BBrentwood School Times
TSJanuary 2016 Issue 11
Prep Concert
The Jungle Book Sporting Success
New CaterersWest Side Story
Virtue, Learning and Manners
School hosts its largest ever Model United Nations Conference
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk
Page 2 Brentwood School Times 2016
January 2016 Issue 11
With large classroom spaces, a lecture theatre, tuck shop, spaces where students can work together collaboratively, and areas where students can work by themselves, the Centre provides different environments for different modes of working.
Students will have access to more technology in the form of new computer suites, interactive whiteboards, giant projector screens, and Apple TV systems where they can connect multiple iPads to a large screen.
There is a digital learning hub where, as the iPad initiative continues to roll out to other year groups, our student Digital Leaders will be on hand to help other students and staff develop digital literacy.
But the Bean Academic Centre project is not just about a building. Not only will students have more books and electronic resources, but better access to those resources than ever before.
The Library staff and Academic Fellows are on hand from before 8am to 6.30pm to help students with their work and advise them on finding the best resources.
From 2016, all Sixth Form students will have an opportunity to write a 4000-word Extended Essay, a sustained academic research project that will make them even more competitive university applicants.
Our exciting new Global Perspectives course, which will be delivered in the Second and Fourth Years from 2016, before being rolled out to Third and Fifth Years in 2017, focuses on students learning about and researching global issues, learning about and confronting real-world problems.
Academic departments will be hosting a range of enrichment events, from visiting speakers and student presentations, to interdisciplinary research projects across year groups, and indeed exciting academic projects with schools abroad.
These are exciting times and the Bean Academic Centre shows our commitment to academic excellence across Brentwood School.
Although this is the largest edition of the BST, the editing process has, inevitably, left more items on the “cutting room” floor than we have been able to include. We have focused on the continuing success of former pupils from a variety of vintages and the emergence like a butterfly from a chrysalis of scaffolding of our new Bean Academic Centre, coupled with the development of digital learning initiatives in the Sixth Form. This outstanding new facility will contribute greatly to the welfare, wellbeing and learning of all our pupils.
High academic standards remain our top priority, and the 70% progression rate by Sixth Formers to Russell Group / Top 20 Universities achieved last summer sets new standard to which future years should aspire.
Long-serving staff, mentioned last year, have now departed and their contribution is celebrated in this edition, alongside an indication that we are aiming for even high standards of participation and attachment by appointing key people to lead our co-curricular programmes.
As always, the development of character, personality, confidence and social conscience is fuelled by all the activities our pupils do, and if you have enjoyed reading the BST, I urge you to get in touch to arrange a visit so that you can see and hear more about the variety of ways in which your School continues to thrive.
With every best wish for health and happiness in the year ahead.
Ian DaviesHeadmaster
A word from the Headmaster...
The Bean Academic Centre is the intellectual heart of the School
January 2016 Issue 11
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk Page 3
iPad technology is being rolled out across the
School, following the successful introduction of
the latest tablets to all Lower Sixth students. The
iPads were preloaded with innovative content from
Apple and other top education providers to give our
students the best start in their crucial A Level and
International Baccalaureate Diploma studies.
Head of Sixth Form Mrs Anna Lawes, who joined from
Forest School last June, said she was delighted to be
part of such an exciting project: “Our pupils are enjoying a much more interactive and personal
learning experience which will superbly complement the first class teaching here at Brentwood.”
Not to be outdone, the School’s teaching staff were also issued with iPads at the end of
May to give them a chance to familiarise themselves with the huge range of educational
applications they have at their fingertips.
Inside this issue:
4-6 Prep School
7 Model United Nations
8 Teaching stalwarts bid School Farewell
9-11 Senior School
12-14 Sport
15 Charity work
16-17 Sixth Form
18-27 Old Brentwoods
Independents by Sodexo wins Brentwood School contract
Teaching and learning goes digital at Brentwood School
School dinners have become a highlight of the School day since Independents by Sodexo
was awarded the £1.2m a year contract to provide catering and hospitality services at the
School. It is the first time the School has outsourced its catering service and the
three-year contract, which has an option for a further two-year extension, began on
1st July 2015.
Sodexo, who cater for over 1,500 day and boarding pupils every day as well as providing
catering and hospitality for School events, offer a wide range of dishes with an emphasis
on fresh, nutritious and seasonal food, using its ‘fresh food from scratch’ concept.
IT Manager Mr Singh takes students through the set up process
The kitchen and serveries were also updated
Page 4 Brentwood School Times 2016
January 2016 Issue 11
Author and illustrator Curtis Jobling, who designed Bob the Builder, Frankenstein’s Cat and Raa Raa the Noisy Lion
amongst other best-selling books, made a rare appearance at the Preparatory School in April.
Curtis, who talked about his love of reading which
started at an early age, kept pupils captivated with
his explanation of the animation process behind
his TV programmes and live sketches of his most
famous characters to rapturous applause.
He also delivered sound advice to the wide-eyed
youngsters about the importance of reading to
broaden the mind
and improve writing
skills. After the
talk he answered
questions and
delighted children
by signing copies
and drawing mini
sketches in his
books.
Brentwood Prep exceeds SATs targets
Staff and pupils at Brentwood Preparatory School celebrated
an outstanding set of National Curriculum KS2 SATs results
last summer– the second best set of marks in 15 years.
Headmaster Jason Whiskerd said the exceptional results
had far exceeded national averages and paid testament
to the hard work and dedication of the whole school
community, including teachers, pupils and parents.
He said: “Our target of a three-year average of 75% has been
well and truly achieved! In addition to the Key Stage 2 SATs
results, our Key Stage 1 results are the best on record.”
The outstanding results saw an average of 81% of pupils
attain Level 5, or above, in English Reading, English SPAG
(Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) and Mathematics, with
a record number of pupils gaining the top Level 6 award.
The Government has set a national target of Level 4 in
English and Mathematics for all Year 6 pupils.
Famous author keeps pupils animated at Brentwood Prep
PREP SCHOOL
Curtis Jobling’s inspiring presentation
FoBS
Thank you to Friends of Brentwood
School for the Trim Trail!
“We were delighted to see the installation of
a quite magnificent Trim Trail in the Trinity
term, very kindly provided by the Friends of
Brentwood School. The children are using
it every day and it’s certainly been a hugely
popular addition to our school.”
Deputy Head, Mr Josh Holtby
To see what else FoBS have been up to visit
our website: www.brentwoodschool.co.uk/
friends-of-brentwood-school
Curtis Jobling and Prep pupils with their signed books!
Page 4 Brentwood School Times 2016
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk Page 5
Early Years at Forest School
Canoeing Enrichment Week
Science
Music Senior Concert
Jungle Book production
Our Year Six pupils performed
Jungle Book in their final term
at the Prep School - 65 of them
all on stage together. The year
group was so talented that casting
was a real difficulty and some
of the parts were cast twice and
had different casts perform each
night! Mrs Kerry Cooke, Deputy
Head, Academic, said: “It was
great to see how every single one
of them grew in confidence, no
doubt forming memories they will
return to throughout their lives.”
Drama
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk Page 5
PREP Sport
Water Polo Winners! Congratulations to our Prep water
polo team who won the 2015 Essex
Water Polo tournament. They were at
the top of their game after coaching
sessions from Sixth Form student and
GB Water Polo player, James Warman.
#Teamwork
Skiing – Equity Inter School Challenge
Nine-year-old Year Four pupil Robbie
Johnston flew down the mountain to
slice into 9th place in the Equity Inter
School Ski Challenge. Budding skier
Robbie took part in the contest back
in March 2015 at Les Houches in the
French Alps.
Robbie ready for action on the slopes in France
James Warman GB & Upper Sixth student coaches Prep water polo team
Cricket The Prep boys’ cricket team showed
a lot of promise as they batted off
other independent schools in the
Orwell Park Cricket Tournament to
win the plate!
Prep Cricket team and their well deserved plate!
January 2016 Issue 11
County Tennis Champions
Eight pupils represented
the Prep at the County
Mini Tennis Finals held
at Brentwood Hard Court
Tennis Club, and after a
fantastic display of exciting
tennis, our Cup Team,
Thomas Gennings, William
Howard, Araminta Smalley
and Ellie Foley, were
announced “Winners”!
Our Plate Team, Varun
Gupta, Elliot Gibson, Emma Dowlen and Olivia Mitchell, came third. Once
again the standard of tennis was tremendously high and our pupils played
extremely well, given the summer heat and the number of schools and county
regions represented.
Preparatory School tennis team
Brentwood School’s Winter Fencing Tournament, held in December, attracted more than 145 entries and proved to be a successful day for the 100-strong School Team
Our young Preparatory School fencers
proved particularly formidable opponents
with some stand-out performances. In the
Prep School Year 3 and 4 Foil Tournament
there was a fantastic Bronze medal for
Chloe Leslie, while Zachary Ring went
home with a silver medal after an exciting
final which he lost by the smallest of
margins.
In the same category, Rudraksh Gangooly fenced well on his first tournament
appearance, just losing his first elimination fight. Lucy Trevelyan and Henry
Ding even managed to reach the quarter-finals.
Prep School Tournament Year 5 and 6 Foil
was very strong. In a field of 30 contenders
Damifola Odelusi and Jacob Leslie stood
their ground and both only stranded in
the quarter-finals. Joshua Elsworth, Varun
Bhardwaj, Isaakh Jalali, Priyan Balasegaram
and Matthew Trevelyan did well to advance
through the first stage of the tournament
but could not win their elimination fight.
Toby Skinner and Sophia Jones won their
first elimination round but stranded their
second elimination fight.
Mr Chris Galesloot, Master i/c Fencing, said: “These results are very promising
since this was a strong field with many outside school fencers that belong to the
British elite in this age-group.”
“The Brentwood Prep School Fencing Team has trained very hard in 2015 and as
a result we have three boys, Damifola Odelusi, Joshua Elsworth and Jacob Leslie,
ranked within the top 15 of the 2015 Under 9 National Foil Ranking list for boys.
Sophia Jones is ranked 13th on the National Foil ranking list for Under 9 girls.”
Page 6 Brentwood School Times 2016
PREP SportFootball
Year Four
pupil Tade
Ibrahim was
playing for
West Ham
School Boys
when he
was scouted
and offered
a contract with Spurs. He joined 21
other boys, and their coaches, on
a memorable visit to White Hart
Lane to meet famous ex-Spurs star
Ledley King, in the manager’s office,
where they signed their contracts.
Afterwards, the boys were allowed
to watch the stars of the first team
perform in a Premier League fixture.
Tade trains up to three times a week
and plays matches every Sunday. He
keeps a gym and dietary diary to
monitor his fitness and physical
condition. His contract will run for
one year, at which point Tade hopes
he will be offered a new contract, and,
eventually, be signed full-time when
he reaches 16 years of age.
Tade is all smiles at Spurs! Tade signs school boy contract at Spurs
IAPS cross country runners speed to the top!
The prestigious
IAPS National
Preparatory
Cross Country
Championships,
held at Malvern
School, Worcestershire, saw our
runners come 5th out of 61 Schools.
Aston Leaver, Year One pupil, finished
8th out of 366 runners!
The boys
were also
lucky
enough
to see
footballing
legend David
Beckham in
attendance,
supporting
his son in
the races.
Prep cross country team at IAPS
Boys awe struck in David Beckham’s presence
continued from page 5
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk Page 7
Refugee crisis tops MUN agendaNearly 150 pupils from schools across the South-East took part in Brentwood School’s third annual Model United Nations Conference.
The conference, organised and led by Upper Sixth Form
students Tom Raffan and Bishka Chand, debated quality topics which centred on the central conference theme of refugees.
The 2015 conference was the largest Brentwood MUN conference to date, hosting students from Brentwood and nine other independent and state schools in Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and London.
MUN is a student-run, academic simulation of the real United Nations. It helps to develop research, debating and public speaking skills, as well as broadening students' appreciation of other cultures and political systems.
Students were allocated a country, whose views they researched and from whose perspective they argued in the debates. They were also allocated a committee (the committees at Brentwood MUN are Security Council, Economics and Social Council, Human Rights Council, Environment Programme and World Health Assembly).
Participants wrote a resolution to one of the world’s major problems before debating the subject individually within their committees. On the second day, they joined forces with other delegates from their country to continue the debate as a team in the General Assembly. The whole of Sunday was dedicated to the General Assembly debate and included a passionate and controversial emergency debate in the afternoon.
A particular highlight of the conference was the keynote speech from his Excellency Mr Teuku Mohammad Hamzah Thayeb, Indonesian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, who talked about his own experience of the United Nations, as well as his thoughts on the current global refugee crisis.
Headmaster Ian Davies praised Tom and Bishka for their hard work in preparing a series of quality topics and debates. He added: “Brentwood School would like to thank all internal and external delegates for making the conference such a success.
“We believe that the MUN helps students to become enterprising learners in an increasingly demanding and competitive world. It is a fantastic event in which to be involved, as it develops students’ research, analytical and debating skills as well as broadening their appreciation for other cultures and political beliefs.”
SENIOR SCHOOL
Page 8 Brentwood School Times 2016
January 2016 Issue 11
At the end of the last academic year we bid a fond farewell to six stalwarts of the teaching profession who retired after a collective 143 years’ service to the School – and that didn’t include Mr James Brown’s years as a pupil!
Master of cricket, Mr Hardie
Teaching stalwarts bid School farewell
Mr Brown, Mr Chapman, Mr Crosby and Mr Jones
Head of Geography Mr Neil Crosby, who started teaching at
Brentwood in September 1977, packed away his maps and
globe after 38 years. During that time he also ran tennis,
cricket and football teams – he was one of the first to spot
Frank Lampard’s enviable talent – and until 2014, he was
Housemaster of North House and before that Assistant
Housemaster of East House.
Mr Jim Brown was no stranger to the School in 1980 when
he joined to teach History, Politics and Geography, having
attended as a pupil from 1968 to 1975. He was even Head of
School in his final year.
After university, Mr Brown started work as a graduate trainee
at Barclays Bank. However, a chance encounter at a train
station with his former Headmaster Mr Richard Sale (1966-
1981), saw him offered a teaching job there and then.
For the past 10 years Mr Brown chaired the Friends of
Brentwood School (FoBS), an association of parents and
teachers that help organise social and fundraising events.
He retired as Head of First Year and Admissions but continues
his long association with the School as President of the
Society of Old Brentwoods and an Admissions Associate.
Master in Charge of Cricket, Mr Brian Hardie, enjoyed a
first-class cricketing career playing for Essex before joining
the School’s PE Department in 1990. Over the next 25
years many hundreds of cricketers of all ages and abilities
have benefited from his knowledge, skilful coaching and
insistence on high standards.
The close of term also saw the end of an era for Head of
Drama, Mr Lindsay Jones, English Teacher, Mrs Linda
Hurlock, and Design and Technology Teacher,
Mr Robert Chapman.
Mr Jones joined the School in 1998 to teach English and
Drama, having worked previously as a TV scriptwriter,
performer and teacher. He was appointed Head of Drama
in 2004.
Mrs. Hurlock began teaching
English in 2000 and became
Deputy Head of Year in 2006,
working with Second and
Third Year pupils.
Mr Chapman had taught
Design and Technology since
2002. Hundreds of pupils
benefited from his patient
approach and practical skills in
the workshop.
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk Page 9
Academic
General Election Candidates come to Brentwood School
Pupils were treated to a lively election debate in the Wessex Auditorium, involving four of the six parties who stood in the
Brentwood and Ongar constituency.
Expertly chaired by Head of Politics Mr Mike Willis, UKIP’s Mick McGough, the Liberal Democrats’ David Kendall,
Labour’s Liam Preston and the Conservatives’ Eric Pickles walked into a spontaneous round of applause from some 200
pupils from Brentwood School, Brentwood County High School and Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School.
Other year groups held their own hustings events where pupils played the part of candidates, in the run-up to one of the
most exciting elections in a generation.
16th Century Girl brings Tudors to lifeTudor historian Dr Suzannah Lipscomb (pictured
left in photograph) enthralled our budding history
enthusiasts with a talk on “The Tudors – The Dynasty
that made Britain.”
Fittingly, the British historian, television presenter,
author, and award-winning academic gave her
presentation to the Sixth Form History Society in our
original 16th Century schoolroom, Old Big School,
which dates back to the reign of Queen Mary Tudor.
Dr Lipscomb, who is Head of the Faculty of History and
a Senior Lecturer at New College of the Humanities,
was welcomed to the School by Upper Sixth Form
student Roger Southgate, president of the society.
“Over their 118 years, the Tudors were the most important
dynasty and shaped modern Britain,” Dr Lipscomb told
her audience of budding historians. “The Tudors planted
the seeds which make Britain, Britain,” she explained.
Dr Lipscomb, who is known as the 16th Century Girl,
ended her talk with some 21st Century advice for
students: “Read, read, read!”
Page 10 Brentwood School Times 2016
January 2016 Issue 11
Brentwood wins national 2015 Good Schools Guide Awards
We were delighted to win three national Good Schools
Guide Awards for Religious Studies, Economics and
Classics. Making the announcement, the Good Schools
Guide said Brentwood had been presented with the Awards
for out-performing all other English schools in their
category or displaying excellent performance.
Our awards were:
Highest Performing English Independent School for Girls
taking the GCSE Short Course in Religious Studies.
Best performance by Girls taking Economics at an English
Independent School (IBO Higher Level component)
Excellent performance by Girls taking Latin at an English
Independent School (GCE A Level)
The respected annual awards, which are in their eighth
year, are based on a detailed analysis of the most recent
examination results, and are designed to highlight
consistently good teaching.
Magnificent 9 achieve all A*s in GCSEsNine exceptional students celebrated a clean sweep of A*
Grades in last summer’s GCSE examinations in what was
another impressive year of results for the School.
Our straight 11 A* students were Hannah Allan, Daniel
Blockley, Joe Dawe, James Elms, Georgina Henwood,
Caolán McConnaughie, Henry Mead, Shomik Milki and
Lloyd Richards.
Another stand-out performer was Anjali Jayasekera who
took two additional subjects (Classical Civilisation and
Additional Maths), achieving a staggering 13 GCSEs –
11 A*s and 2 As. Anjali is now putting her enviable talents to
good use in our Sixth Form, where she is studying Biology,
Chemistry, Further Maths and Greek.
James Elms, who is tackling Greek, Latin, English and
Philosophy at A Level, with a view to studying Classics
at university, was keen to pay tribute to Miss Athey who
helped him achieve the highest grade possible
in Geography.
Author inspires budding novelists
Alex Woolf, published author of over 80 fiction and non-
fiction books, was a very special guest at the Brentwood
School Book Club and Young Novelists’ Club.
Mr Woolf, whose books are mainly written for children and
young adults, used interactive workshops and an informal
talk, to inspire pupils to develop their writing skills. The
School’s budding young writers were enthralled to learn
what inspired the author to choose writing as a career and
how he went about creating his amazing stories.
Pupils enjoyed expert guidance in characterisation, setting,
and plot development and came away from the session
motivated to continue writing their own short stories.
With a wry smile, characteristically modest Caolán
McConnaughie, who was also celebrating 11 A*s, put
his success down to his ‘excellent’ Chemistry teacher –
(Caolán’s proud father is the School’s Chaplain and acting
Head of Chemistry, Revd Dr Adrian McConnaughie).
Caolán is studying Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and
Geography, with the aim of one day moving into Vulcan
Geology.
High-flier Henry Mead, who is looking forward to a future
in Medicine or Finance, credited his 11 A*s to “having
friends to study with and teachers who were always
available”. He is now studying Chemistry, Physics, Maths
and Biology in the Sixth Form.
Lloyd Richards is now studying Spanish, French,
Economics and Maths at A Level with a view to studying
Economics or Business Management in the future – maybe
even at Oxbridge.
Last year’s results, which rank in the School’s top 5
performances of all time, saw no less than 31 students
receive all A* or A Grades, and 11 students receiving 10 or
more A*s.
For the third year running, students at Brentwood sat
the more difficult International GCSE in Science subjects
(Chemistry, Physics and Biology), English, Mathematics,
Computing and some Modern Languages.
With particularly strong performances in Mathematics
(with 67% of all grades at A* or A), Biology, Music and
Modern Languages, the School is also proud of the way
it has guided students who have struggled to reach their
potential to exceed expectations.
In total 27% of all GCSE grades were A*, 59% were A*-A,
86% A*-B and 97% A*-C.
SENIOR SCHOOL
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk Page 11
East scoop House Music winThe Sun rose in the east when East House scooped the Overall Winner’s trophy at the 2015 House Music Competition – their second win in three years.
More than 500 people watched a closely fought contest, with the final result coming down to the wire. East secured victory with 95 points, closely followed by South – just one point behind – and in joint third place were North and Weald with a 91-point tally.
Director of Music, Mrs Hilary Khoo, said: “It was a very, very close run competition this year. The standard was very high, especially in the Partsong.”
World-renowned Jazz Trumpet Player Mark Armstrong, who adjudicated the competition, said he was astonished by both the strength in depth and the quality of the music at Brentwood School.
Headmaster Ian Davies echoed Mr Armstrong’s sentiments and added: “This is largely a student led activity, and the leadership shown by our older students in arranging, conducting and directing the younger ones was one of the most striking aspects of a wonderful evening.”
Sixth Form student in sell-out performance at the Royal Albert HallCongratulations to Sixth Form student,
trombonist David Cox, who has now been
accepted two years running with the National
Youth Orchestra. His first year culminated with
a sell-out performance at the Royal Albert Hall
conducted by Sir Mark Elder.
The full results were:Partsong – South
Ensemble – Weald
Unison – East
Instrumental Award – David Cox
Arranger’s Cup – David Cox
Musical Direction Cup – Nirvana Leaver
Overall Winner – East
Second Year pupil performs with London Symphony Orchestra
Flautist Emily Kinder performed
alongside the London Symphony
Orchestra and Guildhall School of
Music students at the annual BMW
LSO Open Air Classics concert in
Trafalgar Square in May.
Emily, who attends Havering
Music School, was taking part in
the LSO ‘On Track’ scheme which
gives opportunities to children
from various London Boroughs.
Emily had to attend a number of
rehearsals in readiness for her
Trafalgar Square appearance in
front of 7,000 music lovers.
Guest judge Mark Armstrong and Mrs Hilary Khoo keeping scores
Fifth, Fourth and First Year pupils Harry Linnell,
Owen Jenkins and his sister Cerys Jenkins represented
the UK, performing with the Brentwood Imperial Youth
Band in the Spasskaya Tower International Military Tattoo
in Moscow, Russia.
As well as marching in Red Square, to a live audience
of 15,000 and a TV audience of 100 million, the pupils’
backstage pass gave them access to the Kremlin and a
private tour of the Palace.
Music
Page 12 Brentwood School Times 2016
January 2016 Issue 11
Future Sports StarsOnce again our outstanding young sporting stars were nominated for The Essex Chronicle and Brentwood Gazette Sports Star of the Year Awards.
Amelia MouleAmelia plays both hockey and netball for the School and is also part of the National Track and Field Cup squad and cross country team. At the Essex and Eastern Counties Indoor Athletics Championships Amelia won an 800m bronze and finished 4th in the MESSA Cross Country competition. However, her real achievements are in the swimming pool. As well as winning the District gala, and the inaugural Aquathon, Amelia has represented English Schools in the ESSA Championships.
James ElmsJames is an outstanding rugby player. He represented the London and South East team in the National U16 trials against representative teams from Scotland, Wales and France. Subsequently, his performances saw him captain South East England. As well as regional representation, James continues to represent the Brentwood School First XV and has captained Saracens in the U16 and U17 Premier League.
Rishi PatelRishi is a member of the U17 Essex CC team and has represented their Second XI on more than one occasion. For the School he scored 132 v Ipswich School and a remarkable unbeaten double century against Dr Challoner’s. As well as being an excellent cricketer, Rishi also helped the School squash team reach the National Squash and Racquetball semi-final.
Zoe ThompsonFollowing Zoe’s gold medal winning performance in last year’s English Schools’ 200m Final, she has continued to excel on the athletics track. At the Essex and Eastern Counties Indoor Athletics Championships Zoe won the U17 Girls’ 300m and secured silver in the U17 Girls’ Triple Jump. Representing the School at the National Athletics Final, Zoe scored 29 points in the 200m and 32 points in the Triple Jump, a total of 61 points and a feat never before achieved by a Brentwood student.
Seb ClatworthySeb is a very talented all round athlete, representing the School in cricket, football, athletics and cross country. He finished fourth in the MESSA XC Championships and won a gold medal in the District High Jump, as well as gold at the Essex Schools’ Athletics Championships. In the Essex and Eastern Counties Indoor Athletics Championships Seb won an U13 Boys’ High Jump silver medal and was selected to represent Essex at the Inter-Counties.
Lucy WildeLucy is an outstanding all round athlete, having played netball and hockey for Brentwood, as well as being a member of the swimming, cross country and athletics teams. Lucy was a significant member of the U13 team which won the National Netball Championship in 2014. Since then she has also been selected for the Essex Satellite county squad and is part of the JRPC (Junior Regional Performance Centre) at U15 level.
Ashley ChalmersAshley is an incredibly talented all round athlete, having played netball, rounders, hockey and golf for Brentwood, as well as being a member of the swimming, cross country and athletics teams. Ashley is also a competent athlete and multi-eventer, competing in the National Schools’ Track and Field Final and the Essex combined events championship. Ashley is also a 4.8 handicap golfer, and in recognition of her achievements, was awarded the accolade of most improved Essex golfer.
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk Page 13
Sporting round up
Gold for Ella in the Sainsbury’s School Games
The 2014-15 sporting calendar saw pupils make significant
strides:
All four athletics teams qualified for the Regional Final
of the Track and Field Cup and both the girls’ junior and
intermediate teams qualified for the National Track and Field
Cup Final, with the Junior Girls finishing in fourth place
while the Intermediate Girls finished seventh. One pupil
competed at the English Schools’ Athletics Championships
and has competed for both Essex Schools and the South
East England team, whilst two other pupils competed at the
National Schools’ Cross Country Championships and four
runners have been selected to run for Essex.
In the pool
Two pupils remain part of the U19 and U15 Great Britain Water
Polo development squads, and the U16 team competed in the
English Schools’ Water Polo Plate at Oundle in March. Our
swimmers also retained the district swimming title for the
tenth year in succession, and won the MESSA relays for
the ninth successive year.
Furthermore, a number of significant achievements were
reached in the pool at the Essex Championships, and one
swimmer swam at the English Schools’ Championships.
On the pitch
Two rugby players represented the England Independent
Schools’ Lambs; one has been selected for the London/
South East divisional rugby team and nine have
represented Essex at various age groups.
Team table tennis gold medallist Ella Patel was part of the South East team which represented the region against the rest of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, in the Sainsbury’s School Games.
Ella’s team consisted of four girls, four boys and three disability players. Ella said: “I am pleased to say that, out of all the girls’ teams in the UK, my team won the team event, with the boys’ team winning silver and the disability team winning bronze, which resulted in the South East, as a whole, winning the overall gold medal.
“I can definitely say that it has so far been the highlight of my table tennis career and has left me inspired, enthused and re-energized for this coming season.”
Seven boys are affiliated to professional football academies,
whilst four players have been selected to represent ISFA.
We have reached the U13 Essex Cup semi-final and were
beaten semi-finalists in the U15 ISFA competition. The First
and Second XI have both reached the London Cup semi-
final respectively. Whilst the girls have played their first
competitive football matches, with the U12 team winning
the District tournament and competing in their inaugural
futsal fixture. Four boys have represented the county at
squash and the U19 team reached the National Schools’
Semi-Final.
On the fairway
Two golfers remain part of the Essex golf team. Seven girls
represent Essex hockey team and one is a part of the Junior
Regional Performance Centre. Moreover, we are MESSA
hockey champions at U12 – First XI (inclusive). Netball
continues to thrive, with two teams reaching the semi-
finals of the ISNC competition and the U14 team will
compete in the National Schools’ Final in Merseyside.
Eleven cricket players represent the county and we are
currently U14 Essex champions. One Lower Sixth student
has represented the GB equestrian team and we regularly
compete in a range of equestrian events. While the
Go-Karting team finished as runners up in their inaugural
tilt at the National Schools’ title. The U13 trampolining team
reached the zonal Championships in Cambridge, and one
pupil finished second to progress to the National Final.
Fencing continues to be strong and the School were placed
2nd overall at the Public Schools’ Championships. We are
also delighted to report that our Dance Academy has grown
to over 100 students.
Page 14 Brentwood School Times 2016
January 2016 Issue 11
Pupil crowned world karting championFourth Year pupil Matthew Luff was crowned karting’s Sodi World Champion after an impressive display of driving at the Sodi World Series Finals in Paris.
Matthew returned home laden down with silverware after his triumph on the
prestigious Racing Kart de Cormeilles track, one of the most beautiful European karting circuits.
The World Finals attracted competitors from five continents, with drivers from Australia, North America, Canada, Japan, Dubai and Europe. It also attracted an audience of over 20,000 viewers watching live on the SODI website. Matthew, who was representing the UK as National Champion, was one of nearly 300 drivers competing at the highest level.
Elite Player PathwayFourteen of our most elite athletes across eight sporting disciplines form Brentwood School’s Elite Performer Pathway.
The pathway ensures pupils develop their own personal plans co-operatively with their respective mentors, based upon their long term developmental targets.
The athletes took part in a ‘Management of Anxiety and Arousal in Sport Workshop’ led by Mr Ian Wignall, Director
Ashes Winner starts School career
Former England cricketer Geraint Jones admitted to a few nerves on his first day at Brentwood, but two months later those nerves have been replaced by butterflies as he looks forward to his first season as the School’s specialist cricket coach.
Geraint, who retired at the end of the summer after 15 years as a professional cricketer, has quickly made his mark at the School, leading training sessions for budding cricketers from the Prep upwards.
The former Gloucestershire captain took up the reins from Brian Hardie, who retired at the end of the Trinity Term 2015 after 25 years as Master in Charge of Cricket at Brentwood.
Geraint played 34 Tests for England and 49 one-day internationals and was England’s wicket-keeper in the fabled 2005 Ashes triumph at Edgbaston
Kishen Velani (OB 2006-13) An all-rounder who came through the Essex academy, Kishen made
his first-team debut in the final Championship match of 2013. He played for England at the 2012 Under 19 World Cup and received more first-team opportunities in 2014. He spent last winter playing for Penrith in Australia’s grade competition and made significant contributions to the Essex first team in 2015.
Thomas Moore (OB 2008-10) played for Essex in first-class matches last season as a right-arm medium-fast pace bowler.
Moore’s glee at Essex debut, photo Gavin Ellis
of Sport, and a number are completing additional skills sessions with their mentors.
Our partnership with the School Sports Centre has allowed us to utilise the expertise of their staff to construct and implement personalised strength and conditioning programmes for our athletes.
We are developing the EPP after reconnecting with OB Professor Michael Cole (1987-98) from the University of East London, and our athletes visited the university’s Sports Science Laboratory in December to undergo a series of tests.
when he caught last man Michael Kasprowicz with Australia needing just three runs for victory. It remains one of the iconic moments in English sporting history and a defining moment in his career.
Born in Papua New Guinea to Welsh parents, Geraint grew up in Australia and spent much of his county cricket career playing for Kent. He has also played international cricket for Papua New Guinea.
Taking up the mantle at Brentwood School fulfilled Mr Jones’ ambition to remain close to the game of cricket. “It’s my love and passion so I definitely wanted to stay in and around the game in some capacity”, he said.
Brentwood has a reputation of producing some first-class cricketing talent, including recent leavers Kishen Velani and Thomas Moore.
Headmaster, Ian Davies, said: “Brentwood has a long and proud cricketing history dating back to Old Brentwood Charles Kortright who played for Essex from 1889 to 1907 and was described in Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack as “probably the fastest bowler in the history of the game.”
“Charles Kortright played alongside W.G. Grace in 1898, while his brother Mounteney Kortright, who is remembered in the School Chapel, played cricket for the 3rd King’s Own Hussars. He was the only 3rd Hussar officer to lose his life in action during the Boer War.”
Cricket commentator and sports journalist Ralph Dellor (1955 - 67) said: “What a catch by Brentwood School to recruit the man who held the most memorable catch of the pivotal 2005 Ashes Test at Edgbaston!
“Bringing in Geraint Jones as cricket coach shows that the School is committed to maintaining its established reputation as a leading cricket school and indicates its pursuit of excellence in all activities at a time when it is sometimes thought that academic league tables are the be-all and end-all of education.
“Geraint Jones is highly regarded throughout the game and will, I am sure, make a telling contribution to the development of cricket and cricketers at Brentwood.”
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk Page 15
Students and staff in the six School Houses have worked
tirelessly throughout the year to raise over £19,000 for
charity.
Vital funds were raised from projects at home and abroad.
Weald House raised £1300 for ‘Georgia’s Teenage Cancer
Appeal’, the ‘Retired Greyhound Trust’, the ‘Brain Tumour
Charity’ and the ‘Mulemi Community School in Zambia’.
West House raised £1150 for the ‘Make a Wish Foundation’
and the ‘Chikupira Foundation’ which put the cash towards
building a school in Malawi.
South House raised
£1700 for ‘Lupus UK’
and ‘ABF The Soldiers
Charity’, and School
House raised £1106
for ‘GTCA’. North
House raised £2017
for ‘Make a Wish
Foundation’ and
‘Saving Faces’.
East House charity
week raised £1225.42.
Money has also been raised in other corners of the
School. The Big Band raised £1150 for ‘Diabetes UK’
and Hornchurch Passion Play through numerous
performances under the direction of Mrs Khoo, Mr Cooper
and Mr Stock.
A considerable amount of much-needed food was donated
to the Brentwood Food Bank. The CCF raised £2192 over
Remembrance weekend for the ‘Royal British Legion’ and
the Headmaster raffled a tablet in aid of ‘Red Nose Day’
and raised £206.50.
There have also been non-uniform days raising almost
£4000 for charities such as ‘Myleoma UK’ and ‘SNAP’, and
£2300 for ‘The British Red Cross’ and ‘GOSH education’.
Well over £2000 was donated from Chapel services to
charities such as ‘Special Needs and Parents’ in Brentwood.
Various pupils
have also worked
tirelessly to
raise money.
International
Baccalaureate
Diploma students
designed and
produced a Charity
Fashion Show for
their CAS project,
raising £150; £382
was raised from
a Macmillian Coffee Morning and Tom Mitchell donated
his 18th Birthday money raising £1500 for ‘The Life you can
Save’. Sixth Formers raised £1,498 towards a charity trip to
South Africa and Lost Property donated £1097 to the ‘Make
a Wish foundation’.
Macmillian coffee & cake morning in the Sixth Form Centre
Charity work
Page 16 Brentwood School Times 2016
January 2016 Issue 11
Brentwood School students celebrate IB Diploma resultssecured her place to read History at
Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University.
Edward Bell also scored 42 points,
which is equivalent to A*A*A* at A
Level. Felix Mueller scored 41 points
and Samuel Turnpenny scored 40
points.
More Brentwood School students have
got into the first choice universities
than ever before, with students gaining
places at a wide range of universities
including UCL, Exeter, Bath, Glasgow,
Leicester, St Andrews and Miami.
Taking into account all the results
for this year’s cohort, the School’s
average point score was 35, which is
equivalent to an AAB at A Level, and
maintains the School’s impressive six-
year average point score of 35 points.
Sixth Form2015 saw the School celebrate another year of highly impressive A Level results
Academic Deputy Head, Mr Jeremy Quartermain, said the excellent results were indicative of the high standards of teaching and learning which the School provides. “We are particularly pleased that no fewer than 24 students achieved all A* or A grades”, he said. Overall the percentage of the top A*-B Grades were up on last year to over three-quarters of all students.
Straight A* student Harry Beadle achieved A*s in Maths, Further Maths, Latin and Physics and this adds to his already formidable tally of 11 A*s at GCSE. He is studying Maths at Warwick.
Claudia Mark, was extremely happy with her two A*s in Geography and Psychology and A in Spanish. She is now at Nottingham studying Psychology.
Ben Thomas who was enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme achieved an outstanding 43 points (with an equivalence in excess of 4 A*s at A Level), securing his place to study Modern Languages and Cultures at Durham.
Many students achieved A*s in Maths, including George Dinning, Harry Brady and Christopher Kakoullis, who all added an additional A* and two As for their other three subjects which included Economics, Physics and Computing.
Four students gained places at Oxford and Cambridge: IB Students Conor Magee and Nicole McKechnie are reading History at Oxford, where Isobel Fewster is studying Anthropology & Archaeology. Highly talented musician Christopher Moore has taken up a Choral Scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge. Over the past three years 24 students have secured places at Oxford and Cambridge Universities – an average of eight per year.
The School’s enviable track record of successfully preparing students for courses such as Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine continued. In 2015, a record number of students achieved offers for these highly competitive courses. Among the successful MDV students were five from the current Upper Sixth and another two OBs who left last summer and re-applied for the coveted places.
Studying Medicine are Charlotte Caddies at Newcastle, Rohan Laav at UCL, Nawani Wickramaratne at Liverpool, Naznin Ferdhusi at Kings College London, and Ka Wing Wong at University of Central Lancashire. Ben Murray is at Edinburgh reading Veterinary Medicine and Tanvi Bagtharia is studying Dentistry at Plymouth.
It was another year of
creditable International
Baccalaureate
Diploma results. Ben
Thomas achieved
an outstanding 43 points (with an
equivalence in excess of 4 A*s at A
Level), securing his place to study
Modern Languages and Cultures at
Durham. Nicole McKechnie scored
a world class 42 points which placed
her in the top 1% of students according
to the official IB website (ibo.org) and
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk Page 17
Enterprising students ‘Making Business Happen’ Innovative Sixth Form students Leo Del Rosso, Arun Dhesi, Ben Coker and Dom Reynolds were shortlisted for the University of South Wales Making Business Happen Awards.
Although they didn’t win the competition, the pioneering Sixth Formers enjoyed the trip to the university’s Cardiff campus and the experience of presenting their ‘Footy Life’ App in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch to a judging panel of academics and entrepreneurs.
Head of Business Studies, Miss Michelle Sorohan, said the team’s success was the result of the students’ initiative and hard work. They submitted a comprehensive business plan and were shortlisted from hundreds of applicants.
The Brentwood team’s Smartphone App would enable local, junior and school football teams to arrange fixtures with like-minded teams in their area, research and enter regional tournaments and find referees for upcoming matches.
DofECongratulations to the following Old Brentwoods on achieving their Gold Award: Harry Beadle, Jane Harding, Gaganpreet Khatri and Richard Stephenson. Also, Silver Award recipients: Georgina Charles, Garinet Henwood, Rachael McDermott, Thomas Penney and Ellie Raeburn, and Bronze Award recipients: George Fitzgerald, Jaidaksh Anilkumar, MaeReed, Shalini Sahni, Charlie Bacon, Ryan Aston, Teddy Waller, Tara Jones and Lewis Matthews.
Headmaster Ian Davies and Sir Michael Snyder Vice Chairman of Governors and OB (1961-68) were invited as VIP guests of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to see 18 pupils receive their Award at St James’ Palace. We have an outstanding completion rate of 89% that Brentwood School achieved across all three levels of the Award.
Page 18 Brentwood School Times 2016
January 2016 Issue 11
Old Brentwoods NewsMichael Peppiatt: writer, art historian and Old BrentwoodWe look forward to the forthcoming visit by OB Michael Peppiatt
(1952-59) an internationally respected authority on 20th century art.
Mr Peppiatt has enjoyed a fascinating art career and
his talk is expected to be the highlight of the end of year Arts
Week.
To find out more about Mr Peppiatt, visit his website:
www.michaelpeppiatt.com
OB DinnerThe Old Brentwoods Dinner is a Black Tie dinner for all ages groups to reunite for a three course meal in the School Dining Halls.Date: Thursday 24th March 2016Time: 6.45pm drinks reception 7.20pm dinnerTicket prices: £35.00 and ‘under 25’ price: £30.00Dress Code: Black TiePlease email Lucy Mitchell, Alumni Relations to confirm your place: [email protected] prompt response to this popular event is recommended and ‘table bookings’ are appreciated.Please use the reference OBD2016
Careers ConventionThe School's annual Careers Convention grows in success each year and that is down to the help and support of all of the Old Brentwoods, local and international businesses, universities and colleges who give up their time to give advice to our pupils.
Our Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Form students and their parents are invited to the event on;
Date: Thursday 17th March 2016
Time: 6pm - 8.30pm (set up from 4.30pm)
Venue: Courage Hall, Brentwood School
Law DinnerAll Old Brentwoods who have a career or who are studying Law Practice are invited to the Savile Club in London for a networking dinner. Sixth Form pupils who are looking to take Law at University will also have the chance to attend the dinner. The dinner is a Black Tie event held on Friday 29th April 2016.Time: 7pm drinks reception, 7.30pm dinnerA delicious four course meal, with the choice of wine or beer and reception drink on arrival is included in the £75 ticket price.This event is limited to 50 places, so please book early to avoid disappointment.Online payment reference: OBLAW16
Each year our pupils greatly benefit from being able to talk directly to OBs about their experiences at work, what university courses they studied or what sort of career options might be available to them. OBs have found the convention useful for potential future recruits and to publicise the scope of career opportunities.
If you are interested in representing your company or industry at the Careers Convention in March, please contact Lucy Mitchell: [email protected]
To find out about future OB events, please visit our website www.brentwoodschool.co.uk/OB-Events
Please make cheques payable to 'Brentwood School' and send to:Mrs L Mitchell Development Office Brentwood School Middleton Hall Lane Brentwood EssexCM15 8EE
If you are paying online please use the reference stated for the specific event and use the below bank details:
National Westminster Bank, Brentwood High St: Sort Code: 600325 Account number: 20622597
Old Brentwoods Events
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk Page 19
Edward Ryalls Brentwood Gazette story
Escape from Vegas jet fireJeremy Turnbull (1994-05)
David Willey (1994-05) and
their friend Robert Bull
narrowly escaped when the
plane they were on burst
into flames on a Las Vegas
runway. Read their story at
the Echo news, www.echo-news.co.uk/news
Antiques Roadshow Detectives investigate OB Denis Dunlop (1905-08)
Back in April, the
BBC programme
Antiques
Roadshow
Detectives focused
on the work
of the sculptor
Denis Cheyne
Dunlop (1892-
1959). His most
well-known work
is the Dominion
screen in the RIBA building. Dunlop
was at Brentwood School in 1905-8.
Unfortunately we do not have any
photographs of him during this time, but
there is an entry in The Brentwoodian
of June 1909 which reveals his creative
talent even as a schoolboy: “Dennis
[sic] Cheyne Dunlop, who had only just
reached his 17th birthday at the time, has
had the unique distinction for a boy of
having one of his Water Colour Paintings
hung at the Spring Exhibition at the
Dudley Gallery this year.”
One of Denis Dunlop’s creations
Dominion Screen
Old Brentwoods News continued
Budding cameraman
and film editor
Sam Haskell
(2004-11) won best
film with his team’s
university project at
the Bottlecap Film
Festival in Stoke-
on-Trent. His film,
Black Sheep, received
several official
selections at festivals
far and wide –
from Palm Springs in California, Hamburg, Moscow, Estonia and several
in France! Most notably,entered and screened at the BFI London Film
Fest 2015.
Sam has also shot the ‘Teaching at Brentwood’ video for the School’s website.
View the video at www.brentwoodschool.co.uk/Teaching-at-Brentwood
OB glad to be alive after 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed 7000
Edward Ryalls (2005-12) was “thankful to
be alive” after being caught up in the
earthquake in Nepal last April which claimed
7000 lives. Read his story at
www.brentwoodgazette.co.uk/Brentwood-
School-pupil-survived-Nepal-Earthquake
Pictured, A still from ‘Black Sheep’, Sam Haskell’s film
Lucy Mitchell Alumni Relations Officer
Please keep the School up
to date with your news
stories by emailing them
to Alumni Relations
Officer, Mrs Lucy Mitchell:
MitchellL@brentwood.
essex.sch.uk
or call: 01277 240 451
Jeremy Turnbull (1994-05) running from blaze
From Brentwood to Hollywood
Page 20 Brentwood School Times 2016
January 2016 Issue 11
OBs support the School & pupils
Gap Year Experience
2013 leaver Izzy Fewster used her gap
year wisely, by travelling the world
helping in deprived countries. She
also spent six months working at
top consulting firm Deloitte on their
graduate scholar scheme. These
experiences gave her valuable life
skills and a network of contacts ready
for when she graduates from Oxford
University.
Izzy gave a
presentation
to our
Sixth Form
about her
experiences,
and showed
how not to
be afraid of taking a gap year if you
don’t quite feel ready for university.
It opened up the students’ minds to
other possibilities of what you can
achieve in a year.
Above: FoBS, ‘Friends of Brentwood School’
Headmaster and Izzy
Isobel Fewster (2007-14)
FoBS – Friends of Brentwood School
Above: Coffee morning for new parents hosted by FoBS
FoBS have been busy supporting the School this year and are growing in members.
To join our FoBS committee of parents and teachers, or to volunteer to help at events, please fill in our online form on the Brentwood School website, www.brentwoodschool.co.uk/friends-of-brentwood-school
Charlie’s Q & A session with a group of budding law students
Career Lunches
Launched last September, our
Career Lunches give OBs the
opportunity to advise Sixth
Formers about future career paths
and opportunities within various
industries. Visiting OBs and
parents, are offered a 30-minute
slot, just enough time for a short
presentation and Q & A session.
A three-course lunch is also
provided for guest speakers in our
newly refurbished Dining Halls.
If you are able to share your
experiences, or help Sixth
Formers with the transition from
school life to either work life or
university, please contact Head
of Careers, Dr Paul Tiffen, Email:
Above: Thank you FoBS for the Prep Trim Trail!
Louis Vuitton Networking event
Jessica Taylor (2000-07), who is Client Relations
Manager at Louis Vuitton, hosted a superb evening
at the LV SERIES 3 London exhibition. Over 200 OBs,
Sixth Form students, parents and FoBS (Friends of
Brentwood School) joined her for the private group
tours of the exhibition and networking event.
If you are able to host a networking event for OBs at
an event or venue, please contact Alumni Relations
Officer, Mrs Lucy Mitchell:
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk Page 21
Academic Achievements
Achievements
Congratulations to Belinda Stiles (2003-10) who received a First in her
Masters for Physics at Royal Holloway.
She has been awarded a place on
a funded PhD with King’s and St
George’s Tooting, studying Medical
Physics.
Tom Watkins (1995-2010) left
Brentwood with three A* grades and
one A grade at A Level. Since then he
has graduated from the University of
Warwick as a Master of Mathematics,
Operational Research, Statistics and
Economics (MORSE) and managed
to achieve a First with 10% or more to
spare!
Adrian Gilder (2000-07) completed
his 15 external exams taken since
university to become an Actuary
by the age of 26, which is quite
a rare accomplishment in the
actuarial world. Adrian praises his
mathematical teachers at Brentwood
for a solid starting point. He now
wants to build “mathematical models”
for the actuarial world.
Dr Jon Hawkings (1998–2005)
continues his work in Bristol,
where he is Postdoctoral Research
Assistant in biogeochemistry. This
is an extension of his PhD research,
but he is also developing nutrient
sensors for monitoring the water
quality of rivers (glacial in his case) in
collaboration with researchers at the
National Oceanography Centre. He is
also a temporary lecturer in Physical
Geography for this academic year.
Prestigious Military Honour for Former Deputy Head
Former Deputy Head
Nigel Carr has received
a Chief of General Staff’s
Commendation for his
outstanding service over
more than 36 years with the
Brentwood School Combined
Cadet Force.
Mr Carr served as Contingent
Commander from 1988-
1997, 2000-2001 and 2008-
2012, although having no
previous military experience. In addition to his Contingent
responsibilities, he has recently been instrumental in
fostering the establishment of a new CCF in a local
Nigel Carr, former Deputy Head
Grammar School, and has served with distinction for
many years with regional responsibilities as a member of
the East Anglian Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
Committee.
His outstanding leadership has resulted in Brentwood
School (CCF) growing to become one of the largest CCFs in
the country.
Headmaster Ian Davies added: “Lt Col Carr presents a
powerful, inspirational role model to his staff and cadets,
setting exemplary standards of commitment, integrity and
loyalty, earning him the respect of his peers. His time with
Brentwood School CCF has been marked by consistent
achievement and dedication beyond duty, and his impact
has been significant and sustained. His legacy will remain
as an excellent foundation for the continued success for the
School’s CCF, and it is fitting that this be recognised by such
a Commendation.”
Robert Eady (2000-14) has got off to a
flying start in his university Computer
Science course at Queens’ College
Cambridge. Robert excelled in his first
year and was awarded a First in his
examinations. He was awarded the
President’s Prize by Queens’, a further
subject prize and a cheque for £300
for his efforts. Overall he came 4th out
of 106 studying Computer Science at
Cambridge in his year.
Page 22 Brentwood School Times 2016
Barry Huggett (1949-57), Headteacher of More House School, received an OBE for services to education. Mr Huggett took over the independent
school for boys 21 years ago and since then it has grown from a student body of 70 to a national centre of excellence for special needs teaching, comprising more than 450 pupils. During his time in charge he has contributed extensively to the national understanding of how to teach children with dyslexia, dyspraxia, mild learning difficulties, and those with autism spectrum disorder, chairing the special needs committee of the Independent Schools Council and advising government on education policy.
Footballing legend Frank Lampard
(1989-94) was awarded an OBE for
services to football by His Royal
Highness The Duke of Cambridge.
PeerageThe Rt Hon Lord Andrew Lansley (1968-75) gained his Lordship title in 2015 after serving as Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal from September 2012 until July 2014. Prior to this role, he served as Secretary of State for Health following the General Election in 2010.
Frank Lampard and his OBE medal
Rowan Callick (1957-68) receiving his OBE from The Princess Royal
Barry Huggett (1949-57)
Peter Mitchell (1961-68) receiving his CBE from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
OB Achievements continued from page 21
MBEDavid Pickthall (1970-77), former
Director of Music at Brentwood
School for 28 years, was presented
his MBE by HM the Queen at
Buckingham Palace for ‘services
to education, and to charity’. David
has also created music for the
hit children’s TV series and film
animations, Wallace & Gromit. In
2015, David wrote the music for a
new children’s programme, ‘Show
me, Show me’ presented by another
OB Chris Jarvis (1980-87).
CBE Peter Mitchell (1961-68) received a CBE for services to education. He was a Headteacher for 18 years, first in Walsall, followed by Thomas Alleyne’s High School Uttoxeter, including a secondment to lead a school out of special measures. He subsequently worked with Lord Baker to establish the Baker Dearing Education Foundation, opening high quality technical schools for students aged 14 to 18.
David Pickthall pictured after receiving his MBE from Her Majesty The Queen
Queen’s AwardsWe are proud to announce that many Old Brentwoods were presented with top awards in 2015
Rowan Callick (1957-68) was given an OBE via the honours committee of Papua New Guinea, where he worked for 11 years, for services “to journalism in PNG and to the Anglican Church” there. Rowan, who now lives in Melbourne, Australia, where he is the Asia-Pacific Editor of the national daily newspaper, The Australian, was presented with his award by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.
Emily Holzhausen (1985-87) is the
Carers UK Policy Director and has
been awarded an OBE in the 50th
anniversary year of Carers UK for
services to carers.
Ms Holzhausen
has worked on
carers issues
for 23 years,
of which she
has spent the
past 19 years
at Carers UK.
She is one of
the country’s foremost experts on
carers’ issues and leads on policy,
parliamentary affairs, research and
media work at Carers UK, as well as
overseeing the charity’s advice and
information services for carers.
OBE
Andrew Oliver (1958-65) was appointed an MBE in 2014 for ‘services to the homeless’ in the USA. He served as President of the Board of Lifebridge www.lifebridgesalem.org for nine years, during which time its plans were hailed as ‘a model for the nation’. On stepping down, Andrew was named President Emeritus and the main campus building named The Andrew and Carla Oliver Centre
Andrew with his wife and daughter outside the centre named after them
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk Page 23
Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2015
James Whiteley (1991-01), the 30-year-old
founder and managing director of White Stores,
has won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2015
award at the Essex Business Excellence Awards.
White Stores were also Finalists and Runners Up
in the Best Growing Business Award (Medium
Sized Company) category; and won the Growing
Business of the Year Award at the Countywide
Essex Business Awards 2015.
Starting in the garden furniture industry aged 16,
stuffing cushions at his father’s factory, James
launched his own online retail company in 2005.
From a business initially operating out of James’
bedroom, White Stores now generates an annual
turnover of over £7m. www.whitestores.co.uk
OB Achievements
James Whiteley (1991-01) and his certificate
Tomorrow’s Travel Leaders
Mark Lowman (2000-2007) has
been selected as one of the 30
under 30: Tomorrow’s Travel
Leaders by the Travel Trade
Gazette – the travel industry’s
leading trade media house – and
has the heavy-weight backing
of global travel giant, TUI Travel.
This initiative shines the spotlight
on the travel industry’s most
inspiring young people who have
made an outstanding contribution
to their business.
Since leaving Brentwood and graduating from the University of
Surrey with a First Class BSc (Hons) in International Hospitality
Management, Mark has completed management training within
some of the top hospitality operations in the UK.
Guinness World Record
Simon Cole (1987-94) (pictured in the
centre) and two fellow actors from
the Reduced Shakespeare Company
broke a Guinness World Record by
performing the complete works of
William Shakespeare (abridged) play at
38,000 feet whilst on a flight to Verona
in Italy, and thus setting the record
for the highest performed play in the
world.
You can watch Simon in action
on YouTube: www.youtube.com/
watch?v=UGuTWin-Dvg
Top placement for Hilary
OB Hilary Wu (2007-14) has been
awarded a prestigious 12-month
placement with pharmaceutical giant
Pfizer based in Deal, Kent.
Hilary, who was chosen out of 200
applicants for just three positions, is
studying a four-year Pharmaceutical
Chemistry course at Leicester
University.
Page 24 Brentwood School Times 2016
January 2016 Issue 11
Davis sprinting success in triathlon progression
GB water polo player Thomas Davis (2006-13) took up a new challenge in 2014 when he turned his sights on triathlon competitions – despite hardly ever riding a bike before!
Not one to ease himself into the sport, Thomas entered his first triathlon at Olympic distance; 1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run and finished in a very respectable 12th position.
Although he steadily improved throughout the 2014 season, joining the high performance triathlon squad at Loughborough University, Thomas smashed all expectations last year when he raced for the senior GB team at two European cup races in the Czech Republic and Romania.
He continues to work with the world class squad in Loughborough and plans to race in many more elite European cups. To keep up with Thomas’ progress please feel free to email [email protected]
Or follow him on Facebook www.facebook.com/thomas.davis.5245961?fref=ts
Sizzling Summer of Sport for OBsPupils, past and present, showcased their sporting prowess on some of the country’s greatest sporting stages during 2015.
Essex cricketer and OB Tom Moore (2008-10) made headlines when he captured the prize wicket of Australia’s Captain Michael Clarke in the Ashes warm-up game at the County Ground, while fellow OB Kishen Velani (2006-13) continued to play a significant role in Essex Cricket Club’s season, having signed a two-year contract for Essex, and current students Rishi Patel, Kieran Emmanuel and Stephen Heywood played cricket for Essex U17.
On the football field, Brentwood has fast grown a reputation for producing world-class footballers, and hot on the heels of OB Frank Lampard (1989-94), comes the next generation of footballing stars.
Professional footballer Elliot Lee (2002-11) scored the winner for West Ham United against Lusitans, Malta, in the away leg of the Europa League. Striker Lee partnered
another OB, forward Djair Parfitt-Williams (2011-12), in the home leg against the same opponents.
Headmaster Ian Davies said the sight of two former pupils running out for the Hammers was one which filled the School with pride. “Seeing two Old Brentwoods playing side by side in one of football’s European competitions was a very proud moment for Brentwood School.”
Meanwhile, Elliot’s brother, Oliver Lee (2002-07), made his Luton Town debut in the Capital One Cup defeat against Stoke City and recent leaver, George Dobson (2009-14), secured a three-year professional contract at West Ham and then proceeded to score in his first U18 game v Fulham. Further afield, Lucas Cueto continued to represent FC Koln and the Germany U19 team.
First ever Rugby international at the Olympic Stadium
Old Brentwoods Acorns U12 Rugby
team, whose stomping ground is the
OB Club at Ashwells Road, entered
a team to take part in the first ever
rugby competition to be played at
the Olympic Stadium. The U12 touch
rugby tournament was the pre-
match competition before the Rugby
World Cup warm up game between
the Barbarians and Western Samoa.
With only a matter of hours to organise a team, Old Brentwoods looked to
Bancrofts Rugby Club to help complete the side, the last match these two
sides played was the hard fought out final of the Essex Festival, but the players
bonded well in an example of what rugby is all about.
Thirty two teams from as far as Bristol and Bedford competed in four pools. The
Acorns topped their pool and out of the four Group winners took the prize of the
Gold Cup, for most points scored, becoming the overall tournament Champions.
If anybody is interested in their children or grandchildren playing for the OB
Acorns (U7s – U15s) please contact Neil Hannaway: neil@ellison-electronics.
com or call: 0771 8583064
Elliot Lee (2002-11) & Djar Parfitt-Williams (2011-12) playing professional football for West Ham United
OB Sport
U12 Acorns Rugby team at the Olympic Stadium
Thomas Davis (2006-13)
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk Page 25
OB Charity Work
Keith Thorogood (1962-71) has completed 43 marathons, including seven London marathons and has obtained a place
running for Farleigh Hospice in the 2016 London Marathon where he hopes to raise £2000. He is also the Race Director for
the Halstead and Essex Marathon which takes place every year, this year on 8th May. Over the past few years Halstead and
Essex Marathon has raised over £50,000 for local charities.
If you are planning to run the 2016 London Marathon, please keep the School updated with your time and how much
money you raised. Contact Alumni Relations Officer, Lucy Mitchell: [email protected]
Marathon Achievers
Marathon runners Marathon Time Charity Money raised
Laura Watts (née Walton) 1988-95 London & Brighton 3hrs 33mins Parkinson’s £2,500.00
Scott Coleman (2001-08)
Who ran with his father London 5hrs 15mins Scope £3,500.00
Simon Putt (1977-88) London 3hrs 40mins Children with Cancer £3,500.00
Julian May (1973-77)Prudential bike ride
London to Surrey 100 miles5hrs 14mins
MACS (Micro and Anophthalmic
Children’s Society£923.25
Chris Kakoullis (2004-15) London 3hrs 56mins St Francis Hospice £2,050.00
Alex Waltham (2000-12) London 4hrs 20mins The Cure of Parkinson’s £2,180.00
Hannah Miles (2001-08) NYC 3hrs 26mins Macmillan Cancer Support £3,627.53
Panos Kakoullis (1977-85) London 3hrs 18mins N/A
George Farrants (1969-75) Stockholm and Lausanne 3hrs 48mins N/A
Keith Thorogood (1962-71) London 4hrs 43mins N/A
One OB leaves her mark in BoliviaAnnina Lux (2009-11) came back from Bolivia last February, where she had been working for the Red Cross as part of an A & E’s surgery team, as well as doing emergency patient transport.
She also worked on malnutrition and vaccination campaigns, and helped with preventative campaigns on malaria, chagas, dengue, HIV and other harmful diseases.
Laura strides to raise over £20,000 for charityLaura Watts (née Walton) (1988-95) was in the first 25 girls who joined Brentwood School at age 11 in 1988. Laura kept up her passion for running long after her school days and has since run the London Marathon seven
times. In 2015 Laura pushed herself to run two marathons (London & Brighton) in two weeks.
She ran the London Marathon in 3:33:06 and the Brighton Marathon six seconds quicker in 3:33:00 raising £2500 for
Through her own fundraising project – aimed at supplying much needed medical equipment – the children’s clinic was renovated and a safe and easy access ramp installed at A & E, passable with stretchers and wheelchairs.
Annina also financed and designed a signposting system with colours and pictures to facilitate the movement of patients and visitors around the hospital and the smooth running of testing and diagnosing sequences.
The main part of the renovation of the children’s vaccination and malnutrition clinic can be viewed at www.betterplace.org – This has resulted in a major change for the hospital and a huge success with the children.
Annina Lux (2009-11) working for the Red Cross
Parkinson’s UK. Over Laura’s last seven marathons she has raised over £20,000 for Children with Leukaemia, RNLI, Virgin Unite, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson UK.
Laura has a place to run in this year’s London Marathon and will be raising money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity a week before she runs the Brighton Marathon again. Her dream is to take part in an Ultra Marathon such as Marathon des Sables which is a 156 miles Ultra Event in the Sahara desert over five days.
Since leaving Brentwood, Laura has worked for Virgin Atlantic Airways as a Flight Services Manager, and is married to a Captain at Virgin Atlantic.
Page 26 Brentwood School Times 2016
January 2016 Issue 11
Anniversary Stuart Matthews (1981-88) and
Claire Matthews (née Newman)
sister of Robert Newman (1974-85)
celebrated their 23rd wedding
anniversary in 2015. They were
wed on 7th August 1993.
Around the Stove
Lucy Mitchell (née Rome), Alumni Relations Officer and Tom Mitchell (1997-04)
tied the knot on a sunny 2nd April 2015 at St Mary’s Church in Saffron Walden and
held the wedding reception at Parklands, Quendon Hall. There were a number of
OB guests including bridesmaid, Kate Mitchell (2000-07) and groomsman, Alex
Williamson (1997-04). Tom and Lucy met in December 2009 in Brentwood and Tom
proposed on their four-year anniversary. They now live in Billericay.
Nicholas Hodges (1990-01) married
Sarah Daulby at The Saxon Church
of St Mary’s, Breamore on August
2013 with their two children Alfred
and Georgina.
WeddingsWill Roeder (1996-07) and
Felicity Scott (2003-08) have
been together for eight years and
wed in Brentwood Cathedral on
25th July 2015. They now live in
Ingatestone. They had many OBs
within their bridal party…
(from left to right) Matt Farrant (2000-07) Jack Simpson (2002-13) Chris Boon (1996-07) Rich Smith (1996-07) James Borley (1996-07)Ryan Burville (2003-07) Joe Roeder (2009-13) Felicity Roeder (2003-08) William Roeder (1996-07) Mike Tann (2000-07) James Dawson (1996-07) Tom Armour (2000-07) Dean Paris, David Andani (2005-07) Ravi Rajanni (2000-07)
Engagement
Scott Coleman (2001-08) proposed
to Kate Mitchell (2000-07) on 7th
November 2015 after three years
together. The couple, who live
together in Brentwood, plan to
marry in 2017.
Max Arkell (1997-08) and Georgia
Martin (1995-09) got engaged on
24th October and they have been
together since March 2010.
Tom Mitchell (1997-04), Lucy Mitchell (née Rome), Kate Mitchell (2000-07) and Scott Coleman (2001-08)
Nick & Sarah Hodges
Stuart Matthews (1981-88) wed Claire Newman in the Brentwood School Chapel
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk Page 27
Samantha Harris
(1997-04) and
Alexander Webb
(1995-02) married
on June 14th 2014
with a number of OB
guests, including
Joshua Aspess
(1995-02) as best man, and Carina Bartle
(1997-04) as a bridesmaid. They welcomed
a beautiful little girl called Beatrice May
Webb into the world on 20th May 2015.
Births
Charlotte Simpson Charlotte Simpson (2002–2009) passed away in June following a tragic car accident near Shebbear in Devon as she was driving to Tiverton train station to catch a train to Essex to see her family for the weekend, and also to attend an induction day at the Royal Hospital School near Ipswich, where she had secured an excellent promotion.
Charlotte, who attended Exeter University, had been a brilliant success at Shebbear College in Devon, where our former Deputy Head (Pastoral), Simon Weale, is now Headmaster. She taught English, became Deputy Head of the Girls’ Boarding House, and was a very keen sports coach. She was also Shebbear’s Latin expert and had been sailing through her PGCE with outstanding lesson observation grades. She was also enjoying success in her Army Reserves career within the Intelligence Division and was respected by everyone for the quality of her teaching at Shebbear College.
Mr Weale said: “We are absolutely bereft by her loss, but she will hold a place in our hearts forever.”
Charlotte’s sister Annie started as a PGCE student at Brentwood last September.
Christening
Robert Newman (1974-85) and his wife
had their daughter Charlotte Oda Scott
Newman, christened by the School’s
Revd Dr McConnaughie on 18th
August 2015 in the School Chapel.
Will and Laura
Rockett (née
Stansfield) both
(1996-03) had their
first son Henry
William Rockett, born
on 23rd March 2015
weighing 8 lb 10oz.
David Williamson
(1985-92) and his wife
welcomed their son
Thomas Jack into the
world on 29th April 2015,
weighing 8lb exactly! Alex Beere
Old Brentwood Alex Beere (2000-
2007) passed away in September
after an utterly heroic battle with
ovarian cancer. She was just 26.
Alex loved Brentwood School and
was very much active in the Old
Brentwoods network. She enjoyed
School reunions and kept in touch
with Mr Brown and several other
teachers who were involved in the
Oxbridge Network.
This is the link to the
virginmoneygiving page set
up by her boyfriend Ed. http://
uk.virginmoneygiving.com/
SomeoneSpecial/alexbeere
John NorrisA memorial service was held
in Chelmsford Cathedral for
Brentwood School stalwart John
Norris (1936-1946) who passed
away peacefully on 4th October
at Mountnessing Hall.
John, a former Governor of
the School, was 86 years old. A
local farmer, he was a familiar
face at all School and OB events,
regularly handing out Speech
Day prizes and inspecting the
Combined Cadet Force. He was
also a member of the Society of
Old Brentwoods.
Headmaster Ian Davies said the
whole School community was
saddened by the news of John’s
death. “As a former pupil and active
Governor, we greatly appreciate the
input he had into making the School
what it is today. He was a regular
attendee at our OB events and took
a keen interest in current pupils too.
He will be greatly missed and our
thoughts are with his family.”
Chairman of Governors, Mr Colin Finch, said the memorial service was an occasion for friends to join Mrs Norris and her family in remembering John and his tremendous contribution to the life of Brentwood School.
John and his wife Joy have two daughters, Claire who lives in Essex and Sarah in Scotland.
Pictured: Sam Webb (née Harris), Alex Webb & daughter Beatrice
Alex, (pictured second from the left) with school friends
Revd Dr McConnaughie, Robert Newman (1974-85), daughter, wife and mother
OBITUARIES
Rupert Holmes (1980-
91) and wife Amy have
been blessed with third
child, Henry Arthur
Lee Holmes, who
was born on Friday
20th November 2015
weighing 7lbs 7oz.
January 2016 Issue 11
Dates for your Diary 2016
Date Event Venue Time
Thursday 17th March Careers ConventionCourage Hall, Brentwood School,
CM15 8EE6pm - 8.30pm
Thursday 24th March OB DinnerEdinburgh Dining Halls, Brentwood
School, CM15 8EE
6.45pm drinks reception,
7.20pm dinner
Friday 29th April Law Dinner Saville Club, London 7.30pm
Friday 27th May 1957 ReunionOld Ashwells Clubhouse,
Brentwood, CM15 9SE7pm - 10pm
Thursday 30th June Summer Drinks in the City TBC 5pm - late
Saturday 10th September Old Brentwoods DayBrentwood School, Middleton Hall
Lane, Brentwood, CM15 8EE11am - 4pm
Friday 4th November Oxbridge DinnerChurchill College, Cambridge
University, CB3 0DS7.30pm - 10.30pm
December Christmas Drinks in the CityNew Moon (Leadenhall Market)
London, EC3V 0DN5pm - late
www.facebook.com/BrentwoodSchoolUK
@Brentwood_Sch
Follow us on LinkedIn: Brentwood School, UK
New EventsWe are working on our new events for Old Brentwoods and would be interested to hear what type of event you would like to attend.
If you have a venue or occasion which would suit an OB networking event, please contact Alumni Relations.
What women want?Thank you to all the female OBs who supported our 2015 events, we hope to see you all in 2016! We would like to hear from female OBs of all ages and find out what type of events you would like to see the School host.
Would you like to be an ambassador and help Alumni Relations build the Old Brentwoods community?
We need your storiesIf you know any Old Brentwoods who have gone above and beyond to achieve goals, please let us know. These could be success stories in business and hobbies, awards, charitable work or any information that would be interesting to other Old Brentwoods.
Book a place – Interested in any events? Email Lucy Mitchell to add your name onto the guest list as dinners book up fast!
Lucy Mitchell Alumni Relations Officer.
Please send all ideas, requests and enquiries about any OB or School events, to Mrs Lucy Mitchell, Alumni Relations Officer: [email protected] or call: 01277 240 451
Brentwood School has the Monopoly!This year our Development Department and some of our students have been working on a Brentwood School edition of Monopoly. Winning Moves, which has the rights
to reproduce special versions of the game, are working closely with the School to create a bespoke edition in time for Easter. Brentwood School Monopoly will be available to purchase and collect from the School shop or order on our
website for £29.99 plus postage & packing, and all profits will go towards the Brentwood School Foundation, so watch this space!
We’re asking Old Brentwoods to contribute to the ‘debate’ by suggesting which feature of the School should be on the ‘Mayfair’ square. Please email your ideas to [email protected], and, if your suggestion is used, we’ll pick a name out of the hat and you could win a game for you and your family to enjoy!
Find out more and pre-order at www.brentwoodschool.co.uk/monopoly
Tel: 01277 243344
Web: www.brentwoodschool.co.uk/sports-centre
25% off for current families and former pupils
Going back to schoolnever felt so good25% off for current families and former pupils
www.brentwoodschool.co.uk/OB-Events