Old Princethorpians

I left Princethorpe College in 2011 and I am currently in my third year at the University of Birmingham studying Geography with Town Planning.

Time has flown and as well as enjoying student life, it’s that scary time of year where I have had to decide what I do for my dissertation. I am very interested in retail planning and the improvement of town centres so I have decided to focus my research on my home town of Rugby. My dissertation aims to investigate the implications of planning policy in securing sustainable development within town centres by evaluating the impacts of the current planning policies. With the emphasis of this being on Rugby, I am looking at the implications of the redevelopment of Elliott’s Field Retail park on the high-street itself. Old Princethorpian, Ian Davis (Chief Executive of Rugby Council) has provided me with the opportunity to spend a week in the Planning Department which has been incredibly useful for conducting my research interviews. I have also had the opportunity to go to London and interview the Asset Manager for Hammerson’s who own the site, as well as the Managing Director of Rugby First.

I am looking forward (although slightly nervous!) about putting this all together and completing my dissertation. My future aspiration is to work in Planning Consultancy ideally in retail planning, looking at the sustainable economic growth of towns and cities. My aim after third year is to study a Masters in Town Planning at either Birmingham or UCL to gain my RTPI accreditation- which will hopefully then lead me to future employment!

Since the last edition of The Old Princethorpian in May, we've had a bumper number of OPs from across the decades either adding or updating their details on the database.

To check them out go to the OPs part of the website and register or logon if you have already registered.

http://www.princethorpe.co.uk/old-princethorpians

Andrew Barr - 1987 - 1992
Philip Jackson - 1972 - 1979
James Bell - 2006 - 2011
Chris Fell - 1968 - 1970
Edward Craig - 1989 - 1996
Rosy Smith - 2006 - 2011
Daniel Rollins - 1989 - 2011
Mark Baimbridge - 1977 - 1985
Jonathan Wheeler - 1968 - 1972
Christopher Wright - 1967 - 1972
Philip New - 1989 - 1994
Trevor Clarke - 1979 - 1981
George Power - 2011 - 2013
Thomas Skillington - 2011 - 2013
Lauren O'Shea - 2006 - 2013
Carmen Simpson - 2006 - 2013
Ciaran Convey - 1991 - 1998
Jan Sulkowski - 1967 - 1970
Robert Stapleton - 1976 - 1980
Mark Williams - 1975 - 1980
Oliver Dewes - 2011 - 2013
Andrew Chan - 1978 - 1982
Andrew Tilley - 1977 - 1981
Jose Quintanal - 1976 - 1977
Terry Cox - 1973 - 1978
Philip Robson - 1990 - 1994
Kevin Reeves -  1967 - 1973
Sean Daly 1977 - 1985
and last but by no means least, Steve Dade - 1967 - 1967

Welcome to them all and we hope to see them at some of our events in the coming months.

I am currently working at the College as the Assistant Manager of the Estates Department and have just completed my post-graduate studies in International Security (MA) at the University of Warwick. This is a course that I have studied for the past two years and one that has run concurrently with my co-managing a very busy department - a situation that has been a real test of my skills of organisation and time management. However, I feel that I have thrived on the pressure that both working life and academic study has brought to bear. I have, in recent months especially enjoyed being part of the project team helping to plan, design and facilitate the building of the new Classroom Block on the North Lawn. This is a wonderful opportunity and has given me a great insight into the intricacies of such works. The greatest challenge of this project has been guaranteeing the safe implementation of the building programme whilst trying to ensure that there is as little impact as possible on normal day-to-day school life. This has been a real challenge, but is one that I believe the team, led most comfortably by Alex Darkes, is achieving well…fingers crossed!

Unfortunately, over the coming months I am looking to step down from my position at the College and am seeking employment in an area that fits my academic study, within the remit of politics or international relations/diplomacy – most notably in the Baltic region. If anyone has any contacts that I may be able to talk to regarding this then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at alexcorkhill@princethorpe.co.uk. I’m very eager to apply the skills that I have learned throughout both my higher-educational career and the wonderful three years that I’ve spent working for the College. If and when I do leave it will be with a heavy heart and many, many fond memories.

I was a student at Princethorpe from Year 7 to Sixth Form (1995 to 2002) and have recently been appointed as Assistant Head (Co-Curricular) of Crackley Hall School, the junior school to Princethorpe. Looking back at my time at the College, it was the staff believing in my ability and being prepared to go the ‘extra mile’ to support me that helped me achieve success, particularly in terms of sport. 

After leaving Princethorpe in 2002, I completed my degree in Primary Education with QTS at Sheffield Hallam University. After graduating I taught in large primary schools in Stratford-upon-Avon and Balsall Common. During my career, I have taught Year 4 and Year 6 and have had experience teaching across KS1 and KS2. In my previous roles I have been a KS2 Phase Director and as part of the Senior Management Team, managed subjects including Science, PE, ICT and Maths and have been heavily involved in sporting events across the local area.

In my spare time I enjoy days out with my family – particularly with my nieces and nephews - skiing, travelling, playing golf and socialising. Although my bones and muscles are struggling a little, I still train and play rugby each week.

My role at Crackley Hall as Assistant Head with responsibility for Co-Curricular activities is fantastic and suits my expertise and strengths. One of my many roles is the organisation of the highly extensive and varied extra curricular clubs and music programme. Activities vary from chess to ballet, so that everyone can find something they are interested in! Additionally, I lead Mathematics across the whole school, teach Year 5 a variety of subjects, run a number of sporting clubs and am a member of The Senior Management Team, working closely with the Headteacher and Deputy Head.

So far my time at Crackley Hall has been very busy but also extremely rewarding. It is certainly a school and Foundation that I am very proud to be a part of.

News has reached the Old Princethorpian that Amarveer Nijjar, or AV as he is known, who left Princethorpe in 2010, has recently graduated with a First in Pure Mathematics from Nottingham University. 

He's loved it so much he is now staying on to do his MSc in Pure Mathematics.

AV's sister Harpreet, who left Princethorpe in 2011 is also celebrating after gaining a coveted place at the London School of Fashion.

Well done to them both!

So much has happened since leaving Princethorpe, yet it seems like only yesterday that I was there. Since studying Art, Geography and Psychology for my A-levels two years ago, I went on to study Marketing at Lancaster University. The great start that Princethorpe gave me helped me tremendously with settling into a degree and socialising at the University.

I have become an assistant coach for the Lancaster Roses cheerleading squad after being a dedicated member of the squad for two years. Just a couple of months ago I worked at Warwick Castle, part of Merlin Entertainment Group in the Marketing Department. The experience was invaluable and a great taste as to what is to come after this, my final year. 

Last summer I visited Princethorpe College for a week before the students broke up for their holidays. I was able to see the school from a different perspective, as I spent a few days with the Marketing Manager. This was again great experience and wonderful to see how the school had grown since I had been at University. I am now aiming towards finishing my degree and looking into graduate jobs.

Old Princethorpian Olli Bentley returned to the College in June for Christmas.

Olli wasnt confused he was working with Garry Jones and the award-winning Warwickshire Choristers on their new Christmas CD. The choir of over 100 boys and young men took over the College for the weekend to record the CD in the Chapel and Olli was on hand as the recording expert.

Olli left the College in 2007 and went on to study Music Production at the Leeds College of Music. He has worked with the choir before and now has his own recording business and is based in North Wales.

"It was great coming back to record the Warwickshire Choristers again this time at Princethorpe. It felt like I had never left!"

Congratulations to Lucy Coulson who has achieved the top ranking ‘very competent’ result for her Bar Course. Lucy and family celebrated a wonderful ‘Call Night’ on Thursday 25 July at Grey’s Inn.

Lucy is now fully established in her new job working as a solicitor’s advocate for LPC Law. She has cases across the Midlands and is busy in courts as far apart as Peterborough, Dudley and Evesham, as well as more local courts. This wonderful on the job training will re-enforce her pupillage applications in the future.  

Old Princethorpian, Jordan Williams is set for a whirlwind couple of years after being crowned Mr England, back in June.

It all started with a chance encounter on a town centre street in Rugby 21 months ago.

Jordan was spotted by Mr Rugby organiser Diane Slater, who approached him and asked him to enter.

He did and after winning the title he went on to the Mr England finals in Torquay on Saturday (June 15), where he lifted the title.

He was certainly put through his paces in the final. He came second in a popularity text vote, second in a military boot camp fitness test, and second in the helping charity round.

But he came out top in the talent contest - performing as Michael Bublé, which he actually does up and down the country as tribute act - and also winning the cooking round with his risotto dish.

The 25-year-old will wear the crown for two years during which he will be kept busy at home and abroad - starting with a trip to Mauritius promoting tourism to the Indian Ocean island, and also meeting some of the country's disadvantaged children.

And later in the year Jordan will be jetting off to Indonesia to compete for the Mr Universe title.

Jordan who is originally from Nuneaton qualified for the Mr Rugby competition as he attended Princethorpe College in the borough.

Aside from the Michael Bublé tribute act, for the past three years Jordan has also worked as a model, mostly doing catwalk fashion jobs.

Jordan said: “My ambition after winning the title of Mr England is to help others less fortunate than myself and put a smile a day on people's faces around me and prove that beauty pageants are as much for men as they are for women.”

Angie Beasley, Managing Director of Miss England and Mr England was confident Jordan would do well in the role.

She added: “Jordan is going to be a marvellous Mr England, he has the personality and drive to represent his country and do some great work for charity."