustration)
J C Reeder
E Veale
Woodwind
Piano
Piano
Bassoon
Percussion
Guitar
Singing
Cello
Flute, Recorder
Oboe
Brass
Piano
Violin
Learning Support
Learning Support
Tennis
Squash
Fly-fishing
Dance
Archery
Tennis
Tennis
Gifts Received Septem ber 1999 - July 2000
Anonymous
John Friend
2 computers and laser printer/scanner fo r Pre-Prep
Music books fo r Library and
Erada Boudoir Grand Piano
Brian James (old boy)
Book fo r Library
W yndham Proctor
2 computers
Mr. & Mrs. J. Heale
Trumpet
Leigh Bialick
Girls ’ Cross-Country Cup and
Cheque fo r Girls ’ Boarding House
Angela Bradford
Girls ’ Set Cross-Country Cup
Mr. & Mrs. J.W.A. Armstrong
Leavers ’ Essay Competition Cup
Mr. & Mrs. D. Day-Robinson
Work o f Art
Joshua & Rupert Palmer
Junior Artists ’ Cup
Mr. & Mrs. S. Balm
Sailing Tankard Trophy
Mr. & Mrs. R. Smyth
Hockey Cup
Mr. & Mrs. D. Watkins
Science equipment
The Nail family
Science equipment
Jaimin Patel (old boy)
Printer
Mr. & Mrs. S. Crawford
Generous cheque
Anonymous
Generous cheque fo r sporting
and other School equipment
Sir Geoffrey & Lady Newman
Head Girls ’ Board
Our thanks to all those mentioned above and also fo r the many
generous donations to the Music Appeal. These have enabled the
target to be met. Instrument purchase, and building works o f the
extension to the M usic School, have now started.
Fanfare
1999-2000
School List - July 2000
Jack Adams
George HW Arm strong
M ichael D Ashley
Fenton F Bailey
Anna V Balm
Peter DH Balm
Jack R Barkwell
Lucy E Barkwell
Charles Bassett
James R Batchelor
Lucinda K Batchelor
Nicholas C Batchelor
R Leigh Bialick
Nathaniel Blackwood
Sebastian Blackwood
Oliver K Bond
A Rollo Brooke
Anna EM Brown
Orlando H Browne
Alexander J Bunnell
Frederick O Burwell
Christian Bury
W illiam A Byrne
A lastair CV Campbell
Robert F Campbell
Alexander PJ Cater
Sebastian M K Cater
George W Clarke
M ackenzie VQ Clavin
George WJ Coombs
Tristan WF Coulshaw
Charlotte E Cowie
Seamus A Crawford
Mark Cuckson
Tom Cuckson
Lucy IE Cumming
Rory PF Cumming
Freddie JL Cunningham
Harriet EL Cunningham
Henry DL Cunningham
Luke L Dale-Harris
David M Daly
Rafe BD Dance
Nicholas S Dashfield
Charlotte A Dawson
Edward H Dawson
Richard A Dawson
W illiam R Dawson
George H Day-Robinson
William J Day-Robinson
Jam es SC Downie
Caspar VA Doyle
M acdara R Duncan
Eleanor CR Durant
Oliver GW M Durant
4
»
Jam es M Edwards
Peter JS Elliott
Thomas A Emerson
John S Fishleigh
Thomas J Franks
Beau NA Fraser
Christopher S Froud
Antonia G Fulton
Bruce S Fulton
Danielle C Fulton
Christopher M Gilling
George H Goldberg
Charles P Hanney
Jam es AS Harbord
Simon NC Hardesty
Dom inic L Harding
Jonathan JL Hare
Ian J Hargreaves
Neil J Hargreaves
Jam es S Harris
Jonathan W Harris
Stuart D Harris
John MG Hawkins
Antonella Haywood
O livia C Haywood
Brittany A Heal
Thomas MC Heal
Anika M Heale
Stuart M Heale
Luke P Heracleous
Hisham HA Hijazi
Joseph C Hijazi
Gem m a A Insley
India C Jacques
Sebastian H Jacques
Edward J Jaquiery
Isaac L Jay
Sam JC Jenks
Antigone R Johnstone-Burt
Persephone E Johnstone-Burt
A lexander GE Jones
Harvey S Jones
Em m a R Kennedy
Jam es G Killingbeck
Rachael D Kim ber
Edward T Kivell
A ndrei Koranteng
Hugh J Lake
Jack WT Lawson
Tess Lawson
Thomas CL Lawson
Joshua A Lee
Jam es Lewis
Peter R Liddell-Grainger
Sophie V Liddell-Grainger
Katheryn L Liggins
Emm a A Litchfield
Guy FJ Litchfield
Clare EB Long
Alexander W F Love
Douglas RF Love
Christian TM Lowe
Em ily J Lummis
Andrew J M acDougall
K irstie MacDougall
Reavely JC M aitland
Venetia BT M aitland
Eleanor S Malcolm
Isabelle F Malcolm
Charles JV Mann
Henry JW Manning
Lucy OR Manning
Phillip AJ Martin
Alick RG Mildmay-W hite
Sam A Morgan
Christopher JA Morris
A lexander J Nail
Lloyd G Nail
Elsie L Newman
Louisa B Newman
W illiam A Newman
Richard AJ Newsome
Christopher AA O ’Brien
Rory F O ’Brien
Rory MB Oxenham
Tom AW Oxenham
Lizzie R Painter
Tom D Painter
David EO Palmer
Lee M Paisley
Hannah L Parfitt
Edward G Parker
Jake W Parker
Patrick J Pearson
M Elliott Pickard
Jack E Rangeley
Jam es MS Righton
Jam es L Roobottom
Duncan GB Sage
George BC Sandle
Samuel G Scoble
William J Semken
Sophia R Seymour
Stuart M Smyth
Emily M Speller
Andrew P Stone
Lom a JV Studholme
G eorge JN Tetley
A lexander D Tobey
Am elia OF Townsend
A ngus MM Townsend
Ella S Toynton
Julia F Toynton
Edward W Tuckett
Jam es W R Tuckett
Holly L Walker
Jacob Ward
David DEWJ Watkins
Sebastian R Watts
Joseph J W haley
Thomas S W haley
Joshua EN W heeler
Samuel P Willetts
O liver A Williams
R John Williams
Richard G Yendle
John D Yeomans
Oliver J Yeoward
Freya B Young-Jamieson
Harry O Young-Jamieson
Tess Young-Jamieson
Charlie MO Zajicek
Eleanor KC Zajicek
Sophie OC Zajicek
School List
(continued)
Salvete
Valete
Septem ber 1999
B.F. Ashley
M.D. Ashley
S.F. Ashley
C. Bassett
L.M. Blackwood
S.A. Choroszewski
G.W. Clarke
M.J.F. Creber
H.E.L. Cunningham
H.E.M. Finch
C.S. Fraud
J.W. Harris
I.C.
Jaques
S .H .Jaques
S.J.C. Jenks
E.A. Jervois
A.G.E. Jones
T.C.L. Lawson
J.A. Lee
K.L. Liggins
T.S.J. Liggins
H.J.W. M anning
L.O.R. M anning
F.W. Morris
M.J. O ’Reilly
L.M. Paisley
J.L. Roobottom
S.G. Scoble
T.A. Scoble
W.J. Semken
S.M. Smyth
G.J.N. Tetley
A.O.F. Townsend
M.P.G. Townsend
S.R. Watts
A.B. Woolcock
O.J. Yeoward
C.M .O. Zajicek
N ovem ber, 1999
R. Creber
January, 2000
J.M. Anderson
A.E.M . Brown
T.B.L. Brown
H.P.C. Heal
O.S. Heal
O.T. M ustard
N.F. Scaglioni
A pril, 2000
C. Bury
A.C.V. Campbell
A.M. Donne
M.R. Duncan
C.J.V. M ann
E.T.C. Mann
J.H.T. M ann
L.B. Newman
C.J. Scoble
Exeter Cathedral School
J.P.H. Allerfeldt
Exeter Cathedral School
M.D.H. A llerfeldt
Sherborne School
G.H.W. Armstrong
Netherlands
A.V. Balm
K in g ’s College Taunton
P.D.H. Balm
Sherborne School
J.R. Batchelor
Canford School
R.L. Bialick
Radley College
O.H. Browne
Kingsbridge
F. Burwell
Kelly College
W.A. Byrne
Harrow School
A.P.J. Cater
Tavistock
T.W.F. Coulshaw
Sherborne School
S. Crawford
Callington
M.J.F. Creber
St. Joseph s School
R. Creber
M arlborough College
L.L. Dale-Harris
Blundell s School
D.M. Daly
K in g ’s College Taunton
J.S.C. Downie
King s School Bruton
J.M. Edwards
King's College Taunton
P.J.S. Elliott
Sherborne School
D.L. Harding
M arlborough College
J.M .G. Hawkins
Winchester College
E.J. Jaquiery
M onkton Combe School
P.E. Johnstone-Burt
King's College Taunton
E.R. Kennedy
King's College Taunton
H.J.
Lake
Taunton School
J. Lewis
Am pleforth College
P.R. Liddell-Grainger
King's College Taunton
C.T.M. Lowe
K ing s School Bruton
A.J. M acDougall
K ing s College Taunton
A.J. Nail
K ing's College Taunton
L.G. Nail
Bryanston School
E.L. Newman
K elly College
W. Newman
M illfield
L.R.F. Painter
K in g ’s College Taunton
D.E.O. Palm er
P ort Regis
E.D. Parker
P ort Regis
H. Parker
P ort Regis
J.W. Parker
Sedbergh
P.J. Pearson
King's College Taunton
M.E. Pickard
E xeter School
J.E. Rangeley
M arlborough College
S.R. Seymour
King's School Bruton
S.M. Smyth
Sherborne School
A.P.*Stone
Sherborne School
E.W. Tuckett
Wellington College
J.R.W. Tuckett
King's School Bruton
J. Ward
M ilton A bbey School
O.A. W illiams
Truro High School
T. Young-Jamieson
Bryanston School
H.O. Young-Jamieson
D evonport High School
E.K.C. Zajicek
B lundell’s School
S.O.C. Zajicek
Pre-Prep
T3
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Johan PH Allerfeldt
May DH Allerfeldt
Benjamin F Ashley
Sophie F Ashley
Sascha T Bailey
Tchameeran Bala-Kumaran
Harry FL Birt
Leonie M Blackwood
Christian G Bond
Christian BL Brown
Theodore BL Brown
Louisa L Butcher
Tom EG Canning
Michal S Choroszewski
Sam A Choroszewski
Christopher J Cowie
Kathryn L Cowie
Richard Creber
Joe Dalton
Alice M Donne
Hannah M Donne
Harry EM Finch
Thomas M Grennan-Cruise
Cecily Haywood
H arry PC Heal
Oenone S Heal
Sarah M Heracleous
Elizabeth A Jervoise
Camilla R Lewis
M ay A Liddell-Grainger
Timothy Liggins
Lucy A Luscombe
Edward TC Mann
James HT Mann
A listair PG Martin
Henry 0 Maxwell-Lyte
Jack B Morgan
Hannah E Morris
Frederick W Morris
O scar T Mustard
M ichael J O 'R eilly
Sofia VG Oxenham
A m elia J Parfitt
Harry Parker
M ichelle L Peam
Timothy S Pope
Thomas W Rickard
Dominic L Scaglioni
Nicolas F Scaglioni
Charlie J Scoble
Thomas A Scoble
Charles MC Speller
Max PG Townsend
Alice C Toynton
Fern L Toynton
Rosie Willetts
A lexander B Woolcock
Florence RT Zajicek
Fanfare
1999-2000
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Prize List,
Christmas 1999
Prize List,
Easter 2000
Prize List,
Summer 2000
(continued)
M usic Practice Prizes
James Tuckett, Persephone Johnstone-Burt,
George Tetley, John Hawkins, Tiggy
Johnstone-Burt, Stuart Smyth, Edward
Tuckett, Robbie Campbell
Music Prizes for O utstanding Effort for
Beginners
Robbie Campbell Horn
Loma Studholme Trombone
Freya Young-Jamieson Piano
Mr Bassett’s Indoor Hockey League
Group C, comprising: Stuart Smyth,
James Edwards, Harvey Jones, Tom
Emerson, Beau Fraser, Stuart Heale,
Rory Cumming
Rugby
1st XV Tackling
Seamus Crawford
Best Forward
Tom Heal
1st XV Trophy for Endeavour
W illiam Dawson
M ost Im proved Player (Edward H ooper
Cup)
Freddie Cunningham
Chess Com petition
Winner:
James Downie
Runner-up:
James Edwards
Payne Cook Spelling: (Charles O ’Connor Cup)
Winner:
Julia Toynton
Runners-up:
George Goldberg
Emm a Litchfield
Best Kept Dorm itory Cup
Winner:
Raleigh
Prefect: David Palmer, Sam Jenks, James
Righton, Phillip Martin, Josh W heeler
Set Cup: Plus & M inus Cup
Winners:
Owls (933 plusses)
Second
Otters (912 plusses)
Third
Kangs (907plusses)
Fourth
Hawks (883 plusses)
Prize List,
Easter 2000
Music Practice
Persephone Johnstone-Burt, Ian
Hargreaves, George Tetley, George
Coom bs, George Clarke, Freya
Young-Jamieson, Tiggy Johnstone-Burt
Instrum ental Set M usic Com petition
Junior W inner
George Tetley
Junior Runner-up
Jonathan Harris
4th Year W inner
Anika Heale
4th Year Runner-up Jake Parker
5th Year W inner
Christopher O ’Brien
5th Year Runner-up Anna Brown
6th Year W inner
Patrick Pearson
6th Year Runner-up W illiam Byrne
Netball (Bermuda Cup)
Winner
Owls
G irls’ H ockey
Winner
Kang
Cross Country Set Cup (M cC om ick Cup)
Winner
Hawks
Cross Country Senior Race (Boys)
(Jeremy H ill Shield 1990)
W inner
Tom Heal (H)
2nd
Stuart Heale
3rd
Jam es Killingbeck
Interm ediate Race (Boys)
W inner
Phillip M artin
2nd
Edw ard Dawson
3rd
Jack Lawson
Junior Race (Boys)
W inner
Edward Parker
2nd
Rory Oxenham
3rd
Tom Lawson
Cross Country Senior Race (Girls)
W inner
Tess Lawson
2nd
Venetia Maitland
3rd
Anna Brown
Interm ediate Race (Girls)
Brittany Heal
1st
Ella Toynton
2nd
3rd
Anika Heale
Junior Race (Girls)
Winner
Lottie Fulton
Charlotte Dawson
2nd
Clare Long
3rd
Senior Soccer C u d
W inner
Kangs
Interm ediate Soccer Cup
W inner
Owls
Junior Soccer Trophy
Winner
Owls
Indoor Soccer (Paul Da Rocha Shield 1990)
Winner
Kangs
Senior Set Rugby (Staveley Cup)
W inner
Owls
Interm ediate Set Rugby
W inner (5th Year Running!) Hawks
Rugby Sevens (Hugh St Aubvns Cup 1996)
W inner
Kangs
Junior Squash Cup
Winner
Lottie Fulton
Interm ediate Squash
Winner
Nicholas Batchelor
Senior Squash (Peter Tugwell Shield 1989)
Elliott Pickard
Winner
Spoken English (Rory Benham C upl987)
W inner
Emily Lummis
Spoken English (Benjie Dudgeon Cup 1997)
W inner
Chris Gilling
Spoken Poetry (Stowe Cup 1997)
W inner
Clare Long
Spoken English
Other W inners
Am elia Townsend
Ella Toynton
Bush Award For Endeavour (4th & 5th Years)
W inner
Hugh Lake
Special Endeavour Prize
Fenton Bailey
Mr H am ilton-Leggett’s General
Knowledge Quiz
W inner
Julia Toynton (K)
Runner-up
George Goldberg
General K nowledge (Guv Bailey Cup 1996)
W inner
Kangs
(Victor Kandam pully Trophy)
W inner
George Goldberg (Ot)
Runner-up
Caspar Doyle
Actor o f the Year (Cashell Cup 1988)
W inner
Jack Rangeley (Ow)
Runners-up
Luke Dale-Harris
Leigh Bialick
Junior Actor o f the Year
W inner
Tom Oxenham
Runners-up
Venetia Maitland
Chris Gilling
Best Kept Dormitory
Winners
Raleigh and
Collingwood
Collingwood D orm itory Captain:
Persephone Johnstone-Burt; Freya
Young-Jamieson, M ackenzie Clavin,
Charlotte Cowie, Izzy M alcolm, Kirsty
MacDougall, L om a Studholme, Tiggy
Johnstone-Burt, Holly Walker.
Raleigh Dorm itory Captain: Edward
Tuckett; Sam Jenks, Phillip M artin, James
Righton, Josh W heeler.
Set Cup - Plus & M inus (Morgan Cup 1930)
Joint Winners:
Kangs and Owls
(each with 917 plusses)
3rd
4th
Otters (934plusses)
Hawks ( 906 plusses)
Form/Effort Prizes
1KR.
1RW.
2YS.
2LY.
3JB.
4RM.
4PS.
5LB.
5HW.
5MB.
6JK.
6JS.
6GC.
Form Prize
Effort Prize
Form Prize
Effort Prize
Form Prize
Effort Prize
Form Prize
Effort Prize
Form Prize
Effort Prize
Form Prize
Effort Prize
Form Prize
Effort Prize
Form Prize
Effort Prize
Form Prize
Effort Prize
Form Prize
Effort Prize
Form Prize
Effort Prize
Form Prize
Effort Prize
Form Prize
Alex Jones
Tom Lawson
George Sandle
Angus Townsend
Lucinda Batchelor
Henry Manning
Clare Long
Freya Young-Jamieson
Jam es Harbord
Lom a Studholme
Lolly Haywood
Sebastian Blackwood
Robbie Campbell
India Jaques
George Goldberg
Ella Toynton
Andrei Koranteng
Stuart Heale
Freddie Cunningham
Tess Lawson
Julia Toynton
David Watkins
Em m a Kennedy
Jack Rangeley
Persephone
Johnstone-Burt
Effort Prize Emma Litchfield
Form Prize Jonathan Hawkins
Effort Prize Seam us Crawford
Subject Prizes
English
Senior
Lizzie Painter
M iddle
Lucy Cumming
Jojo Hijazi
Junior
M athem atics
Senior
Alex Nail
Tiggy Johnstone-Burt
M iddle
Sam M organ
Junior
Science
Senior
Alex Nail
Tiggy Johnstone-Burt
Middle
Sam Morgan
Junior
Science (Thomas Prize)
Senior
Lloyd Nail
French
Senior
Edward Jaquiery
M iddle
Tom Oxenham
Junior
Gemm a Insley
Latin
Senior
Christian Lowe
Middle
George Goldberg
Junior
Nicholas Dashfield
History
Senior
Peter Balm
George Goldberg
Middle
Sam M organ
Junior
G eography
Orlando Brown
Senior
Ella Toynton
Middle
Henry M anning
Junior
Religious Studies
Percy Johnstone-Burt
Senior
George Goldberg
Middle
Lucinda Batchelor
Junior
ICT
M iddle
Jake Parker
Junior
George Day-Robinson
DT
Senior
Persephone
Johnstone-Burt
Ellie Zaijeck
Middle
Junior
Joe W haley
Art Prizes
Pottery
Rollo Brooke
Rollo Brooke
Sculpture
Drawing
Julia Toynton
Imaginative Com position &
Printmaking Sophie Liddell-Grainger
Leaver
Persephone
Johnstone-Burt
Junior Artist o f the Year (Palm er Cup)
Freya Young-Jamieson
(continued opposite)
Fanfare
1999-2000
The Honours Board
R.L. Bialick
Prize List,
Summer 2000 (continued)
Art Prizes (continued)
M iddle Artist o f the Year
Anika Heale
Artist o f the Year Trophy
Seamus Crawford
Best M arine Painting (Myles Varcoe
Cup)
Freya Young-Jamieson
M ost Im proved Artist (Willoughby
Cup)
Simon Hardesty
Music Prizes
Persephone Johnstone-Burt
Robbie Campbell
Tom Emerson
Ian Hargreaves
George Tetley
David Watkins
George Clarke
French Trip Prizes: f o r helpfulness,language
progress & effort
Julia Toynton, Venetia M aitland,
Tom Emerson, Rachael Kimber,
Harry Young-Jamieson, Peter Elliott,
Leigh Bialick, Orlando Browne,
Edward Tuckett, Andrew Stone,
Andrew MacDougall
Cricket
Fielding (Davis Cup)
Jam es Batchelor
Bowling (Toase Cup)
Alex Cater
Batting (George Sharp Cup)
Seamus Crawford
Colts A ll-Rounder (Williams Cup)
Nicholas Batchelor
Under 9 Cup (Laurence Jarrett-Kerr)
Richard Dawson
Sportsm an of the Year (Andrew Leather Cup)
Seamus Crawford
Sportsgirl of the Year (Morwenna Armstrong
Cup)
Venetia M aitland
Archery (Kettle Trophy)Vre&A\z Burwell
7
Senior (Grierson Cup)
W illiam Dawson
Runner-Up Andrei Koranteng
Junior (Inman Cup)
G olf
Richard Dawson
Runner-Up George Coombs
Tennis (Bayliss Shield) Chris O ’Brien
Tennis Junior
Richard Dawson
Rounders Set Cup Hawks
Fishing Senior (M ay So m en ’ille Trophy)
Rafe Dance
Fishing Junior (Lombard Hunt Cup)
Caspar Doyle
Dorm itory Cup
Raleigh
Prefect: James Downie; Sam Jenks,
Phillip M artin, James Righton, Joshua W heeler
Plus & M inus Set Cup (Morgan Cup)
Winners:
Otters (699 Points)
Second:
Owls (660 Points)
Third:
Kangs (639 Points)
M iddle School Effort (Christopher Anderson
Cup)
Jack Lawson
Bush Prize
Sophie Liddell-Grainger
O utstanding Effort (Kirby-Harris Cup)
Andrew Stone
C om m on Entrance (Crosthwaite Cup)
Luke Dale-Harris
Achievem ent (Tavistock Rotary Club)
Lizzie Painter
Endeavour (Stamms Cup)
Patrick Pearson
All-Rounder Prize (James P etrie Dragon)
Seamus Crawford
Leadership (Justin Gibbs Shield)
John Hawkins and
Elsie Newm an
G olf
W.A. Byrne
S.A. Crawford
J.S.C. Downie
P.J.S. Elliott
E.R. Kennedy
C.T.M. Lowe
A.J. Nail
L.R. Painter
D.E.O. Palmer
P.J. Pearson
M.E. Pickard
S.M.Smyth
O.A. W illiams
MHS Association Head Boy’s & G irl’s Prize
Elsie Newm an and
John Hawkins
H eadm aster’s Prize Duncan !
S.O.C Zajicek
Canford School
Assyrian Scholarship
Kelly College
Stoddard Award
Sherborne School,
Exhibition & Jeremy
Irons Scholarship
K ing’s College Taunton
Barrow Scholarship
K ing’s College Taunton
Design Exhibition
K ing’s College Taunton
M eyer Exhibition
K ing’s College Taunton
Exhibition &
Classics Exhibition
K ing’s College Taunton
Scholarship
Millfteld, Major
Scholarship, Art
Scholarship &
All-Rounder Award
K ing’s College Taunton
Exhibition
Sedbergh, Robertson
Scholarship &
Music Scholarship
K ing’s College Taunton
Barrow Exhibition
K ing’s School Bruton
Exhibition
Milton Abbey
Sailing Scholarship
Blundell’s
Art Scholarship
The Spoken English Competition 2000
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Once again this
competition was hugely
enjoyable, reflecting the
considerable interest which
had been displayed in the
earlier rounds o f the contest.
Mount House was pleased to
welcome back as chief
adjudicator, Mr Simon Funnell,
the headmaster o f K ing’s
College, Taunton, who,
assisted by Miss Lucy Ellis,
produced a series o f his
customary well-balanced
decisions.
The evening began with
poetry from the 1st and 2nd
Forms. Notable for the
confident manner in which
each competitor delivered
every verse, this was a strong
section and featured such
diverse subjects as substitute
teachers, space and Y-front
larceny. A group-winner last
year, Clare Long was
victorious again, being
awarded The Stowe Cup for
Junior Poetry with ‘The Head’s
Hideout’ - a subject which
clearly appealed to the judging
panel.
The 3rd and 4th Forms
were equally impressive.
Ranging across the centuries,
from Shelley’s ‘O zym andias’
to ‘Sea Fever’ to the more
contemporary ‘The Lesson o f
The M oth’, this selection was a
difficult one to judge. All o f
the performers drew warm
praise from Mr Funnell, but,
despite a very apt rendition o f
‘Teabag’ from George Tetley,
it was decided that the winner
should be Amelia Townsend
with ‘Horace Poem ’ from
Monty Python. Clear and
precise in her diction, Amelia
built up the tension o f the
poem cleverly until the climax,
when the de-powered boy, now
just a stomach, was eaten by
his hungry parents: gruesome
but amusing.
Girls o f the same age
competed in The Prose
Section. Here the victor was
Ella Toynton with her very
well sustained version o f
Jesus’ Christmas Party which
chronicled the innkeeper’s
comical failure to get to sleep
having been interrupted by
Mary and Joseph, shepherds
et al.
In the Front H all on Tuesday 1st February at 6.30pm
A d ju d ic a te d b y R .S . F u n n ell, E sq u ire, M A
The H eadm aster, K in g s C olleg e, Taunton
F inalists
1st & 2nd Forms
Oliver Bond & Sebastian Watts
Hattie Cunningham & Lucy Manning
George Day-Robinson
Clare Long
Rory Oxenham
George Sandle
Emily Speller
Poetry
Who Knows?
W hich one are you?
Space
The H ead’s Hideout
Aliens Stole My Underpants
Timeslip
Supply Teacher
Allan Ahlberg
D avid H anner
Robert Heidbreder
Kit Wright
Brian Moses
Wendy Larmont
Allan Ahlberg
3rd & 4th Forms
Caspar Doyle
Antonia Fulton
George Goldberg
India Jacques
George Tetley
Amelia Townsend
Poetry
Ozymandias
A Mucky Job
The Lesson o f the Moth
Sea Fever
Teabag
Horace Poem
Percy B. Shelley
M. Maggie
Don Marquis
John M asefield
Peter Dixon
M onty Python
3rd & 4th Forms
Mackenzie Clavin
Lucy Cumming
Ella Toynton
Prose
Adrian Mole
The Bear Nobody Wanted
Jesus’ Christmas Party
Sue Townsend
J. & A. Ahlberg
Nicholas Allen
5th & 6th Forms
Leigh Bialick
Rollo Brooke
Christopher Gilling
Patrick Pearson
Poetry
M atilda
Story o f Little Suck-a-Thumb
D ied o f Wounds
The River
Hilaire Belloc
H. Hoffmann
S. Sassoon
Ted Hughes
5th & 6th Forms
Anna Brown
Emily Lummis
Venetia Maitland
Alexander Nail
Lizzie Painter
Prose
The Chimney Sw eep’s Boy
Harry Potter
The Wind in the Willows
Boy
Living with a Neurotic Dog
J.G. Hill
J.K. Rowling
K. Grahame
Roald Dahl
Stephen Baker
The contrasts in the poetic content o f the penultimate section for 5th and 6th formers were stark.
From the morality tale o f “Matilda” to the childish fable o f “Little suck-a-thumb”; from the horrors o f
the trenches in the First World War to the pastoral constancy o f The River, the audience was in turn
amused and appalled. Weighing the merits o f each poem was clearly problematical, but few found
fault with M r Funnell’s decision to award the prize to Christopher Gilling whose rendition of
Sassoon’s lines from the death-ward was frighteningly effective.
The evening concluded with prose readings from the senior girls and boys. Once again the
standard was uniformly high and with well-selected extracts from a variety o f sources the audience
was well-entertained to the end. Appropriately, in a year when “Potterfever” has hit new heights, the
winner was Emily Lummis whose reading from the opening o f “The Chamber o f Secrets” well
encapsulated H arry’s feelings on having to spend the summer holidays with the screaming Uncle
Vernon and the loathsome Aunt Petunia.
By tradition three cups are awarded at the end o f this competition. The winners are listed below.
The Stowe Cup for Junior Poetry
The Benjie Dudgeon Cup for Senior Poetry
The Rory Benham Cup for Spoken English
Clare Long
Christopher Gilling
Emily Lummis
Once again my thanks go to all the pupils in the school, many o f whom produced entries well up
to competition standard, and to all staff, who helped to make this event such a success.
Guy Canning
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The Payne Cook
Spelling Competition
The Guy Bailey
General Knowledge Quiz
Sampras at Wimbledon, Red Rum at Aintree, Julia Toynton in
The Payne Cook. M ultiple winners in any event are rare and
already excitement is building to see if the spelling wizard can
pull o ff the hat-trick!
In the 1999 renewal, on arguably a harder list than the
preceding year, standards were as high as ever, seven pupils
scoring the maximum one hundred in Round One; with 5MB
proving to be the top form with a most impressive 97.55%. When
one considers that the list included such complex spellings as
‘confectionery’, ‘reversible, and ‘tranquillity’, not to mention
‘spectroscope’ it is evident how hard the vast majority had worked
over half-term.
After Round Two the top three, Emma Litchfield, George
Goldberg and Julia Toynton had emerged as the leaders, but two
further rounds were needed to split them. Finally, after twenty
unseen spellings in Round Four, Julia retained her title, with
George second and Emma third. With all three returning to do
battle next year, dictionary-revision is likely to be just as intense!
Listed below are The Top Seven in the school, followed by the
‘unseen list’ on which the champion and the winner o f The
Charles O ’Connor Cup scored 20. See if your parents are perfect
at Christmas!
When Guy Bailey left M ount House, he generously donated a
cup for General Knowledge. It is awarded to the winning set.
Every pupil in the school participates in a 40 minute quiz and the
average for each set is then calculated. In 1998 Victor
Kandampully presented a trophy for the individual with the
highest overall score. It w ould be useful to have another trophy so
that we could have one for the highest individual boy and girl!
This year Hawks averaged 50.79%, Otters 53.33%, and Owls
57.56%, but the clear winners were Kangs with 58.98%.
Being a lover o f statistics my computer calculated that the
boys averaged 54.52% while the girls did a little better, scoring
57.28%. The best forms were 6GC (75%), 3GA (73%), 6JS (69%)
and 5MB (69%). Unusually, 8 day pupils were absent on the day
o f the quiz!
The overall winner was George Goldberg (4PS) o f Otters.
Caspar Doyle (3GA) came second (93%) and David Palmer (6GC)
third (88%). Julia Toynton (5MB), the highest scoring girl, was
fourth with 87%.
Each year the quiz produces an array o f unusual and bizarre
answers and this y ear’s was no different from others. Amongst the
amusing answers were these:-
Guy Canning
1st
2nd
3rd
4th=
Julia Toynton
George Goldberg
Emma Litchfield
Tristan Coulshaw
4th= Christopher Gilling
6th Ella Toynton
7th
David Watkins
O f what is die the singular? D ead
W hat is the last book in the Bible called? Radiation; Noah
What is the longest musical note? A breath
What is Plynlimon? Opera singing; A flower; Lemonade
I f two is company what is three? M ore company; A pa ck
Supercalifragillisticexpialidocious was sung by Mary? Tudor;
W hitehouse
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
dazzling
lighter
publicly
clouds
quayside
reversing
satisfaction
guarantee
translate
atlantic
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
strategy
peril
reference
equality
appearance
passage
predictable
definitely
vision
auctioneer
W hat covers over 70% o f the Earth? The Sun
N ame the first book o f the Bible? Adam and Eve; God
W hat piece o f equipment do you need to play Cats Cradle? A cat; A
flu te
Who is the Prime M inister o f Britain? D avid Beckham
What is James Bond’s code name? Brook
At which end o f the church does the altar face? The way the seats
fa c e
W hat is the force that pulls all things downward? Southern
Electricity
What is unusual about a Manx cat? They are all girls
W ho composed the ballet music Swan Lake? Betto Venn; Try Kofski
W hat was the name o f the boat the Pilgrim Fathers used to sail to
America? Titanic
W hat is it called when you fall o ff your board in surfing? Careless;
Sad; Clumsy
Who rides a racehorse? M y sister
W hat did Clarence Birdseye pioneer in 1925? Custard
W hose plays include King Lear, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet?
Leonardo de Caprio
M y thanks to all the staff who helped mark the scripts and
especially Brian Armfield who generously allowed some pupils to
miss their music practice. I hope everybody enjoyed it, and once
again well done Kangs!
Peter R. Hamilton-Leggett
Top ten girls
Toynton, J
Painter, L
Clavin, M
Cowie, C
Haywood, O
. Brown, A
Kimber, R
Toynton, E
Bialick, L
Barkwell, L
Malcolm, E
87
78
77
76
76
76
75
73
73
72
72
Top ten boys
.
Goldberg, G
Doyle, C
Palmer, D
Balm, P
Stone, A
Lowe, C
Armstrong, G
Nail, L
Hawkins, J
Cumming, R
96
93
88
86
86
80
80
80
79
78
Music
At the time o f publication o f this edition o f ‘Fanfare’, the
Music Department will be looking forward, as well as reflecting
on the previous year’s music. The new extension to the music
school, a much needed project, is well in the course o f
construction with a view to the new facilities being in place before
the Summer Term, 2001.
The success o f the project has been due to the exhaustive
efforts o f so many people involved, steered by a very effective and
inspired music development committee. It now means that the 180
lessons per week, 120 practices per day, plus accommodation for
the various choirs, orchestra, and instrumental groups can now
take place without the constant pressures o f lack o f space. The
generous support o f all parents and friends o f the school is greatly
appreciated. One offshoot o f the Appeal is that three students from
outside the school will be receiving lessons as a result o f bursaries
offered by generous benefactors. The number o f children applying
for the scholarships was huge, indicating a keen interest in music
in the Tavistock area. At one audition, a 7-year old boy was asked
which school he was attending. After this reply, M r Llewellyn,
who was judging the scholarships, asked which school he hoped to
attend next and he replied: “I am hoping to miss out Senior School
and go straight to University” - an ambitious intent!
At the beginning o f the school year, we were delighted with
the CD which was released o f the chapel Choir singing Church
Music and accompanied by Carlo Curley on the magnificent organ
o f Torrington Parish Church. There are still CDs (£12 each) and
cassette tapes(£8 each) available. Carlo Curley has sold over 400
him self at his various recitals in Cathedrals and Churches
throughout the country.
The Chapel Choir continued to give recitals outside the school
- the highlights being a performance o f M ozart’s Requiem in
October in St A ndrew ’s Church Plymouth, and a concert in
Buckfast Abbey in November. We again supported the Annual
Diocesan C hoirs’ Festival in Exeter Cathedral, also in November.
Exeter Cathedral was the venue again in January, when members
o f the Chapel Choir and the Senior G irls’ Choir took part in an
ambitious musical Concert with music arranged and composed by
William Llewellyn, our Appeal Chairman, as well as music by
Barry Ferguson, formerly organist at Rochester Cathedral.
The Chapel Choir ended the year in the summer holidays with
a week together based at Papplewick School in Ascot where visits
to theme parks, including Alton Towers, Chessington and Thorpe
Park were greatly enjoyed. I am indebted to M r Walkington from
M ount House and M r Ian Garnett, chef from Eton College, as well
as the Chaplain o f Papplewick School, Rev Edward PhillipsSmith for their splendid contribution to a most happy and
successful week.
M embers o f the Chapel Choir also attempted and passed
singing awards organized by the Royal School o f Music. The
highest awards, the Devon and St Boniface, are adjudicated by
Messrs William Llewellyn and Trevor Jarvis from Buckfast
Abbey. The tests are demanding and so we were delighted that the
following gained the awards:
Devon Award:
Tom Emerson
David Watkins
John Yeomans
Alick Mildmay-W hite
St Boniface Award:
Orlando Browne
Andrew MacDougall
The other B oys’ Choirs and the two G irls’ Choirs have
produced some excellent singing. The G irls’ Choirs are now
firmly established and now that there are more girls in the school,
this has helped to tackle more ambitious music for the choirs
involved. The highlights being a Christmas Carol Concert and a
summer concert in which the Cantata - ‘Holy M oses’ was
performed.
Two orchestral concerts have helped to provide a yardstick for
the orchestra and instrumental groups.
Our congratulations to Patrick Pearson who gained a music
scholarship to Sedbergh School. He was also the first Mount
House pupil to be selected to play in the National I.A.P.S.
Symphony Orchestra - the standard o f their final concert in the
famous M altings Concert Hall in Aldeburgh was o f the highest
order and in front o f an audience o f 1,000. Four other pupils were
selected to play in the I.A.P.S.Second Orchestra.
Informal Concerts at the end o f each term have again proved
to be popular, as have the Class Concerts, with nearly every pupil
participating.
We have been lucky with our adjudicators for the set
competitions. M r John Jenkins, Director o f Music at Sherborne
G irls’ School judged the final o f the Instrumental Competition,
won by Kangs. I am most grateful to Messrs Walkington,
Banyard, and Hudson, as well as Mrs Kilpatrick, forjudging the
semifinals o f this competition.
The solo winners were:
Jonathan Jam es Trophy for Strings
Peter Evelyn Cup for Brass
M ichael Bawtree Trophy for Piano
Beard Cup for W oodwind
Angus M cBride Cup
for the best Junior M usician
W oodcock Cup
for the best Senior Musician
Channel Four Cup for the W inning Set
P atrick Pearson
George Tetley
Christian Lowe
William Byrne
George Tetley
Patrick Pearson
Kangs
Mr Andrew W ilson, Director o f Music at Kelly College gave
us an excellent morning when he judged the singing competition.
All soloists in the solo section bravely hid nerves and performed
confidently.
The winners were:
Hattie Newm an Trophy
Lucy Cumming
for the Senior Girl Solo
Robert Kitson Cup
A ndrew M acDougall
for the Senior Boy Solo
C hepstow Cup for the winning Junior Girl
Olivia Haywood
David Keys Cup for the winning Junior Boy
A lexander Jones
Devon Cup for the best Set Choir
Kangs
Associated Board exams took place and everyone passed,
many with very good marks. (Results are opposite.)
It has been a privilege for us to have the services during the
year o f M r Jamie Hudson, who spent his gap-year with us helping
and teaching music. His patience and expertise were always
evident and his versatility in many areas o f music made an impact.
We wish him well as he studies music at Durham University.
Messrs W illiam Seldon and Charles Cunningham have helped
considerably with assisting the checking and supervising o f music
practices. The Chapel Choir is fortunate to rely on a number of
adult singers, and this enables us to tackle four-part music on
many occasions.
Finally, I am indebted to the 12 visiting instrumental teachers
who have given their services so readily and enthusiastically at all
times. With the numbers o f musicians increasing, we have had
difficulties finding space for all teachers at times, but the new
extension will be o f great benefit to all concerned in music making
at Mount House School.
Brian Armfield
Fanfare
1999-2000
Music
(co n tin u ed )
Associated Board Music Exams
G rade 6
Patrick Pearson
Patrick Pearson
Violin
Piano
130
114
G rade 5
Rachael Kim ber
Tristan Coulshaw
Clarinet
Trum pet
117
113
Pass
Pass
G rade 4
George Goldberg
George Goldberg
George Tetley
Christopher O ’Brien
W illiam Byrne
Clarinet
Piano
Trumpet
’Cello
Clarinet
134
132
128
104
101
Distinction
Distinction
Merit
Pass
Pass
Grade 3
Emm a Litchfield
Ella Toynton
Alick M ildmay-W hite
Tristan Coulshaw
Julia Toynton
Orlando Browne
Leigh Bialick
Charles Hanney
Rachael Kimber
David Palmer
Eleanor Zajicek
Stuart Smyth
Recorder
Singing
Saxophone
Trumpet
Piano
Piano
Singing
Trumpet
Piano
Clarinet
Clarinet
’Cello
130
125
125
124
117
117
117
116
116
115
112
105
Distinction
M erit
M erit
M erit
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
G rade 2
Julia Toynton
Lucy Cumming
Robbie Campbell
Anna Balm
Sophie Zajicek
Rachael Kim ber
Jam es Tuckett
A ntigone Johnstone-Burt
Venetia M aitland
Ella Toynton
Luke Heracleous
M ackenzie Clavin
Elsie Newm an
Peter Balm
Alexander Love
Oboe
Singing
Flute
Flute
Flute
Bassoon
Clarinet
Piano
Flute
Singing
Trumpet
Singing
Bassoon
Trombone
Violin
136
130
124
123
122
122
120
118
116
115
115
110
108
108
104
Distinction
Distinction
M erit
M erit
M erit
M erit
M erit
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
G rade 1
Peter Liddell-Grainger
India Jaques
Antonia Fulton
W illiam Day-Robinson
Antigone Johnstone-Burt
Persephone Johnstone-Burt
Thomas Franks
Isabelle M alcolm
Am elia Townsend
Andrew MacDougall
Sophia Seymour
David Watkins
Jake Parker
George Coombs
John Yeomans
Nicholas Batchelor
James Batchelor
Saxophone
Recoder
Recorder
Trumpet
Piano
Piano
Trumpet
Trumpet
Piano
Piano
Clarinet
Piano
Clarinet
Piano
Piano
Piano
Piano
132
131
130
130
130
130
128
127
126
125
124
117
116
113
113
Distinction
Distinction
Distinction
Distinction
Distinction
Distinction
Merit
Merit
Merit
M erit
M erit
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
110
103
Distinction
Pass
M arks out o f 150: 100+ Pass; 120+ Merit; 130+ Distinction
Percussion Exams
(Guildhall School o f Music)
G rade 1
Sam Jenks
250 (out o f 250)
High Honours
There were no failures in the Academic Year.
11
Fanfare
1999-2000
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Reviews o f “Ernie s Incredible ‘Illucinations
This y ear’s Easter Term performance
o f Ernie’s Incredible Tllucinations’ by
Alan Ayckbourn was another huge success
in the growing tradition o f M ount House
drama.
Hugh W alkington’s production,
thoroughly enjoyed by all those involved,
was cast and directed with flair and pace.
The play was filled with outstanding
performances and many surprises, not least
o f which were Jack Rangeley as Dad,
Leigh Bialick as Mum and Peter Balm as
the German Officer. It was impossible not
to fall under the spell o f Luke Dale-Harris
who was perfectly suited to the part of
Ernie, and played it with relaxed
confidence, taking full advantage o f the
stage which cleverly extended into the
central aisle thus allowing him to
communicate directly with his audience as
the play unfolded behind him.
Jack Rangeley kept up his convincing
northern accent to the very end without
sacrificing any o f the clarity o f his lines
and was fortunate in playing opposite
Leigh Bialick as Mum, another successful
choice. Together they formed a convincing
and very amusing on stage relationship.
The transformation o f Jack Rangeley
into Superman by the donning o f a pair o f
small satin briefs was something o f a
masterstroke, and the library scene in
which he rescues Lloyd Nail the Librarian,
turned rock climber, from his precarious
position, admirably maintained, on the step
ladder/rock face was a delightful moment
for the audience.
Elsie Newman and Lizzie Painter also
playing Librarians greatly helped in
orchestrating the success o f this scene, as
did Percy Johnstone-Burt who played her
part as a Lady with a natural pose and
polish.
Andrew Stone as the doctor, trying to
unravel some scientific logic from Ernie’s
strange tale, portrayed a convincing sense
o f bemusement as events unfolded, whilst
Emma Kennedy brought ju st the right air
o f efficiency to her p^rt as the
Receptionist. Edward Tuckett as one o f the
doctor’s more bizarre patients supplied one
o f the early humorous moments o f the
play.
Peter B alm ’s rendering o f the German
Officer in the living room scene, with his
barking staccato tones almost had the
audience standing to attention. Peter was
ably supported in his role by an equally
impressive squad o f German Soldiers
played by William Byrne, Tristan
Coulshaw and Andrew MacDougall.
The vibrant fairground scene made full
use o f the stage and saw everyone acting
to the full including the Fair Barkers
played by Christian Lowe, Alick
Mildmay-W hite, George Armstrong and
David Palmer, who delivered their lines
with clarity and self-assurance. The fight
was particularly well staged with Peter
Liddell-Grainger and Jonathan Hawkins
seeming to relish their on stage conflict,
which was most ably refereed by Harry
Young-Jamieson. Emma Litchfield as
Auntie M ay provided the audience with
much amusement. No one could fail to
respond to the sight o f her diminutive
figure darting about the boxing ring
delivering a hail o f well rehearsed blows,
with a dangerously swinging handbag,
whilst peering from under a suitably
demure hat, which slipped over her eyes at
perfectly timed moments. Sophie Zajicek
as a Woman, Sophia Seymour as a Second
Woman and Alex Nail as a Second Man all
played lively well acted roles as did James
Downie as a Man and James Edwards as
Timekeeper as well as Edward Jaquiery
whose rendering o f the Tramp was
received with appreciation by the
audience.
The play moved with a smooth flow
from scene to scene and credit must be
given to Seamus Crawford, the stage
manager, as well as Patrick Pearson for his
perfectly executed sound effects, and not
forgetting Stuart Smyth as the prompter
whose attentive presence was a vital
reassurance to the cast even though they
knew their lines perfectly.
M ary Goldberg
Fanfare
1999-2000
Reviews o f “Ernie s Incredible ‘Illucinations
T h e new s was out! T h ere w as to be a
6th F orm play, p rod uced by M r
W alkington. A s th e end o f the C hristm as
term ap p ro ach ed , T hursday aftern o on
audition s w ere h eld an d we read the
play in o rd e r to help us choose a part.
F o r m e th e G e rm an O fficer was a m ust,
and som e p eo p le, like Jack R angeley as
th e D ad, w ere n aturals. M ost o f th e 6th
F orm w ere th ere and all p arts w ere
quickly cast. N ext cam e the h ard w ork of
learning th e p a rts an d rehearsing, which
lasted over th e C hristm as holidays.
A t th e start o f the E a ste r term we
h ad o u r costum es and w ere supposed to
know o u r lines, although a few scripts
w ere still appearing. By half-term the
p ressu re was on as th e ‘O p ening N ight’
was nearing. C onfidence was boo sted by
a good dress reh earsal, b u t com e th e day
th e re w ere still a few nerves on show.
T he fun really started w ith costum es and
m akeup, and although we did n o t play
to a full house th e au dience seem ed to
really enjoy it. T h e w hole thing raced by
and befo re we knew it we w ere bowing
in fro n t o f th e cu rtain to enthusiastic
applause. T h at evening we played to the
w hole school, som e of the younger ones
b eing quite startled to see th e antics of
th e senior year. T he closing night was
th e m ost fun as th e cast m ade th e m ost
o f th eir characters, an d th e re was a
p articularly lively audience.
E rn ie was a very good choice, as it
h ad m any strong characters, lots o f
h u m o u r an d a fast m oving story line. It
w as enjoyed by cast and audience alike,
th an k s to M r W alkington’s excellent
d irecting style, w hich allow ed him to
stay cool, k eep his nerve and show us
w hat fun it can be to p u t on a play.
Peter Balm
13
Boots W All
The girls portrayed a team o f apathetic rugby players to
a tee. They came across as totally uninterested, obviously
lacking in enthusiasm and with no desire at all to play
rugby. In contrast to the attitude o f the players on the bench,
the sporty cheerleaders were a rousing diversion.
Bailey (Lucy Cumming) was especially nauseous and
convincing whilst the reluctant tennis playing reserves all
contributed to this uninterested ‘girlie’ team.
C oach’s (Tom Oxenham) introduction to the play was
dynamic and that was aptly aided by the sombre drumbeat
(Jacob Ward). Tom’s fluency continued without fleeting
throughout as he struggled to inspire the team to an unlikely
victory over the unseen opponents who were portrayed as
Six Nations Champions!
Injuries received during the match were excruciatingly
convincing. The reporter (Chris Gilling) gave an ‘in
character’ laid back performance o f the off-stage match and
the surprise appearance o f Brewster (Venetia Maitland) in
the opposing team ’s strip gave this story a clever twist,
much to the relief o f the Coach and the Team. The behind
scenes production team is to be congratulated on
assembling the various costumes and set, whilst the
introduction o f ‘FR ED ’ was an innovative use o f props to
move a communication between Coach and Reporter across
the stage.
The audience enthusiastically received this obviously
well rehearsed and directed performance.
Hazel Hawkins
14
Boots W All
The Coach s View
I think the most successful part o f the play was when
everything was running smoothly and everyone was
remembering their lines. But this was not always the case.
I remember calling one o f the players in my team Grunt
instead o f Grant! The most worrying part for me was when the
actors and actresses became nervous and forgot their lines.
Overall I thought the play was a huge success.
Tom Oxenham
15
Video/Film Club
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Stamp Club
This has proved to be a very popular Activity. Pupils have
been influenced by S Club 7, The Offspring, Lou Bega, James
Bond, Monty Python, Vengaboys and The Choir Holiday 1999
amongst others, and one group composed their own music for its
project!
My thanks to Tom Emerson and, especially, Peter Elliott for
their help in filming various events and to Katie O ’Brien for her'
help with dance routines.
Such is the popularity o f the Club that numbers have now had
to be limited. Long may such enthusiasm continue!
Jonathan Banyard
Chess Club
The Chess Club has continued to prove a popular pursuit and
many beginners can now play to a reasonable standard. Beating
parents is usually the first goal!
The Nicholas Tucker Cup, awarded to the winner o f the
knock-out competition, was closely contested in the Easter term.
James Downie fought his way through, beating Edward Parker in
his semi-final game, while James Edwards had a harder struggle,
finally beating William Dawson to reach the finals. In the end
James Downie proved the stronger player, winning the cup in two
straight games.
The weekly Chess Quiz caused much head scratching but a
few ardent followers usually found the right solution. The juniors
continue to enjoy the large out-door chess set in the courtyard.
Any unwanted chess sets or chess books would be most
welcome.
Children are collectors o f most things, and stamps have
proved no exception. The club continues to flourish, meeting in
the Science Lab once or twice a week. The ‘country packets’ have
now reached over 300, and a thematic collection is also beginning
to grow, with mammals, birds, shells, space travel, trains, and
buildings being the most popular. I have also started to look for
stamps having a weather and climate theme, but these have proved
very elusive. Many pupils continue to enjoy soaking stamps off
paper and sorting them, even though they do not actually collect
stamps themselves - a most useful service!
Rather than buying an expensive album, pupils can now print
out A4 sheets on the computer and keep them in a ring binder.
These look neat, with the country name in a box at the top, and
can be sorted into any order with ease.
Many modem stamps have been donated, especially, this year,
by Miss Lois Spencer, but we are always on the look-out for
stamps, on paper, loose or in albums, so if you have any unwanted
collections at home then please rem ember the MHS Stamp Club.
Peter R Hamilton-Leggett
MHS Cookery Book
I am pleased to write that, through the kindness o f many o f
you, £1,000 has been raised for the Music Appeal! Do not despair
if you want another copy, or copies, because I have ordered
reprints ready for the Christmas season!
Many thanks again to Brenda Blackwood and Diana Green for
all their help and encouragement with this project.
Peter R. Hamilton-Leggett
Jonathan Banyard
Mr Hamilton-Leggett’s Weekly Quiz
It is a very special person, who, week after
week, spends hours researching the answers to
twenty-five elusive questions. This quiz has
been running for a few years, and is designed to
increase the level o f general knowledge and
current affairs. I have always tried to encourage
scholars to have a go in their last few terms.
Over the past year or so Julia Toynton and
George Goldberg have battled against each
other, with Julia ju st winning each time. Other
persistent participants have been Jonathan Hare,
A nnie Heale, George Coom bs, Jake Parker,
Rachael Kimber, Ellie M alcolm and Caspar
Doyle. Even some parents get copies sent home
and Matron always likes to pit her wits.
Peter Hamilton-Leggett
Chapel Choir Recording
Answers to the quick-quiz (above, right)
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Some copies o f the CD (or tape) o f the
School Choir singing in Great Torrington
Church, accom panied by world-fam ous organist
Carlo Curley are still available. Once the
present supply has run out it is unlikely that any
m ore copies will be made. If you have not yet
ordered a copy then contact M rs Pat Tear at the
School as soon as possible. Not only is this a
fine recording to have as a souvenir, it also
m akes an ideal present. The CD is £12, and the
tape is £8. Proceeds are dedicated to the M usic
Department.
Here are some typical questions.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
W hat is triskaidekaphobia?
Why are cam el-hair brushes so called?
How did the tank get its name?
W hich o f these is not an elem ent —
palladium; samarium; neutrium; yttrium?
W hat are Kochel numbers?
W ho are the only two angels nam ed in the
Bible?
W ho disappeared leaving only a smile?
W hat kind o f animal is a Bechstein,
N octule or Barbastrelle?
The name o f which board game was
derived from the Latin m eaning “ I play”?
Sebhorric derm atitis is the correct name
for which bodily affliction?
Mountain Biking at Luhedec in Southern Brittany
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Occasionally one is offered an
opportunity in this World and GA’s
philosophy is always to accept. He is very
often overheard encouraging the children
to go out and grab life with both hands in
case they miss a wonderful experience. He
thus had no hesitation in accepting an
invitation to take a group o f boys
Mountain Biking at M r and D r Elliott’s
Farm, Luhedec, near Quimpede, in
Southern Brittany. What a superb trip it
turned out to be.
Luhedec is a traditional Breton Farm,
deep in the French countryside, about 15
kilometres from the nearest town and two
or three kilometres from any village. It is
an isolated rural retreat and its 100 acres o f
land has woods, fields, w ater meadows,
streams, hills and valleys as well as a
variety o f wild-life including two very
inquisitive hares that appeared on the long
driveway each morning. It is very remote
and very quiet - a very special place in a
busy and noisy world. The farmhouse is
comfortable though it does have the usual
idiosyncratic French plum bing and an
extremely cantankerous washing machine
that could repeat its cycle for days on end.
The boys quickly settled in, and our
first day was spent buying supplies in
Quimpede before getting on our bikes in
the afternoon and exploring the farm.
There were several very wicked short
downhills and the boys were quickly
practising their crash landing techniques
one or two o f which were quite
spectacular. Any teething problems with
the bikes were quickly sorted before we all
rushed off to the beach for a swim
followed by a superb meal in a local
restaurant. The first day was very
successful.
On the second day’s biking we
explored further afield. We had noticed
several French Bike Trail signs so decided
to investigate. The riding was varied and
was a good introduction for us. After
several kilometres we were thwarted by a
JCB that was constructing another section
o f track so had to detour back on the route
to a different starting point. Amazingly we
travelled in a wide circle and came round
to the back o f Luhedec where we
discovered some superb downhill tracks in
the woods and a rough track heading down
the stream valley to a wonderful pool just
right for swimming.
Very few o f our pupils have the
opportunity for complete freedom in safety
these days but Luhedec provides such a
chance. No programme was fixed for the
evening, the boys had 100 acres to play in
and do what they like. Several o f them
found the freedom difficult to cope with at
first but rapidly adapted to it and had a
wonderful time in the fields, woods and
streams.
With the full use o f Les Cartes
Touristiques Locales we were able to plan
many interesting routes. Two days were
spent exploring the Foret Dom De Camoet
w hich provided some very fast and tricky
biking involving several nasty falls on one
deep ravine section. We were able to
recover at the cafe by the Abbaye o f the
Church o f St. M aurice though we did look
a trifle strange with our mud-besmattered
cycling gear.
We experimented with a route down
alongside La Laita River from the Pont de
St Maurice. The path to Port du Pouldu
was very good but after we had crossed the
river by ferry to Guidel Plages the opposite
b ank’s path was on high cliffs and very
dangerous, so we had to push the bikes.
The weather was quite good so each
afternoon we decamped to the Plage de
Bellangenet which provided good, cold
surf, an abundance o f w et digging sand,
rocks and rockpools and some very
attractive young ladies. The boys must
have moved several tons o f sand on the
beach!
GA has been out to the area since “to
complete writing the Geography syllabus”,
he said, “in peace and quiet”. We think it
must have been all fieldwork, for he found
another set o f wicked routes: all to be tried
on our next visit. The coastal path from the
Plage de Bellangenet westwards along to
the Pont de Grange on the river Doelan is
tricky, mean and tortuous; a route around
the D evil’s Rock also provides plenty of
excitement and is yet to be fully explored;
and a route along the right hand bank o f
the upper reaches o f the River Isole takes
no prisoners and had GA in the river
within five minutes o f starting the route.
Then, on a detour, on his way back to
R oscoff he discovered another new area
for mountain-biking which is just begging
to be ridden - the Reservoir de St Michel
and the hills surrounding it. We can’t wait
until we visit Luhedec next year. The
Mountain Biking is BIG.
Geoffrey Allen
French Trip to Normandy, Easter 2000
The previous y ear’s trip had been so
successful that I was initially nervous
about the prospects for this year - would it
match up to the high standards o f last year,
and would we be so lucky with the
weather? The answers to these questions
turned out to be "yes” and “no”.
Normandie a la Carte once again excelled
themselves, preparing everything down to
the most minute detail and ensuring that
everyone had an enjoyable week. The
weatherman was not so co-operative
unfortunately, and we had three or four
extremely cold days to start o ff with. To
the children’s enormous credit, this did not
dampen their enthusiasm in any way
whatsoever for the various activities that
were laid on.
Accompanied by Jonathan Banyard,
Jennie Kibblewhite and Andrea
M acDougall, we set off early in the
morning from school to catch the 1.00pm
ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre. This
was at the suggestion o f an inside contact
(thank you again, Mrs. Litchfield!) and it
proved a winning idea, as the ferry was
much more spacious and better equipped
than that used last year. The crossing was
made much easier by the co-operation o f
the P&O staff and ensured that the party
arrived at the Grange d ’Espins in good
humour, your correspondent included!
The activities were much the same as
last year, except that the rain made le
kayak [canoeing] impossible for safety
reasons as the river was so high and so une
chasse au tresor [treasure hunt] was
organized through the woods. The new
activity for this year was I ’escalade
[climbing], and was much enjoyed by
everyone including J.K. & A. M.
Unfortunately your correspondent was
unable to participate due to pressure o f
time (!) and as usual J.B. was far too busy
setting up the next shot for his video
blockbuster “The Longest Week”.
Last year, we went to Bayeux to see
the world-famous tapisserie de la reine
Mathilde. This year, we went to the
Memorial M useum in Caen, one o f the
most fascinating and moving museum
visits any o f us has ever experienced. It is
to be thoroughly recommended if you are
ever visiting that part o f Normandy. The
exhibition opens with a long spiral descent
into the bowels o f the museum, starting
with the Treaty o f Versailles in 1919, and
ending with Hitler addressing a rally at the
beginning o f the war in 1939. A chilling
experience, and quite extraordinarily
effective. We then passed on to a film
about the Battle o f Britain (a surreal
experience for the children as it was in
English with French subtitles!) before
moving onto a graphic representation o f
the invasion o f Normandy in 1944. This
was a very clever combination o f newsreel
and 3D graphics, allowing seven seconds
for each day, starting o f course with June
6th 1944. Finally, a moving film
demonstrated just how little the world has
learnt from these conflicts, showing the
ravages o f w ar throughout the world
leading up to the recent conflict in the
Balkans. Museum visiting with
schoolchildren can be a chore - but no-one
wanted to leave this museum early.
The annual trip to Paris coincided with
four inches o f snow in North Devon, and it
felt like it! The temperature never got
above 6°. (In stark contrast to last year
when the party roasted in temperatures of
22°!) This made a picnic in full view o f the
Eiffel Tower rather less romantic an
experience than it might appear. I can only
once again commend the children for their
uncomplaining attitude, and Andrew and
Woody, the two leading partners in
Normandie a la Carte, for their meticulous
organization which ensured that burgers
were booked in advance at a burger bar
opposite the Gare St Lazare, and that we
caught the return train with one minute to
spare! Having missed out on this trip last
year, I could understand why all the
children had loved it. We managed to take
in the Champs-Elysees, the Arc de
Triomphe, the Pyramid at the Louvre, la
Tour Eiffel, a boat trip along the Seine
passing the Musee d'O rsay (home o f the
finest impressionist works) and the
cathedral o f Notre Dame. We were to visit
the latter after lunch, working o ff the
calories by climbing what seemed like
endless stairs to the gallery at the west
front o f the cathedral with an extraordinary
view over the city. For one fleeting
moment it seemed as if Quasimodo was
alive and well and back in business, but in
fact it was a guide demonstrating the pure
tone o f the largest bell on the bell tow er to
a bemused-looking Japanese tourist!
What else? Well, not much, if you
don't count the scintillating Banyard pop
quiz (won yet again by the staff), brisk
trade in le magasin de bonbons,
competitive charades, football and
volleyball in the grounds o f the gite ... and
the gastro-enteritis. Unfortunately, a germ
had escaped from Les Orres the week
before, and one o f our party was laid low.
Lesser groups might have been decimated
by such a catastrophe, but with Nurse
M acDougall around, the germ never stood
a chance. Nicknamed “The Lady o f the
Lim p”, probably due to an accident
sustained abseiling on a mountain bike,
Andrea MacDougall was tireless in her
attention to the medical requirements o f
the party, and there are several boys and
girls who - along with me - owe her an
enormous debt o f gratitude. Without the
enthusiasm o f her, and Jennie and
Jonathan, this kind o f trip would simply
not be possible. Thank you all.
There are cheaper language holidays
on the market, but never confuse price
with value, as someone once wisely said.
Every pound o f your money goes towards
providing a first-class learning experience
in an enjoyable atmosphere for your
children. If the staff can stand it, we are
booked for the third week o f the Easter
holidays in 2001. I don’t know about the
children, but I can’t w a it...
Hugh Walkington
Three local children win Mount House Music Scholarship
Three local children will
have the opportunity o f
furthering their musical
education through the Mount
House School Music
Scholarship scheme.
The three were selected for
Scholarships from a total o f
nineteen children, following
auditions held at the School
last month.
The award winners are
Coraley Medland from
Bishopsmead in Tavistock who
plays the flute and has just
passed Grade 6 with Merit,
Tristan Cook from Chillaton
who plays the violin and Joel
Oliver from Launceston who
plays the clarinet.
Under the Scholarship
scheme the children will
receive free music lessons for a
minimum period o f three
years, after which the position
will be reviewed. Each year,
Mount House School hopes to
hold an invitation concert at
which the recipients o f the
award will be invited to
perform. The benefactors o f
19
the awards, which include local Chartered Accountants, Francis Clark, will also be invited to attend
and meet the performers.
Brian Armfield, M ount H ouse School’s Director o f Music, said “I am delighted that we have been
able to offer the Mount House School Music Scholarships to three pupils who have greatly impressed
us with their accomplishments on the instruments so far and their potential musical abilities.”
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Ski Trip, Easter, to Les Orres, French Alps
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In a recent gathering o f staff we were trying
to establish how many tim es the school had
visited Les Orres - we thought it was six so we
are certainly getting to know the resort well,
but, inevitably there is a limit to w hat one can
write about for Fanfare every year. Such articles
can becom e som ewhat repetitive, not to say,
boring, especially as such a trip runs to a regular
system and patterns. This is very m uch a staff
perspective, however, and not the children’s
point o f view. They all have a fantastic tim e and
enjoy them selves trem endously as do the adults
on the party. The day is filled with skiing in the
lovely surroundings and there is a very full
program m e o f entertainm ent in the evenings.
There were, however, two m ajor differences
this year. Firstly, we took the biggest party ever
- 46 children and 22 adults - 68 in all. This is
actually double our usual num ber and maybe
something to do with the second difference. We
travelled by coach all the way to the resort and
back. M ost o f the party enjoyed this m ode o f
travel though several said they would rather fly
especially the taller m em bers o f the group who
found the coach slightly cramped. The coach
was a double-decker and we had two surprises
on its arrival at the front gate. It was driven by
‘Big M ack’ - a huge man whose responsibility
it was to load the luggage and drive us to
Chievely Services to pick up our two drivers for
the trip - Steve and Tony. Big M ack struggled in
the m inute luggage hold and we only just
m anaged to cram all the luggage in. W hen we
go by Snowcoach in 2001 we are going to insist
on a trailer as well. (Does this mean that GA can
take his m ountain Bike? Just think! Les Orres to
Embron - Wow!)
The journey out was uneventful though we
were late at Dover and G A was kept busy
selling drinks from the dispenser and fridge.
Due to low bridges on the main route we had to
take a diversion to Gap which was tortuous in
the extrem e though we still m anaged to reach
the resort by mid-afternoon.
Les Orres had only slightly changed. The
m ain path to the bottom o f the main slope had
been altered and provided an interesting
scramble each m orning but everything was
much as we had left it! The hotel was unaltered,
though it had been redecorated, the chalet
looked the same. Lidie and Christian o f Ski Fun
Loisiers were as helpful and cheerful as usual
and the instructors were identical to the group
we had last year though D om inique looked a bit
older. We were thus able to establish our routine
and safety procedures very quickly and get on
with the serious business o f skiing and there
was plenty o f snow - too m uch on some o f the
runs.
Four hours a day o f ski school was the
norm and all m em bers o f the party quickly
gained in confidence and enjoyed good skiing
throughout the week. The beginners improved
very quickly and becam e quite com petent by the
end o f the holiday. N ext year we shall be doing
a full five hours a day o f supervised skiing. Did
w e hear a groan from the adults? Do not worry
- w e refuse to name the adults who played
hooky from their ski lessons and this is probably
w hy brandy sales drastically increased at the top
cafe.
The A pres Ski provided m uch fun and
entertainment. The first two evenings are nearly
always devoted to a Safety Quiz and a Town
Trail. The pupils kept to all the safety rules this
trip and the Town Trail is a good introduction to
finding their way around the resort. Bum
boarding was as popular as ever though
som ewhat hair-raising and we did wonder
w hether several o f the adults were heading
directly to the bars down on the Plaza as they
careered down the lower slopes. By far the
biggest success was the Disco and Party Night.
Fancy Dress was the order o f the day and
children, adults and staff made a wonderful
effort and there were several m agnificent entries
for the competition. The dancing and games
were popular and the night concluded with a
Lim bo Competition.
Unfortunately, Freddie, the local doctor,
was kept very busy. We had brought a ‘b ig’ bug
with us from UK and several children were
unwell. The children also suffered one or two
m inor injuries which needed an x-ray and two
m embers o f the party also had non-serious head
injuries. We have decided, however, that all
children will w ear helmets next year just as a
safety precaution. One or two o f the adults did
not escape so lightly. Snow conditions were
very good and very tem pting - they made a
speedy recovery.
Leaving the resort slightly early we made a
leisurely journey back through France and
caught the ferry at Calais by early morning
where m ost m em bers o f the party rushed for an
English Breakfast. Though we had a slight delay
at Chievely Services we were back at school in
good time and looking forward to next y ear’s
trip to Les Orres.
Geoffrey Allen
Une Journee a la Frangaise
There is an oft-coined cliche: “If it
ain’t broke, don 't fix it.” Thus there were
few changes to what had proved a
successful and enjoyable formula last year.
French Day fell on mardi quatre juillet,
causing a certain amount o f comment that
the tricolore had te e n hoisted on
American Independence Day, but given the
assistance offered to the Americans by the
French in asserting their independence, the
combination o f dates was not unsuitable.
As with last year, the correct tone for
the day was set right from the beginning o f
the day, with grace in French preceding
breakfast. This contained croissants
(naturellement) and le lard (bacon) which
caused some consternation among junior
members o f the school when posted on the
daily menu board. Once again, we had
Assembly in French, singing the hymn,
hearing a reading from Leigh Bialick, and
reciting the L ord’s Prayer.
During morning lessons, there were
several French themes that cropped up.
Apologies to all those whose ideas I have
failed to mention, but 2YS had an
impromptu cafe outside their classroom at
breaktime complete with cafe tables, wine
bottles and suitable musical
accompaniment. In P.E., the Euro 2000
final was re-staged several times, although
for some reason I 'Italie seemed to win
more often than la France on this
occasion. Form 2 worked on
reconstructing their versions o f two o f
Monets most famous works: Waterlilies
and Japanese Bridge at Giverny. Various
forms contributed to an enormous tricolore
flag made up o f the signatures o f French
artists. Other junior classes drew dot
drawings in the style o f Seurat.
Lunch was enlivened by the first
appearance o f La Maison au M ont's own
home-produced vintage - a young wine
available as Cabernet Sauvignon or Blanc
de Blancs. Demand was high, even if it
tasted suspiciously like orange squash or
blackcurrant juice.
Once again, we resurrected Jeux sans
Frontieres during the afternoon. This year
the four sets competed in two arenas: la
natation in the pool, and I ’athletisme
around the track. Many thanks are owed to
R.M. and G.W. and G.C. for inventing a
series o f hilarious relays that entertained
the whole school on a damp and dreary
afternoon.
In the pool, there were three relays,
culminating in the annual “French meal
relay” which had an additional twist this
year, in that your correspondents, G.C.,
K.R. & L.B. actually had to eat the meal
once it had arrived from the other end o f
the pool. It was remarkable how often an
item seemed to get from one end o f the
pool to the other bone dry, only to get
completely soaked just before being placed
on our plates. A h alf baguette, a cracker
Une Journee a la Frangaise
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2000
A P P E L L A T IO N C O N T R O L E E
Blanc de Blancs
E l e v e e n b id o n p la s t iq u c
M is en bouteille it la M aison p a r D a K o cha In d u strie S .A .
with pate, glasses o f red and white wine, a
bottle o f Orangina, a Babybel cheese and a
pack o f profiteroles: all had to be
consumed by the selfless adults at the end
o f the pool. Despite such heroic sacrifice, I
am glad to be able to report that none
suffered from chlorine poisoning ... but
don’t try this at home!
Les Faucons (Hawks) held a narrow
lead over les Hiboux (Owls) as the
attention shifted to the athletics track. The
final game was the classic It's a Knockout
extravaganza: a sheet o f plastic liberally
soaked with soapy w ater had been spread
over the slope between the pavilion and
the running track and the competitors had
to walk up this slope carrying water in
leaky buckets on their heads. You can
picture the scene ... utter carnage. The look
o f grim determination on the com petitors’
faces as they neared the top, only to fall
and slide to the bottom, knocking others
over as they went. At the end, les Faucons
had won the game and the overall
competition, retaining the title they won
last year. Felicitations!
This all looked so much fun that
certain people who really ought to know
better were said to have been seen flying
down the slide afterwards. P.R.H-L.
apparently was one o f the first, but it must
have been untrue as it was his half day.
Someone even said that somebody VERY
important went down in jacket and tie,
carrying an umbrella, but I simply don’t
believe them.
All in all, it was a most enjoyable day,
and 1 would like to thank all the staff and
children who worked so hard to make it a
success. A I ’anneeprochaine!
Hugh Walkington
23
Fanfare
1999-2000
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24
Sailing
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This activity continues apace under the
auspices o f the Devon Schools’ Sailing
Association - the Oppie fleet being based
at Mountbatten, while the Toppers still sail
"J"
° ff Commercial W harf just along from the
Barbican. Splitting the two groups does
JIUJJ cause the occasional problem but generally
■■■■ all runs smoothly, except when an
outboard breaks down and the instructor
has forgotten his radio! The children are
given excellent tuition by first-rate
instructors and the Toppers Fleet is now
full o f competent and skilful sailors.
Our transport problem has persisted
throughout the year and the children have
only been able to sail on a regular basis
due to the generosity o f parents who have
gladly given up their time and vehicles to
take them to and from the Wharf. Though
many people have helped, we must give a
special thank-you to Diana Greene who
has helped on a very regular basis.
We sailed throughout the winter
months and though there were several bad
spells o f weather we have managed an
average o f eight sessions a term. It was
quite lucky for us that the instructor caught
’flu in February when the weather
prevented sailing anyway - they really do
organize everything well!
The sailing is structured and based on
the A ssociation’s own initial scheme: then
the children move on to the RYA Awards.
The better sailors are now working on the
Senior Awards.
The Summer term was an extremely
busy time for everyone. It commenced,
unusually, with an RYA Power Boat
Course for a whole weekend. Several o f
the boys had asked about this during the
year and we were finally able to arrange it
in early May. Barry, Mike and Bert, the
instructors, had expressed some
reservations about organizing the Course
but any doubts were quickly dispelled by
the candidates’ ability to learn, take
instructions and drive powerboats. There
were no allowances for age or ability. The
Course syllabus was strictly adhered to
and most o f the boys (alas - no girls!)
passed with flying colours. All aspects o f
power-boating were covered and everyone
progressed in confidence and ability as the
weekend continued. Particularly enjoyable
was the high speed work-out in the Sound
on Sunday morning. This was very
thrilling and spectacular.
We competed in the Devon Schools’
Sailing Regatta in June, in a series o f six
races over two days. Unfortunately the
boys (alas - no girls!) were sailing against
Racing Toppers with the new sails and had
little chance o f securing the first few
places, but they took all the positions from
5th to I Oth. Only two Oppies raced - they
came 1st and 2nd!
There are exciting developments for
next term. The lake is being dredged, so if
(D
25
we cannot sail at Plymouth we should be
able to sail on the lake instead. The DSSA
is keen to keep some o f their boats at
School. We are anxious to build up the
O ppie Fleet next term and this may be the
answer.
Finally - congratulations to Oliver
Williams, who won a sailing Scholarship
to Milton Abbey School.
Geoffrey Allen
T|
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13
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5
Junior and Senior Adventure Challenge
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26
This continues to flourish throughout
the three terms and activities are run on all
days o f the week except for Mondays.
Tuesdays are devoted to the Junior
Adventure Challenge and a wide range of
activities are organized for the First,
Second and Third Forms based on their
Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, the
details o f which can be seen on the
separate chart (opposite). This scheme is
both instructive and fun and all the
children much enjoy their sessions which
are supervised by staff and parents. We are
always most grateful to this staunch band
o f volunteers who come into help. They
are a valuable asset to the Junior Challenge
and the children much enjoy their support.
During the Summer Term we
concentrate on outdoor activities,
constantly praying for fine weather. The
pupils grass-sledge, play with the
parachute, visit places o f interest, do
incident hikes and enjoy the woods and
streams. Occasionally, they can swim in
the river.
TW O!
Tuesday activity times are also given
over to use o f the Climbing Wall for
Juniors and Seniors.
Wednesday is our Sailing Day (see the
previous page). The whole afternoon is
devoted to this.
Thursday afternoons the 4th Forms
work on their Senior Adventure Challenge
(see chart opposite) and most o f the
sessions are maintained on a practical
level. All children complete the Mapping,
Survival, Emergency and Camping
sections and then have to choose three
Adventure options from Caving, Climbing,
Canoeing, Hill-Walking, Mountain Biking,
Sailing, Orienteering and Skiing.
During the Christmas term on a
Thursday the 5th Forms complete a very
full St John’s First Aid Course. All the
children are qualified in the two senior
years.
Friday has tended to expand during the
year. During the Winter Terms we have
three or four sessions in the Climbing Wall
but during the Summer months we can go
outside for canoeing, river-running,
mountain biking, orienteering and
climbing. Some evenings are spent down
in the woods lighting fires and practising
survival skills.
The weekends are devoted to
expeditions and the list is nearly endless:Caving at Pridhamsleigh, in the
Mendips and in the Brecon Beacons.
Climbing on the local tors, at the
Llangorse Centre in the Brecon Beacons,
and Cornwall. Canoeing on the School
Lake and on other safe water.
Sailing - courses and regattas
throughout the summer months.
Orienteering within the School
grounds and with the Devon and Cornwall
Clubs all over the two counties.
Mountain Biking in Devon, Cornwall
and in the Brecon Beacons.
Hill-walking and Letter-boxing on
Dartmoor.
Sometimes these activities are
combined based on a certain area.
One o f our greatest ‘finds’ o f the year
is the Old Bissoe Tramway near Truro.
The cycle-way itself is quite interesting
but there is brilliant biking on the tips that
adjoin the path and Unity Woods also
provides many thrills and spills.
Finally then there are the major trips,
expeditions and courses. A typical annual
programme includes Cycle Course, the Ski
Trip, a Summer Half-Term Camp, a
Mountain Biking Expedition, a stay on
Lundy, and maybe a trip to Spain.
The Junior and Senior Challenge
provide a huge variety o f challenges for all
the pupils regardless o f age or ability. All
they need to do is seize the opportunities.
Geoffrey Allen
O r ie n te e rin g
S a ilin g
M o u n ta in
B ik in g
H ill W a lk in g
C a n o e in g
C lim b in g
C a v in g
C a m p in g
S u rv iv a l
M a p p in g
A Year in the Pre-Prep
Christmas Term
This was the first September in the
history o f the Pre-prep that we were not
returning to major building developments.
It was quite a contrast to begin term
without the last minute chaos o f builders
and chasing vital .equipment that had not
arrived.
We welcomed Pauline Chespy onto the
staff. Pauline previously taught at St
John’s, Sidmouth. Pauline originates from
Wales, and began married life, a new job,
and buying a house in the same breath. To
her credit all were accomplished happily in
her smiley, relaxed style.
As soon as the children were settled-in
we launched into the term ’s theme which
was ‘Ourselves’. This is always a good
project to start o ff the year, when we are
getting to know a new group o f children.
Soon the Pre-prep began to abound with
self-portraits, and skeleton collages. The
term ’s work was completed in work
groups with wonderful names like fidgety
fingers, and knobbley knees. ‘Choosing
tim e' in the corridor followed the theme
too, and a dispensary and surgery sprouted
up, where prescriptions were sorted and
important appointments were made.
Further down the corridor medicine
became more advanced, and a lot o f life
saving surgery was performed in a very
realistic hospital.
Outings this term included Year 2s
visit to Plymouth Dome and The
M erchant's House. Year 1 spent the day at
Plymouth Aquarium with a drama
workshop in the afternoon. The Reception
Class went all the way to Sorley Tunnel
Farm near Kingsbridge, and the Nursery
went to Trethome Farm.
Sometimes the excitement and
anticipation o f a pending visit almost
exceeds the visit itself. Freddie Morris was
about to explode by the time the fire
brigade visited us, and the children
explored the fire engine. It took several
Year 2s to man the powerful hoses, which
was a great thrill. We all learnt a lot about
fire safety and met a fireman in full kit
with breathing apparatus, bleepers,
flashing lights and a speaking voice like
Darth Vader. Some o f us were rather glad
to meet this vision in the safety o f the hall,
rather than in the middle o f the night, in a
dark smoke-filled house.
We had hardly all squeezed into the
hall for our Harvest Festival than it was
time for a terrific bonfire party. This
heralded a more daunting event, an
OFSTED inspection which we sailed
through and was gratifyingly glowing.
However, there was no time for the
teachers to enjoy a well deserved pause,
because we were now on the Christmas
countdown. Rehearsals began for The
Multicoloured Music Bus and nativity
songs were learnt and carols sung. Art
work suddenly involved lots o f glitter and
tended to be put away in a secret cupboard.
The staff worked late one Friday night, and
over the weekend, until the Pre-prep, was
transformed into a sparkling wonderland.
On M onday morning the children’s faces
made it all worthwhile!
We enjoyed two separate Christmas
performances this year. The Nursery and
Reception classes put on a polished
performance o f It s a Baby, which was
played with touching professionalism and
gravity. Year 1 and 2 were unable to get
into the Wortham Hall until the day before
our performance, and had an astonishingly
bad dress rehearsal. The day arrived and
we walked down as if to our execution.
Amazingly, the children woke up with the
first round o f applause and put their heart
and soul into performing the Multicoloured
M usic Bus. The acrobats whirled, the
clowns were a scream. Henry MaxwellLyte rose from his sick bed and was a
magnificent lion. Next The Bus visited the
zoo, Cecily Haywood sang Debra the
Zebra as an enchanting solo and looked
stunning dressed in stripes. All the animals
wore wonderful masks and costumes and
played their parts to perfection.
Form 1 ended The Bus journey aptly
by visiting Bethlehem, and performed the
Nativity beautifully for us.
We ended the term with a rousing
Christmas party. The children raised an
appetite for their party tea by whacking a
very strong pinata, which was reluctant to
release its treasure. Father Christmas
arrived, and consulted his famous lists of
good children and bad children. Everyone
heaved a huge sigh o f relief that none o f us
were on the black list, and received
presents from him in The Grotto. On the
last day o f term we went to Plymouth to be
entertained at the Theatre Royal and saw a
wonderful performance o f the Ugly
Duckling by the Orchard Theatre
Company. Luckily the bus driver growled
that the timing was a bit on the tight side
as we whirled down the drive, and I was
able to prevent him taking us to The
Theatre Royal in Bath!
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Easter Term
We returned to post-millennium
celebrations and enjoyed opening the first
page o f the Pre-prep millennium calendar.
The children had done all the art work for
this. Miss Edmonds was responsible for the
presentation and her father for the binding.
We had decided to continue the theme o f
‘C e le b r a tio n s’ this term, as we could
examine all the occasions we celebrate as
families, in our religion, and those o f other
faiths.
Soon the latest new Christmas baby in
the pre-prep was doing his rounds, and the
children were interviewing Kate Brown to
find out how she celebrated Piers’ birth. We
all. visited Tavistock Church where
Reverend John Rawlings led the children on
an exciting treasure hunt of the things you
can find in church that are part of religious
celebrations. (We did wonder if the man
trying to pray at the back o f the church was
enjoying the treasure hunt quite as much as
the children!)
This term each class presented its own
individual assembly to its parents. Year 1
and the reception class told us about their
work and Mrs Gabb’s class about the
Vikings. All were good, but the Nursery’s
story of Chinese New Year will be
remembered for ever. We watched Theo as a
cockerel with a brown paper bag mask over
his head, frozen still, with astonishment!
The cross-country loomed, and Jack
Morgan and Johan got into training. Johan
skipped around the yard and Jack started
running up hills before breakfast. Rarely
have we seen such determination to win.
The day dawned, the route looked
frighteningly long, and the Pre-prep,
supporters club cheered itself hoarse.
The Year Is enjoyed a puppet making
workshop when they studied ‘Chinese New
29
Year’ and made dancing Chinese dragons
with a visiting puppeteer. The Nursery
visited Creely Adventure Park and found it
undergoing developments and all got rather
muddy.
We raised money for Shelter and all
joined in the National Swimathon, no matter
what level our swimming ability! One
particular parent sponsored her son per
length, and found him presenting her with
an alarmingly large bill! Next we had a visit
from the armchair theatre group who
worked with Year 2s to create a shadow
puppet workshop o f the Easter story. In the
afternoon they entertained us all with the
puppet show Burglar Bill.
Easter assembly began with an Easter
Bonnet Parade. Harry Finch’s hat was a
particular favourite, with an incubator on
top! This year sadly we were unlucky in
producing our own Easter chicks. Lizzie
tried to save the day and borrow some day
old chicks from a farm, but in the end we
learnt that sometimes nature has the odd
disappointment in store. Mrs Gabb’s class
presented the Easter story with shadow
puppets. With the addition of some moving
Easter songs we noticed one or two specks
o f dust in the audience’s eyes!
The last day o f term was for fun. We played
games and hoped for an Easter hunt.
Luckily the Easter Bunny had arrived home
from Durham University the night before.
She arrived at the Pre-prep, creeping in the
back door like a member o f the French
Resistance, having spent a disorientating
hour in a hot bunny suit, playing a mute
rabbit that can't see very well. She was
dismayed to find one of the oldest children
peering up her nose and saying ‘Hello
Pinky, would you like to play British
Bulldog?’
A Year in the Pre-Prep
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Summer Term
The Summer term began with
interviews for a new Nursery nurse to join
us in September, extending our team o f
staff to eight, as the school nears its
capacity. We were very pleased by the
enormous interest in the job, and the
calibre o f the girls who applied. We were
delighted to appoint Emma Came, and
look forward to her joining us next term.
The Summer term ’s theme was
‘Journeys' and soon the corridor looked
very exciting with a hot air balloon and a
jungle scene leading through a waterfall to
Bong Tree Island where a pea green boat
was anchored and waiting to be taken on
adventures.
This term we were lucky to begin
dance again having persuaded Katie
O ’Brien to teach dance on Thursdays to
the older children in the Pre-prep, and the
girls in Form 1 and 2. Katie has an
impressive list o f London shows to her
name and is much involved with the
Devonport Playhouse. Those o f you who
enjoyed M usic o f the Night this year will
rem ember her as one o f the stars o f the
show, and will know how heavily involved
she is, in producing this mammoth
production. The children are very fortunate
to be taught by her, and dance was soon
one o f the highlights o f the week.
For our Summer term trips we had a
variety o f experiences. Year 1 went to
Buckland Abbey and joined a storyteller
who took us back into mediaeval times and
brought history alive. In the afternoon the
children helped print their own map o f the
abbey which has pride o f place in the
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A Year in the Pre-Prep
classroom. We learnt all about Sir Francis
Drake and his circumnavigation o f the
World in the Golden Hind. Some o f us
w on’t forget Harry Parker, renaming it the
Golden Behind, as his joke disrupted the
history lesson! Mrs Gabb took her Year 2
Class to Exeter Museum to learn about the
Egyptians. Oenone was laid on a table and
prepared for mummification. All the
goriest facts were remembered in vivid,
numbing detail, and invariably recalled at
lunchtime!
The intrepid Reception Class went on
an amazing journey themselves, which
involved a cold trip on the Dartmouth
Ferry, being revived with cups o f cocoa,
and a steam train ride to Paignton. The
Nursery then set o ff in a gale to Plymouth
Hoe, and wisely decided against a boat
trip, and sheltered in the Aquarium
instead.
Preparations began for Sports Day, and
excitement rose to fever pitch. The day
arrived and was wet. The children repeated
this exercise the following week until third
time lucky Sports Day dawned and was the
most perfect day we could have imagined.
Everyone enjoyed themselves and tried
their hardest. We w on’t forget Freddie, the
last man in the relay, running down the
track with his bucket o f water, running
past his destination, to throw the bucket’s
contents over a crowd o f spectators. The
ensuing cloud o f confetti gained roars o f
laughter. Nor will we forget ‘The Dress the
Teachers Race’ where Mrs Gabb was
dressed as an impressive witch and Mrs
MacDougall a clown, though she showed a
nice turn o f speed, and was first to finish!
The fathers were very good sports and
ran in ‘A Dressing up as a Woman Race’,
for all our enjoyment! The mothers
excelled at the Egg and Spoon. The finale
was a balloon launch where every child let
a balloon free. To our delight six were
returned to us from as far afield as
Axminster and Sherborne.
The term ’s weather continued to be a
bit unpredictable with a blustery school
photograph, and action replay for Athletics
Day. The Year 1s had a boat race, and
tested their homemade boats in the stream
down in the backwoods. One or two
children returned rather wet from this
experience. We also had a cycling day to
learn road safety skills, where Tom
Canning demonstrated death defying
stunts, and MrsiChespy and I had an
interesting time on a tandem.
Before we knew it, it was our Leavers’
Assembly in the Wortham Hall. We said
goodbye to the Founder Members o f the
Pre-prep who have been with us since we
began, four years ago, in Collingwood.
These children were presented with an
engraved glass. They entertained us with
music and dances from Joseph. We
entertained them with the Owl and the
Pussycat; a wonderful maypole dance by
the Nursery; and a play written by Sophie
in reception, called S o p h ie’s Box.
The following day we ended the year
with the Teddy B ears’ Picnic. The sun
peeked through at the children sitting in a
magic ring with their teddy bears. It
particularly seemed to shine on our
Founder Members who go forward, with
four years’ o f happy experiences in the
Pre-prep, to a wonderful future at Mount
House.
Bids Morgan
V
( j/a r /e &
/
<f / e e o m * w / i
The Piano Centre
W m ev
^Tcw/k/ocA
Tavistock
Incorporating
The Wine Warehouse
Wholesale
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New & Secondhand Pianos
to
Tuning & Full Restoration Service
T he Trade
and
P u blic
Open daily,
and
Saturday
10am-2pm
Telephone
(01822) 616272
Bridge House
142-148 Plym outh Road
Tavistock
Telephone: (01822) 610633
Fax
(01822) 617094
Proprietor: A.K. White
U n it 11, P ly m o u th R o a d I n d u s tr ia l E sta te
T av isto ck , D e v o n , PL19 9 Q N
BISHOP & TURNBULL
Automobile and Electrical Engineers - Electronic Tuning
P.D. & B J. Bishop, Pixon Lane Garage, Tavistock,
p l i9 9 a z
MOT TESTING STATION
SERVICE - REPAIRS
on all types of cars and vans
USED CARS
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RECOVERY
service
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at all
times
Whatever your requirements, give us a call or come and see our
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Fax 612595
Impressions o f the Form 2 visit to the Tate Gallery, St Ives
‘I was really excited because we were going to miss work. I thought it
was excellent because the sun was shining. The gallery was excellent and
it was really big. I heard that it was a gas station.’ James Lewis
‘My favourite pieces are the eclipse pieces because they were full o f
colour. I learnt how it must have been when Alfred Wallis was alive.’
Christopher Morris
‘I found that it was a nice day going down to the beach and going
around the town and looking at the art.’ Sam Morgan
‘I learnt that people are nasty because they pretend to be a lighthouse
and make ships crash.’ Richard Dawson
‘M ost o f the paintings that I saw were very im pressive but the shape
mobile was excellent. We learnt how pictures are different to each other.’
Jo Hijazi
‘I had great fun in St Ives especially on the tow n trip because o f the
drawing I did o f the church on the hill. M y favourite picture was the
Patrick Heron window. I learnt about the ship that sunk and you can still
see the massive ship’s boiler in the sea. The trip helped me understand the
colours that A lfred Wallis used. ’ Henry Manning
‘On the St Ives trip we went for a walk around the town. We got to see
where Alfred Wallis lived. A fter we had got some lunch we went into the
Tate Gallery. We saw a big window with pictures on it. There were lots o f
other pictures. I think the Tate Gallery was excellent. I think it helped me
because we got to see the painting that Alfred Wallis did, I found it
fascinating.’ Lucy Batchelor
Lottie Morse
Drawing on Dartmoor
In the Autumn Term, armed with sketch-books and water­
colour sets, the third Year used the local Dartm oor Landscape as
inspiration for print-making. Back in the classroom they produced
some superb prints to rem ember their day.
Lottie Morse
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Art & Literature
How Was It For You?
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Some fourth year thoughts on the
start o f the new millennium. (Names
have been omitted to avoid litigation).
“Five minutes left,” shouted the
referee. As these words hit me, I was
almost sick, the tension was mounting. We
had had an unbeaten season, and this was
our last game. We were playing
W olborough Hill and were losing by two
points, as the try we had just scored was
not converted. I felt so nervous but I knew
nervous tensions would not win games.
We had to obtain more points on the board
very soon.
The minutes were counting down and
there were four left. A t the next scrum that
we won, our fly-half, John booted it down
field to their twenty two, and it bounced
into touch. They took a quick throw in and
their full back drove into our forwards.
Somehow, brilliantly, the forwards
m anaged to pinch the ball and we spun it
out in the backs, but each time we tried to
break through their line, they drove us
back. I was feeling desperate now. It also
showed on the faces o f the rest o f our
team.
“Come on boys,” shouted our coach.
“Only three minutes left!”
A t the next ruck, their forwards were
ju st too strong, and they won the ball,
which was a great shame, as we were in a
good attacking position, and the fly-half
hoofed it up to the half-way line. I was
feeling overwhelmed, but inside me, I
knew that we were the better side and that
we could do it.
W hat seemed like hours later, but in
fact was only one minute later, the crowd
o f parents and kids on the touchline, grew
louder by cheering us on. It put more
belief in us. Their defence could not hold
out for much longer. Now everyone,
including us, believed we could win. The
motivation that we had inside us was
incredible. Every time there was a ruck or
a scrum, the forwards drove like animals
and our backs kept pounding into the
opposition. Each time either one o f us
received the ball, we felt a kind o f surge,
and ran as fast as we could to slice through
them.
“Last minute,” shouted the referee.
Now the heat was on. We had worked
really hard to achieve a position inside
their twenty-two, and we had been
awarded a scrum under the posts. What
could we do? We were too tired to break
through their line, so I w hispered to John,
who was an excellent kicker, “Drop goal!”
He nodded and told Stuart the scrum half.
As soon as Stuart received the ball, he
fired it to John, who dropped and kicked.
The suspense was incredible as the ball
floated towards the posts, and as it just
squeezed inside the post the noise from the
people around us was deafening. The
whole team jum ped into the air, as the
whistle blew for full time. We had w on!!
Seamus Crawford
.. .just as the clock struck twelve, I
looked down on the Sydney harbour and
the sky lit up with fireworks.
.. .well, to be quite honest I went to
bed at h alf past eight.
... we had a window overlooking the
street, and my younger cousin was very
interested in the people kissing. One
couple had been smooching for forty-eight
minutes!
.. .suddenly a streaker ran down the
road and he was stark naked even without
any shoes or socks on!
.. .we painted our nails and tattooed
our arms. I went for a discreet look, bright
pink, fluorescent yellow and silver.
.. .the next day we all had headaches.
Mum was a dodgy driver all day.
... we went to the village church to
hear the bells chiming midnight. Typically
my father brought some Scotch whisky.
.. .Daddy climbed up onto the beam!
.. .when the fireworks eventually came
they were very disappointing. The ones on
Plymouth Hoe started late.
.. .when the M illennium mom ent came
I shouted as loud as I could and a goat
shouted back, which was quite funny.
... we went out on the balcony and
threw bangers on the street below, and we
used party foghorns to make a noise so noone could get to sleep on New Year’s Eve.
.. .so he said to pour petrol on the
fireworks, and Daddy did.
.. .for the big moment, we lit our
Millennium candle and I said the prayer.
The Sea
The sea can be tranquil, still and smooth.
Broken by the faintest groove.
It shines like gold in sum m er’s sun
And seems quite harmless to everyone.
Then comes lightning, thunder and rain,
The sea will crash and smash again
And bring boats to their impending doom.
Down in the dark everlasting gloom.
I ’ve lived by the sea for all my days.
I know it changes in many ways.
I ’ve seen it calm, I ’ve seen it mild,
But best o f all I ’ve seen it wild.
A lick M ildm av- White
Jack Rangeley
A Mist o f Tears
Emma K ennedy
The Arctic Seal
The seal is a graceful creature,
And is beyond hum an knowing
The stream lined body, silk-like, smooth
Can elude the cold wind if blowing.
Their skin is sleek but tough
And can keep the bite o f the wind away
It can w ithstand their conflicts w ith others
And keep the cruel w aters at bay.
Ice giants float in the land o f the seal
And there is pow er m ore ferocious than thunder
And even if they look small from above
There is bound to be a greater m ass under.
Ice covers all in the land o f the seal
And the weather is bitter and unforgiving.
It is hard to believe that one can live here
W hen in fact here thousands are living.
L loyd Nail
A m ist o f tears filled my eyes. I couldn’t
believe w hat m y m um was telling me. My
grandm other might not m ake it through the
night. Life was so unfair. We were driving to the
hospital where she was. The m obile phone
began to ring. I grabbed it praying we w eren’t
too late. It was my dad, he told us he w as about
to go up to see her. We were so relieved that
everything was all right.
The drive to the hospital was long and
boring and we were glad to see the hospital
loom ing in front o f us. We were there at last. We
entered quickly and dashed up to the floor
w here she was. 1 couldn't believe my eyes when
I saw her. She was unconscious. I thought I was
in a nightm are that I couldn't break out of.
The night was quiet and dull. M y aunt was
due to com e in any time. I w as watching the
m onitor with interest; so tired but I tried to stay
awake. M um and dad sat watching grandmother.
Slowly everything blurred and I fell asleep. This
didn’t last m ore than a couple o f hours as my
aunt and uncle arrived. There was a spare ward
next door w hich w e were allowed to sleep in.
I was taken there by m y m um but as we
were leaving my grandm other came round
slightly. A spring o f hope rushed through me
and I came back quickly as I heard her dazed
voice crying out. A nurse ran over and gave her
a bit o f w ater to drink. I walked away. All m y
hopes were dashed because I realised she would
never becom e well again.
The night passed quickly after that and soon
it w as morning. Dad was going hom e to bring
me some clean clothes as I felt very dirty and
sticky. We all w alked to breakfast without him
as he w as having his at home. Breakfast was in
the hospital canteen. It turned out to be a very
funny and em barrassing m eal as I accidentally
broke the coffee and tea machine. W hen
breakfast was finished, w e ascended to the ward
where dad was. I had to change and when I did I
felt happier. W hen I returned to the ward my
other uncle arrived and sat next to my mum.
The m orning slowly came and departed and so
did lunchtime. The doctor was going to talk to
us at three o ’clock. We prepared for w hat the
doctor was going to say. Ushered into a small
room , we sat around in a circle. The doctor
explained everything and at the end said my
grandm other would probably live no m ore than
the weekend. I was devastated. There was
nothing anyone could do for her. We walked
slowly back to the ward. We were full o f tears
and gloom. She was going to be moved to a
private bedroom.
I had dinner a couple o f hours later with my
aunt and uncle. M y m um and dad and uncle had
waited for his sons and wife who were due to
arrive. W hen supper was over we traipsed up to
the room w here she had been m oved into. My
mum and dad and the others had obviously gone
to supper and only my aunt stayed. We sat
waiting quietly by the limp figure in the bed. I
was deep in thought.
A laugh brought me out o f m y thoughts.
Everyone had returned and were taking up seats
around the bed. My m um was by her head
holding her hand. Every so often m um checked
her pulse. Suddenly m y m um stood up and we
becam e silent. Then she kissed her and said we
had better say goodbye as she didn't have a
pulse. We all said our farewells and we began to
cry. We were all devastated. A doctor came in to
ascertain the time o f death. It was awful.
W ithout warning I becam e hysterical. I
couldn’t believe w hat was happening. I was
pulled away to a little sitting room where the
rest o f the fam ily had gone to. M um had stayed
with the doctor. Slowly and with sad hearts we
returned to the small room where we collected
all her things to take home. Life was so unfair. I
couldn’t understand why this had to happen to
me. Looking out the window, I saw lots o f cars
going about their daily routine. This made me
think. M y family were the only people grieving
while life everywhere else was going on.
As we departed, I looked for the last time at
m y grandmother. My eyes were so misty I
couldn’t see. A hand led me away from the sad
room and the figure o f my grandm other I would
never see again in life, but I can still look back
on the things she did with me and told me. This
m eans I can never forget her even though she’s
gone. Those were m y thoughts as I clim bed into
the car. If only she w asn’t dead.
I took one last look at the hospital as we
drove round a com er and then it was out o f
sight. The drive hom e was slow and painful and
as our house came into view with it came a mist
o f tears.
Rachael Kimber
Elsie Newman
Charlotte’s Web
“ Are you OK up there in your web,
Charlotte?” asked Wilbur.
“I ’m OK up here in my web but it is a
bit draughty,” replied Charlotte.
“Please can you come down and play
with me?” asked Wilbur.
“All right but only if we can play ‘Trap
the F ly’,” said Charlotte.
“How do you play ‘Trap the Fly’ ?”
asked Wilbur.
“It’s simple,” said Charlotte. “The first
one to trap the fly is the winner”.
“OK,” said W ilbur eagerly, “L et’s
begin”.
“On your marks, get set and G O !!”
shouted Charlotte.
“Here one comes,” called Wilbur. “A
nice, fat, juicy fly”.
A lex Jones
Tristan Coulshaw
35
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“I is Pants at English ”
A short essay, for Mr Canning
Art & Literature
Despite my protestations, M r Canning believes that I am more
than competent in English. This begs the question, “W hat is
English?” Should road signs read “Drive Slow” or “Drive
Slowly”? W hich is grammatically correct: “They don’t have
none” or “They don’t have any”? Given “books” as the plural o f
“book” and “they” as the plural o f “she” or “he” what is wrong •
with “y ’all” and “yous” as plurals o f “you”? W ho decides w hat’s
wrong in language anyway? and who put “ain’t” in the dictionary?
Is English going to the dogs? W hat is all the fuss about?
The English Language often has alternative expressions for
the same thing (car and auto) and a given word can carry different
senses (river bank vs. saving bank) or function as different parts o f
speech (to steal - verb ; a steal - noun). It would appear that
English adapts to suit various situations and reflects the social
identities o f its speakers. Unlike the French we do not have “The
Academy” to keep our language pure, so lexicographers must
record all words that are in use - hence “ain’t” gets an entry.
Living languages must change, must adapt, must grow. W hether
change is good or bad is not the question, for change is inevitable.
The only languages no longer in flux are those no longer in use.
It is therefore up to people such as I/me to see that our
language continues in its ever changing role so perhaps I ain’t
pants at English after all! (Thank you fo r the guiding light - GC.)
Edward Jaquiery, assisted by PH am ilton-Leggett
Memories o f the Eclipse
by 2 ys
On 11 August, 1999 the Eclipse, which started near America, passed through England. It happened because the M oon blocked out the
Sun’s rays which light up the Earth. That morning a lot o f strange things happened. Nocturnal animals came out o f their burrows thinking
it was night time. The Eclipse finally ended in India. I hope that I ’m alive to see the next Eclipse in 70 years or so.
N ick Dashfield
I watched the Eclipse on television. It happened on 11 August, 1999. The sky went dark and it was very cold. The Eclipse happened
because the Moon went in front o f the Sun and blocked out the sunlight.
Isaac Jay
At 11 am on 11 August,
1999 the Eclipse took place.
An Eclipse is when the Moon
gets in the way o f the Sun and
m akes a shadow on the Earth.
It went very dark and all the
nocturnal animals came out o f
their burrows. The Eclipse
only lasted one hour before it
moved on. It started near
America and ended in India.
Gemma lnsley
Lunch
The best ever food at
M ount House is Roasts. Roast
Chicken is really nice
because they have crunchy
potatoes and the meat is nice
and tender and you can’t have
a nice roast without jelly-jam.
Ian Hargreaves
Jam es K illingbeck
Hope o f Rain
Art & Literature
Seeing a cloudy starlit sky above
A night to hope in the form o f rain
A cloud will weep and soak the earth again
A night to secure a delicate love.
For nature rain will summon life from where
A lifeless, endless desert used to be
Moistness will stop a hot, desolate glare
A lushness freely given by destiny.
The water will bring long awaited content
To those who survived, this life will not die
But will stay forever in plentiful supply.
Death, brought by predators, the only
supplement
So. life progresses with thanks to the sky
An amazing circle that is not to deny.
A lexander N ail
Rollo Brooke
A lex Tobey
Sweet Love
If only I could keep away from you.
You are my forbidden sweet.
N ot a sour thing that makes me pucker.
You soothe me,
Coating my mouth with thick affection.
Chocolate.
My heart races as I inhale
Bittersweet, rich joy.
Slowly I unwrap the bar,
I close my eyes and breathe.
My spots resent my blind addiction.
My sticky hands wreck my work.
You are my secret sweet.
Only second class sweets are found at tuck.
Mount House School
The Small Black Box
From my turning day, span wildly
Through childhood into adulthood.
Reflections, like a shattered mirror,
Showed only faint glimpses o f past
I was on holiday in The M aldives, a
beautiful group o f islands in the Indian
Ocean. On the desk in our villa was a leaflet
showing all the activities on offer. We
decided to go snorkelling. We went to have a
drink at the bar before the trip, and there we
m et a very nice w aiter called Mamoon, who
served us drinks. Lizzie and I had a ‘club
delight’, a cocktail. We soon had to leave for
the snorkelling trip.
We boarded a glass-bottom ed boat. We
found that M am oon was on board, and to
pass the time I had a pleasant conversation.
During this, his eyes seemed to wander to
som ething different in sight. He said, “Look
Tom.” I stared and saw a dolphin gliding
through the air. Suddenly the engine
stopped. “That m ust mean that w e’re there,”
I shouted.
Because o f the scorching heat I was the
first into the cool, clear water and so was
Mamoon. I said to him, “I ’m going to the
bottom .”
It was beautiful. It was like an
underwater paradise, a sacred shrine. I
stared, and then something caught my eye, a
small, rusted black iron box. I took it up to
the surface. I told Mamoon. He said, “Come
up to the boat and we will exam ine it.”
We opened the box. Inside was a
necklace with a blue sapphire and gold
carvings. We gazed in amazement, in a way
w ith fear, at this treasure o f the ocean. It was
a locket containing two blurred photos and
some writing.
The boat engine roared and chugged.
M um and Dad said, “Come on, time to go.”
We threw the black box swiftly into its
oceanic shrine and left. I have had memories
o f it ever since.
Then one m orning a parcel arrived for
me. I opened it and the black box and golden
necklace lay there, and a poorly written note
read,
D ear Tom,
Here is the treasure we fo u n d last year. /
have sent it to you because archaeologists
have come and I hope you can keep it safe.
Mamoon.
I have kept it ever since on my
m antelpiece.
Tom Painter
memories.
Now, taking the quantum leap,
Suspended by ever watching eyes,
I am shepherded, like a stupid lamb,
Into a fearful, grown-up sheep.
I love the friendliness and atmosphere,
Breathed upon me from wise mouths,
Kindling my skin and my many memories
O f re-lived fun and food so sweet.
To take this from me is like,
Trying to drain the 7 seas,
The memories o f this place will stay,
i
Here, in my heart, forever more.
P a d d y P e a rs o n
Candy for children,
I am an adult.
Gummy bears and jelly bears bore.
Only chocolate.
Smuggled into school in boots and hidden
pockets.
My forbidden sweet,
Chocolate.
To end my day with perfect pleasure.
Melting scrumptious hidden treasure.
Leigh Bialick
A ndrei Koranteng
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Art & Literature
A Strange Tale
Magical Spots
I have not told this story to many people. .It
is a strange story and not m any people would
believe it.
It all started when, on one m ild summ er
evening in the middle o f August, I was taking a
stroll along the Bay o f Boats, a beach near our
village, when in the dusky twilight I saw a small
figure standing strangely in the waves while
small rapids softly licked her ankles. This girl’s
hair was o f a cream y palom ino colour
distinguished by soft wavy curls. Sandycoloured skin graced her slim figure perfectly
while she wore a tattered yellow robe. But what
was the language she was speaking? It was as if
she was talking to the whales.
The next day after school, I went down to
the beach to see if I could spot the strange child
again. I was looking for about half an hour
when suddenly I saw her sitting in a sun-filled
rockpool with a pretty w reath o f seaweed
attached to her small head. She was playing a
wooden whistle which exuded a beautiful
melody to some silky grey-spotted seals. The
girl was about ten feet away from me, and I
sprinted and leant down and touched the silky
cream hair with m y right hand. M y body went
ice cold and I nearly fainted. It was as if
someone had put a block o f ice straight down
the back o f m y shirt.
Next m orning G randfather was sitting on
the sofa smoking. I stopped in my tracks and
went over to him. "G randfather,” I said, “I saw
this girl down by the bay. She was singing to the
whales, playing tunes to the seals and wearing
wreaths o f seaweed. Who is she?”
“Well, I cannot think o f anyone it m ight be
except Lily," G randfather replied.
"W ho’s she?” I asked with interest.
"The daughter o f the sea god, Poseidon.
She was brought up by the dolphins, deadly to
any bare skin that should make contact with
her.”
O f course I did not believe this, but next
m orning when I woke up, m y right hand felt
numb. I looked and felt the hand. It was ice
cold, blue and shrivelled.
Amelia Townsend
I think that my special place is probably
my grandmother and grandfather’s drawing
room. I feel that it is really magical because
o f the effort they put into it to make it nice
when we come to stay.
My grandmother fluffs up the pillows,
dusts and hoovers even when it is already
looking fine. She only does it because she
really cares. My grandparents live in a cosy,
warm cottage and the drawing room
connects with the dining room. It is one very
long room.
I
think that I also love the room because
o f her fabulous food. She is an excellent
cook which is lovely because whenever we
stay there she always has a tremendous meal
ready for us.
Another reason why I like it is because
she stands with her arms opened wide, in the
doorway, to welcome us into her home. She
also places handfuls o f sweets and lots of
money into our hands because she is so
generous.
My garden is also special. There is a
secretive spot which is very secluded
because it is cut off from the rest of the
garden by a large group o f trees. It is lovely
for many reasons.
Firstly it is a sun-spot which means no
wind can make it cold and the sun will
always warm the ground up so I can lie in a
lovely area. I think this place is better than
my bedroom because out here I can find - as
well as some space to get away from my
brother and sister - peace and tranquillity. In
my bedroom I can only find space and not
silence.
Secondly when my room is no good to
have a lie-down in or to go to when I am
feeling upset because of the noise, the secret
spot is perfect to go to when I am unhappy.
It is also a really good place to go to when I
am happy because I can just relax.
Christian Lowe
Two French Views
I find France a wonderful country. If I
was better at their complicated language, I
might consider living there. I have been
over to France four or five times in my life
and each and every time the w eather has
been wonderful. I rem ember one time
when it was so hot that you could not walk
along the sand in bare feet, otherwise they
would get burned.
The French also have wonderful food
and a graceful way o f eating it. With a
daily diet o f bread, good cheeses, wines,
salads, meat and impeccable table
manners, it is so much more inviting than
the English way whereby we ju st stuff our
fatty foods down our mouths as fast as
possible.
France the country is almost a
paradise, with small villages dotted around
rolling fields and huge orchards full o f
fruit and vineyards with the grapes soaking
up the sun. The people who live in this
country are extremely pleasant and I am
not surprised because so is their homeland.
P e rse p h o n e J o h n sto n e -B u rt
Paddy Pearson
I think that France is a great place to
visit. Last year I went twice to France - on
The French Trip and biking with my
family and friends.
I love the French countryside because
it is so vast and open and I enjoyed many
o f the French specialities. We visited all
over The Dordogne Valley, visiting the
castles and all the spectacular views
included in our guide book.
The French are different from us as
their life style and habits are different. As
well as moving into the 21st century, they
have now managed to preserve their old
style o f doing things. They are very
passionate about their culture and still play
petanque in the day and still close all
shops at one to go to have lunch.
L loyd N ail
Jam es Edwards
38
Harry Young-Jamieson
The Small Black Box
Art & Literature
I was staying with my grandparents and was ju st going to the garden shed to get the
hoe when I saw a little black box perched on the shelf. I reached up to get it. When I
touched it I felt a shiver run uncomfortably through my body. I took it and ran into the
house. I went to my room. The box was made o f ebony with patterns set into it made of
ivory. 1 looked at it spellbound. It was beautiful.
Suddenly the bell for supper was rung and I was wakened from my trance. 1 went
downstairs and ate my supper, my grandparents chatting away about gardening. It was not
until coffee and After Eights that I spoke about the box. I asked my grandad, “Do you
know o f a black box in the garden shed?”
My grandfather shifted in his chair uneasily and my grandma gasped. “Yes, I do
Antonia, it has ivory on it.”
“Yes, yes, tell me about it Grandad, please, I ’ve found it!”
“It has magic within it,” said my grandad.
“And not nice magic at that,” broke in Grandma.
“It has a curse upon it and you must never open it. Now let’s speak no more o f it.”
In bed I took the box in my hands and opened it. The whole room fell suddenly pitch
black and freezing. Only the orange glow from a street lamp could be seen flickering. It
was very, very cold.
Next morning when I woke up, I looked outside and found there was frost
everywhere. I got up and went downstairs. My grandparents were already there.
“Every green plant has been killed in the frost,” sighed my grandad solemnly.
“And it’s July,” butted in Grandma.
“Get the box and bring it down here,” my grandfather whispered.
I ran up to get the box. I tried to shut it but it was stiff. Grandad said, “Get a hair from
your head and a bead from your necklace and put them inside. Then you can shut it.” I
did, and then I ran out o f the garden and slipped quietly into the neighbour’s garden and
hid the box in a hole in the nearest tree.
Elsie Newman
Olivia H ayw ood
Memories o f Death
Paddy Pearson
H.L.
The darkness made my head restlessly turn.
The Shiny stardust whirled and whirled shamefully.
Memories changed to make tears rain within me;
But this gnawed into my mind mournfully
I didn’t know how this would end but I knew
Only how it began when I felt the burn,
As the car w ounded me, and the pain grew,
Which left me dazed so my world was empty.
This was how I was left here to lie,
Out o f consciousness I slip many a time.
My eyes fluctuated when I tried to sleep.
Now tiring, though, my mouth quietly mimes,
Phrases o f sorrow, playing on my mind;
And now relaxation, all pain drifting high
Bright light around me. Leaving earth behind,
Just the Angels as those below weep.
Andrew M acDougall
H.L. is a Science teacher.
He is funny and smiley.
H.L.has a dog called Sam. The
thing I like about H.L. is that
he cares. H .L.’s Lab is big and
is filled with things like teddies
and skulls. You name
something and he has got it. At
the back o f his lab he has a
store room which we call
A laddin’s cave.
H.L. is not fat but plump in
his own way. Some times I
think H.L can never get angry,
I can’t wait to be taught by
him. H.L. is the best teacher in
the world.
L o m a Studholme
Peter Elliott
Holidays
The bad thing about
holidays is sometimes you get
bored.
The good thing about
holidays is you get a rest. You
can also if you want work at
home.
' The bad thing is when you
come back from holidays the
staff have to remind you about
everything.
Lucy M anning
Sophie Zajicek
39
Art & Literature
I like Art because it is fun and
constructive. I like it when you have just
finished your picture or whatever you
have made and it looks really good and
you feel pleased with yourself. The only
thing I ’m not very good at is drawing
normal people that you see every day. I’m
not very good at drawing horses though I
really enjoy drawing lizards and dragons
and fantasy things because I have quite a
good imagination. I enjoy imaginating
like dinosaurs coming back again and
living on earth with humans or finding
out that a dragon lives under the school
and then I have an idea to draw it!
James Harbord
40
Fanfare
1999-2000
William Day-Robinson
Antonia Fulton
42
_______________________________________________________________
Tiggy Johnstone-Bn
George Goldbel
E leanor Durant
Brittany H eal
Nathaniel Blackwood
Anika Heale
Fanfare
1999-2000
>
T
William Day-Robinson
Sam Jenks
Sophie Liddell-G rainger
Richard Yendle
Jam es Harris
William Newman
Robbie Campbell
A ntonia Fulton
Rollo Brooke
Ella Toynton
India Jacques
44
John Williams
Persephone Johnstone-Burt
Art & Literature
The Hate o f Schooling
A Grim Paper
Introductory note: this poem was set as an exercise,
using only seven letters as start-letters fo r each word.
I wrote this poem as a reminder as to what not to do in
Common-Entrance.
Exams are saddening and so exhilarating
They are so hard and ever so tiring
English, Science and H istory are the hardest
Everyone at scholarships -scholarshipping
Also arithmetic - adding and taking
As well as algebra - so extrem ely stupid
Trigonometry - so, so stupid
Adding two to three after eight is subtracted
I simply hate Turkish - so exhausting
Taught the supines, tripines and the adverbs
Habito this and habeo that
Adjectives agree - also the irregular surds
Above all I hate inscribing excellent tales
So tedious having a-c structures to rhym e
And syllable thingies - eight to ten, two to three
Trying to shape taxis to rhym e with slime.
D avid Palmer
“Your CE paper,” my grim French teacher said
I opened it and dreamed horrible grades
About grief, strife and tears. My eyes shone
I tried to remember, it was fading,
Faster and faster. My mind blank, then I knew.
That if I ’d learnt to pass, this I knew
And then I thought I knew, then it was gone.
I was 3 years past ten when I dug my grave
I ju st panicked and the brain was taut.
In Com m on-Entrance when my worst dread
came.
My Braincells flew as I quietly thought
Around the problem paper on the Desk
It was Impossible. All I should have
Done came back to me. Somewhere the bell
Rang, like a gunshot, fainted onto the table.
Harry Young-Jamieson
Julia Toynton
Love Poem
Alone at last m y heart is at peace,
Free from pain and sorrow,
Nobody can hurt me now I am solitary.
No nervous waiting.
To find out if, or why
Look!
Love is lying on the floor
A painful memory.
Love is left, slowly fading,
R oses w ithered on the floor.
Do I really deserve this torture?
Surely such love could never last forever?
L ove is a dem anding feeling.
M aybe a drop o f blood could sustain roses,
But not relationships.
L ove is hell.
Every aspect o f love is hell.
And yet.
Still I love and w ait’for happy days.
O ne can dream!
Alone.
L ove is the essence o f life, but,
F or it w e die.
Lizzie Painter
Freddie Burwell
The Fox
The fox awakens lying in its lair
W hilst outside the wind blows in the cold
evening air
Its ears prick up and its eyes become bright
A nd it surfaces from its lair into the dark cloudy
night.
Its sharp white teeth are the key
To secure its killing majesty.
Although now these features could go to waste
Because tonight poultry is within its taste
But this will be no easy kill
Because the farmer has the skill
To kill the fox with one prom inent blow
A nd so for now it must lie low
A nd so later on the mission will begin
Its incentive, the dinner it hopes to win.
It wanders silently across the farmyard
But slips, for the ground is too hard.
The farmer awakes, with him his gun
And looks for the culprit the fox must run.
The farmer starts to fire and fire again
The fox is almost safe, but suddenly, then
A well-aimed bullet hits his head.
And all was for nothing, the fox is dead.
Lloyd Nail
Seamus Crawford
A Poem
It seems like a dream.
Out in the garden today
The trees which were once so green,
Are so rich with colour; it seems like May.
The Oak tree has a Beautiful warm glow,
T here is the sun giving o ff so much light.
All the leaves are starting to show
The sun shines through the leaves, making them
bright.
The large, chestnut trees
Are all russet and brown,
And everywhere all the leaves
One by one flutter down.
As the evening sun shines through the leaves
The light begins to fade,
But soon it will be night again
And nothing will have changed.
Persephone Johnstone-Burt
Sophie Zajicek
\,
J
Sherborne School
Sherborne, Dorset,
DT9 3AP.
'Sherborne offers the best o f both worlds.'
All the advantages of single-sex teaching with many of the benefits of co-education
through strong links with the neighbouring girls' schools.
'Excellent Academ ic, M usic, A rt, D ram a, Technology, Careers an d Sports D epartm ents.
Im pressive facilities and board in g accom m odation, w ith a great em phasis on pastoral care'
For details of all Academic, Music, Art, and All-Rounder Awards, or to arrange a visit,
please contact the Registrar, Michael Cleaver.
Telephone: 01935 813242
Fax: 01935 817511
I
E-mail: enquiries@ sherborne.cix.co.uk
Internet: h ttp ://w w w .cix .co .u k /~ sh erb o rn e
Registered Charity Number 306219
\
r
Established 1962
P&J HOWELL
Fam ily Butcher
The Pannier Market, Tavistock
Telephone 612293, or 614453
Proud suppliers to m any catering establishm ents
= F r e e r e f r ig e r a t e d d e liv e r y
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W e are large enough to cope, small enough to care.
My Grandad’s Death
Paddy Pearson
Christmas
I woke up after hearing my bedroom door slam shut at about four o ’elock in the morning. I did
not even have to think, I knew it was Christmas morning! 1 dived towards m y red and white stocking
and wrenched open a few small presents. There w as a pot o f humbugs and a fake, black bug. This
was all that 1 needed for m y plan.
My two sisters, Veryan and M orwenna, are both sometimes extrem ely annoying but now I had
the chance to gain m y revenge!! I tiptoed into their bedroom with the fake bug and placed it right in
Veryan's hair. This was a fine plan I told m yself as I clim bed into m y com fortable, warm bed.
I was awakened by a high pitched scream w hich a steam train would have been proud to make.
They had obviously seen the bug.
L ater on in the morning at about eight o ’clock my parents woke up. All three o f us children
carried our stockings into their bedroom . Veryan im m ediately told them about my trick. I was
annoyed by this but since it w as Christm as I was still happy until my dad shouted at me really loudly.
“George is this true?”
“Yes, but it was a Christmas joke, ju st chill out, it is Christm as,” I said.
I could tell that this trick o f m ine w as not as good as it was planned. M y dad seized my stocking
saying how selfish and ignorant I was. Although it was Christm as I was still in loads o f trouble! Not
only did they take my stocking presents but also my presents from under the Christm as tree. I
deserved perhaps a small punishment but not a massive one. I was sent to my room and told not to
come out until tom orrow breakfast. Also I would not have any food!
I was crying m y eyes out just wishing that I could go back in time. I was given no lunch so I was
starving. I could smell turkey, roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy cooking then 1 realised I could not
go to our Christm as party!
At about five o ’clock I needed some food because I was so hungry. I slipped down the stairs
really quietly when I m et my dog, Milly. She was acting odd and m y cat was also acting
" uncharacteristically. I ran into our kitchen to collect some food.
“Happy Christm as,” everyone there in m y family said.
I was in shock! We all settled down to supper, this was lovely considering 1 had had no other
food, except then.
Everybody enjoyed that Christmas but me m ost o f all because 1 was given all o f my presents
back, and a few extra!!!
George Armstrong
47
M y grandad's death was the saddest and
loneliest day o f m y life so far. It shook me and
my family very m uch even though it was not a
great surprise. It happened in the holidays about
two days after m y fam ily and I had com e back
from ski-ing.
M y grandad had been at death’s door for
some time now, continually becom ing ill,
mostly recovering, but this one time he seemed
to alm ost be dead already. I saw him the day
before his death and he looked ghastly. His eyes
were slits and were sunken back into his misty
grey-coloured face. He was very thin and the
skin was stretched over his cheek bones, making
his face look like a skull. He w asn’t talking but
tried to feebly smile and wink at me, like he so
often did not so long ago. I wanted to go as I
felt uneasy, so I said goodbye and prom ised to
com e back the next day. It had shocked me so
m uch to see him like that, that I thought there
m ight not be a next day.
The following day was a Saturday and I
woke up early and tried to get to sleep but it was
no use. So I hauled m yself out o f bed and
traipsed downstairs to make m yself some
breakfast. It was my father who found me first
and I knew by the look on his face that
som ething was terribly wrong. He tried to, in
the softest possible way, tell me that my grandad
had died but I knew even before he had finished
what he was trying to say, and I rushed upstairs
to change, then ran down to m y grandm a’s
house, in through the door, up the stairs and
stopped outside the bedroom. Gathering m yself
together, I opened the door. Inside were
assem bled m y mum, my cousins, aunt and
uncle, and in the centre was my grandma
standing next to m y grandad’s bed with tears in
her eyes, but she m anaged a smile when she saw
me.
M y grandad was m uch the same as before
except his eyes were shut and all expressions of
life were gone from his face. It was horrible. I
stayed there for ten minutes, then my grandma
thanked me for coming, kissed me and said I
needn’t stay. So I left and as soon as I left the
house I ran as fast as I could down to the beach
where I could clear m y head.
M y thoughts on the beach were a mixture
betw een good and bad. Thoughts like ‘I would
never see him again' and ‘I w asn’t able to say
goodbye’ but then I thought at least he was
happier now; now that he was out o f his pain.
He died in his sleep, the nicest way possible,
what better could 1 wish for him? I was the only
person on the beach and that helped as I wanted
to be alone. Even though I felt more lonely than
ever before in my entire life, it still helped.
I wandered up and down the beach with no
real perception o f time and after two hours
passed I decided to return home. There I found
no real difference than before, as my m um was
still comforting my grandma, my dad was
working and m y brother and sister were
watching TV. W hen I entered the room and sat
down in a chair beside the fire, neither my
brother or my sister said anything but the same
feeling was written on both their faces. It had
been a bad day and one that I will never forget.
A lick M ildmav- White
Fanfare
1999-2000
V)
73
O
Mount House School Rugby
1st X V Rugby
This season the school has, once again, run eight teams, with
sides taking the field at U9, U10, U l l , U12, and U13 level.
The U9s took pride o f place among the junior teams. The A
team won two tournam ents and lost only two out o f their twenty
one matches. Not to be outdone, the B team was undefeated in
eleven matches, and won both o f the tournaments in which it took
part.
The U1 Is enjoyed a wonderful end to its rugby season with a
tour to the Channel Islands for a tournament run by St M ichael’s,
Jersey. Fellow visitors, Bedford School and Colston’s Collegiate,
proved difficult opposition, but the hosts and Victoria College,
Jersey, were both well beaten.
In the senior school, the 2nd XV was undefeated and the 1st
XV reached the finals o f the National Prep Schools XV a side
Tournament. In the finals, played at Harrow School, the 1st XV
lost only one match and was a worthy winner o f the Plate Trophy.
Rob M orse
Results
Christmas 1999-Easter 2000
played
won
d raw n
lost
for
against
1st XV
14
9
0
5
454
135
Regional Winners o f U l i National Prep Schools Tournament
National XVs
Plate Winners
5
3
1
1
51
21
Sedbergh XVs
Quarter Finalists
4
2
1
1
60
21
1st VII
29
16
0
Semi Finalists, Clayesmore Sevens;
Quarter Finalists, Bryanston Sevens
13
396
409
114
63
2nd VII
8
4
1 3
Finalists, Clayesmore Sevens 2nd VII Tournament
2nd XV
6
6
0
0
197
12
100% season, beating The Downs 43-0, and Exeter Cathedral
1st X V 15-0
3rd XV
Beat The Downs
Colts A XII
Jersey Tour
3
1
0
2
24
35
12
5
6
3
0
0
6
2
133
54
218
52
2
47
29
Colts VII
3
1 0
Plate Winners-Plymouth College Sevens
Colts B XII
8
2
0
6
59
174
U10
1
1
0
0
10
5
Unbeaten season, inflicting Plymouth College s only home defeat
o f the season
U9 A
19
15
2
2
310
Winners ofW olborough H ill and M ount House tournaments
entered this term
55
U 9B
11
10
1
0
215
20
Unbeaten season, winners ofW olborough H ill & S t M ich a el’s,
Tawstock U9 Tournaments
Total
48
128
79
43
2124
1249
The 1999 season began with much anticipation. With a large
number o f players with 1st team experience returning to the sixth
form, and a few very talented players coming through from last
season’s successful Colts XII, hopes were high. With this in mind,
the domestic fixture list was extended to include sides such as
Abberley Hall from W orcestershire, M owden Hall from the North,
and Bedford School from the East Midlands. In addition, we
entered the National Preparatory Schools XV-a-Side competition
which was to take place on a Regional footing with the top teams
from each area qualifying for the National Finals at Harrow
School in the Easter Term. The 1999 XV looked good on paper
and with such a demanding stream o f opponents we would soon
see if the players could live up to these expectations.
The season started with a trip to Sedbergh School for a XV-aSide competition, w hich saw M ount House produce an excellent
set o f performances. Throughout the tournament there was an
obvious improvement in the standard o f rugby that we played and
the team became much more closely-knit. Wins against
Cressbrook, Red House and a very hard fought 0-0 draw against
The Downs saw us go through to the quarter finals as group
winners, whereupon we were drawn against a powerful Durham
Choristers team who put us out o f the competition.
The return from Sedbergh saw us play Sandroyd who gave us
, a very stem examination and, although M ount House was always
comfortable with the ball in hand we never really made our
possession count and eventually ran out winners by five points to
nil.
The first domestic match o f the season saw us pitted against
Taunton School and the team produced an exceptional
performance with three tries in the first ten minutes. Powerful
rucking provided the backs with excellent possession and the
quality o f three-quarter play was some o f the best that I have seen
at this level. Two further tries saw M ount House 34 points up at
h alf time. Four more tries were added, with only one in reply
completing a 54-7 victory.
We then undertook our second away trip o f the season, a
demanding two matches on consecutive days versus Abberley Hall
and M owden Hall.
This was a very disappointing pair o f results as we were more
than capable o f winning both matches. The side was slow to start
and in each m atch gifted the opposition a try within the first five
minutes. This gave the other team the initiative and made it very
difficult for us to gain any control over the game.
It would be over critical to suggest that the side did not seem
to ‘want the b all’ enough but some lackadaisical tackling and sub­
standard rucking saw us come o ff second best on the physical side
o f the game. On a positive note, however, there were some
excellent passages o f play; the backs shone in the early phases of
each game and Alex C ater’s superb solo try against Mowden Hall
deserves a special mention.
Upon returning from Abberley Hall the team was faced with a
tough decision; they had lost two matches that they knew that they
should have won, and it would have been an easy option to
become negative and wallow in self-pity. It is to their immense
credit, therefore, that they trained with much enthusiasm and this
was repaid in the next fixture against K ing’s Hall. Powerful
forward play in both the set piece and in the loose provided the
backs with quick ball and the resulting three-quarter play was a
pleasure to watch. The team produced an excellent performance,
full o f pride and commitment and it thoroughly deserved the 53-0
victory.
Bedford was our next opponent, and we were the meat in a
‘Sandwich Tour’ that saw them play M illfield on the way down to
the Southwest and C olston’s on the return. John W illiams stepped
up to the fly-half position, as Alex Cater was unavailable, and
played with exceptional maturity. Despite losing by two scores to
nil (12-0) this was one o f our best efforts o f the season. Facing an
enormous pack, containing two 11 stone props, the Mount House
Fanfare 1999-2000
1st X V (continued)
forwards played with huge determination and all 15 players
deserve a great deal o f praise for the way in w hich they refused
to lie down. Mr Godwin, the Bedford Headmaster, was
enormously impressed by the spirit shown.
The team now faced the biggest test o f the season in their
eyes. As a relative newcomer to the M HS-W HS local derby I
had no idea that the Mount House team were in such awe o f their
rivals in Newton Abbot. Talk o f the m atch started at least a week
in advance and, as matchday approached, the boys were already
preparing themselves for a physical onslaught o f All-Black
proportions. In all honesty we managed to lose the game rather
than Wolborough winning it. We were by far the better team on
the pitch, and managed to run them ragged without converting
pressure into points. As soon as W olborough scored, our heads
went down and we allowed them to take a firm grip on the game.
It is sad that we will not face them at Under 13 level again as we
must learn that each team is level until you set foot on the pitch;
talking up, or even down, one’s opponents serves little good, and
often leads to a less than satisfactory performance.
The XV once again managed to bounce back from a
disappointing effort and this time St Peter’s was put to the sword.
A confident St Peter’s team took the field expecting a resounding
victory but was soon brought to their senses as M ount House
rattled off three tries in the opening quarter. Testament to the
open style o f rugby played was that the tries were scored right
through the team from prop to full-back. Ten tries were scored in
total and the team displayed a tactical awareness that had
hitherto been lacking.
Saturday 13th N ovem ber saw the resumption o f fixtures
against Hazlegrove House. The visitors possessed a very large
49
and powerful pack, which made life in the scrum and lineout
very difficult for our own forwards. It is all the more
impressive, therefore, that the team ‘rolled up their sleeves’
and got on with the job; rucking and mauling with huge
determination and pushing Hazlegrove onto the back foot.
Having secured quality possession. M ount House wasted
no time in tearing into the opposition three-quarters, with
Crawford and Pickard proving more than a handful for the
opposition centres. Although the two teams were relatively
closely matched in terms o f skill and power, the real difference
between the two teams was the way in which Mount House
communicated and co-operated with each other. It was a
pleasure to see all fifteen players combining together;
supporting the ball carrier, helping out in defence and, above
all, talking to each other throughout the game. Mount House
ran out victors to the tune o f 32 points to 5.
The following W ednesday we travelled to St M ichael’s,
Tawstock. To w in away at St M ichael’s is a very difficult task
- to come away victorious by a margin o f 26 points is
testam ent to the positive way in which we took on the
opposition.
In cold and damp conditions St M ichael’s stuck to a
kicking game and much praise must go to full-back Freddie
Cunningham, who dealt with some very difficult kicks with
comparative ease.
'Despite looking second best in the early minutes o f the
game, the M ount House forwards soon started to ruck with
enthusiasm. This provided quality possession for the backs to
use and the three-quarters scored all five tries. This is in no
way to the detriment o f the forwards who worked with
Fanfare
1999-2000
U)
"U
o
50
1st X V (continued)
enormous enthusiasm and laid the foundations upon which the
backs were able to build. In short, this was a pleasing victory in
difficult conditions brought about by all fifteen players working
together as a team and forming a unit that was worth much more
than ‘merely the sum o f the parts’.
The XV continued its confident, almost arrogant style of
rugby by posting sixty points against a young Sherborne team,
before facing one o f the toughest matches o f the season; an away
fixture against The Downs.
Having already beaten Caldicott this season, The Downs was
very confident that it would improve on the 0-0 draw that we had
fought out at Sedbergh in the early season. It was very generous o f
Mount House to give them a helping hand, and a few mistakes as
the side ‘got the journey out o f their system ' cost us dear. We soon
found ourselves twelve points down. Earlier in the season, faced
with this situation, I am sure that M ount House would have
crumbled and it is to their credit that it came back at The Downs to
regain the lead by half-time. Mount House continued to play the
better rugby after the break and, despite some disruptions on the
pitch, was unlucky not to extend its lead when it had a try
disallowed for a forward pass.
With twelve minutes remaining M ount House led 13-12 and
suffered a huge blow when Alex Cater was injured and unable to
carry on. With no replacement to fill the gap, The Downs
exploited the situation, spinning the ball along the line and using
the extra man to score in the comer. They added a further try with
the last play o f the match.
Although it was disappointing to lose the match, it was clear
to the Mount House parents who were watching that we played the
game in the correct spirit. On no occasion did we result to unfair
play or retaliation and, in my opinion, this is as important, if not
more important, than the result.
The start o f the Easter Term saw M ount House playing St
M ichael’s at home and the team showed that it had not lost its
competitive edge over the Christmas break. Eight tries (including
four from Elliott Pickard) and four conversions amounted to a
pleasing afternoon’s work, and at the final whistle the scoreboard
read fifty-three points to five.
Having already played St M ichael’s twice in the season, one
can imagine our surprise when notification came through that
Mount House had been drawn against none other than St
M ichael’s Tawstock in the Southwest Regional Final o f the
National Preparatory Schools Knockout Competition.
The game was to be played on a neutral venue and we are
greatly indebted to K ing’s College Taunton for hosting the fixture.
Goalposts were moved to shorten the 1st XV pitch to prep school
size, refreshments were laid on in style for players and supporters
alike, signposts erected to point supporters in the right direction,
and the referee conducted the game in exactly the right spirit.
To cap it all, reports had been filtering down from Tawstock
that St M ichael’s was confident o f reversing the earlier results and
Morse, Whaley and Symons were a little apprehensive that the
Mount House boys were looking a little over confident. We need
not have worried as they produced simply the best rugby o f the
season. Powerful forward play in both the set piece and in the
loose provided the backs with quick ball and the resulting threequarter play was simply breathtaking. M ount House produced
some fluid, fifteen-man rugby that proved too much for St
M ichael’s to handle, and after scoring twice in the first nine
minutes the result was never in doubt.
Ten tries were scored in total, and 1 was proud to be associated
with the team as it matched its performance on the pitch with its
conduct after the match.
The season was brought to a close on the weekend o f the 11th
and 12th o f March when we travelled to Harrow on the Hill (via
the M illfield Sevens) to contest the final o f the National XV-aSide Knockout.
The finals o f this competition were played in two groups o f
four teams. Josca’s Prep from Abingdon, Oxfordshire was
defeated 12-0 in the first m atch and then the XV drew 7-7 with
Cumnor House from Surrey. In a bruising final group match the
XV lost to Crossfields from Reading 0-14.
These results meant that we would, as runners up in the group,
contest The Plate Competition. The semi-final saw us drawn
against our old rivals, St M ichael’s, Tawstock and, for the fourth
time in the season, we won comfortably, 17-0. In the final, the XV
played outstanding rugby to win The Plate, beating Josca’s Prep,
for a second time, by 15-0. Seamus Crawford, 1st XV captain,
received the trophy from former England Captain, Roger Uttley.
The Team
I can only say that I am pleased that I didn’t have to pack
down against the front row o f Paddy Pearson, Tom Heal and
Lloyd Nail. They provided a sure foundation upon which the
whole o f our play was built. Equally devastating in the loose they
could be relied upon to roll up their sleeves when there was work
to be done. They were ably supported, often quite literally by Alex
Nail and John Hawkins, who, when they were not injuring our
own team, were a formidable pairing, supplying a constant source
o f line-out possession, and rucking, and mauling, with vigour.
The back row o f James Downie, Andrew MacDougall and
Luke Dale-Harris were both robust and efficient and could always
(well almost always) be relied upon to be first to the breakdown.
They also worked hard on their handling skills and were often on
hand to ensure the continuity o f a move if it began to breakdown.
1st X V (continued)
Stuart Smyth settled into the serum -half berth with ease and as
his confidence grew, so did his game. Content in the early stages
to pass the ball 99 times out o f a 100 he began to execute box
kicks and make the occasional break, which kept the opposition
back row on their toes. Stuart had two outside halves during the
season. The first, Alex Cater could kick o ff both feet, pass o ff both
hands and had a keen eye for a break. It was, therefore, all the
more amazing to see John Williams take over the no. 10 jersey
whilst in his fifth form and play with an air o f authority and
maturity that belied his years.
The centre pairing o f Seamus Crawford and Elliott Pickard
was quite remarkable in that they complemented each other
perfectly. Seamus, who captained the side with a great degree o f
maturity, was always able to pick an excellent line o f running and
timed his pass exquisitely. Elliott, on the other hand, was a
fantastically elusive runner, often running him self into trouble
before swivelling his hips and finding a way out again.
With William Dawson on one wing and James Tuckett on the
other the team possessed a real pair o f flyers. Diminutive in
stature, yet gigantic in determination, they posed problems to all
opposition in both attack and defence.
After a slightly shaky start Freddie Cunningham made the
no. 15 jersey his own. His handling improved considerably as the
season wore on and he could always be relied upon to give o f his
best.
George Armstrong, James Batchelor, and Harry YoungJamieson all competed for places in the side and in other years
would have secured a 1st XV position. I am sure that each o f them
has a sound future in the game. Luke Heracleous, Stuart Heale,
Chris O ’Brien, and David Watkins all made their debuts whilst in
the fifth form and I would like to think that they will be influential
players in next y ear’s XV.
Looking back on the season, it seems to me that there are
rather too many matches which fall into the ‘w ould have, could
have, should have’ category. All too often we let teams o ff the
hook when they should have been dispatched earlier on in the
game. Lack o f concentration, rather than physical ability, was to
blame on the majority o f occasions and this was most obvious
when we travelled away from home. W ith the exception o f the
match against Bedford School we won every home match played,
often by fifty points or more. Away from home, however, when
the surroundings were less fam iliar and comfortable, w e recorded
only two wins out o f a possible six.
That said, it must be recognized that this team played a great
many fixtures against schools that are both much larger than
Mount House, and do not form part o f the usual fixture list. It is
easy to record a season full o f wins if you play only against teams
that are smaller or weaker than yourselves. In order to progress,
both as an individual and as a team, one m ust go out and pit
oneself against the best there is to offer. It is only by playing these
teams that we will improve.
Finally I would like to thank all that played, coached and
supported the 1st XV throughout the year. I can only hope that you
enjoyed the season as much as I did.
Rob Morse
Results
vs. Cressbrook
won 17-0
tries: J. Hawkins, J. Downie, G. Armstrong, conversions: E Pickard
vs. Red House
won 38-0
tries: S. Crawford 3, T. Heal, A. Cater, conversions: E Pickard 4
vs. The Downs
drawn 0-0
vs. Durham Choristers
try: J. Hawkins
lost 5-21
vs. Sandroyd
try: Crawford
won 5-0
vs. Taunton
won 54-7
tries: W. Dawson (3), Crawford (2), T. Heal, S. Heale, L. Nail, E.
Pickard, J. Downie; conversions: Cater, Pickard
vs. Abberley
try: S. Crawford
vs. Mowden Hall
tries: A. Cater, G. Armstrong; conversion :E Pickard
lost 15-5
lost 21-12
vs. King’s Hall
won 53-0
tries: W. Dawson (2), Crawford (2), A. Cater (2), S. Heale, A.
MacDougall, L. Dale Harris; conversions: A. Cater (4)
vs. Bedford School
lost 0-12
vs. Wolborough Hill
lost 17-27
tries: W. Dawson, S. Crawford, P. Pearson; conversion: J. Williams
vs. St Peter’s won 58-0
tries: E. Pickard (3), J. Hawkins (2) J. Downie(2), L. Nail, P. Pearson,
G. Armstrong; conversions: A. Cater (4)
vs. Hazlegrove House
tries: E. Pickard (2), J. Downie, S. Smyth, A. Cater;
conversions: A. Cater (2); penalty: A. Cater
vs. St Michael’s
tries: S. Crawford (2), J. Tuckett, S. Smyth, A. Cater;
conversions A. Cater (4)
won 32-5
won 33-7
vs. Sherborne Prep
won 60-0
tries: S. Crawford (2) A. Nail (2), J. Tuckett (2), E. Pickard (2),
S. Smyth, A. Cater; conversions: A. Cater (4), J. Williams
vs. The Downs
tries: James Tuckett, William Dawson; penalty: Alex Cater
lost 13-22
vs. St Michael’s
won 53-5
tries: E. Pickard (4), W. Dawson (2), S. Crawford, J. Tuckett,
L. Dale-Harris
SW Regional Final
tries: J. Tuckett, L. Dale-Harris, T. Heal, J. Downie; cons: A. Cater (7)
vs. St Michael’s
tries: E. Pickard (3), S. Smyth (2), S. Crawford
won 64-14
The National Preparatory Schools Finals at Harrow School
vs. Josca’s Prep
won 12-0
vs. Cumnor House
drawn 7-7
vs. Crossfields
lost 0-14
Second place in Group
Plate Competition
Semi Final
vs. St Michael’s
won 17-0
Final
vs. Josca’s Prep
won 15-0
1 9 9 9-20 0 0
(/>
TJ
O
2nd X V
It was a pleasure to be associated with this y ear's 2nd XV who were
as dedicated and enthusiastic a group o f individuals as ever represented the
school. Young and keen to learn, several won call-ups to the 1st XV, and
always perform ed well.
The 2nd XV w on every one o f their games, playing an exciting
running and passing game. This enabled all members o f the team to enjoy
an active part in the m atches and resulted in the team scoring thirty three
tries and conceding only two.
Taunton Prep 2nd XV 0, M ount H ouse 2nd XV 31
An experienced pack and young enthusiastic backs proved to be an
irresistible com bination in this opening fixture for the 2nd XV. Good
support and excellent handling saw the team cross the opposition line three
times before half-time. A 19-0 lead proved well beyond Taunton’s reach,
despite a better second h alf performance. Two more tries saw the team
safely hom e by a clear margin.
M ount House tries were scored by John W illiams (2), Christian Lowe,
Neil Hargreaves and George Clarke, a newcom er to M ount House and the
gam e o f rugby this term. John Williams kicked three conversions to cap an
outstanding afternoon at fly- half.
Only Christian L ow e’s broken collar bone, which was to end his
season, m arred an otherwise excellent start to the term.
Exeter C athedral School 1st XV 0, M ount H ouse 2nd XV 15
Taking on 1st X V opposition is always a difficult task and this match
was no exception. A tough forward battle was gradually won by a young
Mount House pack that relished the challenge allowing flanker David
Watkins to open the scoring ju st before half-time.
The second h a lf saw M ount House gain control and it w as no surprise
when further scores were added by Freddie Cunningham and Neil
Hargreaves. Andrew M acDougall, Chris O ’Brien and Jam es Killingbeck
all put in excellent perform ances to m aintain the X V ’s 100% record.
K ing’s Hall, Taunton 2nd XV 5 M ount House 2nd XV 14
This was the m ost difficult m atch played by the 2nd XV this term.
52
However, despite strong opposition, the pack scrumm aged and rucked to
good effect and the backs looked threatening every tim e they ran with the
ball. Handling and support play was o f a very high standard, with David
Watkins, Edward Tuckett and Jam es Killingbeck all enjoying good games.
Captain Neil Hargreaves kept up his record o f scoring in every game,
and Jam es Tuckett made a welcom e return after injury with the try that
guaranteed a deserved win.
M ount H ouse 2nd XV 83 St Peters, Lym pstone 0
This m atch quickly deteriorated into a mism atch with three tries
scored in the first four m inutes o f the game. Twelve substitutions all but
changed the XV into the 3rd XV, but the tries kept com ing until the referee
called an early halt to the game. Tries were scored by N eil Hargreaves 2,
John W illiams 2, Jonathan Hare, D om inic Harding, Andrei Koranteng,
Jam es Killingbeck, David Watkins, A lexander Love, Edward Tuckett,
George Clarke, Rory Cum ming and Tristan Coulshaw.
M ount H ouse 2nd XV 12 Hazlegrove House 2nd XV 7
A fter the previous w eek’s huge win, the 2nd XV came back to earth
with a bump. This was a rough, tough m atch from beginning to end.
Neither pack could gain the upper hand, but the better running and passing
skills o f the M ount House backs saw w inger George Clarke cross for two
tries. John W illiams added a conversion to put M ount House 12-0 up. The
visitors produced a spirited response, but their single try in the last minutes
could not deny the hom e side a deserved, if narrow win.
M ount House 2nd XV 43 The Downs, W raxall 2nd XV 0
This was the final gam e o f the term for the 2nd XV who were fired up
to protect their 100% record. Their opponents from Bristol have an
enviable reputation and the match was anticipated as a real challenge. That
threat never m aterialized as the hom e forwards destroyed the visitors pack.
With M ount House dom inating every area o f play, the tries soon began
to flow. Outstanding rucking and superb handling brought tries for James
Batchelor, John W illiams, N eil Hargreaves and George Armstrong, giving
the hom e side a com fortable 24-0 h a lf time lead.
2nd X V (continued)
3rd X V
The second half saw more tries for Jam es Batchelor and George
Armstrong, while the scoring was finished o ff with a score under the posts
by Stuart Heale. John Williams kicked four conversions.
The first game o f the season took place at K ing’s Hall, Taunton,
whose 3rd XV was very strong this year. M ount House produced plenty o f
effort - especially A lex Love and Andrew Stone (who were the best
forwards throughout the season) but we did not win enough 50/50
possession and the three quarters were a little too tentative. The final score
was 26-0 to K ing’s Hall.
A month later we travelled to Hazlegrove House - a new fixture at
this level - and produced a much more fluid display in a game that could
have gone either way. Three o f the chosen XV went down with illness on
the day o f the gam e and so a 12-0 reverse was no disgrace at all. It was
great to see both David Cowgill and Mary Bridger - as well as several
parents o f the boys in the team - at the match. All present thought that a
draw would have been a fairer result.
The final game was a real trium ph for the team - a win against The
Downs is always a good result, but a 24-0 win was a super performance.
The determ ination to win was there right from the first whistle and it was a
real team effort. Jonathan Hare was an inspiration at fly half and registered
14 points, but this was only possible due to the support supplied by the rest
o f the team.
An excellent way to round o ff the season.
John Symons
The Record
Played 6
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
Won 6
Drawn 0
Taunton Prep School 2nd XV
Exeter Cathedral School 1st XV
K ing's Hall, Taunton 2nd XV
St Peters, Lympstone 2nd XV
Hazlegrove House 2nd XV
The Downs, Wraxall 2nd XV
Lost 0
For 197
(A)
(A)
(A)
(H)
(H)
(H)
W
W
w
w
w
w
Against
31
15
14
83
12
43
-0
-0
-5
-0
-7
-0
Tries: Hargreaves 6, W illiams 5, Clarke 4, Arm strong 2, Batchelor 2, Hare
2, Coulshaw, Cumming, Cunningham, Harding, Heale, Koranteng,
Killingbeck, Love, Lowe, Tuckett E., Tuckett J., Watkins.
(above)
Conversions: Williams 13, Hare 3.
Jonathan Banyard
The Record
The following boys played regularly for the 2nd XV:
Edward Tuckett, Rory Cumming, George Clarke, Jam es Killingbeck,
Dominic Harding, John Williams, Neil Hargreaves (capt), James
Batchelor, Chris O ’Brien, Alexander Tobey, John Yeomans, Stuart Heale,
Andrei Koranteng, David Watkins, Harry Young-Jamieson.
The following also appeared for the 2nd XV:
David Daly, Andrew Stone, Edward Jaquiery, Christian Lowe,
Andrew MacDougall, Freddie Cunningham , Luke Heracleous, Alexander
Love, Tristan Coulshaw, Freddie Burwell, Jonathan Hare, David Palmer,
Fenton Bailey, Beau Fraser, Jack Rangeley, Hisham Hijazi, James
Edwards, George Armstrong.
■ Played 3
Won 1
Drawn 0
Lost 2
For 24
Against 37
Squad: A. Stone (Captain), T. Cuckson, C. Hanney,
T. Coulshaw, A. M ildmay-W hite, T. Emerson, J. Hare,
E. Tuckett, M. Creber, H. Hijazi, P. Elliott, P. Liddell-Grainger, C. Gilling,
J. Edwards, A. Love, J. Ward, F. Burwell, F. Bailey, E. Jaquiery.
J. Rangeley, R. Brooke, D. Palmer, D. Daly, B. Fraser.
Tries: Hare 2, Love, Stone.
Conversions: Hare 2.
Fanfare
1999-2000
(/)
"O
O
1st VII
The Sevens year began in customary
fashion with a visit to Dorset for the
Clayesmore Sevens. A gloriously sunny day
and firm pitches ideally suited the type o f rugby
the 1st VII was looking to play.
The team was an experienced one, w ith six
o f the team having played the previous year.
The afternoon went well and the VII gave one
o f the best exhibitions o f attacking rugby
produced by a school VII for many years.
Handling, running and passing were all o f the
highest quality and all seven players contributed
to the 28 tries which the team scored in its 6
matches.
Although there were weaknesses in
defence, this was a very pleasing start to the
term ’s rugby.
Group Matches
vs. Aldro
L
17-39
vs. Hazlegrove
W
22- 5
vs. Clayesmore
W
48- 7
vs. Blundell’s
w
36- 0
vs. Old Malthouse
w
34-12
Semi Final
vs. The Downs
L
5-31
Tries: Pickard 10, Crawford 9, H eal 5, Downie,
Cater, Nail A., Armstrong
Conversions: Pickard 9. Cater 2
To finish o ff the Christm as Term the VII
returned to Dorset for the Bryanston Sevens.
Again the VII played technically excellent
sevens. This was sufficient to win their group,
although all the games were close.
Unfortunately, the quarter-finals pitched the VII
against a large Welsh com prehensive school
whose players were considerably older and
stronger than ours. Inevitably, a tired VII was
well beaten. Though it was good to note that the
VII had beaten all prep school opposition, there
rem ained the lingering doubt that, skilful though
they were, this team w as not mentally tough
enough when the chips w ere down.
Group Matches
vs. Hazlegrove House
W
vs. K ing’s, W inchester
W
vs. St Cyres
W
Q uarter Final
vs. W hitchurch
L
Tries: Crawford 3, Dawson W.2.
Conversions: Pickard 4
14- 7
12- 5
7- 0
0-36
The first tournam ent o f the Easter Term was
the Port Regis Sevens in Dorset. Persistent rain
leading up to the tournament m eant heavy
ground. Such conditions were a m ajor problem
for this y ear’s lightweight team w hich included
several boys som e 30 kgs under the weight
limit!
That said, the VII played with great skill
against a large C olston’s VII in the opening
match. Their coach congratulated us ‘for
playing them o ff the park’, but two missed
tackles saw Colston’s large w inger escape for
the tries w hich won the match. Elliott Pickard’s
outstanding try in reply w as probably the best
individual effort o f the year. A com fortable win
over Sherborne follow ed, but a poor
perform ance against the hosts, when we lost our
shape and again m issed crucial tackles, saw the
team out o f the m ain com petition. In the battle
for m inor places the VII played well to beat St
M ichael’s, Tawstock and Blundell’s with
som ething to spare.
54
Group Matches
I
5-14
vs. Colston’s Collegiate
W
vs. Sherborne Prep
26- 0
L
10-26
vs. Port Regis
8th/9th/10th place play-off
vs. St M ichael’s, Tawstock W
19- 5
w
19- 0
vs. Blundell’s
Tries: Pickard 5, Crawford 3, H eal 3,
Dawson W., D ownie
Conversions: Pickard 4, H eal 2, Crawford
A fine afternoon and firm pitches made it a
pleasure to be at The D ow ns’ Sevens in early
Spring. The group m atches were all difficult in
their different ways. Danes Hill were a sim ilar
team to ourselves: small, w ell drilled and
skilful. One m issed tackle cost us the game.
C heltenham were bigger than us, but a more
com m itted, physical perform ance saw the VII to
a good victory. St John’s, Beaum ont was very
m uch bigger and better than we, and
com fortably brushed us aside.
In the Plate w e played badly enough to
wrench defeat from the jaw s o f victory, going
down to Wycliffe, thanks to a ‘golden try ’ in
extra time.
G roup Matches
vs. Danes Hill
vs. Cheltenham
vs. St John's, Beaumont
Plate
vs. Wycliffe
Tries: Crawford 3, Pickard
Conversions: P ickard
L
W
L
0- 5
12- 5
0-29
L
10-15
The M illfield Sevens this year clashed with
the Finals o f the N ational Prep Schools XVs
Tournament, which were played on the
follow ing day. Rather than pull out o f this
splendid competition, it was decided to enter a
team made up m ostly o f 2nd VII players.
N ot surprisingly the boys, m ostly U12s,
found the group matches very demanding. Their
results, however, put them into the Colin
A tkinson Trophy, which they went on to win
w ith victories over M onm outh and Rokeby.
Group Matches
vs. M illfield
L
0-42
vs. Wycliffe
L
5-12
vs. Greshams
L
0-39
vs. W olborough Hill
L
0-20
Colin Atkinson Trophy
vs. M onm outh
W
14-5
vs. Rokeby
W
10-5 (aet)
Tries: Clarke, Crawford, Downie, Heale S.,
Tuckett J.
Conversions: Crawford 2
For many boys the National Prep Schools’
Sevens represents their final chance to play for
M ount House before going on to senior school.
This year the ten man squad com prised five
leavers, and five who will be with us next year.
As ever, the two days o f the National
Sevens were remarkable. To be part o f a festival
celebrating seven-a-side rugby, along with 500
schools is a not-to-be-forgotten experience. Old
Boys were noticeable in the quarter finals o f the
Festival with Ben Davies and Charlie Harris
representing Sherborne, and Clive Jennings
playing for K ing’s College, Taunton. Oliver
D ick w as also playing with Radley. Andrew
Bridger and Peter Franklin both reached the
knock-out stage o f the Colts Tournament with
Sherborne.
The group m atches followed a familiar
pattern: one com petent display, against Aysgarth
from Yorkshire; one abject performance against
Highfield from Hampshire; and an exhilarating
display o f seven-a-side that overwhelmed
Rokeby. Ball w atching and lack o f
com m unication w ere the main reasons for the
failure to reach the knock-out stage. At no time
did the V II’s skills drop below the high standard
they have shown all year.
Group M atches
vs. Aysgarth
vs. Highfield
vs. Rokeby
W
L
W
26-12
7-28
38- 5
Tries: Pickard 4, Crawford 3, Heale 2, Downie,
Williams
Conversions: Williams 5, Pickard 2,
Cunningham
(continued, opposite)
2nd VII
The 2nd VII got few chances to
perform this year and this proved a pity for
they were an entertaining and effective
unit. Rugged 1st XV forwards combined
well with small, elusive backs who
handled well, no matter the conditions.
The Clayesmore Sevens was played in
perfect conditions and the VII ran in ten
tries in their group games and then added
six more for good measure in their SemiFinal against Blundell’s. The Final was a
much tougher affair and the VII came
second best to a good Aldro side.
Group Matches
vs: Chafyn Grove
vs. Colstons
Semi Final
vs. Blundells
W
W
36-0
22-0
W
32-0
Final
vs. Aldro
L
0-17
Tries: Williams J. 5, Dawson W. 3, Smyth 3,
H awkins 2, M acD ougall 2, Cunningham F.
C onversions: Williams J. 4, Cunningham F.
In order to peek into the future, it was
decided that the 2nd VII at The Downs
Sevens would contain only U12s. This
meant that while the VII might be a little
underpowered, the competition would be
an ideal test for their organizational and
personal skills.
The Downs fielded a team which
contained older and more powerful players
and who were too strong for the VII.
However, a narrow defeat against Port
Regis, an excellent draw against Caldicott
and an exciting win over Clifton made this
a worthwhile and successful experiment.
The future o f Seven-a-side rugby at
Mount House would appear, on this
showing, to be in good hands.
Group Matches
vs. The Downs
vs. Port Regis
vs. Caldicott
vs. Clifton
L
L
D
W
5-24
7 - 12
5- 5
7- 5
Tries: Cumming, Killingbeck, Heal,
Cunningham F.
C onversions: H eal 2
John Symons & Rob M orse
The following boys played for the 2nd Vll:
N eil Hargreaves, John Williams, William
Dawson, John Hawkins, A ndrew MacDougall,
Stuart Smyth, Freddie Cunningham, Tom Heal,
Jam es Killingbeck, L loyd Nail, Rory Cumming.
(1st VII, continued)
The fact that twenty boys played for the
1st VII is o f course pleasing in term s o f
individual developm ent and many will return
next year, better players for the experience.
However, it also indicates the num ber o f injuries
suffered this term, the loss o f two very able
players to soccer and the difficulty in finding the
right blend o f players to play this most
dem anding o f games.
However, those who did last the course
were unfailing in their efforts to improve, kept
their sense o f hum our when things went awry,
played the game in the right spirit and were
excellent ambassadors for the school at all
times. They were, in short, a pleasure to train
and very good company throughout several
hundred miles o f motorw ay driving.
John Symons & Rob M orse
The following boys have represented
the 1st VII:
Jam es Downie, John Hawkins, Freddie
Cunningham, Tom Heal, Seamus Crawford
(capt.), Elliott Pickard, Jam es Tuckett, William
Dawson, George Clarke, N eil Hargreaves,
Jam es Killingbeck, A lexander Nail, Alexander
Cater, George Armstrong, Stuart Smyth, Luke
Heracleous, Lloyd Nail, Luke Dale-Harris,
Christopher O 'Brien, Stuart Heale.
Colts VIIs
With the rugby tour to Jersey there was only time to enter the South West Preparatory Schools’
Tournament at Plymouth. The squad got o ff to a rather sluggish start. Lacking a little in experience, it
was unable to keep contrql o f each game. However, during the match against The Downs, a great
change was seen in the side. Hard tackles were being put in, and the defence in general became more
disciplined. With possession, the team produced some positive running, backed with good support
play.
Group matches: vs. Plym outh III (W 10-0); vs. Plymouth II (L 0-5); vs. The Downs (L 0-22)
O f the four teams in its group. M ount House came third, and thus went into The Plate
Com petition. The first gam e was against St Petroc’s, where we comfortably won 38-0. In the semi­
final the boys beat Exeter Cathedral 25-0. In the final o f The Plate the team played Bramdean. The
boys gave a fine display o f ball handling and tough tackling, eventually winning the game 26-0.
Malcolm Bassett
Squad: N. Batchelor, H. Cunningham , W. Day-Robinson, R. Campbell, S. Cater, A. Bunnell,
N. Blackwood, E. Dawson, J. Righton, J. W heeler
Tries: Blackwood (6), Cunningham (4), Day-Robinson (3), Batchelor, Bunnell, Campbell, Cater
C onversions: Batchelor (7)
Fanfare
1999-2000
c/>
"O
o
Colts
The season got o ff to a good start with a 100 w in over Taunton Junior School. The tackling
was most determ ined and there were glimpses
o f considerable individual talents. James
Righton and Nathaniel Blackwood scored the
tries.
King’s Hall, as usual, were good opponents.
The trip up the M5, however, seemed to take the
edge o ff our team and despite a determined
effort we lost 17-0.
Treliske came to M ount House with one o f
its strongest teams for a few years. A m ost
enjoyable gam e ended with us winning 10-0.
This was the game where the pack began to play
a m ajor role in the fortunes o f the team; Alex
Bunnell being a key figure throughout the game,
as well as being one o f the try scorers, with
Henry Cunningham the other.
The journey across the m oor to W olborough
again proved to sap all energy from the team!
Despite periods o f our putting them under
considerable pressure we m anaged to lose by
40-8. Although disappointed we learnt that we
were the first team to score against them!
W illiam Day-Robinson was the try scorer whilst
Nick Batchelor slotted home a penalty kick.
At St P eter’s the gam e was entertaining. We
m aintained long periods o f pressure and the
whole team w orked hard to provide creditable
support play. Tries were scored by Tom W haley,
Alex Bunnell, Seb Cater and Jack Adams; Nick
Batchelor scoring three conversions. A stray
pass to an opponent on our side provided St
P eter’s the opportunity to score and the game
ended 21-7.
Hazlegrove again provided us with a very
close game. There was lots o f good tackling, but
handling was not as fluent as it should have
been. Alex Bunnell, N ick Batchelor, Henry
Cunningham and Jam es Righton were
outstanding and we were very unlucky not to
win. The score was 14-10 with Henry
Cunningham scoring our try, and Nick
Batchelor scoring the conversion and a penalty.
The trip to St M ichael's is always a telling
journey along the windy roads. We arrived at
Tawstock a sleepy bunch, though thankfully our
opponents had thought o f everything. They
provided strong w inds and slippery mud to force
open our tired eyelids! The game was a little
one-sided this year. We won 59-0. Try scorers
were: Tom Whaley, Ed Dawson, Henry
Cunningham (2), A lex Bunnell (3) and Nick
Batchelor (2, plus 7 conversions).
We played Sherborne Prep at hom e this
year and it was a pleasure as it did not involve a
four hour bus journey like last season. A
flowing gam e o f rugby ended in a victory for
M ount House 17-0.
We m anaged to play the strongest Downs
team for m any seasons, away, on their large
pitch. 1 aged visibly and the side had so much
tackling, covering, and m ore tackling to do, that
the whole team was exhausted by the final
whistle. The score? Fifty points to nil. A very
good side indeed.
It has becom e a sort o f tradition that our last
gam e o f the season is against Papplewick,
Ascot. The gam e was end-to-end stuff. They
had two or three fast, robust players that caused
us problems, and on our side Henry
Cunningham and Alex Bunnell caused
Papplewick problems. The final score was 27-0
to Papplewick. They fully deserved to win but
the score did not reflect the determ ination nor
the attacking pressure displayed by the M ount
House team.
Early in the E aster Term we had a match
against St M ichael’s, Tawstock. We played on
Rowden, where there w as plenty o f space to
play an open game. A fter the previous term ’s
romp the boys were expecting an easy game. It
was not to be so! A fast and flowing game,
neither side could rely on keeping possession.
At half-tim e it was 17-5 to M ount House. Tries
coming from Henry Cunningham , Ed Dawson
and Nick Batchelor (plus conversion). The
second h alf was real end-to-end rugby with
M ount House hanging on to the lead to end the
gam e at 27-17, the rem aining tries being scored
by Tom W haley and Henry Cunningham.
Malcolm Bassett
P layed 12:
W on 6
L ost 6
Squad: N ick Batchelor, Alex Bunnell,
Henry Cunningham . W illiam Day-Robinson,
Tom W haley, Ed Dawson, Josh W heeler,
Nathaniel Blackwood, Sebastian Cater,
Robbie Campbell, Jam es Righton,
Richard Newsom e, Tom Oxenham,
Jack Adams.
Colts Trip to Jersey
D ue to som e m om entary lapse in his
(m y?) concentration I persuaded L eigh
B arnard to help m e take the C olts on to u r to
Jersey. T he thought o f fourteen hardened
rugby play in g ten-year-olds on to u r w ould
h ave p ut o ff a m an o f lesser m etal.
A t 5am on W ednesday 8th M arch w e
w ere sittin g in the m inibus, all p ack ed and
ready to g o .. .no M r B arnard! W here w as he?
H a d he fo rg o tte n ? A fter h a lf an hour the
b oys b ecam e aw are th at som ething w as not
q uite right. T h ere w as a plane to catch! I
could n o t w ait any longer, as it w as 5.45am .
Ju st then there w as a distant squeal o f tyres.
C o u ld it be? M r. B arnard jo in e d us feeling
airsick and trying to w ork o ut the difference
b etw een ‘a m ’ and ‘p m ’ on his alarm clock!
W e flew from E x eter and had an
enjo y ab le trip. W e pick ed up a m inibus at
Jersey an d R ose D aw son kindly m et us at the
airp o rt w ith a second vehicle. A t 1 la m the
b o y w ho w anted to know w here the m inibus
w o u ld go on the plane still w on d ered w hat
had hap p en ed to it? It w as a good start!
W e drove to St C a th e rin e ’s for brunch
and w e w ere treated to the best baco n b utties
and coffee. W e h ad ou r ‘o f f ’ m om ents at the
H otel, b u t th is w as m ainly over the parking
arrangem ents. In the afternoon w e had a
friendly gam e o f football against St
M ic h ael’s. LB w as to display his dubious
talents as refe ree an d w e cam e second in the
m atch! O u r k een supporters, B renda
B lackw ood and R ose B unnell, m et us at the
pitch. T hey w ere to be very good value
thro u g h o u t the trip, I thank them here in print
for their co n trib u tio n to th e tour. R ose and
A n d rew D aw son also m et us and then forced
u s to th eir h ouse after the gam e and m ade us
eat pizza, sausages, sandw iches, etc., and the
m o st fantastic cake, d ecorated as a rugby
pitch! T he boys felt at hom e and loved every
m inute.
T h e food at the hotel w as also very good
and the b eh av io u r o f the boys w as so good
th at L eigh and I w ere o ften stopped and
asked w hich school th ey w ere from . Welldone boys! O n T hursday w e w ent ten-pin
b o w ling, play ed football, changed and
(Colts Trip to Jersey continued, opposite)
56
Colts B
From the earliest sessions it was clear that
this squad possessed nothing like the depth
o f talent that made the 1998 season so
impressive; and that unless teamorganization and match technique were o f
the highest level, it would struggle to
score. To a great extent my fears were
realised. From a total o f eight games only
two were won. The points for and against
ratio was roughly 1:3, but on the credit
side many third years’ gained vital
experience, and at the end o f term. The
Under 10s, playing away, beat Plymouth
College - a fine result which bodes well
for colts rugby next year.
Lacking both size and speed, the first
matches saw us struggle against Treliske
School’s A team and although the victory
against Taunton School was well merited,
it was based on a four-try solo effort from
Day-Robinson, who quite rightly soon
won promotion. O f the remaining six
matches we were soundly beaten by
King’s Hall, Wolborough Hill and The
Downs but secured a home victory against
St Peter’s, Lympstone, and should have
done the same against both Plymouth
College and Hazlegrove House.
That we did not, having dominated
both games for long periods, highlighted
deficiencies in both attack and defence. At
this level it is not enough ju st to run
straight until the opposition tackle, for the
ball must be passed before contact is
made. Similar sense must be shown when
defending. Too often tackles were missed,
which gave the opposition points at critical
stages o f each match.
Individually all boys made good
progress during the course o f the term but
corporately the team failed to really gel
and develop the kind o f competitive edge
required. Like it or not, the truth is that a
game o f rugby will usually be won by the
team which wants to win it the more. Too
many times we were content to see what
w ould happen, rather than make it happen.
A fter Day-Robinson’s elevation to The
1st XII, the side was led by Parker - an
abrasive forward who also played, at
times, for the higher team. Useful with the
ball in hand and in maul situations, he
would have been even more o f an asset if
he had developed his ability to pass
accurately and to change the point o f
attack. However, his solo charges up the
field always posed a threat and he was at
his best in the match against Lympstone
where his two tries sealed the victory. O f
the other forwards, Newsome, Tetley,
Dance, Love and Painter all featured
strongly and throughout the season sometimes playing against much weightier
individuals - could usually be relied upon
to secure our own ball. At times, though,
after prom ising periods o f action, they
Colts Trip to Jersey (continued)
relaxed at the Dawson's and finished with a
swim in the hotel pool. On Friday we went to
the zoo, which was most impressive. The
orang-utans were a hit, but were
overshadowed by a rather flamboyant otter!
From the zoo we went swimming at the
Merton Hotel (recommended by Ed Dawson,
as he had special memories o f the pool). It
was great fun with flumes etc. and again
people were coming up and complimenting
us on our good and considerate behaviour.
Leigh and I were rather outnumbered in the
pool but I soon pulled rank , escaping to the
peace of the shower, whilst leaving Leigh to
the mercy of the lads! Our opponents,
Bedford School, failed to make it to the
island on Friday so we had a quick training
session and then headed for the hotel, via the
Dawson’s of course!
On Saturday we had to check out of the
hotel early and get to the rugby tournament.
Two members of the group were exhausted
by 8.30am, having chased and checked
fourteen under 11 s, and then got the team kit
into the vehicles. We were third in the
tournament, having produced many patches
of good rugby. Robbie Campbell had his
hand crushed by a huge member of the
opposition and was taken to hospital by Mrs
Bunnell. He returned later with a typical
Robbie smile, and no bones broken.
I made a mistake in taking the lads for a
“Big Mac” after the games. I could not get
them to hurry. As a result of hearty appetites
we were rather late checking in at Jersey
Airport. Just as we werp being rushed
through the system an alarm was triggered by
Sebastian Cater. It was the first time a
“Gameboy” has been picked out by the
scanners as a potential bomb! Following the
saga o f Mount House checking-in, the plane
from Jersey to Exeter was ten minutes late
taking-off.
We were exhausted by the time we
returned to Mount House (well, LB and MB
were) but it had been great fun. Looking
forward to next year!
M alcolm B a ssett
drifted out o f matches and thus the
initiative was surrendered. The last four
named, along with Lawson, will all return
to Colts duty next year and by then should
be a more powerful unit.
The best half-back combination was
Oxenham and Harbord. Both could be
relied upon to compete fiercely, and,
indeed, Harbord was the most dangerous
runner in the three-quarters. Once again,
however, passing technique was rickety. In
the centre, Hargreaves and Willetts quickly
established themselves and did well in
defence often bringing their opposite
numbers to a halt. With the ball, though,
they struggled to push half-breaks into full
ones. The same comments can be applied
to Martin and Barkwell who both played
with a laudable degree o f determination
but often found faster players in front o f
them.
A moderate season then, but provided
these boys work upon their techniques and,
above all, strive to impose themselves
more forcefully in matches, there is no
reason why they should not enjoy
considerably more success at senior level.
Guy Canning
T h e R eco rd
Played 8; Won 2; Lost 6; For 59; Against 174.
Treliske (A)
Taunton Prep (A)
Plym outh College (H)
King’s Hall Taunton (A)
Wolborough Hill (A)
St Peter’s, Lympstone (H)
Hazlegrove House (A)
The Downs, Wraxall (A)
L
W
L
L
L
W
L
L
15
24
0
0
0
10
10
0
37
5
12
42
29
0
20
29
Try scorers:
W. Day-Robinson 7, J. Parker 2, T. Oxenham 2.
Goal scorers:
W. Day-Robinson 2.
The following represented The Colts B:
J. Adams, J. Barkwell, S. Blackwood, R. Dance,
W. Day-Robinson, T. Franks, J. Harbord,
S. Hardesty, 1. Hargreaves, S. Jenks, J. Lawson,
D. Love, P. Martin, R. Newsome, T. Oxenham,
T. Painter, L. Paisley, J. Parker (captain),
G. Tetley, S. Willetts.
Fanfare
1999-2000
(/)
■ U
o
58
Under 9s
What a start to the season! There was
great enthusiasm and commitment in the
build up to the first tournament at St
Peter’s but we never imagined we would
play so well. There were games against
King’s Hall, St John’s, St M ichael’s, St
Peter’s and Wolborough Hill. It was a
tremendous performance by the whole
squad o f eleven players. Edward Kivell
deserves a special mention for scoring
seven tries as does George Coombs for a
fantastic performance for the forwards in
all o f the games. Everyone gave 100%
effort and the tackling was superb
throughout. We should have won against
St John’s to make it a clean sweep, but we
were very pleased with the overall
performance.
The next tournament was at
Wolborough Hill and both A and B teams
were chomping at the bit. The tournament
involved six top rugby schools from the
surrounding area and was played
according to the RFU Under-Nine laws.
Each school played each other in separate
A and B competitions.
The Mount House A team had an easy
win to begin with, and beat Wolborough
by 25 points to 5 (the only try scored
against Mount House all afternoon). A
slightly stronger St Peter’s, Lympstone,
side tackled well but a superb Mount
House attack ended the game with a 10-0
win. George Coombs rucked the ball well
and Richard Dawson made sure that the
backs had good service throughout the
afternoon. The A team boys, and girl
(Lottie Fulton), won both games against
King's Hall, Taunton ( 15-0)and St
M ichael’s, Tawstock, (30-0) with some
fabulous tries by Ed Parker, Ed Kivell and
Joe Whaley.
The final was against Plymouth
College who had also won all o f its games.
It was a closely fought match and both
sides tackled well. Mount House put on a
final surge towards the end o f the second
half and Tom Painter managed to ground a
try by dragging four o f the Plymouth
College boys over with him. The final
result (5-0) made Mount House the
triumphant winners o f the tournament.
In the B Team competition the Mount
House team started off slowly but soon
gained in confidence. The first game
against Wolborough was a test for both
teams as this was their first tournament o f
the season. James Lewis ran in the only try
o f the game and Mount House w on 5-0. It
soon became clear that the B team meant
business. Joshua Lee made several charges
at the opposition and scored several tries.
The defence was outstanding throughout
leaving the opposition no way through.
The final game was also against Plymouth
College. Sid Harris scored two fine
individual tries as did Joshua Lee and the
final score (20-5) saw Mount House
champions o f the B team competition.
The next tournament was at St
M ichael’s, Tawstock and the teams arrived
slightly sleepy from the long journey. It
was a disappointing start to the tournament
with tackles missed, but M ount House still
managed to beat Wolborough and St
M ichael’s easily. However, the match
against St Peter’s was a much better
performance with a great deal of
determination shown by the whole team.
Some good running by Joe Whaley and Ed
Kivell made sure o f our place in the top
three in the tournament.
The next game was against St John’s
who had beaten us earlier in the season. In
a thrilling game we ended with a 10-all
draw, leaving us one match to play and a
chance o f winning the competition.
In the end, Plymouth College proved
too much for our defence in the last game
and strolled in three tries towards the end
o f the second half. Overall, a reasonable
performance but much work was to be
done if we were to come out on top in the
Mount House Tournament.
Again the tournament at home was as
exciting as all the others with the added
bonus o f being on home turf. Plymouth
College and M ount House soon
established themselves as the teams to beat
and went through all their games unbeaten
to face each other. It was a thrilling game
with great determination from both sides
ending in a draw. It was an excellent end to
the season and the boys deserve much
praise for their efforts.
Leigh Barnard
The Record
Played 19; Won 15; Drew 2; L ost 2; For
310; A g a in st 55
Winners o f the 1999 Wolborough Hill
Tournament.
Joint W inners o f the 1999 M ount House
Tournament.
Runners Up at the 1999 St P eter’s Tournament
Third place at the 1999 St M ichael’s
Tournament.
(The teams are listed, opposite.)
Fanfare 1999-2000
Devon Prep Schools XV: 34 Somerset Prep Schools XV: 21
Since 1977 the prep schools o f Devon and Somerset have
played a match to mark the end o f the Christmas Term. This year
Mount House has broken its previous record with seven players
selected for the county team. Indeed, it would have been eight had
centre Seamus Crawford, who played last year, not been selected
for a special coaching session with the SW Region Cricket
Academy!
Those selected were Patrick Pearson (prop), Tom Heal
(hooker), A lexander Nail (lock), James Downie (No. 8), Stuart
Smyth (scrum-half), William Dawson (wing) and Elliott Pickard
and Alexander Cater (replacements). Stuart Smyth was given the
additional honour o f captaining the Devon XV. Playing uphill, into
a howling wind the Devon side played enterprising rugby
displaying excellent handling skills in difficult conditions.
Although Som erset’s large pack dominated the opening
exchanges, Devon responded to Somerset’s early try with three o f
their own. The second half was a more even affair, but Devon still
scored three tries to Som erset’s two to ensure a deserved win.
John Symons
Senior Set Rugby
All four Sets were able to put out a team capable o f winning
the Senior Set Rugby Cup this year. This equality provoked two
exciting, but very different first round matches.
The Hawks v. Otters game was a gentlemanly meeting o f
minds with both sides looking to play good quality rugby. Passing
and handling were o f a high standard and several good tries were
scored in an open and well disciplined game. The Hawks emerged
deserved victors, 20-7, at the end o f an entertaining afternoon.
On Rowden meanwhile, a close impression o f WW1 had
broken out as the Kangs and Owls settled several old scores. Both
Sets contained a number o f ‘strong characters’ and no prisoners
were taken in a passionately fought affair, in which skill was o f
secondary importance to enthusiasm and commitment to the
cause. In the end, the Owls sneaked home 10-5 with Alex Love
driving over for the winning score in the dying moments.
The first match o f ‘Finals A fternoon’ had as its reward the
avoidance o f the prize awarded annually to 19th century students
who came bottom in the Cambridge University Tripos List (The
Wooden Spoon)!
The curtain raiser between the Kangs and the Otters was very
much one way traffic. The Kangs played excellent rugby
throughout and emerged comfortable winners by 31 -8.
The Final was a very impressive match. A high standard of
rugby was played by a group o f boys whose talents ranged from
1st XV to 3rd XV replacement. The Owls took the lead with a try
by Luke Dale-Harris, only for the Hawks to equalise within
minutes through Tom Heal. The 5-5 half time scoreline reflected
the closeness o f the teams. Both sides had their chances in the
second half, but fate smiled upon the Owls. John Yeomans
produced a powerful drive to the line which earned him a try and
the Owls a 10-5 victory.
John Symons
Junior Set Rugby
Under Nine A Team: (Rugby) Joe Whaley, George Coombs, Sam
Morgan, Richard Dawson (Captain), Ed Parker, Ed Kivell, Tom
Painter, Henry Manning, Rory Oxenham, Bruce Fulton, Oliver Durant
The Set Matches were, as usual, very exciting. The Hawks
worr the competition with two wins and one draw, and the Owls
were runners-up, having won two and lost one game.
Malcolm Bassett
Under Nine B Team: (Rugby) Nick Dashfield,, Joshua Lee,
Christopher Morris, Sid Harris, Sebastian Jaques, Jo Hijazi, Isaac Jay,
James Lewis, George Day-Robinson
59
The winning side consisted of: R. Campbell, J. Adams, P. Martin,
N. Batchelor, H. Cunningham, I. Hargreaves, and J. Lawson.
Fanfare
199&-2000
(I)
"O
O
Colts A Soccer
As only one member o f the side,
remained from the 1999 Season it was
always going to be a season o f transition
for this squad.
We were well beaten by Plymouth
College, a team we have not beaten for
around a decade now due to their team
playing for local clubs throughout the
season. Nevertheless, it is always a useful
fixture in that it provides a learning
experience for both coach and players.
The game against Wolborough was
much closer despite a 3-0 defeat. We
actually had more possession over the
game but could not convert our chances.
Our work rate was excellent and nobody
disgraced themselves on the day.
Another excellent showing against
Exeter brought a tremendous 3-0 win on a
muddy pitch - much deserved after all the
effort put in - the best result I can
remember against Exeter Cathedral. Seb
claimed two goals and Henry the other
one.
The final game at Treliske was literally
end-to-end from start to finish in one o f
the closest games I can rem ember in Colts
football. Without Captain Alex Bunnell,
the team fought bravely and a Charles
Bassett penalty gave us a 1-1 draw at HalfTime. Despite a great lob from Seb Cater
the game was eventually lost 3-2.
My thanks go to Hugh Walkington for
all his support and enthusiasm with Colts
Football.
Jonathan Banyard
Played 4. W on 1. L ost 3
Goals: S. Cater 3, H. Cunningham, C. Bassett.
Squad: E. Dawson, J. Barkwell, J. Righton,
A. Bunnell (Capt.), W. Day-Robinson,
N. Batchelor, N. Blackwood, P. Martin, S. Cater,
H. Cunningham , J. W heeler, C. Bassett.
Also played: R. Campbell, T. Whaley.
Colts B
This was not a successful season in
terms o f results, but the team made steady
improvements towards their best result o f
the season in their final match, which will
hopefully be an encouraging omen for next
year.
Our first game was against Plymouth
College where we played with
commendable enthusiasm but an almost
complete lack o f organization, particularly
in defence, to lose 6-1. Bassett played well
in midfield, scoring a fine goal from a free
kick. The second m atch was away at
Wolborough Hill. The problem faced all
season was the lack o f a reliable goalscorer, but Cunningham H., joining the
“B”s for this fixture, scored two good
breakaway goals to leave us in the
60
fortunate position o f leading 2-0 after
fifteen minutes. Unfortunately, our
opposition were nothing if not determined,
and also more skilful in the way in which
they passed the ball amongst themselves.
They deservedly pulled themselves back
into the game and, helped by a less
competitive team performance from MHS
in the second half, eventually went on to
win 5-2. The final fixture o f the season
was away - yet again - against Treliske. By
this time, there was a far greater positional
understanding in the team, and the passing
was becoming far more reliable. Some
positions were moved around in the team,
and we ran out deserved winners by 3-1.
Parker J., custodian for the season, made a
couple o f good saves, displaying his
improved confidence and awareness.
Campbell played particularly well at centre
forward, and Oxenham impressed in a
defensive midfield role. Whaley T.
captained throughout the season with
commendable determination, leading by
example and never failing to encourage
those around him.
Hugh Walkington
The following played in at least two
matches:
Parker J., Painter T., Newsome R., Willetts S.,
W haley T. (capt.), Paisley L., Bassett C.,
Adam s J., Oxenham T., Blackwood S.,
Franks T., Fishleigh J.
Under 9s
C/>
This was a short term and a short
season for the football. Much o f the term
was typified by bad w eather and those o f
you that were present at the Plymouth
College match will well rem ember the
“It’s a knockout” type feel to the game
with mud up to the knees. Nevertheless,
the boys were keen to get going and
enjoyed the training.
The first match was against St P eter’s,
Lympstone for both the A and B teams.
The A team found themselves up against a
team that had already played three matches
and they were well drilled. An early goal
by St Peter’s soon put the pressure on but
there was some excellent defending by
George Coombs and Henry Manning. With
some tactical changes at half-time, M ount
House looked like they wanted to score.
Everyone played hard and tackled well. It
looked like the score was going to stay the
same for the duration, but a lovely through
ball by Henry Manning put Ed Kivell in
the zone and he slotted the ball between
the goal keeper’s legs to make the final
score 1-1.
The B team game was a fast and
furious match and both teams played
extremely well. Isaac Jay stopped a few o f
their shots in goal and Joshua Lee played
extremely well in the midfield. The man o f
the match was Rory Oxenham who scored
all three goals, making the final score 3-3.
If the game had gone on a little longer we
could have won, but it was a fine
performance by all.
Due to bad weather the next game was
against Plymouth College who have
always enjoyed the ‘local D erby’
challenge. The weather had been poor in
the build up to the match and the pitch
reflected this. If you were going to score
you had to hit it hard if it was even to
reach the goal let alone beat the keeper.
Both the A and B teams played with
determination but the hosts proved too
much. The conditions were partly to blame
but really we were no match for one or two
o f their more experienced players.
However, the hospitality was excellent and
both sides could see the funny side o f the
appalling conditions. Well done to all
those involved.
Leigh Barnard
Under 9 A team: Richard Dawson, George
Day Robinson, George Coombs, Henry
M anning, Ed Parker, Ed Kivell, Jojo Hijazi
Under 9 B Team: Isaac Jay, Seb Jaques, Sam
Morgan, Rory Oxenham, Joshua Lee, Bruce
Fulton, Stuart Harris, James Lewis
61
Fanfare
1999-2000
CO
u
o
1st X I
Within a week o f returning to school
we entertained Exeter Cathedral School.
Excellent batting by Stuart Smyth 44 and
Seamus Crawford 78 n.o. enabled us to
declare at tea on 139 for 2. The Exeter
reply began with two quick wickets for
Stuart Heale. The loss o f wickets at regular
intervals to Dale-Harris, two; Cater, two;
Batchelor, two; and Crawford, one, saw
them bowled out for just 37 runs.
The visit to St M ichael’s, Tawstock in
the JET Cup saw us total 127 for 6 in our
allotted 25 overs. Crawford, 47n.o.;
Downie, 19; and Pearson, 22n.o.; were the
main contributors. St M ichael’s was
bowled out for 60; Stuart Heale 3 for 7;
Crawford 2 for 9; and Downie 2 for 13,
were the most successful o f the bowlers.
The absence o f Crawford and Smyth
for the first county round o f the Calypso
Cup versus Penair School, Truro, the
Cornish champions, showed a lack o f
depth in our batting. On a damp pitch we
could only muster 69 for 9 in our thirty
overs: Pickard, 15n.o., and Cunningham,
12, the only ones to reach double figures.
Penair lost an early wicket to Dale-Harris
but thereafter batted without too many
alarms to pass our total with 9 wickets and
8 overs to spare.
St M ichael’s, Tawstock then visited for
our normal fixture. Crawford, 37; and
Smyth, 44; again led the way, though a
failure by later batsmen to accelerate the
scoring saw us reach tea on 136 for 6;
declared. St M ichael’s lost three early
62
wickets, but then batted with great
determination, though aided by three
dropped catches, managed to hang on for a
draw, closing on 81 for 7.
We visited B lundell’s for the first time
to play their Under 13 XI. Again we batted
first, lost the early wicket o f Dominic
Harding but Smyth; 51 n.o., and Crawford,
61 n.o., put on a splendid partnership o f
135, enabling us to close on 147 for 1 in
25 overs. The Blundell’s reply began well
and they reached 67 before losing their
first wicket. The fall o f regular wickets
thereafter, Cater two, Downie two, and
three run outs, saw them close on 122 for
7, off 25 overs, as the rain w hich had
threatened all afternoon finally came to
end the misery for all on a cold and damp
afternoon.
The matches with K ing’s Hall and
Falmouth CC both succumbed to the damp
and miserable weather o f late M ay and
early June. St Peter’s, Lympstone in the
JET Cup were always likely to provide a
stern test. The bowling and fielding were
excellent, Heale, 3 for 15, and Downie, 2
for 11, were particularly effective, and we
dismissed them for 82. Our batting never
came to grips with some tight bowling and
was not assisted by poor shots, only Cater,
15, and Dale-Harris, lln .o ., provided some
excitement and took us close to winning,
but we fell 5 runs short to close on 77 for
9, off our allotted 25 overs.
During the leavers’ week we visited
Plymouth College U13s. Sound batting
from Crawford (28), Harding (33), and
Pickard (19), were the main contributors in
a total o f 137 for 9 declared. Plymouth
mounted a solid reply and looked to be
heading for a comfortable win, but the loss
o f quick wickets slowed their progress and
they finished four runs short with three
wickets left.
In damp conditions we travelled to
Falmouth CC. On a good pitch the
batsmen were able to play confidently and
in ju st 25 overs amassed 157 for 4. David
Watkins playing his first game scored 51,
Crawford retired on 42, and James Downie
struck a lusty 33. Falmouth found the
bowling o f John Hawkins, 2 for 18, Alex
Nail, 2 for 5, and James Batchelor, 2 for 11
difficult to cope with, and finished on 89
for 9.
The final m atch o f the season saw The
Old M althouse visit for the first time. In
the h alf hour before lunch their opening
bowlers rapidly reduced us to 35 for 5. The
post lunch session saw a splendid recovery
from Crawford, 85, and Cater, 25, who put
on an undefeated 120 for the sixth wicket.
The Old M althouse started their reply
solidly, and at 81 for 2 were well placed to
win.
An excellent pick-up throw from
Freddie Cunningham produced a vital
w icket which prompted a collapse to 115
all out. Alex Cater, 3 for 31, and Paddy
Pearson, 2 for 5, caused most damage.
A record o f five wins, two draws and
two defeats was a good reflection o f the
(continued, over)
1st XI, continued
performances o f the team throughout the
term. The batting was heavily reliant on
Seamus Crawford who scored 381 runs at
an average o f 127, and duly won the
Batting Cup. Stuart Smyth also scored runs
regularly and with Crawford put together
some excellent partnerships. The other
batsmen tended to be inconsistent. In the
bowling department we possessed good
depth, Crawford, Heale, and Dale-Harris
provided pace; Batchelor and Downie line
and length; while Cater, with his off-spin,
provided much needed variety, and was
our leading wicket-taker, and duly w on the
bowling cup. We were lucky with the
quality o f some o f our fielders. For the
improvement he made, James Batchelor
received the fielding cup.
Not for the first time the weather
caused a few problems and our gratitude
goes to the catering department,
particularly Pat and Les whose wonderful
teas are such a feature o f Mount House
cricket. The matrons once again ensured
that all teams were turned out in clean kit
despite the number o f matches and teams
that were often playing. In difficult
circumstances the various wickets were o f
the highest quality and a tribute to
groundsman Eric Willcock.
P hil Stephens
These boys represented the 1st XI:
S. Crawford (captain), S. Smyth, C. Lowe,
J. Downie, A. Cater, P. Pearson, J. Batchelor,
L. Dale-Harris, J. Tuckett, E. Pickard,
D. Harding, S. Heale, F. Cunningham,
D. Watkins, J. Hawkins, A.Nail, L.Nail,
G .Arm strong, J.Killingbeck.
The Record
Played 9; Won 5;
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
Drawn 2;
Lost 2
Exeter Cathedral (h) Won by 103 runs
St M ichael’s, Tawstock (a) Won by 68 runs
Penair, Truro (h) Lost by 9 wickets
St M ichael’s, Tawstock (h) M atch drawn
Blundell’s U13s (a) Won by 26 runs
St Peter’s, Lympstone (a) Lost by 5 runs
Plymouth College U13s (a) Match drawn
Falmouth CC U13s (a) Won by 68 runs
The Old M althouse (h) Won by 34 runs
2nd X I
The weather in the first h alf o f term
was dreadful, disrupting games lessons as
well as matches. It was lucky therefore
that this y ear’s 2nd XI comprised both
talented and spirited individuals.
The season began with a visit to St
M ichael’s, Tawstock. Batting first, the
home side found it difficult to score runs
against a miserly, if wayward attack.
Elliott Pickard, wicket keeper turned
bowler, took 3-7 while Dominic Harding
w iped out the middle order with 4-2.
Chasing 58 to win, the match was over
soon after tea with David Watkins (19no)
and Jonathan Hawkins (1 lno) steering the
side to an eight wicket win.
The team travelled to K ing’s Hall,
Taunton with genuine belief that they
could achieve victory over difficult
opponents. Winning the toss and inserting
the hosts soon proved a sound decision.
After twenty minutes, K ing’s Hall had
progressed to 12-3, but the rain that had
threatened all day now descended in a
relentless downpour that made cricket
impossible. A disappointing end, made
only slightly better by the memory o f Luke
Heracleous’s outstanding one-handed
catch at mid-wicket.
John Symons
Fanfare
1999-2000
C/>
u
o
3rd X I
Colts A
This was an excellent season at this level. Rarely can so many
players have started the season in this game who clearly knew one
end o f the bat from the other, and the friendly competitive spirit
within the game was reflected in their performances as a team.
Our first match was arranged against a Plymouth College
Under 12 side. Playing away on an unfamiliar pitch, we lost the
toss and were put in to bat. Killingbeck J. had an excellent
innings, scoring 47 before being trapped LBW, and laying the
foundation for a good score at tea o f 140 for 7. MHS declared, and
then set about the task o f removing the opposition. This was not as
straightforward as it might have been thanks to some inconsistent,
not to say criminally wayward, bowling. Cumming R. bowled
some wonderful spin which caught out three batsmen with the
turn, but was also guilty o f too many wide deliveries which either
contributed directly to the extras column or were picked o ff for
four. However, the late bowling change which brought on Nail L.
and Dawson W. proved key as they mopped up the four remaining
batsmen in the space o f five overs shortly before the close,
ensuring victory by 85 runs.
The second match was against St Petroc’s 1st XI - a tough
assignment in any year, but this turned out to be a thrillingly close
result. They batted first making 81 all out. Given that we were at
one point 72 for 6, victory seemed assured, but panic in the lower
order led to collapse and we fell two runs short, all out for 79. It
was an unfortunate conclusion, but this was still a praiseworthy
result against 1st XI opposition.
The final match was against K ing’s Hall, against whom we
have not won at this level in 20 years. It was ironic therefore, that
with a team clearly capable o f reversing that trend, and indeed
with King’s Hall 23 for 3, the rain intervened to ensure that further
play would have to be abandoned. Unfortunately, the 4th XI also
lost out on the same day for the same reason.
An excellent season, with many fine performances. Selection
was so difficult, that 16 players were used in three matches and a
different captain was used for each one. Killingbeck fully
deserved his promotion to Game 1 and many members o f the
game featured in Under 12 fixtures which is hopefully a good
omen for cricket in 2001. Our thanks to all the players for making
this such an enjoyable term o f cricket, played in an excellent spirit
throughout.
It was always going to be a hard act to follow the vintage 1999
season but this group of boys had a very good season indeed - especially
as none of the team from 1999 remained!
An excellent start was made at Exeter Cathedral School as a weak
opposition could only score 16 all out thanks to good bowling from Josh
Wheeler (4-3), Seb Cater (2-5), and Nick Batchelor (3-10). Local club
Whitchurch could not find enough strength in depth to cope with a side
high in confidence as Jack Barkwell (35) and Ed Dawson (38 not out)
shared in a 40 run partnership before a rapid 19 from Alex Bunnell
enabled us to declare at 162-7. 10 bowlers were used as Whitchurch
were all out for 54.
Treliske was a strong side this year and despite three boys scoring 44
runs, the whole team was out for 58. Treliske knocked off the runs
comfortably as we hit the lowest point of the season. A potentially
difficult match against St Michael’s Tavistock got the team back on
track. An excellent 42 from Henry Cunningham was the cornerstone of a
129-5 declaration and a super bowling spell from Josh (5-14) and Alex
(3-28) saw us to a comfortable win with confidence and spirits restored.
Perhaps the highlight of the season was the match at Plymouth
College. Josh scored a superb 42 which included 10 fours but Alex (15)
was the only other batsman to score double figures as we reached 64 all
out on a fast, dry, small pitch - not nearly good enough on a normal day!
At 17-0, Plymouth was comfortable but at 17-3 it was suddenly an even
game and outstanding bowling and catching from Josh (1-9), Alex (419), Phillip Martin (2-10) and Seb (2-2) meant that Plymouth was 54 all
out - a dramatic game indeed! Macdonalds made a small profit after that
result!
Our final school match of the season saw another very exciting game
indeed. St Peter’s was a talented side - and at 90-2 looked to be heading
for 200. However, Seb’s best bowling of the season (5-20) reduced the
home side to 136-9 declared. At 65-9 with 15 overs left, it seemed a
hopeless case but a wonderful rearguard battle from Seb and Phillip
lasted just 10 balls short of what would have been a historic draw.
We finished 3rd in The Devon Under 11s Daily Telegraph
Tournament Finals this year but put up a spirited defence of the Trophy.
Henry, Ed and Jack will form the basis of a very useful side next year.
All in all, another very good season. My thanks go to Guy Canning for
all his support and enthusiasm with Colts’ Cricket.
Hugh Walkington &
Peter Hamilton-Leggett
The Record
P 3; W 1; L I ;
64
1 match abandoned
Jonathan Banyard
Played 13
W on 9
Drawn 0
L ost 4
Results:
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
Exeter Cathedral
Whitchurch
Treliske
St Michael’s Tawstock
Plymouth College
St. Peter’s Lympstone
won by 8 wickets
won by 100 runs
lost by 9 wickets
won by 32 runs
won by 21 runs
lost by 52 runs
D aily Telegraph U nder 11 results:
vs Hyde Parke
vs St Michael’s, Tawstock
vs Wolborough
vs Exeter Prep
vs Blackpool
vs St John’s, Sidmouth
vs Ipplepen
won by 42 runs
won by 12 runs
lost by 7 runs
lost by 14 runs
won by 20 runs
won by 8 runs
won by 14 runs
Fanfare 1993-2000
Colts B
Meteorologists will no doubt rationalize in the autumn that we
enjoyed some kind o f “normal sum m er” , suffering no m ore than average
rainfall. The reality was very different; hardly a w eek passing by without
serious interruptions to either practices or m atches. True, o f five scheduled
fixtures, only one, against W olborough Hill, w as actually cancelled, but
the game against K ing’s Hall, Taunton was abandoned after thirty soggy
minutes and the constant appearance, on practice days, o f storm clouds on
the horizon resulted in the fact that this group o f boys was deprived o f the
kind o f regular technical tuition necessary to make swift progress.
Nevertheless, they rem ained an enthusiastic group and enjoyed, in their
three com pleted fixtures, a m easure o f success - the highlight for
spectators, if not the coach, being the tied match against St P eter’s,
Lympstone.
The season began with a com fortable win against Exeter Cathedral
School. Here, W illiam Day-Robinson and Jack Barkwell laid the basis for
the victory with an opening partnership o f 41. The M ount House total of
90 proved far too stiff a target for Exeter who crum bled to 28 all out, Rafe
Dance taking 4-9.
After the abandonm ent o f The K ing’s Hall fixture, we entertained
Plymouth College and for m uch o f the game looked likely to win again.
Both lan Hargreaves and Rafe Dance, with 23 runs apiece, batted with
much skill, and, despite Plym outh m aking a good start, in their attempt to
pass our total o f 95, hostile bowling from Jake Parker, who shattered their
middle order with four quick wickets, put us in a winning position.
However, the team 's concentration then wavered, both bowling and
55
fielding lacked precision, and a determined ninth wicket partnership saw
Plym outh home.
As things transpired, the season ended with the match against St
P eter's Lympstone. In many ways this followed the same pattern as the
gam e against Plymouth. Having totalled 82, Day-Robinson, Parker and
Sam W illetts being the m ajor contributors, St P eter’s were unable to cope
with the bowling o f Robbie Campbell, who took three wickets, whilst
some com mitted ground fielding and safe catching reduced them to 55-9.
At this stage, though, once again we crazily appeared to think we had done
enough and started to celebrate victory without trying too hard to take the
final wicket. Consequently St P eter’s first stabilized and then accelerated
towards their target. Increasingly they looked likely to achieve it and,
indeed, with the scores equal failed to go for an easy single. The next
delivery was missed by their No. 11 who then proceeded to waltz up the
w icket which gave captain Tom Oxenham the chance to stump him and
claim the tie.
A m ixed season, then, which accurately reflected the strengths and
weaknesses within this squad.
Many boys batted with a degree o f promise but only rarely could
individuals be trusted to defend effectively against straight good-length
deliveries. The m ost technically correct batsman was Ian Hargreaves who I
am sure has both the talent and application to becom e a m ajor force in his
second year o f Colts cricket next summer. O f the remainder, William DayRobinson, Rafe Dance, Robbie Campbell and Jake Parker can all strike the
ball w ell but m ust be m ore careful in shot-selection if they are to develop
the kind o f long innings which will turn a match. In the bowling
department, Jake Parker and Rafe Dance were the most incisive and, given
sunnier w eather and longer practice sessions, would, 1 am sure, have
becom e more accurate.
The fielding was adequate, without ever reaching the heights that the
1999 team achieved. The m ost committed player was Robbie Campbell
who could always be relied upon to maintain concentration and saved
countless runs at square-leg. The team was captained most impressively by
wicketkeeper Tom O xenham , who, despite being occasionally confused by
the com plexities o f fielding positions and bowling changes, kept
encouraging his team with much gusto and vision. My thanks go to him
and also the scoring team o f Tom Emerson, George Goldberg, Tom
W haley and George Coombs who ensured that the details o f each match
were faithfully recorded on both board and book.
Guy Canning
The Record Played 3: Won 1; Lost 1; Tied 1
The follow ing boys played f o r Colts B:
Tom Oxenham (captain), Jack Adams, Jack Barkwell, Charles Bassett,
Robbie Campbell, Rafe Dance, W illiam Day-Robinson, Tom Franks, Ian
Hargreaves, Doug Love, Jake Parker, George Tetley, Tom Whaley, Sam
Willetts.
U12 Cricket
0)
"D
O
This year’s U12 team was an
extremely able group and one could
immediately see why it had enjoyed so
much success as Colts. Rain hindered
many o f the early season games lessons,
but such was their enthusiasm for the game
that many o f them compensated by rushing
to practise in the nets whenever a watery
sun appeared from behind the clouds.
The U 12s’ first opponent was
Plymouth College. Batting in good
conditions, most o f the Mount House
batsmen registered with the scorers. Top
run m aker was Freddie Cunningham (27),
but he was well supported by Stuart Heale
(20) and Luke Heracleous (15). Plymouth
lost wickets too quickly to launch a real
threat to the M ount House total o f 100.
Neil Hargreaves (3-9) and John Williams
(3-19) did the damage, and Plymouth
finally succumbed 28 runs short.
The second match o f the term, against
Whitchurch C.C., was played in cold, wet
conditions. From 2.30pm to 6.00pm the
rain never stopped. Batting first. Mount
House looked comfortable against a
limited attack; none more so than James
Killingbeck who played with much
common sense to achieve his 33 runs.
Most o f the other batsmen also reached
double figures, the pick being Jonathan
Hare (15), Christopher O ’Brien (15) and
John Williams (14). A teatime declaration
at 115-6 gave the visitors a stiff target. It
needed an adventurous, spirited reply to
make the game interesting and keep the
umpires from hypothermia. W hitchurch’s
response was 54-2 o ff 29 overs. A draw
was offered to the visitors at 5.45pm which
was readily accepted.
After half term the team found itself
back in cup action. The U12 had already
beaten Plymouth College once this season,
and so began their second round Calypso
Cup match against them with considerable
confidence. Tight bowling aided by good
fielding and catching restricted Plymouth
to a total o f 76-8 off their 30 overs. Neil
Hargreaves (3-15) and John W illiams (317) were the bowlers who did most
damage. Poor calling led to the
unnecessary loss o f wickets at the start o f
the Mount House innings, but David
Watkins (21), Stuart Heale (20n.o.) and
John Williams (13no) saw M ount House
home by six wickets.
A semi final against St John’s,
Sidmouth, followed rapidly. Again Mount
House restricted the opposition to 105-9,
but this time the batsmen could not
accelerate against some useful bowling
and ended seven runs short.
In a fitting end to the season, the match
against Blundell’s lasted six overs until a
tremendous downpour flooded the Oval
and brought a sudden end to the match.
Phil Stephens
66
Fanfare 1999-2000
Souvenirs o f Sports Day
Under 9 Cricket
(Pictures opposite, below)
The year 2000 was to prove both a busy
and successful season for the Mount House
Under 9 Cricket teams. Six A Team matches
and two B Team matches saw a 25% increase
on the 98/99 fixture list - Mr Stephens
obviously had much faith in the cricketing
ability at the lower end of the School. Rarely
have I enjoyed a cricket season so much.
Many thanks to all who played, watched or
coached throughout the term.
U nder 9 A X I
An unbeaten season in Cricket is not
quite as impressive as one in Rugby or
Football. The timed match always offers the
chance of a draw and it is often the case that
in the desperate attempt to ensure that the
match is not lost, a team will ensure that they
have little or no chance of winning. It is all
the more impressive, therefore, that the Under
9 A Team managed not only an unbeaten
season, but recorded the impressive feat of
winning all five o f the five matches played.
The eleven players (occasionally eight,
depending on which type of cricket was being
played) made a team, by any definition of the
word. Desperate to win; to help and
encourage each other; to back up whilst both
batting and fielding; and, above all, to enjoy
each other’s company. It was this, combined
with no little natural ability and hard work in
the nets, that made this team so special. The
members have a rich future in the game and I
look forward to monitoring their progress as
they go through the school.
The Team was: Richard Dawson
(Captain) Tom Painter, George Coombs,
Isaac Jay, Ed Parker, Lottie Fulton, Rory
Oxenham, Henry Manning, Joshua Lee,
Macdara Duncan and Sebastian Jacques.
Results: Played 5
vs. Treliske
W on 5
L ost 0
Mount House 99 for 8 dec. (Coombs 35);
Treliske 57 (Coombs 4 for 3, Jay 3 for 5)
vs. St M ich a el’s Taw stock
Mount House 293 (Jay 19, Parker 13);St.
Michael’s 188 (Dawson 4 for 5,Coombs 3 for
10, L Fulton 2 for 4)
vs. K in g ’s H all Taunton ca n celled - rain
vs. P lym outh C ollege
Mount House: 301 (Parker 24, Painter 15, Jay
13, L Fulton 12); Plymouth 251 (Jay 2 for 5,
L Fulton 1 for 8)
vs. W olborough Hill
Mount House: 260 (Parker 18, Dawson 12,
Manning 12); Wolborough Hill 198
(R Dawson 2 for 5, Painter 2 for 2)
vs. St P eter’s
Mount House: 275 (Coombs 14, Parker 11);
St Peter’sl98 (Coombs 2 for 14,
Oxenham 1 for 5)
U nder 9 B VIII
This season saw two matches played: one
against Plymouth College, and one against St
Peter’s Lympstone. A narrow loss to
Plymouth was balanced by a well earned win
against St Peter’s, and the main aim of the
season; to enjoy the game and play in the
correct spirit, was evident in both matches
67
and practices alike. Many of this season’s
players will be eligible for the under 9s in
the year 2000 - 1 hope to see them all
playing in the A team.
The following represented the team
this season: S. Jaques, J. Lee, M. Duncan,
J. Hijazi, E. Kivell, B. FultonrO. Durant,
J. Whaley, C. Mann, A. Jones.
Rob M orse
R esults
P layed 2
W on T
L ost 1
0)
D
gf
CD
1 99 9-20 0 0
CO
T3
O
South West Prep School Athletics Championships,
This was always going to be a very important meeting. It gave
us a good idea o f the athletes’ chances to qualify for the Nationals.
Our sole finalist in the Under 12 Girls 800m was Brittany Heal
who despite a slow start worked her way up through the field to
finish a creditable 6th position, with a new personal best time
of2m 54s.
This was a similar result in the Under 12 Boys’ events, where
a very busy Phillip M artin ran in both the 800m and 1500m
gaining a lot o f valuable experience as well as, a fair deal of
fitness! The surprise package o f the Under 12s was James Righton
who made his debut in the B oys’ Javelin, where he came an
excellent fifth, with a throw o f 17m82cm.
Team performance o f the day was the Under 13 Girls who
won the title, and beat some very strong opposition in the shape o f
Millfield, Clifton, The Downs, Plymouth College, Taunton and
fourteen other schools.
Individual performances in the 100m and 200m were fantastic.
Venetia Maitland placing second in both, with personal best times
o f 14.3s and 30.5s. A gutsy run in the 800m saw Tess Lawson gain
sixth spot for valuable points, though a lesson on quick starts has
to be learnt. New girl Anna Brown had a great run in the hurdles
event to secure fourth place, as did Ellie M alcolm who also scored
a fourth spot in the Long. However, she produced a new personal
best height in the High Jump to take first place with a height o f
lm 20cm. Lucy Barkwell had a busy time competing in both the
Javelin and Discus, where an excellent throw o f 15m69cm gave
her third spot in the Discus, backed up with a sixth place in the
Javelin.
This was enough to give the girls first place, with 48 points,
Millfield, Friday 16 June 2000
second was M illfield with 46 points and third was Taunton with
37 points. A great result: well-done girls!
The B oys’ Under 13 team had strong opposition and gained 20
hard earned points to finish 9th out o f seventeen schools. Notable
performances came from Stuart Heale, who, making his debut in
the 400m, won the event in a time o f 64.4s and came a creditable
4th in the Javelin. James Killingbeck continued to improve with
his 800m, clocking a time o f 2m39s for fifth place. In the 1500m
Tom Heal found the heat very exhausting but still managed to stay
focused on his running for a 4th place with a time o f 5m27s.
Sadly we only had two girls in the Under 14 events. Elsie
Newman found the experience too much during the Discus but
managed to produce a new personal best and school record in the
Javelin, with a throw o f 16m78cm. Lizzie Painter was looking in
confident mood as she defended her title from the previous year.
However, she was pushed all the way and had to dig deep in order
to clear the winning height o f lm 45cm. A good test o f her
character and a great boost for the Nationals.
The Under 14 Boys had some creditable performances in the
shape o f Seamus Crawford in the 200m and 400m where he came
sixth in both races. George Armstrong was coming back into form
and jum ped well in the high jum p with a clearance o f lm 45cm to
win silver. A below-average leap in the Triple Jump gained
George a further point and a fifth spot with 9m65cm.
An unusual day for the athletes trying to qualify for the
Nationals, as they norm ally go via the Kelly Trophy Match, which
we, sadly, were unable to attend. However, some superb
performances gave the coaching staff a lot o f hope for the rest of
the season.
G eo ff Whaley
National Prep School Athletics Championships,
This was a very exciting trip as we took a relatively young and
inexperienced group o f athletes, all eagerly ready to compete.
Track report
First on the track was Elliott Pickard in the U nder 14 Boys’
75m Hurdles. Although he was a little nervous he ran a personal
best time o f 12.9s missing the final by 0.1s. However, he should
be very satisfied with an overall placing o f 8th on the day.
Phillip Martin, making his debut at the Nationals, found the
going very tough, but a gutsy performance in the Under 12 Boys’
1500m saw him improve his best time to 5m49s. Hopefully this
will spur Phillip onto greater times in the future championships.
Brittany Heal also stepped onto the national track for her first
tim e in the Under 12 G irls’ 800m. Running in the first heat she
managed a time o f 2m48s finishing 13th overall, only 7 seconds
o ff the bronze medal position.
Tess Lawson was again another girl making her nationals
debut. She also ran in the 800m for Under 13 Girls. Tess found the
very quick pace to the race difficult to join during the first lap.
However, once she got into her usual rhythm she finished strongly
for a good time o f 2m51s, and thirteenth overall.
An in-form Venetia M aitland was really looking forward to
her 100m heat, a strong run saw her score a time o f 14.4s,
narrowly missing the final by 0.1s. A bitter pill to swallow,
especially when three o f the finalists ran 14.3s to qualify.
However, all credit to Venetia, as she used the experience o f that
race to spur her on in the 200m, where she ran a personal best time
o f 29.4s to make the final. Nerves always play a big part in a
sprint final and this was no exception. However, despite a slower
time in the final she managed a very creditable seventh placing in
the Under 13 G irls’ 200m.
A big gamble on the coach’s behalf very nearly paid o ff for
Stuart Heale. Stuart was competing in the Under 13 400m for only
the second time. A very strong and committed run saw Stuart
register a creditable 64.8s to place fifth overall in the final. There
is obviously a lot more to come from Stuart in the future.
Yet another debutant was James Killingbeck in the Boys’
Under 13 800m. A resilient run saw James achieve a very
creditable time o f 2m39s for an overall placing o f 14th in the final.
Stoke, Sunday 2nd July 2000
Field report
Lizzie Painter was our first field competitor, though not in her
usual guise o f high jumper. She made her debut in the Under 14
G irls’ Shot Putt, where she managed a putt o f 6m70cm for an
overall placing o f 11th. However, when it came to Lizzie’s strong
event she had quite a battle, especially as defending champion.
After a long, and often interrupted, final it soon became clear who
the three major players were. The height o f lm 43cms proved to be
the biggest challenge for Lizzie. However, she was successful at
her third attempt and was looking in determined mood. Sadly it
was not to be a repeat o f last year’s success. Only one girl cleared
1 m46cm to win the title, and Lizzie was third on count-back. No
amount o f words could commiserate Lizzie who should be really
proud o f her past achievements, as well as those o f the day.
Continuing Malcolm B assett’s coaching success was Ellie
Malcolm in the G irls’ Under 13 High Jump. Another newcomer to
the National Championships, Ellie far exceeded her wildest
dreams and cleared a new best height o f lm 25cm to finish eighth
overall in the final.
Another Mount House high jumper, in the shape o f Tom Heal,
competed in the Under 13 Boys’ final. Clearing lm 30cm Tom
finished 13th overall. An excellent result considering that it is not
Tom’s strongest or favoured event.
Finally we saw Stuart Heale in the Under 13 B oys’ Javelin. A
below par throw for Stuart saw him reach 29m l 1cm for eighth
position. Once again no amount o f words could console Stuart as
the winning distance o f 35m64 was well within his own season’s
best o f 36m78cm.
Also making her N ationals’ debut in the Javelin was Lucy
Barkwell in the Under 13 G irls’ competition. Lucy gained good
experience and a lot o f confidence despite a below par distance.
Some training during the winter months, and the oncoming
season, will see Lucy in a much stronger position, technique-wise.
All in all, a very encouraging w eekend’s athletics. To get nine
athletes to the finals is a great achievement in itself. At this point I
would like to say a big thank you to M alcolm Bassett for all his
efforts on coaching, not only the high jum pers, but also the long
and triple jum pers. A huge debt o f gratitude to Mrs Carrie
Lawson, who has continued to get the long distance runners
running with such enthusiasm and commitment. I look forward to
next season’s athletics with great anticipation.
G eoff Whaley
Squash
Once again we entered teams in the Under 13 and Under 11
Devon Junior Leagues. The Under 13 III, Elliott Pickard, Luke
Heracleous and James Batchelor encountered some o f the best
players, not only in Devon but in the country. So although Elliott
Pickard is one o f the best players we have ever produced, he
found some o f his opponents to be o f an exceptionally high
standard. O f his ten matches during the year he won six and lost
four. Luke and James enjoyed a couple o f wins each, but were
often outplayed.
The Under 11 III o f Nicholas Batchelor, Henry Cunnningham
and Edward Dawson enjoyed an excellent season, winning six and
losing two matches to win the league title by just a few points.
Nicholas Batchelor remained unbeaten, while Edward Dawson
and Henry Cunningham enjoyed some good matches and vital
wins between them.
For the first time in a number o f years we entertained St
M ichael’s, Tawstock, and regained the Dennis Ball Trophy with a
convincing seven matches to two. Lottie Fulton and Henry
Cunningham won matches for the Under 11s, while Tom Heal,
Chris O ’Brien, Freddie Cunningham, Luke Heracleous and Elliott
Pickard were successful for the senior side. Seven o f the team are
available next year.In the Inter-school Tournaments Elliott Pickard
retained the Senior Trophy for Kangs with a convincing win over
James Batchelor. Nicholas Batchelor (Hawks) defeated Henry
Cunningham in the Intermediates, while Lottie Fulton (Owls)
overcame Richard Dawson to win the Junior Title.
Since our involvement in the Devon Junior Leagues the
standard o f Mount House squash has steadily improved. Our
sincere gratitude goes to coach Peter Bond, whose enthusiastic
approach has been a vital factor in our success, and in the
popularity o f squash within the school.
P hil Stephens
Fanfare
1999-2000
Set Cross-Country,
Friday 28th January 2000
A fter several days o f hard
frost, it was with great relief that
the day o f the race proved to be
ideal, with dry, mild conditions.
The course was altered to miss out
the lap around H erongate due to
boggy conditions. Instead the race
started o ff towards the field o f
Rowden and Homelands. This
gave the course a very dem anding
start. Once this lap was completed
the course picked up the fam iliar
route down to the m ow er shed and
on to the bridge over the leat. The
long run out to the Bungalow Field
saw the race leaders make their
break. Once past the Lodge it was
a long slow clim b past the Pavilion
and on to the finish. All races were
run with boys and girls together,
but not in direct com petition with
each other. The first race was the
Juniors, which proved to be a very
close fought race with four runners
locked together all the w ay to the
finish. Edward Parker proved to be
the w inner ju st ahead o f first girl
Lottie Fulton, with Rory Oxenham
and Tom Lawson closely behind.
Results o f Junior Boys
1st
E. Parker
2nd
R. Oxenham
3rd
T. Lawson
Results o f Junior Girls
1st.
C. Fulton
2nd.
C. Dawson
3rd
C. Long
The Intermediate race was
excellent with one o f three boys
looking capable o f winning.
However, very strong determ ined
running from Phillip Martin
proved too m uch for the rest as he
powered away from his pursuers
up the final hill. That left Edward
Dawson to fight it out with Jack
70
Lawson for the second spot.
Unfortunately Jack slipped whilst
trying to clim b the final hill
allowing Edward to com e in
second. The girls’ race was
com fortably won by Brittany Heal,
showing fine form with her
running style.
Results o f Interm ediate boys
1st
P Martin
2nd
E. Dawson
3rd
J. Lawson
Results o f Interm ediate girls
1st
B. Heal
2nd.
E. Toynton
3rd
A. Heale
The senior race w as a runaway
success for Tom Heal, who built
up a massive lead on the first
circuit o f the Bungalow Field. He
was then able to use the tail-enders
as targets to increase his lead
further still. A very big effort came
from Stuart H eale who managed
also to use the tail-enders as help,
and even closed the gap between
Tom and himself. Stuart was
closely followed by James
Killingbeck. The girls’ race was a
sim ilar affair with Tess Lawson
dom inating the girls’ race and
more than kept up with the leading
group o f boys. Venetia Maitland
also m anaged a good run to secure
second place. New girl Anna
Brown gained a very creditable
third spot.
Results of Senior boys
1st
T. Heal
2nd
S. Heale
3rd
J. Killingbeck
Results o f Senior girls
1st
T. Lawson
2nd
V. M aitland
3rd
A. Brown
Geoff Whaley
Millennium Cross-Country Races,
Grenville College, Friday 17th March 2000
This proved to be a very rewarding and enjoyable day’s racing. A lot
of hard training had gone into producing six competitive teams ready to
take part. Once the walk round the course was done, and the warm ups
completed, it was time to race.
First up came the Under 9 Girls. A team of four runners, with the top
three scoring points. A superb run saw Lottie Fulton lead from gun to
tape. Charlotte Dawson coming in second, and Clare Long in third
brilliantly backed this up, giving the trio the lowest possible score, to
claim the trophy! Fourth runner was Hattie Cunningham, running a year
young, who managed a creditable 17th out of 80 runners.
The dream start had been made by the Under 9 Girls, so how could
the Under 9 Boys respond? The only way they know. A fiercely
competitive run saw Ed Parker come in second with Tom Lawson (7
years old), making a brilliant third. It was down to whoever was going to
come in third, as St Michael’s Tawstock also had two boys highly placed.
The cheer from the girls came up as Richard Dawson rounded the bend
and stormed in for eighth place and a second winning score for Mount
House. What a start! A strong run from the fourth runner saw Tom
Painter come in eleventh out of 84 runners.
Barely time to catch our breath and it was the turn of the Under 11
Girls. The first runner to register a place was Brittany Heal who was a
close second. Ellie Toynton came in 12th overall and Sophie LiddellGrainger managed to secure a creditable 22nd out of 112 runners. This
was good enough to give the girls second overall in the team event.
The Boys’ Under 11 team competed in a huge field of 137 runners!
Highest placed boy was Phillip Martin who came in at 16th closely
followed by Ed Dawson, 19th, and James Righton, 20th. This close
packing of the boys earned them third spot overall in the team event.
The Under 13 Girls’ team was very confident, and proved its mettle
on the course. First girl home for the team was Tess Lawson in second
spot, closely followed by Ellie Malcolm in fourth place, Anna Brown in
5th, and Venetia Maitland making sixth. This gave the girls the winning
score for the overall team trophy.
The last race saw the Under 13 Boys in action. Although the boys
were heavily into playing VIIs rugby, and busily preparing for the
National Championships, they still gave it their all. Tom Heal stormed
round the course for an excellent third place, followed closely, as ever,
by Stuart Heale who secured fourth spot. An excellent run from James
Killingbeck saw him finish ninth overall, giving the boys’ team second
to round off a superb day’s running for the school.
There were 20 schools from the region competing, and Mount
House was able to fly the flag well and truly high, finishing with three
winning teams, two second, and one third, from six teams entered. A lot
of time and effort has been given by the pupils, who would, like me,
want to pass on their thanks to Carrie Lawson for all her coaching,
enthusiasm and inspiration.
Geoff Whaley
_______________
G olf
One o f the wettest summer
terms I can remember failed to
dampen the enthusiasm of our
hardy golfers! Golf Coaching has
been taken on by several
members of staff this term and
the standards have improved
considerably as a result.
In the Junior Final, Richard
Dawson continued his family’s
success in winning golf trophies
at Mount House with a win over
George Coombs, whilst William
Dawson, beaten by brother David
last year, won the Senior Final
against Andrei Koranteng.
My thanks to the
groundsmen for keeping the
course in such good condition,
despite the weather!
Jonathan Banyard
71
Fanfare
1999-2000
(/)
“U
O
Boys ’ Indoor Hockey
The hockey term got off to a good start
and a strong squad o f about sixteen players
quickly took shape. K ing’s Hall, .as usual,
provided us with super hospitality and a
fine afternoon o f hockey. We took A and B
teams o f six, plus reserves. The B team
lost both matches, though there were some
promising players in Tom Heal, David
Watkins and the budding goal-keeper
George Clarke. Tom Heal scored a fine
goal in the match against K ing’s Hall B.
The A team was rather sleepy in its first
game, and although Stuart Smyth led by
example, slotting home a super goal, the
team went down 2-1. In the last game o f
the afternoon M ount House A came to
form: Stuart Smyth controlling the middle
and George Armstrong and Elliott Pickard
pushing hard up front. Elliott scored the
first goal and just got the last touch to a
goal set up by Stuart. George scored the
third goal o f a 3-0 win. The defending by
Andrew MacDougall and Christian Lowe
was solid and well co-ordinated. Seamus
Crawford had a good game in goal.
Our second fixture was against Exeter
Cathedral School. They were having a
good season and had more match
experience than ourselves. Again our B
team was a little hesitant and unsure so
played below its capabilities, losing by
narrow margins in both its games. Tom
Heal, D avid Watkins and Henry
Cunningham all gave a good account o f
themselves. M ount House A team were on
fine form and played well from the start.
Fine defending by Seamus Crawford,
Andrew M acDougall and Christian Lowe
allowed George Armstrong and Elliott
Pickard to score goals (George 3 and
Elliott 4). Stuart Smyth worked incredibly
hard, covering every square inch o f the
pitch as centre-half: he also notched up
four very fine goals.
Malcolm Bassett
Results
Mount House A vs. King's Hall A W3-0; B L 1-2
Exeter Cathedral A W4-0; B W7-0
Mount House Bvs. King's Hall A L4-0; B L3-1
Exeter Cathedral A L 1-0; B L2-0
S. Crawford, A. MacDougall, C. Lowe,
S. Smyth (captain), E. Pickard, G. Armstrong
B squad G. Clarke, D. Watkins, N. Hargreaves,
R. Cumming, L. Dale-Harris, T. Heal, J. Edwards,
H. Cunningham, J. Hawkins
A squad
72
Fanfare 1999-2000
c/>
Girls ’ Hockey
As the girls’ hockey at M ount House
becomes more established and the girls
more skilled, we are enjoying a greater
number o f exciting matches and a growing
enthusiasm for training. O ver the course o f
the season we have watched some very
encouraging new talents developing, not
least Tiggy Townsend, Eleanor Durant,
Brittany Heal and Ella Toynton, while the
older, U13, girls have become more
focused and able to play set moves for
maximum benefit.
With the fantastic news that an all
w eather pitch should be available shortly,
hopes are high for more evenly matched
contests and the opportunity to expand the
game. After a disappointing season, with
several results that do not reflect the effort
and drive o f the teams, we were thrilled to
see the U1 Is defeat Stover (on grass) and
prove that determination and thoughtful
play can lead to victory. Many thanks also
for the most welcome parental support.
The U 13 team, now departed to far
flung public schools, will bring enthusiasm
and commitment to their new teams, while
the younger players will be the backbone
o f next year’s group, bringing rather more
experience to assist the rest o f the squad.
Julia Toynton and Venetia M aitland have
demonstrated great tenacity and managed
to combine well executed moves with
impressive pace while Lucy Barkwell has
gone from strength to strength in the
defensive positions, ending up as a
formidable goal-keeper. Ellie Malcolm
also has been a reliably effective member
o f the team.
Everyone is pleased to see the girls’
hockey becoming more prominent, and we
look forward to greater successes next
year, with some promising talent coming
through.
Jennie Kibblewhite
73
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13
CD
199 9-20 0 0
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TJ
O
Netball
The Netball season began rather
hesitantly this year with the girls (and me!)
getting used to the idea o f Netball without
Miss Dean. We all pulled together and
worked hard to improve existing
techniques, as well as learning a few new
ones. I have been thoroughly impressed
with the enthusiasm and increasing
determination to succeed, shown by the
girls in all age groups, and congratulate
them in achieving their most outstanding
Netball results since the sport was started
at M ount House.
The highlight o f the Christmas Term
was undoubtedly the U13 team ’s win over
St John’s School Sidmouth, by an
enormous 40 goals to 5. This game
demonstrated the excellent teamwork and
outstanding skill o f players such as Lizzie
Painter, Venetia Maitland (only an U12
age) and Emma Kennedy.
The double win o f the U 10 and U11
teams against St D unstan’s College
produced a joint result o f 37 goals to 3.
Some excellent shooting from Olivia
Haywood and Charlotte Cowie (U10) was
produced, along with accurate, smooth
passing in the centre third by Brittany Heal
and Amelia Townsend (U 11).
N ot to be outdone, the U9 team, many
o f whom had never played Netball before,
came second out o f six in their first
tournament at St Peter’s Lympstone,
before winning the Wolborough Hill
Tournament two weeks later. The
formidable duo o f Charlotte Dawson and
Clare Long were aided by Hattie
Cunningham, a new and confident player
to the game.
After a Christmas Term o f throwing,
catching, and passing practice the teams
were subjected to game plans, patterns,
and team skills. The concept o f thinking
ahead was learnt, using players to aid
moves and swap positions. With these
strategies in mind, the Easter Term proved
to be the most successful term yet.
During the term the teams played a
total o f 21 matches. They won 19 and lost
2 giving a 90% win rate. Schools such as
K ing’s Hall, Plymouth College, Exeter
Cathedral and Wolborough Hill had to
endure losing to the outstanding skill o f
our girls. The total number o f goals scored
by M ount House was a huge 249, with the
total number o f goals scored against
Mount House being only 76.
The U13, U12 and U10 teams were
unbeaten all term with the U 1 1 and U9
teams only losing one game each. The U 1 1
and U10 teams were both St Dunstan’s
Tournament winners, sweeping the board
with their victories.
Having achieved such good results
throughout the term, it was a shame that
the U13 team could not continue their
success at the IAPS National Tournament.
They played with utter determination and 1
could not have asked for a more dedicated
team. 1 was very proud o f their efforts
against such strong opposition and look
forward to giving the competition our best
shot again next year.
Rosie Warner
R.Kimber, V.Maitland, E.M alcolm, J.Toynton,
T.Lawson, E.Lumm is, T.Young-Jamieson.
U11/U10: L.Cumming, B.Heal, A.Heale,
T.Johnstone-Burt, A.Townsend, E.Toynton,
E.Zajicek, E.Durant, A.Fulton, I.Jacques,
S.Liddell-Grainger, A.Balm. M.Clavin,
C.Cowie, D.Fulton, O.Haywood, I.Malcolm,
K.Liggins, K.M acDougall, L.Studholme,
L.Newman.
The team s this yea r were:
U13/U12: L.Bialick, L.Painter, P.JohnstoneBurt, E.Litchfield, S.Seymour, E.Newman,
S.Zajicek, E.Kennedy, L.Barkwell, A.Brown,
U9: L.Batchelor, G.Insley, H.Parfitt, C.Dawson
(and U10), C.Long (and U10), E.Speller,
F.Young-Jamieson, H.Cunningham, L,Manning.
A.Haywood, H.Walker.
(continued)
Netball
Fanfare 1999-2000
Sport
:anfare
1999-2000
(I >
T3
O
Rounders
The girls endured a particularly wet
rounders season this year with many
matches cancelled due to bad weather.
However, this did not stop the enjoyment
o f the remaining matches or the
increasingly impressive match results.
The U 13 and U 11 squads showed good
team spirit and determination during their
matches against Exeter Cathedral School,
with Julia Toynton (U13) and Lucy
Barkwell (U13) demonstrating some
extremely efficient fielding skills. Ella
Toynton (U 11) and India Jaques (U 11)
produced some excellent catches whilst
Toni Fulton sprinted her way to many a
rounder.
The U13 team bravely took on St
M ichael’s Tawstock twice during the term,
once in a friendly match and once during
the first round o f the JET Competition.
Both matches were tough with each side
fighting for victory. Mount House used its
skills effectively and Venetia Maitland
held the team together well. The final
results were close and reflected the evenly
matched sides.
The U 11 team came home victorious
from its match against St D unstan’s,
having played an outstanding game o f
Rounders. Mackenzie Clavin fielded
brilliantly and the opposition did not have
a chance to score enough rounders to win.
Lizzie Painter amazed spectators with
her accurate batting technique during the
U 13s’ match against St Peter’s, and Sophia
Seymour managed to stump out players at
second post confidently. Although Mount
House didn't win the match, the girls
enjoyed an amicable afternoon with the St
Peter’s team.
The U9 squad had a very successful
season. The match against St John’s
Sidmouth was cancelled, but it enjoyed
two good wins against St Petroc’s (18 - 10)
and Wolborough Hill ( 15 - 9 ) . Gemma
Insley proved herself to be a consistently
accurate bowler and Lottie Fulton held the
game together well as an efficient
backstop. Emily Speller and Lucy
Manning were very good deeps, whilst
Holly Walker made her debut with a
confident batting technique.
Rosie Warner
The squads were as fo llo w s:
U9: L.Batchelor, G.Insley, H.Parfitt, C.Dawson,
C.Long, E.Speller, F.Young-Jamieson,
H.Cunningham, L.M anning, N.Haywood,
H.Walker.
U10/U11: L.Cumming, B.Heal, A.Heale,
T.Johnstone-Burt, A.Townsend, E.Toynton,
76
E.Zajicek, E.Durant, A.Fulton, I.Jaques,
S.Liddell-Grainger, A.Balm, M.Clavin,
C.Cowie, D.Fulton, O.Haywood, I.Malcolm,
K.Liggins, K.M acDougall, L.Studholm e,
L.Newman.
U12/U13: L.Bialick, L.Painter, P.JohnstoneBurt, E.Litchfield, S.Seymour, E.Newm an,
S.Zajicek, L.Barkwell, A.Brown, R.Kimber,
V.Maitland, E.M alcolm , J.Toynton, T.Lawson,
E.Lummis, T.Young-Jamieson.
Fanfare
1993-2000
Rounders
Swimming Gala
The first Swimming Gala o f the new
millennium proved to be very exciting and
brought with it six new records. The
proceedings began with the Open Butterfly
which was won by C O’Brien (Ow) for the
second year running. Next came the U9 (1L)
Freestyle races, where L Fulton (Ow) was the
fastest out of the sixteen swimmers who took
part. She was awarded the cup for her
excellent efforts.
The Boys’ Freestyle events were equally
exciting with H Cunningham (H), J Parker
(Ot), C O ’Brien (Ow) and E Pickard (K)
winning their events.
The Girls’ Freestyle races were extremely
competitive ones and two new records were
created by M Clavin (Ow) and E Malcolm
(K). B Heal (H) won the U11 (1L) Freestyle.
The Backstroke events were equally
impressive. Winners for their age groups were
G Tetley (Ot), S Jenks (K) and A Love (Ow).
A MacDougall (Ot) won the cup for the 012
(2L) Backstroke event.
The Breastroke (1L) events were won by
S Scoble (H) and G Clarke (Ow). Cups for the
U ll ( 1L) and the 012 (2L) events went to A
Townsend (H) and A Cater (Ot) respectively.
The U 12 Medley Relay was won by the
Owls team comprising A Love, G Clarke, A
Mildmay-White and C O’Brien in a record
breaking time. The previous record for this
event had remained unbroken for eight years.
The 012 Medley Relay saw another
record being smashed. E Tuckett, A Cater, G
Armstrong and A MacDougall, all Otters,
ended the five-year run of the previous
record.
The Freestyle Relays produced two more
new records. The U9 Owls team comprising T
Painter, E Kivell, H Manning and L Fulton
ended another previous record that had stood
untouched for fifteen years! The U12 Hawks
team that included V Maitland, L Barkwell, T
Heal and F Cunningham ended the eight-year
record that had been held for this event. O
Browne, D Harding, L Nail and A Nail, all
Owls, won the 012 (2L) Freestyle Relay Cup.
J Roobottom was awarded the Taylor Cup
for ‘Best Swim of the Gala’ owing to his
extraordinary efforts on the day.
Scores between Hawks and Owls had
been very close throughout the Gala and
tension mounted in the final race, the 012
(2L) Freestyle Relay, which Hawks had to
win in order to gain the Set Cup. The above
mentioned Owls won this event, thus
capturing the Set Cup. The whole set then
went on to win the Dolphin Relay too! Final
scores were:
Owls
112'A
Hawks
102
Kangs
9914
Otters
86
It was a very enjoyable afternoon and
despite the awful weather experienced in
swimming sessions over the term, there were
examples of first rate swimming.
My thanks to all the Staff and pupils who
assisted in the running of this event and also
to Lady Newman for presenting the prizes.
Lindsay Young
77
Fanfare
1999-2000
Mount House Wanderers 2000
Because o f the bad weather, only one
fixture was completed this year. Luckily a
super afternoon o f sunshine enabled the
annual Banyard XI v Elworthy XI to take
place and, as usual, it was played in a great
spirit o f fun-filled rivalry.
Banyard’s XI won the toss and elected
to bat. After a slightly sticky start, an
outstanding innings by Rob Morse (54 not
out) rescued the situation. Toby Borradaile
(28), Chris Morgan (17) and Tom Inman
(12) also put in useful performances to
enable us to reach 149 after the 30 overs
limit. For Elw orthy’s XI, Quintus Travis
(3-22), John Elworthy (2-18), Chris Cole
(1-3) and the Cashell brothers all bowled
particularly well.
In reply, things looked rather bleak for
Elworthy’s team at 107-8 despite an
excellent innings from Captain John (47
not out). A positive 35 not out from Chris
Cashell took them to an exciting win by 1
wicket! Patrick C ashell’s kindness ensured
that The Peter Tavy Inn provided the
customary icing on the cake to the
proceedings.
Jonathan Banyard
The teams: R. Allen, J. Hawkins, S. Crawford,
R. Morse, T. Hawkins, T. Inman, C. Kivell,
T. Borradaile, C. Morgan, P. Hamilton-Leggett,
J. Banyard, J. Elworthy, C. Redman, Q. Travis,
W. Churcher, C. Cole, T. Cashell, S. Carter,
N. Howe, C. Cashell, S. MacDougall, D. Ward.
78
6, W illowby Park, Yelverton,
Devon, PL20 6AN
2nd December, 1999
D ear Charles,
I should like first to thank you for your very
kind welcome to M ount House last w eek which
com pleted a happy day. M em ories, as ever, were
stirred and I have unearthed, and would like you
to have, the clearer o f m y two photographs o f
the 1943 team, which shows David Somerset.
He was an energetic, persistent centre forward
and a good leader, though not as skilled as his
successor, G ordon Lang, whose character and
short life will not be forgotten by those who
knew him. O f the others - Jerem y Lucas is
Robert Halliday’s father-in-law; R ichard Bird is
a retired schoolm aster living in Plym outh - he
and 1 had day long encounters in the
holidays at every indoor and outdoor game he
knew; Christopher Peile, younger son o f Vice
Admiral Sir Lancelot Peile, retired as, at least, a
W ing Comm ander; Simon Nicolls began his
naval career twice. Another m emorable
character w as Jerem y Black; 1 believe the
irrepressible Hugh Lucas is in Australia; Doctor
Jim m y Morris you will know, 1 believe.
Possibly Sims followed his father as a dentist
and Brian his, as a solicitor; Bartholomew
features in gam es groups in K elly’s pavilion.
The photographer was in this case, and
normally, the legendary D octor Lowndes,
complete with ancient plate cam era (tripod, dark
cloth, long exposures). He did the developing
too.
J. M. Gelsthorpe
Fanfare 1999-2000
Associates ’ News
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Sir Christopher telephoned to check up on his old
school. He moved to Lockers Park from Mount
House, before going on to Winchester and Oxford.
Somerset David recently contacted the school re the length
o f time the school spent in Helston during 1939
and 1940. He is convinced that some o f the school
was in Helston for two terms, not one as
suggested elsewhere. His ‘evidence' included two
charming letters that he wrote from Helston as a
boy, one o f which was dated March 1940. Any
further evidence, for or against, would be most
welcome. David is currently a G overnor at
Wellington College.
Lockton
Michael, who obtained his Physics degree from
Exeter College, Oxford, has recently retired after a
30 year career in electrical engineering and 14
years at BSI.
Lockton
Peter has recently retired as MD o f Rolls Royce Asia and now lives in Delhi, India. He was
awarded a CBE in 1989 for services to the export
industry.
James
Roger was one o f two sexagenarians who
journeyed by bicycle across Spain and whose story
is mentioned below. Roger sadly passed away in
1998.
Perkin
Gerry visited the school with his wife during the
Summer and also met HPW. He now lives in
Australia and has recently retired from the police.
He can be contacted on clawed@ ozemail.com.au
James
Brian kindly donated a book entitled ‘The TransIberian Challenge’ to the Library. The book is the
story o f his brother’s journey by bicycle across
Spain.
M cintyre Christopher died in a road accident in Uganda in
1999, having completed 40 years o f tea planting in
East Africa. He leaves his wife, Linda, his son,
Charles and daughter Caroline, to w hom we offer
our deepest sympathies.
Hellens Jeremy is working as an accountant for two
charities in London. He was previously in the Civil
Service with the Departm ent o f Trade and
Industry.
Matthew Roger is this y ear’s M ayor o f Tavistock.
D uff
Anthony lives in Cornwall and lectures on water
sports in Falmouth.
Tolfree
Paul is managing director o f Julian Fitter
Associates, independent financial advisers in
Shaftesbury.
Bond
Anthony is Head o f English at a school in
Nottingham.
Hosking
Michael works in the wine trade in London. He is
married with one son. His father and brothers were
all at MHS when the school was in Plymouth. All
went on to Blundell’s.
Needham Simon has recently won selection to the British
Archery team and is the current British record
holder for the FITA. Simon wrote to say that he
was first taught archery while at M ount House
where his teacher was Ben Morland.
Richards Nicholas has been with Standard Life until
recently when he moved to G.E. Insurance in
Dorking. He is married with two girls.
Young
J.R. works for BT and is based in Swindon. He is
married with two girls and a boy.
MackintoshRoss is married with three children and lives in
Hawkshead, Cumbria where he works for the
National Trust.
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Rod is commanding his battalion in N.Ireland. He
is married to Marienne, a teacher, and they have
three boys.
Richards Philip is married with two boys and works in the
publishing department o f H einem an’s in Oxford.
Melvin
David works for an expanding consultancy
company in London. He lives near Guildford with
his wife and four children.
Sharp
John is now flying for Caledonian Airways,
having completed 12 years with the RAF.
Pollinger Jonathan is a computer technician with
Marlborough Stirling in Cheltenham. He has sung
bass/baritone with the Philharmonia Orchestra and
now sings with the Crouch End Festival Chorus.
Prowse
Andrew is working for British Gas in Devon. He
lives in Ugborough and is married with a son aged
six.
Weir
Christopher is now C hief Engineer with Lucas
Aerospace. He is married with three children and
lives in Solihull.
Woodard Rupert is now working for Excursion Ltd., a firm
o f travel agents. He is married with three boys.
Grier-Rees Gavin visited the school with his fiancee during
the Christmas Term. He is planning to move to
Devon from Hampshire and hopes to send his
children to Mount House.
Hanan
Hugh is teaching Law at St. Austell College,
Cornwall.
Wood
Jonathan works for BASF, the German chemical
giant, in Heidelberg. He is married to a German
girl and keeps up his clarinet playing with a
number o f local ensembles.
Wright
Richard farms near Ashburton, South Island, New
Zealand. He farms two dairy herds comprising
2700 cows. He is married to a New Zealand girl
and they have a daughter and two sons.
W right
Simon is married and has a son and a daughter.
They live and farm near Rye where they keep
Sussex cattle and Romney sheep.
de Glanville
Philip continues to play rugby for Bath and
was an important member o f the England XV that
contested the 1999 World Cup.
M ackenzie James is running a firm o f Estate Agents called
‘O cean’ in Bristol. He is married with three
children.
Pugh
Lewis has returned to the UK after living in S.
Africa. He has a degree in M aritime Law and is
currently reading for his LLM (M aster’s Degree)
in International Law and Law on War at Jesus
College, Cambridge. He plans to join the army
later this year. He met HPW recently who was able
to tell him about his time at Jesus in 1940s.
Cowling James is engaged and will marry in Heidelberg,
Germany in Summer 2000.
Cameron Charles married Fiona in 1998 and, having been
invalided out o f the Army, is currently running
their Corporate Christmas Company in Perthshire.
M cintyre Charles married Zara, the sister o f a Winchester
contemporary, in June 1999. He is a Director o f
APAX, a corporate finance company in London.
W iltshire Tim is working as a yacht broker in London.
Woodard Jolyon is in the Fleet Air Arm flying helicopters.
He is engaged and his future wife is an RAF pilot.
W right
Sean is working in London for IAXIS, a leading
telecommunications firm. He is married and has
twins.
Fanfare
1999-2000
Associates ’ News
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Charles has been in publishing in London, but is
currently considering taking Holy Orders.
Weir
Peter is a schoolteacher and is head o f English at a
large comprehensive in Birmingham. He lives in
Solihull and is married with a daughter.
Allerton
Christopher's engagement to Miss Amanda
Moorhouse from Yorkshire was announced in The
Daily Telegraph.
Beckly
John is now a doctor, married and living in
Sydney, Australia.
Motley
Piers is teaching English and Media Studies at
Paignton Community College.
Wilson
Mark is doing a second degree in computers while
working in London for the banking firm, J.P.
Morgan.
Cameron Alasdair is a landscape gardener and runs an
expanding business at The Chelsea Gardener in
London.
Carter
James works in Bristol for a firm called Co:Media,
designing and producing brochures.
Gillmore Charles has become engaged this year to Rebecca
(as announced in The Times).
Parshall
David is working with General Electric in Cardiff
as a systems analyst.
Wright
Thomas is learning the wine business with
Oddbins in London.
Beckly
James is reading for a Building Surveyor degree at
Plymouth University.
James
Jonathan is Head o f the corporate legal department
with Jordans in Bristol. Three years ago he
founded a symphony orchestra called the New
Bristol Sinfonia o f which he is currently
conductor. He is happily married to a doctor.
Mackie
Hamish is now a renowned sculptor, currently
selling his work all over the world at exorbitant
prices.
M adgwick Edward is now the dentist for 40 Commando,
having won his Green Beret in March 1999. He
has been at sea in the Med on HMS OCEAN since
last August, taking the opportunity to pass his
Open Water Diving exams.
Wilson
Paul is working for a marketing agency in London,
having, like brother Mark, completed a second
degree, in marketing.
Carter
David is living in London, earning a living as an
actor.
Cameron Simon obtained a BA in Politics and Local
Government from Northum bria and is currently
seeking employment in London.
Ball
Robin has joined a travel company, Hayes and
Jarvis, in London following a seven month trip to
South America and other distant lands.
Hurst
Adam is continuing his rugby career in the
Thames Valley and is currently playing for
Reading in Jewson National League 1.
Mackenzie David is working in his brother James's firm o f
Estate Agents in Bristol.
Scofield Conrad is at York University reading for a MSc in
Ecology and Environmental Management. He
already has a BSc in Animal Biology from
Edinburgh.
Follett
Michael is currently tutoring the delightful
children o f a Swiss couple anxious that their
children reach Eton and Wycombe Abbey. He
wrote from the French Alps where the family was
skiing, so life was not too bad!
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Mackie
Archie is busy studying at Cirencester Agricultural
College.
Owen
Nicholas is working for Sema in their IT
department.
Stone
Duncan is now studying at the European School of
Law in Bruges after his M A in Law at Oxford. He
is passionately interested in environmental law.
Wyer
Mark is studying for accountancy exams in Bristol
having obtained a degree in Maths at Bristol.
Lytle
Rob is studying Hydrography at Plymouth. Sailing
remains a passion and he spent last summer sailing
around Ireland.
Stone
Andrew is at the Marine School at Falmouth
where he is following an HND course in Marine
Leisure Studies.
Borradaile Charles is studying at the West o f England
University, Bristol.
Cass
Philip is spending his gap year in New Zealand
working in a school in Timaru, near Christchurch.
He intends visiting Australia as well before
returning to Reading University to read Land
Management.
Cass
David is very involved with CCF at Monkton
Combe, having enjoyed a camp at Episkopi in
Cyprus with the Light Infantry. He is planning to
join the army after A Levels in Geography,
Biology and Maths.
Frappell
W illiam is in his last year at Blundell’s where he is
captain o f Tennis and Squash.
Keeler
William is studying at the West o f England
University, Bristol.
Lawrence John has left St Edward’s, Oxford having
captained their 1st XV in his final year. He is
currently studying Ceramic Design at The London
Institute.
Lytle
Andrew is reading Chemistry at Newcastle, having
spent his gap year as a chalet boy in France and
then working for his Yachtmaster Offshore
certificate. He also helped a friend sail his boat to
Gibraltar.
Armstrong Martin has left K ing’s, Bruton and is hoping to
study English with creative writing before moving
into media studies.
BabbingtonThomas has left Blundell’s and will be long
remembered for an outstanding performance in the
school’s production o f ‘Cabaret’.
Broderick Lee has left K ing’s, Bruton and is currently
retaking his A Levels to reapply for university
next year. At K ing's, he played rugby and
basketball and was particularly successful as a
public speaker and reader o f poetry.
Clarke
Tom is in Australia for his gap year after A Levels.
He is busy writing short-film scripts, is involved in
the music industry and has recently had an
anthology o f his writing published. He is to study
Sociology at the University o f Wales, Swansea in
September.
Clayton
Benjy is currently working for On Digital in
Plymouth.
James
Philip followed his brother, Jonathan, to Radley
and this year achieved A grades in his four A
Levels. He is reading Geography at Cambridge.
Jarrett-KerrLawrence achieved good A levels in English,
Geography & Business Studies at K ing’s, Bruton
and has spent the summer doing a sailing and wind
surfing instructor’s course in Greece.
Fanfare
1999-2000
Associates ’ News
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John achieved excellent A Level results and has
now left Sherborne to read Ancient History at
Bristol.
Larsen
Gavin left Blundell’s with three A grade A levels,
having captained a good Blundell’s 1st XV in his
final year.
William has left Sherborne and is now at St
Luke
Andrew ’s, reading Social Anthropology.
Peam
Richard was a School Prefect and head o f house in
his final year at King’s, Bruton. He represented
K ing’s at a number o f sports, especially basketball.
He is reading Business Studies at the West o f
England University.
James has left Dean Close with three very good A
Petrie
Levels, including an A in History.
Radcliffe Michael has left St Edward's, Oxford with three
very good A levels and is currently reading
Geography at Reading. At St Edward’s Michael
played 1st XI Soccer, was a House Prefect and
gained a Gold Medal in the Duke o f Edinburgh’s
Award Scheme.
John earned outstanding results in his A levels at
Seldon
Stonyhurst and is currently reading Mathematics at
Cambridge.
William gained excellent A levels in Maths,
Seldon
Physics and Chemistry. He has been a splendid
gap year student with us this year.
Whatmough
Nick has left Sherborne and is now
following an Arts Foundation Course at Central St
Martins.
Alex is studying A Levels in Art, DT and Physics
Clayton
at Tavistock College and is looking to read Design
and Realisation at university after a gap year in
industry.
Ben captained the Sherborne I st XV on their
Davies
wonderful tour o f the South Pacific last summer
and won a place in the England U 18 A XV that
played Wales. He is planning a gap year teaching
in Australia before going to Edinburgh to read
Virology.
Harris
Charlie toured the South Pacific with the
Sherborne 1st XV.
Kirby-Harris
Alexander is studying A Levels at Milton
Abbey and hopes to read Business Economics and
Management at either Newcastle or LSE. His
sporting career has blossomed and he has played
rugby, football, hockey and tennis for the school
1st teams.
Bell
Rory has left Clifton after achieving good GCSEs
and will be studying for his A Levels at Bryanston.
Benham Charlie is studying Art, Ancient History and
Business Studies as his A Levels at Sherborne. He
has played rugby, cricket and hockey for his House
and is very interested in art and photography.
Bridger David is playing for Sherborne 1st XV, along with
several ex Mount House boys, and enjoying A
Levels in English, Medieval History and Religious
Studies.
Halliday
Robert is greatly enjoying life at Sherborne in the
Lower Sixth where he is studying A Levels in DT,
Economics and Geography with a view to read
Agricultural Management at university. Extra­
curricular activities include cross country running
for the school senior squad and running the RM
section o f the CCF with the rank o f Colour
Sergeant.
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G eoff bagged a wonderful set o f GCSEs at Eton
with 5 A*s and 5 As.
Jarrett-KerrJonathan successfully negotiated GCSE at King’s,
Bruton, achieving good grades in his chosen A
Levels.
Kitson
Philip achieved very pleasing GCSE results at
M arlborough and has now undertaken A Levels in
History, Politics and English. He is hoping to
make the Marlborough 1st XV this year.
Lee
Oswald gained excellent GCSEs and is studying
Maths, Physics and Chemistry for A Levels. He
has won prizes for his Maths & Physics, the latter
the Paddy Whelan Prize from Sherborne School.
Paddy Whelan was at Mount House in the 1940s.
Mason
Sam achieved excellent results in his GCSEs and
has been a great contributor to school life at
Sherborne, especially in sport, CCF and music. He
is studying A levels in History, Ancient History,
Greek and Latin. He was selected to play in the
National Fives Championship in London last year.
Robertson Alexander has achieved very pleasing GCSE
results at Millfield with English and Drama at A
grade.
Sage
Roland achieved excellent GCSEs at Sherborne
and now embarks on a scientific A Level course
with confidence and enthusiasm.He remains a
keen rugby player (3rd XV) and has also enjoyed
CCF and the Duke o f Edinburgh Award Scheme
(Silver medal). He was recently awarded a travel
grant to visit Kenya, where he worked in the
‘Happy H om e’ orphanage.
Trahair
Harry achieved very pleasing GCSE results at
Marlborough and is now studying Geography,
Design Technology and Business Studies. He has
enjoyed playing rugby, tennis, soccer and
basketball and has just completed a three week trip
to Mongolia.
Williams Henry achieved straight A* grades in his GCSE
exams at Ampleforth.
Armstrong Morwenna has been in France again, this time
skiing for Downe House in the British G irls’
Schools Championships.
Bridger
Andrew has played rugby for Sherborne and
Dorset and Wilts and is looking forward to a trial
for the SW England. He also found time to achieve
a Duke o f Edinburgh Bronze Award.
Church
Gary is enjoying life at KCT and has played rugby
for their U 16 B team.
Dale
Frank is working hard for GCSEs at Clifton, but
has found time to visit South Africa and the USA
to do some snowboarding.
Dudgeon Benjie has won a a Duke o f Edinburgh Bronze
Award at Sherborne.
Franklin
Peter has achieved a Duke o f Edinburgh Bronze
Award after yet another rugby injury seriously
curtailed his exploits on the Sherborne playing
fields.
Gillmore Edward has been playing U 16 A team rugby at
KCT and also represented the school in the
throwing events in Athletics.
Gough
Michael reached the final o f the Lord's Taverners
U15 Cup with The Royal Hospital School,
Holbrook.
Gough
Robert was mentioned in the ‘Holbrook Tim es’ for
his batting in a strong Royal Hospital School U14
XI.
Fanfare
1999-2000
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Associates ’ News
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Robert achieved excellent GCSE results at
Sherborne and is studying Geography, DT and
Economics at A Level. He has represented the
school at Cross Country and is active in the CCF
and the School Choir.
Kongialis David has retained his love o f soccer at KCT,
playing in the 2nd XI and looking forward to a
visit to Milan in February 200.
Langton
Chris has won a Duke o f Edinburgh Bronze Award
in the scheme operated at Sherborne.
Neenan
James is playing A team rugby at prop or lock for
KCT and is touring with the King's 1st XV this
summer. He is also enjoying hockey and athletics.
George is leaving KCT this summer, but has
Pickles
played ‘A’ team rugby and cricket and 3rd XI
soccer and was awarded his SCA colours in
November 1999.
Mark has thrived at KCT where he is already the
Wild
No. 1 player in the U16 tennis team. He also plays
squash, rugby and hockey for the school.
Peter has represented KCT in their U16 ‘A’ teams
Wild
for rugby, hockey and cricket.
Woosnam- ■Mills
Alex has enjoyed playing U16 B team
rugby, 2nd XI soccer and competing in field events
at KCT.
James has settled happily at Taunton School and
Alford
has represented school teams in rugby, hockey and
cricket. He continues to play the piano.
Anderson Christopher enjoyed his first year at Kelly College.
He has played cricket (av: 41.23), rugby, football,
basketball and rugby sevens, achieving colours in
rugby and cricket. He has still found time to sing
in the choir and played the trumpet solo on
Remembrance Day. He led a Kelly College 35
mile team in this y ear’s Ten Tors.
Antonia is enjoying life at Devonport where music
Bridger
in the form o f piano and drums occupies her time
along with poetry and prose reading. She certainly
stands out from the crowd with blue highlights in
her hair!
Bush
Archie has settled to life at K ing’s, Bruton and has
enjoyed success at rugby, hockey and cricket. His
musical talents have been much appreciated and he
is working hard to improve his golf.
Stephen has started well at St P eter’s, York and
Caley
has enjoyed playing rugby and cricket for the
school. His family has left America and is now
settled in England, although father is off to Sierra
Leone for a six month posting.
James has pursued his great interest in History at
Church
Sherborne where he topped the end o f year exam.
He has also enjoyed fencing and studying Spanish.
Court
Tom has settled well into Emanuel School and his
report suggests he is achieving a high academic
standard.
Edward’s blossoming rugby career at Taunton
Hooper
School, was put on temporary hold with a
fractured shoulder, but earlier he had played
hockey and cricket for school teams. He has
become a serious guitarist.
M atthew has made excellent academic progress at
Howard
Plymouth College and is studying hard for 10
GCSEs. He plays rugby at hooker for the College
U16s.
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Oliver has played rugby in the 'A' team at Taunton
School where his down to earth approach to life is
much appreciated.
Rory has thrown him self wholeheartedly into life
Trahair
at M arlborough where he has continued his
drumming and begun to learn Chinese.
Tristram has enjoyed him self to the full at King's,
Tucker
Bruton. Sport has dominated his life with success
on the rugby, hockey and cricket pitch. In his spare
time he has played tennis, archery, basketball and
chess!
Allerfeldt Chloe has slowly,but surely settled into life at
Bryanston. The violin, hockey and drama have
occupied her free time.
Bailey
Paloma has been an important mem ber o f the
Bryanston U14 netball team that reached the
County finals. She has also played U14 hockey
and enjoyed singing and the Jazz Dance group.
Bialick
Forbes has made a ‘cracking start’ at Canford,
playing for a very successful U14 ‘B ’ XV,
excelling at cross country and beginning to row.
His housem aster believes that Forbes can look
forward to a ‘distinguished Canford career’!
Bridger Zoe has continued with her athletics at Devonport
where she is still competing in the
high jump.
Bum ell-N ugent
Tom has settled happily at Marlborough
where he has worked hard in class and enjoyed
rugby, hockey and cricket on the games field. He
has given up the Choir - too girl orientated!
Dawson David has enjoyed a wonderful start to his time at
KCT, the highlight being the U14 Cricket Tour to
South Africa.
Gude
Tom has made a ‘highly positive and diligent’ start
to life at Kelly College where he has pursued
interests in soccer and squash.
Jackson Jono has enjoyed an outstanding academic start at
K elly College and played rugby for the Junior
Colts.
Kaminski James has been an influential member o f Kelly
College’s Junior Colts XV and has continued his
singing with the School Choir.
Newman Robert has made an ‘easy and painless’ transition
to Bryanston. He has played for the U14s, played
the trumpet and spent much time in the IT Centre.
Tom is nearing the end o f his first year at KSB. He
O ’Brien
has enjoyed the rugby, scoring two tries for the
U 14’s ‘A’, while hockey and cricket have been
played at a slightly lower level.
Palmer
Josh has settled well at M arlborough College.
Tobey
Angus has settled into the routines o f Bryanston
and, in addition to good academic results, has been
involved in clarinet playing, model railways, roller
blading and snakeboarding.
The Association always welcomes contributions, however brief,
and photographs. Please drop a line to Tony Wortham, at
Herongate, M ount House School, Tavistock, PL19 9JL, or to
Charles Price, or John Symons, at the School, or e-mail to
mounthouse@aol.com or SymonsTavi@aol.com .
Fanfare 1999-2000
Associates ’ News
M atthew Jaquiery’ left M ount H ouse in July 1998. H e is now at Winchester College. This is the p o et he has become.
March 11, 2000
M arch the eleventh, year 2000.
Do I know what I did, do I care?
W hat if I thought, what I hoped, w hat I did
I don’t know.
Do I care, do I, do you?
I can’t remember.
It w asn’t an occasion for me.
If it was, I can’t think why.
W ho I was, and what I thought,
Was it stars and planets running
Random rotating races round each other.
Or Was it me? W hat controlled my actions, my
thoughts?
1 rather fancy the thought o f little me.
And all those planets interlinked.
And me doing m y own thing and not giving a
damn.
W here they were.
What would I change, if it was then again?
W hat would I change?
Nothing.
There are so many little things that I could have
changed,
But why change w hat you can 't rem em ber?
The Back Page Boys
" 0
<D
O
T3
CD
83
Pessimist
No reason.
It m ight be fun, perhaps,
I m ight make a little m oney on the stock exchange,
Spend it and die
O f food poisoning.
From food that I w ouldn't eat,
O r m aybe I could terrorise a small village
A nd wake up
Today,
In jail.
But enough o f fantasy,
W hat o f today?
Will today pass o ff into the distance,
A day w hich is ju st so much time.
How m any days and dates are ju st so much time
Just quietly propping my age up?
Just quietly passing into a realm where even memories,
In all their power, cannot penetrate.
Maybe.
M aybe I'll sit and think, m aybe not,
But as I said before do I care?
M atthew Jaquiery
Disinfectant. Undiluted,
Novel love, unrequited.
So many uns, so negative,
The w orld's got no sense o f
Fun is getting old.
Smiles are fading too,
Enjoying yourself is out o f fashion,
The w orld’s more boring every
Day is dull. Night is dull.
Vocabulary’s limited too,
All the sounds are monotone,
And boredom rules
Over ground, Under ground,
W ombling free,
The Wombles o f Wimbledon,
Boring are
We all think the same thoughts,
Our dreams are black and white,
We wake up screaming monotone,
In the m iddle o f the
Night is dull, Day is dull
Vocabulary’s limited too,
All the sounds are montone,
And boredom rules over
All we want is a glich o f imperfection
A whodunnit with a twist or a bend,
A novel head ’nd shoulders above others
Or a poem without an
M atthew Jaquiery
0)
Thanks
to all
o f you!
84
My thanks go to the vast array o f pupils, staff, parents, MHA members, and other friends, who have shared in the
production o f Fanfare 2000. Special thanks go to M yra Sussex and Pat Tear for all their typing, whilst photographs
have been supplied by the outstanding team o f Geoffrey Allen, Malcolm Bassett, Peter Hamilton-Leggett, Jennie
Kibblewhite, Bids Morgan, Lottie Morse, Charles Price, Hugh Walkington, G eoff Whaley, and others. T h a n k you all.
Guy Canning
EXCELLEN CE » W » ID S
ESE2ESEES1
O S B 1B
Tor Cottage has a warm and
relaxed atmosphere and nestles
in its own private valley. With
lovely gardens, a streamside
setting, 18 acres of wildlife
hillsides, it is adjacent to
Dartmoor and the Tamar Valley.
It is central for coastlines, and
just a few minutes’ drive away
from Mount House School.
Go/?i/)(/ie^
to « f/oK/tf f/Coii'Se
(Off/ a 'Sfoecia/ fareaf ci( r/o r Goftacje /
IN D U L G E Y O U R S E L F in th e a m b ien ce o f
this special p lace, w h ere luxury aw aits you at
every tu rn . O u r g u ests tell us th a t th ey “ have
n ev e r felt so p a m p e re d .”
E n jo y p ea ce, tran q u illity , a n d co m p lete privacy
in o u r b ea u tifu l en -su ite b ed -sittin g room s,
e a ch w ith log fire an d p riv ate te rra c e g ard en .
E a c h su ite is very d iffe re n t. F rom th e b lue an d
c rea m eleg an ce o f th e C ra ftsm a n ’s R oom , to
th e G a rd e n R o o m w ith its v au lted ceiling an d
a n tiq u e b ed , to th e A rt D eco R o o m w ith its
w arm th an d style. E a ch o ffers sp ace, co m fo rt
an d luxury.
W e a re n o t licen sed , b u t w e p ro v id e a frid g e in
ea ch su ite fo r g u ests w h o w ish to b rin g th e ir
ow n w ine an d drinks.
O u r extensive b re a k fa st m e n u o ffers guests
tra d itio n a l o r v eg e taria n ch o ices, a n d w e ca te r
fo r special diets.
F o r ev e n in g m e als we h ave ex cellen t local
re s ta u ra n ts w ithin easy d riving d istan ce, w h ere
w e can reserv e ta b les fo r o u r g uests. T h e re are
also lovely local inns n earby.
Special w in te r b re a k s a re available.
T h e re is a h e a te d sw im m ing po o l in th e
su m m er.
Our Visitors' Book says it all:
“We are totally under the spell o f this enchanting
place, which cherishes its guests so much, and
makes them feel so special. ”
“A perfect escape from the real world. The
atmosphere, service, and food were all exquisite.
It is an unusual, beautiful, place. ”
Awarded top quality by E TB and AA, and
recommended by the good Hotel guide and Which ?
Sorry: No smoking;
no pets; and regretfully,
no children.
♦♦♦♦♦
G O LD A W A R D
BROCHURE AVAILABLE
Tor Cottage, Chillaton, Devon, 6 . Telephone 01822 860248 Fax 01822 860126
E-mail: info@toreottage.eo.uk
Internet: http://ww.toreottage.eo.uk
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