prizegiving and headmaster's report 2013

23 September 2013Incorporating the Headmaster’s report

prizegiving 2013

The Portsmouth Grammar School

Please stand for the Governors’ procession and hymn

The Founder’s Hymn

words by Robert Bridge (1844-1930) based on the German of Joachim Neander (1650-1680) music by Herbert Howells

A ll my hope on God is founded;He doth still my trust renew.

Me through change and chance he guideth,Only good and only true.God unknown, He aloneCalls my heart to be his own.

Pride of man and earthly glory,Sword and crown betray his trust;What with care and toil he buildeth,Tower and temple, fall to dust.But God’s power, Hour by hour,Is my temple and my tower.

God’s great goodness aye endureth,Deep his wisdom, passing thought:Splendour, light, and life attend him,Beauty springeth out of naught.Evermore, From his storeNew-born worlds rise and adore.

Daily doth Th’ Almighty GiverBounteous gifts on us bestow;His desire our soul delighteth,Pleasure leads us where we go.Love doth stand, At his hand;Joy doth wait on his command.

Still from man to God eternalSacrifice of praise be done,High above all praises praisingFor the gift of Christ his Son.Christ doth callOne and all:Ye who follow shall not fall.

Front cover image: Middle School Production of Oliver! Summer 2013

Prizegiving 2013

PRIZEGIVINGMonday 23 September 2013

Guest of HonourProfessor Graham Galbraith,

Vice Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth

Programme

Founder’s Hymn Welcome and introduction by the Headmaster

Address by the Chairman of GovernorsPresentation of Prizes

Address by the Guest of HonourVote of thanks by a Senior Prefect

Final prayer and blessing by the Chaplain

At the end of the programme, please remain standing until the Governors’ departing procession has been completed. You are warmly invited to drinks in the nave after the conclusion of Prizegiving.


Headmaster’s Introduction

Governors, Parents, Pupils and Guests,

Welcome to this year’s Prizegiving and a particularly warm welcome to our Guest of Honour, Professor Graham Galbraith.

I am grateful to the Dean and Chapter for permission to hold this evening’s ceremony in the Cathedral Church of St Thomas. My thanks also to David Doyle for his expertise in overseeing the arrangements for this celebration of the school year, and to John Sadden for all his work with David in compiling this splendid programme. A number of awards have been made in advance of this evening and are noted in the first part of the programme. We continue to observe the guideline that only in very exceptional circumstances will a pupil win more than two academic prizes. Many congratulations to all our prizewinners. This evening is an opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary achievements of the last academic year and to celebrate all that makes this school such a special place in which to learn and grow.

James Priory

Headmaster

Prizegiving 2013

Professor Graham Galbraith joined the University of Portsmouth as Vice-Chancellor on 2 September 2013 having previously held the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hertfordshire from September 2008 and the role of Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) at Glasgow Caledonian University from 1993.

Professor Galbraith gained a BSc (1st class) in Environmental Engineering, an MSc, Mechanical Engineering and a PhD from the University of Strathclyde.

His primary research interests are within the area of Building Physics and Material Science with emphasis on moisture within building components and the development of appropriate prediction models and measurement techniques.

He has interests in Sustainable Living and sponsored the development of a new Centre for Sustainable Communities at the University of Hertfordshire.

Guest of Honour, Professor Graham Galbraith


HEadmasTER’s REPoRT

W hen we launch ourselves into a new school year, it is always inspiring to look back over the previous year to appreciate just how far we are likely

to travel in 12 months’ time. I seem to feel this even more in 2013, probably because the Great South Run is hovering over me like Damocles’ relay baton, and anything which offers reassurance about the ability to cover long distances is eagerly to be accepted.

It was this time last year that I succumbed to Mr Dossett’s pressure to join the PGS team and to help raise funds for our link school in Cambodia. But as sizzling summer accelerates into aerobic autumn, I can feel the need for additional motivation. So here it is, the Headmaster’s Report for 2012-13, in which I hope to capture all that made the year distinctive and the school such a happy and inspiring place to be, whilst at the same time transforming myself into Mo Farah.

“We give, they gave, he gove”

As even the most casual glance at the education headlines this year would reveal, this has become a turbulent time nationally for public examinations. Major reform of GCSE and A Level is underway, though the details remain far from clear and the timetable ever changing. Universities have also found themselves needing to adapt rapidly as new market forces come into play.

Record though our examination results have been this summer at GCSE and IB, it is the overall consistency of performance – including university success – which perhaps, therefore, deserves most celebration. For a decade now, all subject entries at A Level have been graded over 80% A*-B and at GCSE over 70% A*/A. As a result, the overwhelming majority of pupils continue to secure their chosen places on some of the most competitive university courses in the country.

This year, pupils achieved 84% A*-B at A Level or the equivalent of 7-5 points in Higher Level subjects in the International Baccalaureate diploma. It was to prove a record year for the IB with pupils scoring an average of 37 points (equivalent to at least AAA at A Level), placing PGS in the top 10 independent schools to offer the IB diploma in the UK. No wonder we are seeing a healthy increase in numbers opting for the IB with three years of excellent results under our belts.

In January, 11 A Level and IB students received offers from Oxford and Cambridge; a further 11 (we do occasionally think in numbers other than cricket, I promise) were successful in securing places to study medicine, dentistry and veterinary science. The university courses pupils successfully applied for has ranged from Art Foundation, Architecture, Music and Drama to Engineering, Mathematics, Computing and

Psychology. Modern languages – back in the national spotlight this summer – have also been a popular choice for our pupils.

It was also a record year at GCSE with pupils achieving 73% A*/A and, above expectation, a record 42% A*. Half the year group gained at least 9A*/A grades, an impressive performance given the continuing migration to International GCSEs, which are usually seen as being more rigorous but which do also allow teachers greater flexibility for teaching, and in many subjects offer a better preparation for Sixth Form study.

Such achievement is only possible, of course, thanks to the pupils’ own hard work and the expertise and care they receive from their teachers. Parents also play a vital role, and it is perhaps not insignificant that there have been important developments this year in providing access to information about pupils’ progress and performance via the Virtual Learning Environment, MyPGS, which also provides valuable learning resources for the pupils to use to support their revision.

“You’re hired”

Inspiration also comes from bringing outside speakers to the school or, where possible, taking pupils out of school to put their classroom learning into real world context.

Last year, for example, amongst the many visitors to the school, we welcomed naturalist and adventurer Ben Fogle; historian Sir Max Hastings, Star Trek physicist Professor Lawrence Krauss; the newly appointed Director of Gainsborough House, Mark Bills; Dr Toby Wilkinson (OP), leading Egyptologist and Head of International Strategy at the University of Cambridge; and winner of the BBC’s The Apprentice, Ricky Martin, who enthused an audience of aspiring entrepreneurs and was, at the same time, delighted to be reacquainted with his former Chemistry teacher, Dr O’Neil.

There have been fantastic opportunities for pupils to travel outside PGS and to extend their knowledge and experience. Barcelona, Cologne, Cracow, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Ypres have all played host to our pupils on language exchanges, study trips and cultural visits. A major sports tour for senior girls and boys took them half way round the world to play hockey and rugby in Singapore and Malaysia. I was lucky enough to join the German Exchange to Halver, in which a thousand pupils from PGS and the Anne-Frank Gymnasium have benefitted from exchange and work experience opportunities in a 20 year partnership. I also travelled to Austria and Bavaria on the PGS Brass Band Tour, in which pupils from Years 4 to 13 happily came together for an epic coach journey to Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart. Alongside exchange students from France

Prizegiving 2013

and Germany, we have welcomed students from Sweden, generously hosted by PGS families, and visiting delegates from the city of Pingxiang in China interested in developing educational links with PGS as well as with the University of Portsmouth.

Competitions also provide intellectual stimulation, and it has been excellent to see girls and boys confidently taking part in national essay contests, Maths Challenges, Science Olympiads, engineering challenges, public speaking forums and debates. The Portsmouth Point blog and magazine has continued to provide a compelling outlet for pupils’ thoughts and ideas, and I congratulate its young editorial team, as well as those faithfully and creatively recording the life of PGS within the pages of The Portmuthian.

What public examination statistics fail to show is the roundedness of the pupils’ lives and experiences, whether they are fulfilling a passion for the outdoors in the Ten Tors or the Charlton Chase; a commitment to charitable service in the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme; or being part of a team in music, drama or sport. It is the enrichment and resilience which come from these experiences which we recognise as having real value and which, in celebrating another excellent year of results and university destinations, I hope this report can help to highlight.

“There’s a lot more to you than there is to you!”

Drama and Music have continued to flourish thanks to the efforts of Mr Gladstone, Director of Music, and Mrs Filho, the newly-appointed Director of Drama, and their respective teams. The Christmas musical at the Kings Theatre is a signature opportunity in the year for the two departments to come together, and this year’s collaboration, supported by a brilliant Art and Design team, was quite extraordinary.

The Producers was always going to be a bold choice, but a highly talented cast were more than equal to its humour and energy. Tim MacBain and James Gulliford – who also joined forces in organising an entertainment fundraiser for charity Help for Heroes – were simply outstanding as the corruptible Broadway producer Max Bialystock and his calculating accountant Leo Bloom. And how could we forget Ben Schofield and Maddy Shand’s gushing pairing as Roger de Bris and Mummy, or Emma Read’s alluring Ulla and Ben Willcocks’ side-splitting lederhosen? When it came to the final applause each night, there was standing room only. Congratulations again to all involved, including a brilliant stage and technical crew and Director-in-Residence Mr McCrohon, whose comic vision had us enthralled.

Other dramatic highlights included the Year 9 and 10 double bill of plays set in the Sixties, South Downs and Be My Baby, and the House drama

competition, which was again a hoot with classic TV sit-coms transported to the David Russell Theatre. Mr Hampshire who, like Dickens’ best-loved hero cannot get enough of a good thing, transformed the David Russell Theatre into Mr Bumble’s school room and Fagin’s den with the help of a confident and talented Middle School cast, in his third production in three decades of Oliver! Alexander Quarrie-Jones and Joshua Rampton co-directed the Sixth Form production of Much Ado About Nothing at Southsea Castle in July, turning Benedick and Beatrice’s “sparks of wit” into a firework show that could quite literally have rivalled the November extravaganza at Hilsea Playing Fields. Heads rolled with disturbing regularity in the improvised The Six Wives of Henry VIII, an eye-wateringly good collaboration between PGS and Charter Academy at the Kings Theatre in the Portsmouth Festivities. Meanwhile, the Round Tower provided a powerful setting for Exonerated, a drama exploring the real-life experiences of Death Row inmates who have suffered profound miscarriages of justice. The production went on tour to the Avignon International Theatre Festival where it attracted considerable attention and acclaim.

“Gam yahad: Together in unity”

Music similarly continues to thrive, the department keen to provide opportunities for pupils of all ages and abilities to perform, whilst at the same time reaching ever new heights in exciting projects and collaborations with professional composers and performers. The year started brightly when Isaac Waddington, former Head Chorister of Chichester Cathedral, won BBC Radio 2’s Young Chorister of the Year competition. Portsmouth audiences were able to enjoy the superb maturity of his treble voice when he performed in Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms in a Remembrance Concert featuring the PGS Chamber Choir and the Cathedral Choristers alongside our associate musicians, the London Mozart Players. Two of our gifted percussionists, Alistair Gray and Jordan Banting, became honorary members of the LMP for this fiendishly challenging work, whilst clarinettist Phoebe Carter took the lead in Finzi’s Five Bagatelles for Clarinet and Strings. The LMP’s bows were bouncing off the strings in recognition of all four pupils’ performances when the applause finally erupted.

This year’s Remembrance Concert, conducted by Nicholas Cleobury, also marked a new direction in our commissioning programme as we looked to explore the connections between the school, the city and its Jewish community. Roxanna Panufnik’s setting of Norman Lebrecht’s award-winning novel, The Song of Names, evoked a Jewish heritage we are sometimes in danger of overlooking in Portsmouth. Both the composer and the librettist were overwhelmed by the pupils’ verve and maturity. As Lebrecht reflected afterwards, “Every consonant and


crotchet was emitted as if it were a matter of life and death. And, when the big tune came into play for the first time, every hair in the cathedral must have stood on end.”

The musical year has again been characterised by regular lunchtime and evening concerts for House groups, Year groups and the Music Scholars. The Christmas Concert in St Thomas’s Cathedral drew hundreds to a feast of carols and festive tunes, but our young musicians have also taken their music out and about to reach those otherwise unable to be with us. The Year 8 Brass Quintet travelled to Hedge End; the Allegro Choir and PGS Brass visited Rowans Hospice; the Swing Band entertained patients and staff at St James’ Hospital.

The Gala Concert in the Holy Spirit Church, Southsea, may not have provided the easiest arrangements for audience parking but it certainly provided a superb acoustic setting for the Chamber Choir and PGS Community Choir’s performance of Haydn’s Nelson Mass, which featured pupil soloist Charlotte Rowden and a number of pupil musicians in the orchestra, amongst them lead violinist Fay Davies. One of the musical hallmarks this year has been the sustained development of outstanding string ensembles, as seen in the pupils’ success in the Portsmouth Music Festival.

The Art department has also been busy and creative this year supporting the Big Draw with a public exhibition in St Thomas’s Cathedral of Year 10 work stimulated by architectural spaces and mapping, and learning about the artistry of artisans in a project with the Dockyard Apprentice exhibition. The Summer Exhibition attracted a large audience of parents and local artists intrigued to see the quality and range of pupils’ work in a temporary show in the Guildhall, and we were delighted to be part of the Portsmouth Festivities’ inaugural Spice Island Art Trail, with pupils’ work captivating tourists in the Round Tower. Thanks, as ever, to Miss Dyer and her team, as well as to the artists-in-residence who have inspired pupils by sharing their work and ideas so generously.

“Haul away, Joe!”

The school is right at the heart of the city’s major annual arts festival, The Portsmouth Festivities, and we have been thrilled this year to see even more schools participating in events and helping to promote the cultural opportunities available for all sections of the local community. This year’s programme offered over 70 events, half of which were free thanks to the support we have received from partner organisations, local businesses and the Arts Council England, with over 12,000 people attending and taking part.

The highlight of the Portsmouth Festivities was the world premiere of Ahoy! Sing for the Mary Rose, a work specially commissioned by the Festivities to mark the opening of the new Mary Rose Museum. Around 500 children and adults from local primary schools and amateur choirs, including our own Junior School and PGS Community Choir, joined forces

under the direction of Mr Gladstone to perform for the first time on stage in the Guildhall Alexander L’Estrange’s exuberant celebration of Henry VIII’s most beloved ship in a blend of Tudor tunes, sea shanties and modern jazz rhythms. Well over a thousand people packed into the Guildhall for one of the most uplifting musical experiences of our lives.

Great south Fun

It is well known that the school has an outstanding reputation for its sport. Mr Dossett leads a team of staff and coaches whose philosophy is to inspire everyone to enjoy sport or some sort of physical activity, including opportunities such as the Great South Run!

Both girls’ and boys’ hockey have flourished in 2012-13. The girls were U13 and U16 county champions, whilst the U14 and U18s also represented Hampshire at the South Regional Finals as runners-up. More than 20 girls have played for county teams and seven at U16 and U17 regional level. Anna Reynolds has had particular success, selected to play for England U16. Not to be outdone, the boys have had a very encouraging season with both U14 and U16s crowned Hampshire champions, and with over 20 players selected for county duty and a further five at U16 and U17 regional level. Joseph Brown also had the honour of being selected to represent his country at U16 level.

In netball, the U14 and U16 teams both made it through to the regional finals in the South having triumphed at county level. 2012-13 was to be an especially memorable season for the U14 girls, who became South Champions and progressed to the National Finals, their first appearance at this level since 2005. Congratulations are due to Ashleigh Dekker, selected for the U17 National Netball Academy as the youngest squad member of 20 girls.

There were notable highlights in rugby too, and in what would turn out to be Mr Baker’s final season with us an opportunity for the boys to impress a Head of Rugby whose knowledge they have always respected and whose affirmation they have always been pleased to receive. As well as the 1st XV coming away as victors for the first time against Millfield in a gripping match played under floodlights at Newbury, the 1st VII succeeded in reaching the last 16 at Rosslyn Park Sevens. The U15 were Hampshire runners-up, and promisingly the U12 A team enjoyed a season without loss.

Warm weather athletics training for the girls and, for the first time, boys proved of value in preparing our teams for the year’s competitions. Tom Miller, for example, qualified for the U15 National Schools’ 80m hurdles and will compete in the U15 National Schools’ pentathlon this September. A mixed team of girls and boys won the Millfield Super 8, whilst the U13 girls and U15 boys both won the Hampshire Track Knock Out. Mrs Day was also thrilled to see both the Junior Girls and Intermediate Girls qualifying for the Track and Field Cup National Final at Gateshead, only the second time we have achieved this accolade at PGS.

Prizegiving 2013

After the wash-out of the 2012 season, the sun has shone on cricket this summer enabling players of all ages to put into practice their winter training and dreams of winning the Ashes. Mr Curwood deserves special mention for a season which must be one of the most successful on record for the school. In a clean sweep at county level, the U12, U13, U14 and U15 teams all became Hampshire champions, and we can now look forward to the U12s playing in the Bunbury Cup and the U14s competing in the Lord’s Taverners’ trophy in 2014. The 1st XI reached the quarter finals of the National Twenty20 and this month the U17s will play in the National Schools’ Cup final.

In rounders, the U15 team progressed to the semi-final of the National Cup, but a chance to defend their national title eluded them by a single rounder when they lost to the eventual winners, Loughborough High School.

In the British Schools’ Skiing Championships, our girls’ team came third and our boys’ twelfth. The pupils receive great support from their parents, and I am particularly grateful to Mr Williams for all he has done in recent years to co-ordinate their pursuit of this challenging sport whilst bearing the PGS lion. Devlin Stigant, meanwhile, became U14 Epee Champion in British Fencing, more than earning his place alongside brother, Liam, as PGS’s second musketeer; applications are invited for the third vacancy.

The Senior Sports Dinner at the Royal Naval Club and Royal Albert Yacht Club gave the PGS Sports captains an attractive opportunity to thank their teams and to celebrate their fellow pupils’ achievements. It was a lovely occasion, and a pleasure to have with us Peter Cunningham (OP) on behalf of the 1962 1st XV Rugby Reunion to make the inaugural presentation of a new rugby trophy, a ball which will be signed by the recipients’ team mates as a symbol of the lasting friendships which PGS sport generates.

The Senior Tour to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia saw 45 pupils travel to the other side of the world to play hockey and rugby, as well as to visit an elephant sanctuary and enjoy high tea at Raffles Hotel in Singapore. The girls’ hockey team remained undefeated in three keenly contested games, whilst the rugby XV cantered to victory against the Singapore U19 team. Mr Baker was suitably proud.

It has, as you can see and I hope have been able to witness for yourselves from the boundary or touchline, been an action-packed and entertaining year. Parents will be pleased to note that, thanks to the individual and team achievements of 2012-13, there are a few more trees now planted at Hilsea Playing Fields to provide a welcome wind break or spot of shade – depending on which end you are spectating at – in the summers and winters to come.

Heroes of Hilsea

The highlight of the year in PGS alumni events was undoubtedly the 1962 Rugby Reunion in which 23 former players and even two of their coaches reunited after 50 years. The indefatigable John Owens (OP) was the prime mover, but there was probably an

even greater Prime Mover at work given that the chances of the whole team still being alive after all these years had been calculated as being 250,000-1. That they came from as far as Arizona, Sydney and British Colombia went to show not just how determined the former players were to be with us, but also how widely the OP family extends and that internationalism is not a new phenomenon at PGS.

The 1st XV were inspired and secured a stylish 55-0 win against Churcher’s College, much to the entertainment of the heroes of Hilsea past who ventured on to the pitch at the end of the game to create a victory arch for the players. It was a great day and one we look forward to repeating in years to come.

At Christmas we bid farewell to Alasdair Akass who was moving to Paris with his family, and welcomed Tim Thomas (OP) as Interim Development Director. As a former pupil and former parent, Tim knows the school well and has done much this year to affirm the close bonds with the OP Club, presided over by the ever-resourceful and supportive John Bartle (OP), and to build new links with many of our younger alumni, such as inviting Katie Reid (OP) to be guest editor of one of this year’s issues of Opus. Tim also had the brainwave of suggesting Jamie Smy (OP) to deliver the opening address in the Senior Prefects’ cathedral assembly, so that he could share his experiences of working for the Disney Corporation 10 years on after leaving PGS. Pupils were moved by Jamie’s endorsement of his time at the school and adventures since, though mildly disappointed that he wasn’t wearing Mickey Mouse ears.

In May the Development team successfully hosted the annual conference of the Association of Representatives of Old Pupil Societies (AROPS), and as the end of the year approached we were delighted to welcome Melanie Bushell as the new, full-time Development Director. Melanie brings great experience and enthusiasm to the role having most recently been Head of Marketing and Communications at the Army Cadet Force Association and having previously worked in alumni relations at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Melanie now looks forward to working with Tim as the incoming President of the OP Club.

Throughout the year we have continued to receive excellent support from alumni and friends of the school for the Sixth Form Centre campaign, including a six figure donation from a former pupil who wishes to remain anonymous. Support for bursaries remains a key objective, and we were pleased last September to welcome the first two Wilkie Scholars into the Sixth Form from Mayville High School thanks to the generosity of Brian Wilkie, a former pupil of Northern Grammar School who believes passionately in giving young people the opportunity to achieve their academic potential whatever their background or financial situation.

We were delighted to welcome back to the school as Guest of Honour at Prizegiving Peter Lodder QC (OP), one of the country’s leading criminal barristers and former Chairman of the Bar. Peter


spoke movingly about his own experience at PGS and the support he received from various members of staff following the untimely passing of his father when Peter was studying in the Sixth Form. Peter used the opportunity to create a new prize for Fortitude in memory of his father and of former History master, Ted Washington, whose example had been particularly inspirational. Peter has also since generously agreed to become a member of the school’s Governing Body.

As the Development Office looks forward to the events and opportunities of a new academic year, it is exciting to see the launch of a pilot mentoring scheme which will bring together OPs and members of the current Sixth Form. I also made a pledge to our 2013 leavers on Leavers’ Day in June that the school would invite them back to a reunion in seven years’ time when they are 25. That countdown now begins!

“a club, not a team”

With Pope Benedict XVI and Sir Alex Ferguson both considering the merits of time away from office, this has been a year for significant retirements and PGS has also had its share of notable retirees.

This year we bid farewell to Mr Hogg, a former Senior Housemaster familiar to current pupils as Head of Careers as well as being a stalwart member of the Modern Languages department and having played a key role in developing our relationship with the Anne-Frank Gymnasium in Halver. We also wished a long and happy retirement to Mr Puchades, Assistant Head of Examinations and a brilliant teacher of Electronics whose results in this specialist field have attracted national recognition. We bid farewell to Miss Tabtab, the ever-enthusiastic member of the Economics and Business Studies department also much-loved as Head of Hawkey; and to Mr Michael Taylor, formerly Head of Chemistry and someone whose service to the school has been quite outstanding, keeping the home Bunsens burning and pupils’ mental fuses alight since 1975.

We also thank Mr Brown (Economics and Business Studies), Mr Simon Baker (Head of Rugby), Mrs Black (History), Mrs Hague (who introduced pupils to the pleasures of Speech and Drama for nearly 20 years), Mrs Mitchell (Senior Teacher, English and TOK Co-ordinator), Dr Ronaldson (Mathematics), Mr Gilliatt (Hockey and Cricket) and Mrs Reeve (Portsmouth Festivities) for all that they have contributed to the life and success of the school.

When Sir Alex Ferguson retired after 27 years at the helm of Manchester United, he commented that he had been endeavouring to build “a club, not a team.” Similarly, PGS often feels as if it is much more than a school, given the strong links we enjoy with former

pupils, parents and staff, and our activity within the wider community.

It has been a pleasure, therefore, to welcome a number of excellent new staff into the PGS family this year, including Miss Burden as Head of English, Mrs Filho as Director of Drama, Mr Rees as Head of Economics and Business Studies, Mrs Winship and Mr Price (OP) to teach Mathematics, Mr Clayton-Shepherd (Games and PE), Mrs Gladstone (Biology) and Mr Johnson (Music). Also joining us were Mr Hancock as School Organist in a joint appointment with St Thomas’s Cathedral, Mrs Hunt as Senior School Registrar, Mrs Linley as Marketing Manager and Mrs Worsey as the General Manager of Portsmouth Festivities.

Baton to Barton

In October 2012 we marked the anniversary since the then Home Secretary William Joynson-Hicks opened the gates to PGS’s new home on the High Street. The current site of the Upper Junior School, originally built to house the school in 1878, was struggling to contain the school’s growing population. “There are times when the large thing is the only thing to do,” pronounced Headmaster Canon Barton, as he led his pupils and staff across the High Street to its new, expanded home.

Eighty five years later and Canon Barton’s words still have a powerful ring to them. This summer the Main Quad has witnessed the demolition of the old Sixth Form Centre to make way for a fantastic new building at the heart of the school, a building designed to meet the needs for a more independent style of learning in the Sixth Form, and to bridge – quite literally, in the form of a glass walkway to Cambridge House – the experience of school with that of university and future careers.

It is humbling to feel the baton being handed on from the Canon Bartons of the past as we consider the needs of a new generation of pupils whilst sustaining our mission to inspire a love of learning and to develop pupils’ confidence to make a positive difference to the world.

2012-13 has been another memorable year and whilst the Great South Run may not, unfortunately, be organised as a relay race, I shall certainly be drawing inspiration from all that our extraordinary pupils and staff have shown is possible as we raise valuable funds for the school we have founded in Cambodia and set about our own exciting mission here in Portsmouth in 2014.

James Priory

HeadmasterSeptember 2013

Prizegiving 2013

CELm Mr L Chalk BA Ms HV Linnett BSc Mrs RJ McNamara BA MA PCES ATS Mrs A Reader BA Mr S Taylor MA

The Certificate of Educational Leadership and Management is a collaboration between The Portsmouth Grammar School and the School of Education and Continuing Studies at the University of Portsmouth. The year-long programme, which is Masters-credited, aims to develop reflection, reading and learning about educational theory and practice, and to enhance the quality of leadership and management within the school.

Long service awards

Mr JJ Elphick-Smith MA PGCertSpLD Mr S Hawkswell BA Mr J Herbert BSc} Mr S Lemieux MA Mr EJP Sharkey BA Mrs S Sheldrick BEd

Long Service Awards are made to support and teaching staff who have served 25 years in the school.

staff being awarded Qualified Teacher status

Dr P G Stephenson, PhD Mrs E M Kirby, MA Mr P A McGuiggan, BSc

The following staff have all successfully completed their induction period with the Independent Schools Teacher Induction Panel (IStip)

The Headmaster leading a group of staff and pupil entrants for this year’s Great South Run, raising money for our project school in Cambodia


1. sCHoLaRsHIPs, ExHIBITIoNs aNd GRaNTs aLREadY aWaRdEd

Philip Barrett Choral scholarship Emily Hill

The Philip Barrett Choral Scholarship commemorates a former pupil and chorister who left PGS in 1965 to study theology at Exeter College, Oxford, before ordination at Cuddeson College. The Reverend Philip Barrett (1947-98) was curate at Pershore Abbey, vicar choral at Hereford Cathedral and, in 1986, became rector of Compton and Otterbourne, combining this with a role as honorary chaplain of Winchester

Cathedral. Throughout his career, Philip Barrett pursued a scholarly interest in the English cathedral in the nineteenth century. His book on this subject, Barchester, published in 1993, became and remains a standard reference work.

This scholarship is awarded at the Headmaster’s discretion to a senior member of the Chamber Choir.

Year 7

Foundation scholarships

Ben Fawcett Finlay Elliot Finlay EdwardsRufus Hornsey Nadine Hugec Daniel KirwanRobert Mitchell Roshan Sahota Oakley Slack Adam Stokely

Foundation Exhibitions

William Amir Mahia Chowdhury Merlin CrossRory Gillies Owen Green Alice MarchantThomas Placintescu Ben Priory Tobias Sambles Alistair Wilson Oliver Wisbey Frederick Wood Ryan Zhou

These awards, made on the Foundation, nominally represent the enduring bequest of the Founder, William Smith MD, Mayor of Portsmouth and Physician to its Garrison. The Grand Jury of Portsmouth had lamented in 1717 that residents were sending their children far afield, and at great cost, for their schooling. The first requirement, they felt, was

however a common pound for animals; and so it fell to Smith, on his deathbed fifteen years later, to remedy the educational situation – or at any rate to bequeath the land on the Isle of Wight that would provide the income to allow a school to be started, under the auspices of Smith’s adopted college, Christ Church Oxford. This the college eventually did, in 1750.

Governor Presentation awards

Edward Campkin Anushka Kar Aman Khanna Edward Moger

all Rounder awards

Hardy Blake Cameron Clarke Matilda Goldman

PGS in snow 2013

Prizegiving 2013

Year 9

Nock scholarships

Josh Cant Max Drover James Fleming Samuel Houlberg Henry Rayner Frederick Sligo-Young

Honorary Nock scholarships

Mia Austin Finley Bacon Caitlin BetteridgePatrick Caldwell Kirsten Goves Serena GrahamJemma Holden Rosie Lancaster Catherine LeungKatie Sharp Alexander Sidnell Matthew Waters

Nock Exhibitions

Matthew Crichton Louis Greaves Ned Henderson

Arthur Darby Nock (PGS 1912-1919) won a scholarship to Trinity College Cambridge and was made a Fellow of Clare College aged only 21. Aged only 28, he was elected to the Frothingham Chair of Comparative Religion, the youngest ever election to a Harvard Professorship. Nock was a much loved eccentric, at all times and in all weathers carting with him a rolled umbrella. A noted polymath, he was the author not only of several works on philosophy and religion but also of the Oxford Classical Dictionary.

In 1937, Nock returned to PGS to present the Prizes and his address, though witty and refreshingly spontaneous, was not short on advice. Parents should realise that the quality of education they could obtain for their children at PGS was of equal breadth to that in the top boarding schools yet remarkably inexpensively priced: they should rejoice in the nationally high standing of PGS and in their ‘unique opportunity’. In his will he bequeathed the majority of his estate to PGS, where it remains held in trust. Honorary Nock awards were later introduced in Years 8 and 12 to recognise the outstanding progress made by pupils since joining the school.

Governor Presentation awards Isabella Hick Benjamin Cranny-WhiteheadEdward Vass Oliver Wright

all Rounder awards Imogen Ashby

music scholarship William Lewis

music Exhibition George Gourlay Oliver Saunders

manohar music scholarshipBarnaby Carter

sports scholarshipAlexander Willoughby

Year 11sports scholarshipJadon Buckeridge Ben CalderaAshleigh Dekker


Year 12

alastair Hornby Exhibitions

Daniel White

Alastair Hornby was Head of Physics for many years, and consolidated the development of the subject at PGS as well as introducing A Level Electronics. A keen sportsman, he was an especially potent member of the Common Room Cricket XI. A loyal and firm citizen, he became a city councillor on retirement in 1984 and received a civic funeral on his death. The awards were first made in 1988, donated by his family after his death. sainsbury scholarships

Sarah Davis

These commemorate Norman Sainsbury (1910-1997), linguist and librarian. Norman Sainsbury won a scholarship to PGS and always felt that the school, and in particular his Housemaster, HS Hawkey, was responsible for his success in later life. He won a Classical scholarship to Cambridge, where he discovered an interest in oriental languages. He went on to a distinguished career as a librarian, first at the School of Oriental and African Studies and subsequently as Keeper of Oriental Books at the Bodleian.

During the Second World War, Sainsbury was seconded to the Foreign Office; he never spoke in detail about the nature of his duties, but for a time he was employed at Bletchley Park, where his keen and analytical mind would certainly have been put to good use. Sainsbury also possessed considerable managerial skills, which he used to make major improvements to the organisation of the oriental collections at both SOAS and the Bodleian.

Mrs Evelyn Margaret Sainsbury endowed the PGS Sainsbury Scholarships in memory of her husband and left a further legacy to the school on her death in 2001.

Wilkie scholarship

Cameron Hall Alex Todd

Mr Brian Wilkie attended Mayfield School from 1960 to 1966, when it was known as Northern GrammarSchool. In 2012 he generously launched the Wilkie scholarships to enable each year two pupils from Mayfield School to join the Sixth Form at PGS so that they could pursue their aspirations for university and beyond.

Father michael Peters award

Daniel Mould

Instituted in 2006. Father Michael Peters (PGS 1946-1955) explained the purpose of the Award as follows: Parents make many financial sacrifices in order that their children can experience the standard of education offered by schools such as The Portsmouth Grammar School. Such is our usual enthusiasm to get on that we can so easily overlook their generosity until it strikes home much later in our lives.

When we arrive at this full realisation, we seek ways to show our gratitude. Such is my reason for donating to the PGS Development Fund in memory of my parents, my Godparents and my young sister, Melinda, who suffered much but is now at peace. RIP.

The award is given at the Headmaster’s discretion to a pupil in Year 12.

The drew Gibson sports scholarship

Alec Walker

This prestigious scholarship has been established by the Gibson family in memory of Drew Gibson (1926-2012) and in recognition of the impact that PGS sports had on his three grandsons, Christopher (PGS 2003 – 2009), James (PGS 1998 – 2011), and Robert (PGS 1998 – 2012)

Drew Gibson is remembered as a man of great generosity who passionately pursued his goals. He was a regular and keen supporter of PGS sports teams in which his grandsons played. His scholarship is awarded to a Sixth Form pupil and will provide similar outstanding opportunities to those his grandsons enjoyed.

Drew Gibson with grandson, Robert

Prizegiving 2013

music scholarship

Sarah Davis

Choral Exhibition

Sophie Rose

drama scholarship and Exhibition

Lewis MacKenzie Phoebe Ruttle

Year 13 Honorary Nock scholarships

Rohan Ahlawat Shamin Aktar Aladdin Benali Jack Breen Clare Bartholomew Georgia Davies Henrietta Gould Abigail Guy Alexandra Munro-Clarke Roman Mikhaylenko Mirabel Mwizerwa-Gikwiye Tristan Orchard Alex Quarrie-Jones Joshua Rampton Alexander Scott-Moncrieff Benjamin Slader Charlie Scutts Melissa Smith Morgan Tilling

Tim mcdowall award Benjamin Frei

Tim McDowall (PGS 1974-1984) was an exceptionally talented and hard-working pupil. Tim also enjoyed drama, played for both the Rugby 1st XV and Cricket 1st XI, and was a loyal and capable member of the CCF. He went on to graduate in Economics at Trinity College, Cambridge. Tragically, Tim was murdered in South America whilst backpacking on holiday following his graduation. The Olympic Athlete Roger Black, a contemporary of Tim at PGS, memorably gave an impromptu reflection on his friend when Guest of Honour at Prizegiving in 2004. His friends also fund a prize in Tim’s memory.

oP Club Travel award

Benjamin Frei James Woolas

Awarded annually by the Old Portmuthian Club to current pupils and OPs still in full time education to enable them to undertake activity of an educational, medical, social welfare, community development, environmental, scientific or volunteer nature in the UK or overseas.

sports scholarship

Andrew Gorvin


otherPGs Leonardo Poetry Competition Year 7: Max Lancaster Year 8: Katherine Green Year 9: James Beattie Year 10: Madeleine De Vere

PGs Leonardo Poetry Cup Madeleine De Vere Ron Vearncombe joined PGS as a Maths teacher in 1948. He became Head of Maths in 1954, and remained at the school until his retirement in 1978. He combined academic excellence with modesty, wit, compassion, and common sense allied with a canny eye for the physiognomy of his colleagues and the ephemera of PGS décor. A selection of his paintings still hangs in

the Common Room and one was used as the front cover for the Prizegiving programme in 2006 as a commemorative gesture in the year of his death. Not only was Mr Vearncombe an inspirational teacher, but also a dedicated cricket coach, a talented artist and a gifted pianist. He established the Leonardo competition in 1958 to foster creative talent.

ogden scholars

Alexander Todd Oliver Miller Daniel Mould

These scholarships are provided by the Ogden Trust to support gifted young scientists studying Physics in the Sixth Form.

2. PRoGREss PRIZEs aNd oTHER PRIZEs aLREadY aWaRdEd

Year 7 Progress Prizes David Danso-Amoako Sam Harris Kitty Herlihy Ella Palethorpe Jasmine Reeve-Foster Thomas Robertson Benjamin Thomas Emily Whitehead

Year 8 Progress Prizes Thomas Baker Louisa Buckle Loren Dean Megan Dossett Philip Macanovic Emma Priory Alexander Sidnell Matthew Waters

Year 9 Progress Prizes Holly Baker Hermione Barrick Ilana Berney Lydia Carter Baldev Chahal James Cracknell James Harper Georgia Henderson

Year 10 Progress Prizes Dorothea Charles Ciara Dossett William Dry Henry Ling Alice MacBain Sam Shingles Akshay Singh Ella Tusler

P R I Z E G I V I N G 2 0 1 3

The Le Breton single Wicket Cup

Benjamin Caldera

The Le Breton Single Wicket Cup is awarded for outstanding cricketing achievements during the year. Prior to 2009, this trophy had not been awarded for many years, in fact one of the last recipients was Mike Wedderburn (now well known as a presenter on Sky Sports News) back in 1982. Our very own Mr Gary Payne, now retired from teaching in the Junior School, also won the trophy as a sixth former in 1981.

The John Pounds award Katie Logan-Rose

John Pounds (1766-1839) was crippled in a dockyard accident at the age of fifteen; faced with a life of disability and poverty, he did not despair, but set about learning to walk again and educating himself. He became a cobbler, eking out a living by mending shoes in a little workshop in Highbury Street (then known as St Mary’s Street). John Pounds is remembered, however, for his pioneering work in educating the destitute children of Portsmouth. This award is for a pupil who has coped with personal difficulties and setbacks with courage and cheerfulness, as did John Pounds.


The Ithaka Prize

Fay Davies

The Prize is awarded annually for the best PGS submission or IB Extended Essay. Year 12 pupils complete these independent research projects to enhance their study skills and knowledge and understanding of a subject of interest to them.

PGs Extend Commended Pupils

Philip Belcher Billie Downer Jordan Gibson Fergus Kaye George Laver Barnaby Martin Isobel Porter Prashanth Ramaraj Noor Shihadeh Alexander Sidnell Louisa Stark Sophie Tobin A Commendation is awarded to those pupils in Years 7 to 11 whose PGS Extend projects are judged outstanding by the marker.

old Portmuthian Club sports’ Prizes

Rugby Benjamin Wilcockson athletics Ciara Dossett Jessamie Waldon-DayBoys’ Hockey Joshua Gibbard Girls’ Hockey Josephine Blagbrough Boys’ Tennis Adam Filip Girls’ Tennis Zoe RundleCricket Seth Jackson Netball Kirsten Hall

The OP Club presents the Captain of each sport in which there is an OP fixture, with a salver to mark their contribution to sport at PGS.

The House Trophy Grant and Barton

To celebrate the centenary of the House system at PGS in 2010 – 2011, the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth commissioned a new trophy, complete with the Lord Mayor’s Coat of Arms, to mark the close bond between the school and city of Portsmouth. The trophy, awarded across a calendar year, incorporates all the House competitions, individual academic successes and co-curricular achievements. It is unique in that the trophy is awarded jointly to the Senior and Middle School House.

Prizegiving 2013

Pupils attaining outstanding Results in GCsE

The following pupils gained at least 9 A* grades at GCSE – an asterisk indicates those who gained all A*s: Syed Ali Joshua Arnold* Ella Beard* Bethany BrigdenOliver Brotherton* Jemima Carter* Nathaniel Charles Alice Cornier*Louisa Dassow* Isabella de Guisa William Dekker Frederick Dennis* Christopher-James Dewilde William Evans Roxanne Goacher* Holly Govey Molly Hannafin Alexander Harding Dillon Hoddle Charlotte KentRhiannon Lasadro* Jemima Lawson* Oliver Ling Gemma LiuPhoebe Pexton* Cameron Roberts Geoffrey Sherwood Jonathan Titley*Paul Walker Dominic Waters* Benjamin Webb

Pupils attaining outstanding Results at a Level

The following pupils attained 3 A grades or more – an asterisk indicates those who gained at least 3 A*s:

Philippa Abernethy Danyal Bajar Jordan Banting Natasha BeebyPhilip Belcher Alice Blois James Bullivant Sophie CarverMegan Cassidy Lucy Cole James Collingwood Daniel CotterallWilliam Crawford Fay Davies* Charlotte Davis Christian DavisonJamie Diamond Lucy Dobbs Sophie East Thomas FarnworthJoshua Gibbard Katherine Godfray Luke Granger-Brown Nora HadiJames Hammond Edward Harding* Harry Harwood James HicksKatie Husselby Seth Jackson Andrew Jones Owen Jones Chania Lambrinudi Elizabeth Lewis Katie Logan-Rose Fraser Mackenzie Tom McHale Jonathan Munro George Neame Thomas Pidden Charlotte Plowman* Georgina Prosser Prashanth Ramaraj* Philip Rouse Charlotte Rowden Catherine Schofield Chloe Sellwood Louisa Stark Benjamin Wallis* Howard Wallis* Christopher Weekes* John Wiggins James Woolas

Pupils attaining outstanding Results at IB

The following pupils attained Level 6 or above in at least 4 subjects – an asterisk indicates those who gained at least 4 Level 7s:Sophie Andrews* George Chapman* Billie Downer Benjamin Frei Sarah Gray George Laver* Timothy MacBain* Daniella Masters Lucy Moore Courtney Spalding Oliver Velasco

Some of this year’s very successful cohort of IB pupils


Results day Joy A Level and GCSE pupils celebrating their success

Prizegiving 2013

3. YEaR PRIZEs

Year 7 subject Prizes

art Codey Simmons Biology Patrick Kirwandrama Alexander Gibson English Eleanor Williams-BrownFrench Nicholas Ng Geography Jean-Mickael HopkinsonGerman Thomas Austin History Trinity GoacherICT Codey Simmons Latin Louis Sumnermathematics Trinity Goacher music Patrick KirwanPhysical Chemistry Katie O’Flaherty Portsmouth Curriculum Charlotte RossPRs Nicholas Ng spanish Nadia VloemansTechnology Charles Elliott sports Matthew Cheung Charlotte Dean Year 8 subject Prizes

art Christopher Earle Biology Caitlin Betteridgedrama Oliver Saunders English Thomas RossFrench Patrick Caldwell Geography Kirsten GovesGerman Katie Sharp History Xavier HarrisICT Catherine Leung Latin Ameera Gyeningmathematics Nicole Hugec music Caitlin BetteridgePhysical Chemistry Finley Bacon PRs Shree Patelspanish Isabella Barrington-Clark Technology Rosie Lancastersports Harry Hoolahan Lydia Buckeridge

middle school Prizes

Vallum Cup

Harry Wratten

The Vallum Cup is awarded annually to an outstanding Modern Languages and Classics pupil in the Middle School. It was donated by Mrs Barfield and Mrs Seely in 1991, in memory of their father, Harold Wall, who was a pupil at the school between 1918 and 1925.

anne stokes middle school Recognitions Cup

Barton House

Anne Stokes was a relation by marriage to Tony Stokes, Head of the Lower School. This cup was presented in 1959, the year in which her older son, Richard, concluded his career as a PGS pupil and won a place at Queens College, Cambridge. This cup is awarded annually to the Middle School House that has attained the highest number of recognitions.

middle school music Cup

William Lewis

This prize is awarded to a pupil who has contributed to Music throughout the Middle School.

The William smith Chorister medal

Henry Davis-Marks

The medal is presented in memory of Mark Alexander Ready (PGS 1988–1998) who was a chorister at the Cathedral from 1988-1993. After his time as a chorister, he returned to the Cathedral choir as a tenor whilst in the Sixth Form at PGS. Mark gained friendship and purpose from the choir and he relished the challenge of making beautiful music for the glory of God. The medal is awarded each year to someone who relishes the same challenge every bit as much as Mark.


Peter Wren Chess Cup

Barton House

This prize was established in memory of Peter Wren, a Middle School pupil killed in a road accident in 1978. Peter particularly enjoyed chess and natural history, and so in addition to this prize a new fresh-water pond was created on FarlingtonMarshes, known as Peter’s Pond.

sir arthur Conan doyle short story Prize

Sam Harris

Part of the Portsmouth Curriculum course and taught by the Headmaster, this prize is awarded by him to the best short story based upon a new mystery involving Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson.

middle school service Prizes

Finley Bacon Catherine Leung Patrick Caldwell Serena GrahamMark Docherty Georgia McKirgan Thomas Ross Shree Patel

middle school Prize for Best overall Pupil

Loren Dean

Year 9 subject Prizesart Zita Edwards Biology Alexander ButlerBusiness studies Samuel Tucker Chemistry Alexander Butlerdrama Robert Merriam English Douglas MilehamFood and Nutrition Beth Macfarlane French Grace GoodfellowGeography William Futcher German Grace GoodfellowGreek Sebastian Chapman History Samuel RushICT Robert Merriam Latin Madeleine Baconmathematics Lloyd Morgan music Sebastian ChapmanPhysics Gemma Webb PRs Lloyd Morganspanish Cicely Podmore Technology Samuel Rushsports Daniel Mugford Ashleigh Dekker

Year 10 subject Prizesart Charlotte Randall Biology Catriona EllisBusiness studies Jack Dry Chemistry Michael RollinsClassical Civilisation Oliver Wratten drama Jessamie Waldon-DayEnglish Lauren Robson-Skeete Food and Nutrition Claudia MaternaFrench Jadon Buckeridge Geography Edwina BishopGerman Katherine Lemieux Greek Edwina BishopHistory Kelvin Shiu Latin Adam Blundenmathematics Matthew Roberts music Catriona EllisPhysics Reetobrata Chatterjee PRs Eloise Flippancespanish Alexander McKirgan Technology Thomas Langfordsports Jadon Buckeridge Alexi Paxman

Prizegiving 2013


art Charlotte Kent Biology Gemma Liu Business studies Roxanne Goacher Chemistry Jonathan Titley Classical Civilisation Oliver Brotherton drama Peter Rapp English Jonathan Titley Food and Nutrition Freya DerbyFrench Harrison Whitworth Geography William Dekker German Christopher-James Dewilde Greek Louisa Dassow History Holly Govey Latin Phoebe Pexton mathematics Cameron Roberts music Ella Beard Physics Cameron Roberts PRs Jemima Carterspanish Oliver Ling Technology Charles Crawfordsports Joseph Brown Florence Stow

Year 9 - 11 Extra Prizes

Tudor Prize For Theatrical Promise

Philippa Harris

Drama was introduced to the PGS curriculum whist John Tudor (PGS 1986-1999) was a pupil at the school. His parents funded this award in order to stimulate dramatic endeavour and reward theatrical talent. John Tudor subsequently became a Gap Year Student at PGS and went on to a career in Arts Administration.

Chris suter Prize for History

Ella Beard

This prize commemorates Christopher Suter (PGS 2001-2003) a keen historian, who got the top mark at History GCSE, but did not live to see his result. The prize was donated by his mother in 2007.

Lesley spofforth Prize for mathematical Promise

David Simmonds

Lesley Spofforth, Maths teacher, Examinations Officer and Senior Teacher at PGS (1999-2007) was an outstanding teacher and much-loved colleague. The Spofforth family – husband Mark, son Peter (PGS 2000-2007) and daughter Gemma – have generously donated this prize in Lesley’s memory.

marcus Young Computing Prize

Christian Thomas

Marcus Young (PGS 1956-1961) went on to become a distinguished financier. He donated the prize in 1982 on his retirement as Chairman of the Governing Body Finance Committee.

Canon Grant Prize for Philosophy and Religious studies

Sophie Whitehead

Originally established by Canon Robert Grant, father of Canon EP Grant, the Chairman of Governors and re-founder of PGS. Governors’ Minutes include the following letter from Robert Grant, dated 8 February 1879: Gentlemen, Having received the rudiments of my education at The Portsmouth Grammar School, I have much pleasure in offering with your permission two annual prizes of the value of £2 and £1 respectively to the Boy in the Upper and Lower School who passes the best examination in Scriptural Knowledge.

mike Reynolds memorial Prize for sport

Anna Reynolds

Donated by the parents and friends of Mike Reynolds (PGS 1950-1958) upon his tragic death in a road accident in October 1971. It was to be awarded annually to both a Sixth Form and a Year 10-11 pupil for promoting the good name of the school, by playing a school-taught sport, outside of PGS.


The year at PGs The Headmaster and the senior prefects, The Producers final dress rehearsal, the summer Art show, the summer concert.

Prizegiving 2013


art Richenda Gordon-PullarBusiness studies Verity Summersdrama and Theatre studies Josef Moon

J d Hopkinson Prize for Earth science

William SparkesJ D Hopkinson taught Geography at PGS between 1949 and 1990. A distinguished coach of many sports as well as being Housemaster of Eastwood House, then Grant House, he also introduced Geology to the curriculum.

moores Rowland Economics Prize

Henry Cunnison

This prize was first awarded in 1990 to the most promising Economics pupil at PGS and was funded by Moores Rowland International.

Electronics Daniel Wells

Godfrey Green memorial Prize for English

Benjamin SchofieldFirst awarded in 1964 in memory of Morris Godfrey Green (PGS 1948-1956) who died prematurely in August 1963.

W H Hore Geography Prize Madaleine FletcherW H Hore served in the Second World War where his skills as a Geographer were employed in mapping the beaches of Northern France. He taught Geography between 1945 and 1956 and awarded this prize on leaving the school. He subsequently became Headmaster of Bec School, and of RGS Guildford.

Peter Forster Prize for Geography Fieldwork studies

Alastair GrayPeter Forster (PGS 1996-2006) became Senior Prefect in his final year and went on to study English at Oxford. Peter’s family established this annual award for the pupil producing the best A Level Geography coursework.

Government and Politics Samuel Collings-WellsGreek Gregory Walton-Green

J s Cox memorial Prize for History

Charlie ScuttsJohn Salisbury Cox was a pupil of PGS for only one year, but no alumnus could prove more proud or more loyal. He was a lifelong member of the OP Club, serving as both Treasurer and President, and initiated outreach programmes for disadvantaged young people. The OP Club funded the prize in 1938 to commemorate his devotion to the Club and school and his philanthropy in the city.

arthur darby Nock Prize for Latin

Rory MacLean

sir William Crossman memorial Prize for mathematics

Justin Wilkinson

Major General Sir William Crossman was MP for Portsmouth from 1885 to 1892, firstly as a Liberal and then as a Liberal Unionist. He died in 1901. The prize started as the Crossman Prize for English in 1928. In 1937 it became a Memorial Prize for Mathematics, for reasons no longer known: it is almost certainly a coincidence that the Prizes were given away by the eccentric polymath A D Nock in that year.


allison Prize for mathematics and science

Tristan Orchard

Philip Allison (PGS 1933-1940), won a King’s Scholarship in 1937. He then returned to PGS as a member of staff from 1947-1952, teaching both Maths and Science. The prize was donated in 1984 by Mrs Allison in memory of her husband. The most prestigious of the prizes available to a pupil on the Maths and Science side, it is awarded by the Chairman of Science Departments to the outstanding pupil in the year group in either or both of these subjects.

Bryan Gardner modern Languages Prizes:

French Melissa SmithGerman Fergus Houghton-Connellspanish Thomas Harper

Some mystery surrounds this prize. The efforts of Bryan Gardner’s Year 9 biographer seeking a photo of Gardner as Captain of the 2nd XI are to a certain extent symbolic: “I looked all around the school but this was to no prevail”. Bryan Gardner, who left school as Captain of Latter House on 31 July 1943 was the youngest in his year but was nonetheless the best at German (and President of the Gramophone Society). He went to Oxford for a short course, and joined the RNVR whilst there. The cause of his death in Spring 1944, aged only 18, is unknown and he does not have an official memorial, probably because he died whilst training. He is, however, honoured on the PGS War Memorial and the Headmaster, Donald Lindsay, readily acceded to the request of Gardner’s parents that he should be commemorated by a prize for Modern Languages. The prize was first presented by Mr and Mrs Gardner to Dennis Dangerfield at a ceremony in the theatre on Southsea Pier in 1946.

Pall Europe Prize for modern Languages

Luke Dufour

A link between Pall Europe and PGS was established because a former President of Pall Corporation, Jeremy Haward-Surry was the father of Paul Haward-Surry (PGS 1976-1986). Following a visit by Upper Sixth scientists to Pall Europe in 1989 “to explore

opportunities in industry”, a gift was made – the Pall Europe Prize – for “projects linking commerce or industry with a modern language”. The award was made by the Managing Director, Maurice Hardy. It is now a general prize for the outstanding language pupil of the year.

music William Wallace Physical Education Andrew MarstonPRs Rishi Soneji Psychology Shahmin Aktar

Hawkey memorial Prizes for science:

Biology Inuri PatabendiChemistry Samantha SummersPhysics Adam Filip

Henry Symons Hawkey, Science Teacher between 1906-1937, died in 1959. He achieved a 1st class degree in Natural Science and a 1st class degree in English. The Housemaster of Grant House, he was also a PGS football coach and referee. This prize was first awarded in 1960.

Bosworth Wright memorial Prize for science

Benjamin Tucker

Alderman Dr Bosworth Wright became the City Council’s representative on the Governing Body between 1909-1938 and the Chairman of Governors for the last of these years. He was the first President of the OP Club. The Portmuthian remembered him as follows: He was to this school more than a distinguished and well-beloved citizen. His fine blend of geniality and dignity, his tolerant but shrewd judgements made him at once a respected leader and a warm friend. None of its sons could have served this school better. None can have more endeared himself to all who have been associated in its work. The Bosworth Wright Prize was first awarded in Autumn 1939 in his memory, presented by Mrs Bosworth Wright. It was originally a cup for inter-house football. It is now awarded by the Chairman of Science Departments to the best scientist in the year.

Prizegiving 2013

Brian Read design and Technology Prize

Daniel Newman

First awarded in 1997, and sponsored by Councillor Brian Read, Lord Mayor and Governor.

IB – Theory of Knowledge

Robert Bendell

IB – Creativity action service

Tamara Manuel

sports Prize

Thomas KershawKatie Paxman

other 6th Form Prizes

Ivan Nelson memorial Prize for medicine

Lucy Dobbs

Dr Ivan Nelson was Medical Officer of Health for Gosport 1963-1974 and Area Community Physician for Hampshire Area Health Authority 1974-1979. Dr Nelson would often be seen at Hilsea during autumn and winter terms, administering to the bruises, bumps and sprains of various Rugby XVs. The prize was established in his memory by his sons, Bob and David, to give financial assistance to a pupil from PGS who is going on to study medicine.

sarah Quail Prize for History

Henry Cunnison

In the last decade, PGS has won a national reputation for the quality of its partnership projects in History. These have often involved close co-operation with local museums. No one assisted the school more in this regard than Mrs Sarah Quail, mother of Hugh (PGS 1991-2004), Governor (from 1999) and Head of Arts, Libraries, Museums and Records for Portsmouth City Council until 2004. Mrs Quail is a much published authority on local history matters. The prize was first awarded in 2007 and is a competitive essay prize. It seeks to give extension opportunities to any member of the Sixth Form who wishes to research an original History project.

Institution of Chemical Engineers Prize for science

Isabel Howson

This award is donated by the Portsmouth and Southampton branch of IChemE for the best science pupil in local schools. The prize is awarded to Year 12 pupils with a good academic record over the previous two years including GCSE and performance in their A Level or IB studies, who have also shown an all-round interest in co-curricular activities.

simon Gray Prize for drama

James Gulliford

Simon Gray (PGS 1945-1947), the famous playwright and diarist, attended PGS before going to Westminster. His widow, Victoria Gray, created this prize, first awarded in 2011, in his memory to recognise the pupil who does the best writing, creative or critical work, in Drama during the year.


ayling string Prize

Benjamin Frei

First awarded in 1991 the award was to encourage string playing at a time when the Music department was heavily dominated by brass players. Mrs Mary Ayling, Vice Chairman of Governors, was a key figure in the introduction of co-education. Though the family had considerable prowess at cricket (husband Christopher (PGS 1950-1956) was on the Hampshire Committee, and son Jon (PGS 1975-1985) spent several seasons with Hampshire) the family were always keen supporters of school music.

Parsons Prize for music

Timothy MacBain

Originally established as the Parsons Music Prize for cathedral choristers in 1969, this soon became a general music prize and is now awarded to a pupil in recognition of their overall contribution to music during their time at PGS.

michael Nott Prize

Fay Davies

The prize commemorates the Very Revd Michael Nott, Provost of the Cathedral Church of St Thomas, Chairman of Governors and friend of the school. The Rotunda is named after him, and his portrait hangs there.

Penri-Evans Composition Prize

Owen Jones

Dr David Penri-Evans taught music at PGS from 1987-1992 and was a Lay Clerk at the Cathedral. He did much to encourage composing by pupils and members of the local public, as well as being a skilled conductor. A colleague recalled that when Dr Penri-Evans conducted the Chamber Choir in works by Palestrina in Santa Maria Maggiore, the most favourable acoustic for which the works were written, ‘David could hardly see to conduct and we could hardly see to sing, so moving was the experience’.

Willcocks singing Prize

Charlotte Rowden

Established by Jonathan Willcocks, PGS Director of Music 1975-1978, and still an important figure in the musical life of Portsmouth as well as a distinguished composer. His composition ‘My Hope is in Thee’ was commissioned by the school for performance by the Chamber Choir and London Mozart Players at the Remembrance Sunday Concert in 2003, and was subsequently recorded.

sir malcolm Bates Prize for Chamber music

Senior String Quartet

Sir Malcolm Bates was commended for his all-round ability and varied interests. He excelled at music and languages and passed the School Certificate with credit, before leaving in 1950. His report suggested that he might pursue a career in music, but this was not to be. He was second in command at General Electric Company (GEC) for twelve years and, from 1999 to 2003 he served as Chairman of London Regional Transport. In 1997, he was asked by the Treasury to look into streamlining the Private Finance Initiative and his subsequent reports became cornerstones of PFI development in the UK and internationally. Sir Malcolm was knighted the following year. He died in 2009.

This prize is awarded to the ensemble that has made the most progress and contribution to music at PGS.

IB – Extended Essay

George Laver

John Roberts Prize for sculpture

Alexander Love

Established in 2000 by John Roberts (PGS 1943-1948) a ceramics teacher, the prize is awarded to an older pupil involved in more advanced work. The prize may be given for interest, enthusiasm or personal achievement.

Prizegiving 2013

model United Nations Prize

Thomas Harper

The MUN was introduced into PGS in 2007 and has quickly become one of the most well-attended societies in school. This award is given to the pupil who has made a significant contribution to the MUN throughout the year

Ernest Edmonds memorial Prize for Public speaking and debating

William Wallace

Ernest Edmonds was one of the first pupils to be educated in the new school building of 1879, now the Upper Junior School. He trained as a solicitor. He died on 23rd November 1943 and this prize was first awarded in 1945.

Roger Harris award

Guy Snowball

Established to recognise the outstanding life-long contribution made to PGS by Roger Harris, as a pupil between 1943 and 1951 and teacher between 1958 and 1993. First awarded in 1996, it is awarded to a pupil who has a particular focus for outdoor activities.

oP masonic Lodge Prize for outstanding school society

Amnesty

First awarded in 1987, and intended to promote co-curricular endeavour.

mike Reynolds memorial Prize for sport

Dimitri Selwood

Dimitri Selwood playing for the First XV


4. sCHooL CUPs aNd TRoPHIEsCombined Cadet Force Cups: awarded to the best Cadet in the respective armed service

Peters Cup: Navy Sebastian McCueClark Jervoise Cup: RaF Alice BloisWessex Cup: army Edward Harding

The Le Patourel shield

Charles HendersonThe Le Patourel Shield was presented by the Royal Hampshire Regiment Comrades Association, Portsmouth and District Branch, in memory of Major HW Le Patourel. In the battle of Tebourba in North Africa in 1942, the Hampshire Regiment found itself outnumbered 4:1. Major Le Patourel led four volunteers through heavy machine gun fire to the German positions on high ground. They silenced enemy fire, but the four volunteers died. Le Patourel pushed forward alone with a pistol and grenades and did not return. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. On the day the official announcement was made, news was received that Le Patourel, who had been wounded and taken captive, was still alive and he was eventually able to receive his medal. He died in 1979, aged 63. The Le Patourel Shield is awarded annually to the most promising CCF cadet.

school Charity Cup

Owen JonesFirst presented in 1991, and donated by Old Portmuthians Graeme Jeffery (PGS 1985-1990), Robert Clay (PGS 1983-1990) and Jonathan Vincent (PGS 1982-1990), to be awarded to the member of the VI Form who, over the year, has made the greatest contribution, not necessarily financially, but in effort, in the field of charity work or fundraising or organisation of charity events.

The senior school Chess Cup

Grant HouseDecided over three hard-fought rounds in the Autumn Term, the Chess Cup is one of the first House competitions of the calendar.

Richard Bishop Cup for Engineering

James HammondRichard Bishop was Professor of Engineering and Vice Chancellor at Brunel University. His son John Bishop was a pupil (PGS 1968-1976) and the family initiated this prize in 1990 to recognise PGS’ long tradition in sending pupils to University to read Engineering, and to give recognition to the pupil annually considered by the Chairman of Science to be the most promising of these. marconi Cup for Technology

Seth JacksonFirst presented in 1990 and established by Marconi Space Systems Ltd as a competition for the best piece of original work concerning a new industrial product or process.

audrey and malcolm Foley Prize for Creativity and Innovation

Harry Hailwood Fergus Houghton-ConnellSebastian McCue Liam Stigant

sir Lynton White Cup for Work in the Community

Tamara ManuelDonated by Sir Lynton White MBE, TD, DL in 1986. Sir Lynton was a School Governor from 1976-1987. Awarded to the pupil who has promoted the good name of PGS through community ventures. Tim mcdowall Prize James HammondAwarded annually to a Senior School pupil who contributes to school sport and is involved in adventurous activities.

Prizegiving 2013

Geoff Foley attended PGS from 1955 -1965 and was House Captain of Grant House and Captain of Hockey, Tennis, and Badminton. After leaving PGS he went up to Oxford, gaining a BA in Physics in 1968 and he was a Badminton Half Blue. He studied for an MSc. in Physics at the University of Pennsylvania (1969), a PhD. in Solid State Physics at the University of Pennsylvania (1975) and was awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Materials Science, also at the University of Pennsylvania (1975 – 1977). Then followed a year of Executive Education at Harvard Business School. Geoff is the author or co-author of more than 80 U.S. patents. He lives in Fairport, NY state, USA. Geoff has always had a strong interest in his prior career in fostering innovation and creativity, which has led to his desire to set-up the “Audrey & Malcolm Foley Prize for Creativity and Innovation” for pupils at PGS, named after his parents. The focus of the Award is innovation and/or creative problem solving as it relates to the application of science and engineering concepts to solving real world problems.

Geoff Foley then, as Captain of the First XI …

… and now, on a recent visit back to PGS


doyle Cup for athletics

Thomas Miller

Presented by Mr and Mrs M J Doyle, in appreciation of the education that their son, Matthew (PGS 1980-1991) received at the school. First awarded in 1992. arnold Cup for athletics

Darcy Hyatt

Stephen Arnold (PGS 1976-1986) won the English Schools 1,500 metres steeplechase in 4 minutes 15 seconds – a record, and went on to win the British Schools 1,500 metres. The Arnold Prize is awarded annually to the most improved athlete in Year 10. Henry and Lilian stephenson Hockey Cup

Harry Wratten

As a young architect working for Seely and Paget, Lilian Stephenson (née Durrell) was appointed to design new science laboratories for PGS in the 1960’s. She made innovative use of plastic piping, indeed the then PGS science laboratories, were the first in the country to use this material at that time. Lilian and her husband, Henry, continue to be friends of the school and have established this prize for a young Hockey player. Tremlett Water sports Cup

Benjamin Hazeldine

Donated by Mrs M D Tremlett in 1994 to congratulate a pupil who excels at a water sport.

Neil Blewett award

Benjamin Frei

This trophy is awarded in recognition of the dedication of a pupil who is a true ambassador for the school and whose achievements have been accomplished in the spirit of the school’s values. This award is a legacy to the memory of Neil Blewett, Surmaster and Senior Teacher, his commitment to the school community and the values and ethics that he imbued upon every aspect of school life. It is the only award in the gift of the Common Room. senior school Recognitions Cup

Latter House

This award was created in 2009 and recognises all Senior School pupils’ achievements throughout the academic year.

Prizegiving 2013

5. sCHooL PRIZEsCathedral Head Chorister Louie DuncanJack O’Leary

Peter Lodder Prize for Fortitude

William WallaceThis new prize has been established by Peter Lodder QC (PGS 1973-1976), one of the country’s leading criminal barristers, in honour of his late father and of a teacher who helped him through difficult times when his father died.

Peter’s father, Norman, came from a working class background; he joined the Royal Navy as a boy sailor, rising through the ranks to become a Lieutenant-Commander. Norman was diagnosed with terminal cancer while Peter was a pupil at PGS. Showing great courage, Norman participated in treatment trials which could not help him, but did help others who suffered from cancer after his untimely death.

Ted Washington MBE served as Head of History for 36 years, and was a distinguished historian, author and all-round sportsman. He lost his sight in a cricketing accident, but his determination and strength of character enabled him to continue to teach, manage his department and take a full part in school life. His courage in overcoming his disability was an inspiration to generations of pupils, including Peter who described him as being “a model for coping with adversity”.

This prize is awarded to a pupil who demonstrates fortitude - an inner strength in facing difficulty or adversity - a quality which Peter describes as “an important attribute in life, and one which an education at PGS upholds”.

Reeve Prize for Perseverance Buyant BrouwerMaureen Reeve joined PGS as a French teacher in 1981 and also served as Head of Careers during her nineteen-year career at PGS. Her pastoral skills were legendary, and put to good use as Deputy Housemaster of Latter and as an outstanding House Tutor.

This new prize is awarded by Maureen and her husband Trevor to a pupil who has demonstrated perseverance, possibly (but not necessarily) in spite of adversity.

Ian Newberry Prize for Progress Guy ButcherFirst awarded in 1986 and established by Dr and Mrs R Newberry in memory of their son, Ian (PGS 1975-1985) who died whilst in the Sixth Form. The prize should not be related to academic performance and, as far as possible, should be allocated to a pupil who has not achieved, otherwise, positions of influence in the school, but who has consistently contributed to school activities.

Charlotte Loosemore memorial Prize Barnaby Martin - Anya RobertsFirst awarded in 2002 and established by parents of Lottie Loosemore (PGS 1996-2001) following her death from a rare virus while in South America on a GAP year visit. It is awarded to pupils for showing character. The first recipients were George Hunter who took his GCSEs whilst undergoing treatment for a brain tumour, and Adam Osborne who achieved three A’s at A level despite having meningitis earlier in the year.

samuel Hudson memorial Prize Luke Granger-BrownSamuel Hudson (1844-1931) was educated in Portsmouth and qualified as a teacher in 1864. He was appointed as a member of staff at PGS when the school was re-founded in 1879. Hudson was master of the First Form (the equivalent of today’s Year 4) and Clerk to the Governors for forty-seven years. He was also commandant of the Cadet Corps and coached the younger boys in cricket. This prize was established in Samuel Hudson’s memory by his great-granddaughter, Mrs Elizabeth Dunne, who was also the mother of one of the first Sixth Form girls at PGS; it is awarded annually to a pupil who has triumphed over adversity.

angus Gibson Prize Sally Hall Charlie AlbueryThis commemorates Angus Gibson, a Pre-Prep pupil of plucky spirit and boyish love of pranks, who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in 1998 while still in Reception. He died in 1999 and the prize was donated by his parents. It is awarded annually to two Year 11 pupils with energy and character who have made a significant contribution to the life of the school.


Normandy Veterans’ association shield Alice Blois Christopher Weekes Established in 1999 by the Normandy Veterans’ Association ‘for all round achievement. Such things as loyalty, care for others, courage, comradeship etc - the qualities that were expected from us during the Normandy campaign.’

Robert milne Trophy Kirsten HallTimothy MacBainLt Robert Milne (PGS 1938-1942) Number 304035, 151 Ayrshire Field Regiment, was a member of Grant House, Prefect, Platoon Commander in the OTC andplayed in the school 2nd XI. He died 1 March 1945, aged 21, during the battle to cross the Rhine and is buried at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery.

First awarded in 1999 as a recognition of service to either the school or the wider community of Portsmouth. The recipient should be of suitable character and the award could be made either for a single outstanding deed or for service over an extended period.

Headmaster’s Prize for deputy senior Prefect

Emily Duff Henry HarwoodEmma Kissane Prashanth Ramaraj Headmaster’s Prize for senior Prefect

George Chapman Chloe Sellwood

The two Senior Prefects speaking at the Leavers’ Service, June 2013

Prizegiving 2013

T he 1913 PGS annual Prize Giving took place in the town hall and began with recitations

delivered by pupils that included a Greek tragedy, a French farce dating from 1706 and the famous, Victorian “Ballad of John Nicholson” by Sir Henry Newbolt. This told the stirring story of the Kiplingesque “Hero of Delhi” whose exploits inspired generations of young men to join the army.

The Headmaster, JC Nichol, then delivered his annual report and noted, with some satisfaction, that “the great Public Schools” were combining their army and other special classes with the rest of the Sixth Form in a way that PGS had been doing very successfully for a decade. The school had a proud record of preparing boys for the Woolwich and Sandhurst examinations. The school contingent of the Officers’ Training Corps had the highest ever number of recruits and the shooting at the Hilsea ranges was “exceptionally good”. Ten months later, the world was at war and hundreds of OPs joined up to serve their country.

The guest of honour on that Friday afternoon was MJ Rendall, Headmaster of Winchester College from 1911 to 1924 who highlighted the close connections the college had to Portsmouth including the Old Wykehamist, Father Robert Dolling, whose missionary zeal in the infamous Portsmouth slums had become legendary.

Rendall commended the school for its commitment both to study and to sport before distributing the prizes, five of which went to a pupil called Arthur Nock. Perhaps inspired by his success, Nock went on to become an internationally known author and classical scholar at Harvard. The programme for the day included the success of LD Gammans in the London Matriculation examination. Sir Leonard Gammans went on to become the Conservative Member for Parliament for Hornsey, and is noted for having made a controversial speech in the 1940s announcing that “the old Kipling idea of Empire is dead”.

After the handshakes and hearty thanks, “enthusiastic cheers were given by the school to Mr Rendall and the Headmaster”, and the ceremony ended with the singing of the National Anthem.

PRIZE GIVING 100 YEaRs aGo

Prize books from the Headmaster JC Nichol’s era, Edwardian postcard showing the Town Hall and the 1913 Prize Giving programme

prizegiving 2013

prizegiving and headmaster's report 2013

Documents

professor galbraith

foundedhe doth

handjoy doth

christ doth callone

love doth stand

university of hertfordshire

school year

guest of honourvote