Old Princethorpians

Robert Whitehouse (1992 – 1999) married Sarah Robinson (1997 – 1999) at Warwick School Chapel on October 30 2010. The Princethorpe Hymn, Here I am Lord, was included in the service.

The couple met at an OP reunion three years ago where, over several drinks in the White Horse in Leamington, they decided to run the London Marathon together. Love blossomed and Robert proposed to Sarah in Pitlochry, Scotland, in February 2010.

Many Old Princethorpians attended including bridesmaids Rosie Newton, Sarah Jacques and Louise Grindal, and ushers Richard Whitehouse, Angus Mitchell, Edward Gardner and Mark Bates. Other past pupils who attended were Charlotte Isham, Kate Gasser, Thomas Webb, Richard Palmi and Kieran Harris.

The couple honeymooned in Marrakesh and Ireland. They live in Kenilworth where Robert is a solicitor in Stratford and Sarah is a PR consultant and has just qualified as a counsellor.

OP and Warwickshire and England cricketer Ian Bell got wed in his home county on 6 April and he was the one bowled over by his beautiful bride Chantal Bastock.

The Coventry-born international cricket star, tied the knot during an intimate ceremony at the Mallory Court Country House Hotel near Leamington, attended by close family and friends.

Following the wedding ceremony, guests, which included many of Bell’s England team-mates, took to the hotel’s grounds to enjoy the hottest day of the year so far.

And a huge round of applause from their guests erupted as the newly-married couple entered the banqueting suite for the wedding breakfast.

Bell, a 28-year-old batsman, also plays county cricket for Warwickshire County Cricket Club.

He was awarded the MBE for his role in the successful Ashes campaign of 2005. And in November 2006, Bell was also awarded the prestigious Emerging Player of the Year award by the International Cricket Council.

Chantal looked stunning in a traditional full-length gown. The happy couple later honeymooned in the Maldives.

We wish them both well for a long and happy future together!

It is with great sadness that we record the death of our Chaplain, Mrs Heather Harris, on Friday 13 May 2011, after a short illness bravely borne. 

Heather became Deputy Head of Princethorpe in 2001 when St Joseph’s School in Kenilworth merged with the College. In that role, Heather had responsibility for the staffing of the school and also taught RE, but her special skill was in supporting staff and pupils with her patience, kindness and compassion. It was these strong inter-personal skills which led her to relinquish her Deputy Head role in 2009 in favour of the Chaplaincy. Heather was always surrounded by a team of helpers from the staff and student body where supportive relationships were built on warmth, tolerance and mutual respect.

Princethorpe’s Chaplaincy and teaching occupied most of her time, but she enjoyed the pleasures of her family, garden, the church and travel.

Heather’s strong faith was both enviable and infectious. On a daily basis she lived out the Christian values of love, kindness, service and forgiveness and always had a good word for everyone. She was modest, selfless, good humoured, had a keen sense of fun and was scrupulously fair.

Heather Harris’s gentle, caring and thoughtful nature touched all of the Princethorpe community and her death leaves a huge gulf in the school. We send our deepest sympathy to her family and we remember them in our prayers.

Her funeral fittingly took place in the College Chapel on Saturday 21 May at 12 noon, followed by a reception in the Sixth Form Centre. This was a beautiful but understandably sad occasion for all those involved.

E D Hester
Headmaster