Old Princethorpians

OP Adrian Charlton got in touch recently and shared a fascinating letter, dated October 1973, that is the first reference, as far as we are aware of, to the Old Princethorpians' Association. The letter from Rev T J Boyle MSC, states that an Old Boys’ Association has been established and, in addition to asking for members, and a £1 membership fee, announces that the first Old Boys’ reunion will be held on Saturday 22 December 1973.

Adrian was one of the founding committee members of the association along with Eddie Rogers, Michael Lee and Colin Waldron and the now sadly departed Christopher Hannon and John Wheildon.

He told us:
‘I was one of the initial intake of pupils in 1966, when Princethorpe College was for boys only, and about half the pupils were boarders. I am sure Princethorpe was unlike any other school at the time. When it opened, so much work was in hand getting everything ready, with it having been empty for years. However, the shortcomings were more than made up by the lovely attitude of the largely Irish contingent of clergy and lay brothers who were our teachers as well as guardians ‘in loco parentis’, to coin a phrase.
I think we all found ourselves moulded in a similar fashion, with the air of a huge family rather than a school. Everyone knew everybody else, and with so many boarders in residence, there was a cheerful repartee quickly established between the boys and clergy.
After we left, some of us met up most Friday evenings at one pub or another, and after a while thought it worth trying to get an Old Boys’ Association organised. At the time, there were not that many former students, with the school only having had a few years of ‘output’. Of these many were at university, or in the formative years of their careers, so the pool of Old Princethorpians was far smaller than it is now, and the number of those living locally with free time to devote was quite limited. We did hold some events, but it was some years before things became well established through the efforts of our successors.
I remember my years at Princethorpe with great nostalgia and am proud to still have some very dear friends since that time, not all pupils. I exchanged Christmas cards with Fr. Bill Clarkson and Br. Seamus O’Rourke every year until they passed.’

The letter is a fascinating insight into the origins of the OPs and is now in the archives for safekeeping. One notable fact it included was that the first annual general meeting of the association took place in the summer of 1974. So, by our reckoning, that makes the OPs Association 50 years old next year – we will certainly have to think of a suitable way to celebrate that notable milestone!

The College's staff cricket team, The Piranhas, will be marking Mike Taylor, Head of Geography's, retirement after 42 years at the College with a special commemorative match on Friday 30 June.

Former Head of Biology and Games stalwart Bernie Moroney and Assistant Head, Co-Curricular, Neil McCollin have been rallying Piranhas old and current to play in the match from 5.00pm on the main field. The game will be 20 overs so is expected to last for around two hours.

Spectators are most welcome to come along and support the players and watch, Le Chat, as Mike is fondly known, in action for one last time!!

36 Old Princethorpians have been invited to Buckingham Palace in London to be presented with their Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award. They join thousands of young people and their families celebrating their amazing achievements.

Last Friday 19 May, at his first award celebrations as the charity’s Patron, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, a Gold Award achiever himself, congratulated all those that had completed this challenging award, commending them on their perseverance, creativity and resilience.

After his speech, the Duke met Award holders, including our very own OP Archie Hancock (Class of 2022), hearing about the positive impact their DofE experience has had on them.

Head of Outdoor Education, Will Bower, who also attended the event, was incredibly proud, commenting, “Completing your Gold Duke of Edinburgh takes real commitment and resolve, and the skills developed along the way benefit both the individual and their local community. All of these young people showed dedication and perseverance and their final expedition to Buckingham Palace is a really wonderful reward.”

Receiving their Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award in ceremonies this year are:

Ellie Partridge, Will Dunderdale, Luke Brotherton, Luke Palmer, Josh Whitby, George Saunders, Will Crowfoot, Tom Crowfoot, Henri Fuchss, James Walker, Angus Griffin, Will Marshall, Lauren Mason, Will McCormack, Eve Howard, Erin Darcy, Victoria Heritage, Ben Scares, Anthony Convey, Sam Warne, Jessie Crawford, Archie Hancock, Dan Wildey, Joe England, Louis Rodgers, Jack Collins, Ella Mason, Emily Scrivens, Ishbel Kempton, Tobias Lambe, Pablo Scopes, Elizabeth Boyes, Ed Foster, Zara Hendy, Laurel Arkesden and Erin Arriordaz.

We look forward to news of further awards presentations and don’t forget the maximum age limit for completing your awards is 25 years. We encourage all OPs who haven’t quite signed off all their sections to complete the requirements and get their moment at the Palace as well.

Mr Bower suggest you have a look at these helpful resources:

Compplete Your DofE Award OPs

Assessor Report Guide 2022-23

Upper Sixth leaver, Oscar Page, is the lucky winner of the College’s Upper Sixth Leavers' Princethorpe Connect Prize Draw, winning a £25 Amazon Voucher and a magnum of champagne for his table at the Leavers’ Ball on Wednesday 3 July at Warwick House, Southam.

All the Upper Sixth were encouraged to join Princethorpe Connect over the last few weeks giving them access to our online alumni network, careers and mentoring advice, the termly OP e-newsletter and OP Friendly Faces, our initiative to match new undergraduates with OPs at universities around the country. They will also be able to view their Leavers’ Ball photos on the platform after the event.

Any of the Upper Sixth who have yet to join can do so by going to connect.princethorpe.co.uk and creating a profile as an Upper Sixth leaver.

All the Upper Sixth leavers profiles have now gone live.

Parents of Upper Sixth leavers, for whom this is their last year in the Foundation, are also very welcome to join as a Former Parent and can do so be going to connect.princethorpe.co.uk and creating a profile as a Former parent.

Parents might also like to take a look at the Princethorpe Connect Online Shop and purchase some of our souvenir items which include the OP Tie, Tower Pin, Scarf, Pen and the Soaring Redbrick Tower Fine Art Print. Items will also be available to purchase at the Upper Sixth Thanksgiving Eucharist and Buffet on Thursday 29 June.

connect.princethorpe.co.uk/shop

Wishing all our Upper Sixth leavers well as they come to the end of their Princethorpe journey. Good luck to them all in their exams and do please keep in touch, we always love to hear how you are doing.

It was wonderful to host a large group of interested OPs, former staff and parents at our OPs Science Centre Preview and Brunch on Saturday 13 May.

The group, who were warmly welcomed by Foundation Principal, Ed Hester, enjoyed a delicious brunch in the Refectory before setting off in three groups to be ably toured round the construction site by Architect, Tony Pugh, Project Manager, Alex Darkes and Deputy Head (Academic), Michael Spencer.

Contractors were hard at work while the parties toured the two floors, taking in the ten laboratories, break out area, prep rooms and staff bases. All were suitably impressed by the progress to date including the space, facilities, views and the positive impact the Science Centre will have on other areas of the campus when it comes online.

The build is on schedule to be handed over to the College in the summer and will be officially opened early next academic year.

Online membership of Princethorpe Connect, our alumni network for former pupils, staff and parents from across all the Foundation schools, has been steadily building over the last few months and now stands at just under 1,300.

We’d like to see the number of online members increase and we would also like to see our current members engaging more with the platform. So, to encourage more interaction the Princethorpe Connect Team is inviting you to connect to or interact with the platform by Friday 30 June to be in with a chance to win a delicious Luxury Cream Tea Hamper from The Cornish Company.

Online membership brings with it many benefits, members receive the termly OP e-newsletter including the latest news and events, are able to view private photo galleries, connect with other online members and access our Clubs, Careers and Networking pages.

For your chance to win, simply either ‘Create a Profile’, or if you are already an online member add to your current profile with a photo, update your work or contact details or invite a friend to join from your profile page. Do any or all of the above at https://connect.princethorpe.co.uk/ by Friday 30 June 2023 to qualify for the draw.

The draw will be pulled from all online members who have interacted with the site from 26 May to Friday 30 June and the lucky winner will be notified and their prize dispatched.

Good luck to all!

We had a great turn out of OPs, current and former members of staff at the Leamington Pub Meet on Friday 10 March.

There were OPs from the 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s and 10s in attendance, along with Princethorpe legends, Mr Darkes, Mr Griffin, Mr Hester, Mr McCullough, Mrs McCullough, Mr McCollin, Mr Moroney, Mr Price and Mr White. It was also a great opportunity for the OPs to meet new Headmaster, Mr du Toit.

The meet, at The Royal Pug, was a jovial evening for all concerned, catching up and swapping stories over a delicious spread and a drink or two.

Comments OP Chairman, Peter Rollason, "Our local meets are always popular and attract a good crowd. These events really are the lifeblood of the association, cementing existing friendships and forging new ones."

Congratulations to OP Lucy Tallis, Class of 2013, who was the lucky winner of our latest Princethorpe Connect Prize Draw.

A host of delicious chocolate goodies winged their way to her just in time for the Easter weekend.

Lucy brought us up to speed with her story, "Since leaving Princethorpe in 2013, I spent a year travelling and working in Australia and New Zealand before heading to the University of Bristol to study Veterinary Science.

I spent five enjoyable years at Bristol as a member of the hockey club alongside my studies. I have been qualified as a vet since 2019 and now work in Northamptonshire as an equine vet. This allows me to travel around the local area with my 3-year-old black Labrador, Buzz, who is never too far away!

In 2021 I bought a house in Wellingborough and have settled into life in the local area. I still get involved in a lot of sport and play hockey regularly and have recently taken up doing triathlons."

It was super to catch up with Lucy, we love connecting with our OP network, so do send us your updates and keep an eye out for our next prize draw for your chance to win!

Season 2 of the Sister Boniface Mysteries, the spin-off of the popular Father Brown series, was released in the US at the start of April and airs on UKTV’s Drama channel on Friday 26 May 2023 at 9pm.

The official synopsis for Season 2 reads: “Sister Boniface is back in the habit, returning as the Great Slaughter Constabulary’s crime-solving secret weapon. Countryside criminals should start saying their Hail Marys, as Boniface’s faith in forensics is only rivalled by her passion for investigation.

“This series, the sister will force a murderer into checkmate at a chess tournament, take a spin through a pirate radio station, and defend her reputation as the conviction of her greatest adversary, The Pear Tree Poisoner, comes into question.”

The College welcomed the film crew back last summer and we will all be looking out for glimpses of our own iconic setting when the show airs. It will be fantastic to see Princethorpe once again transported back in time.

There are another whole ten episodes to watch, so Friday nights are going to be busy.

UKTV Drama’s channel can be found on Freeview, youview, TalkTalk and BT on channel 20, on Sky on channel 143, on Virgin on channel 130 and on Freesat on channel 158.

If you can’t wait there is even a trailer to watch, you can find it on YouTube here.¨ 

Friends and colleagues, including special guest Father Teddy O’Brien MSC, gathered to wish longstanding Princethorpe staff member, Loretta Curtis, a very happy ‘big’ birthday at the end of the Lent Term.

Loretta will be well known to many Princethorpe families and Old Princethorpians as she has worked at the College for some 25 years, 18 as Admissions Registrar and for the last 7 years as part of the Development Team.

College Caterers Holroyd Howe had organised  a big birthday cake to mark the occasion and, Foundation Principal, Ed Hester gave a short speech congratulating Loretta and thanking her for all she has and continues to do for the school.

A delighted Loretta said, “Thank you so much for my birthday surprise. My card, the flowers and the beautiful crystal vase are so much appreciated. I have never stayed anywhere I haven’t enjoyed the job or the colleagues and friends around me and as I have now been at Princethorpe for over 25 years that must tell you something!”

In February, we received a letter from Mary Tiene a former St Mary’s Old Girl who now lives in the United States. Mary attended St Mary’s Priory School from 1945 to 1952/53, when she was at the school she was known as Mary Sheldon, but her full name was Mary Simone Woodman-Sheldon. Mary’s son and his family were travelling to the UK and wanted to visit the place where their mother/grandmother had attended school. Mary had a particularly close connection to St Mary’s, and to Princethorpe, as her aunt, Sister Mary Magdalen had been a nun at the Priory and is buried in the cemetery here.

We were delighted to hear from Mary and to put her in touch with our community of St Mary’s Old Girls.

During the Easter holidays we welcomed Mary’s son and his family into school and gave them a tour of the College, showing them all the old haunts of their mother/grandmother’s school days and also the cemetery where their Great Aunt is buried. It was wonderful to welcome them to Princethorpe College.

If you are interested in visiting the College, please contact Melanie Butler, OPs Secretary at oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

It was the end of an era for the portacabin classrooms here at Princethorpe at the start of March. The ‘temporary’ teaching spaces amidst the Warwickshire countryside have been on site for 20 years and will be fondly remembered by many pupils. Two of the former classrooms were taken down last year when construction of our new Science Centre commenced but lead contractor, Trendgrey Construction, had been using the remaining two as their Site Office. However, as work internally moved apace, the last remaining portacabins were removed to allow the landscaping in front of the Science Centre to begin. We went out to take some last photos of the portacabins for the archives.

Springtime is the season for wildflowers and here at Princethorpe that always means bluebells. The bright violet-blue perennials carpet the woodlands around the College site every year from late April to late May. They have been glorious one again, so we had to pop out and take some photos to share. For many of our Old Princethorpians the bluebells are a reminder of their time at Princethorpe, and we hope you enjoy looking through the photos. It's always a joy to see them bloom and, as always, they look just magical.

Stuck for a gift idea for the OPs in your life? Look no further as items from our alumni range of merchandise make the perfect present for birthdays, anniversaries or even just for yourself!

If you are looking for a gift with a difference you could consider: 

• Socks with the distinctive Tower design on dark blue background with thin diagonal stripe - priced £9.00 + postage
• A university style scarf (in 100% wool with navy blue, red and gold stripes) - priced  £31 + postage
• T-bar cufflinks with a gold Tower design - priced £26 + postage
• The Old Princethorpian tie. A classic 100% silk tie with a repetitive gold Tower design and thin red diagonal stripes on a dark blue background - priced £19 + postage and packing.
• Zani hats and neadbands - priced £18 and £15 respectively + postage
• Tower pin badge. The 2cm high badge in nickel with recessed metal detail is based on the Tower logo - priced £11 + postage
• A Spirit Of Family: The First Fifty Years Of Princethorpe College - produced to mark the College's Golden Jubilee this beautiful keepsake is a relflection on the first fifty years of Princethorpe College written by Nick Baker and Alex Darkes, it was published on 1 September 2016 - priced £21 + postage.
• The Soaring Redbrick Tower Fine Art prints and cards sized at A2 for £40, A3 for £25 and as an A5 greetings card for £3. 
• St. Joseph's Convent and School Fine Art print for £12.

Stocks are available to order online from Princethorpe Connect, please click here.

This year we were delighted to be able to introduce recent leavers to an OP Friendly Face during the Michaelmas Term. In universities across the UK, as far afield as Bristol, Bath, Loughborough, Cambridge, Southampton and Liverpool to name just a few, the students enjoyed the benefits of a welcoming friendly face whilst settling into their first year.

Our scheme links past pupils established at university with Upper Sixth Leavers as they start their first year. Providing a friendly, familiar face to meet up with over a coffee (compliments of the OPs) or having someone to call in their new university town or city, does, we know, make for a smoother experience in those first few weeks away from home.

OPs Lauren Mason (Class of 2021) and Caitlin Mason (Class of 2022) were the first pair to meet up as part of this year's OP Friendly Faces Campaign. With Lauren now in her second year at Cambridge University, she was on hand to provide Caitlin with all the top tips about starting university life there.

We have just contacted our current Upper Sixth with more information, to introduce them to the OP Friendly Faces scheme and to the benefits of joining Princethorpe Connect and the Old Princethorpians Association.

Comments OPs Secretary, Melanie Butler, "We now have OP Friendly Faces in around 30 university towns and cities but would like to expand on that and get more of our leavers matched up for the next academic year."

We are always on the look out for OPs at University who would be happy to be a friendly face so if you think you could help then do please email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.