We hope you like the new look Old Princethorpian newsletter. After 17 years, our alumni e-newsletter needed some essential updates, so we took the opportunity to make it more mobile friendly.

All the content in the newsletter remains as before, split into sections: Alumni News, College News, Development News, Foundation News, Events, Old Princethorpian Interview, Births, Deaths and Marriages, Memory Bank, Missing and Found and OP Updates. You will still receive a termly email reminding you that the latest newsletter has just been published and can follow the link 'Read Full Newsletter' to catch up with all our latest information and news.

The best way to read the newsletter, and to ensure you don’t miss any content, is to start with the first article in Alumni News and to then just use the 'Next' button to run through the content, stopping to read articles of interest along the way.

Moving around the new newsletter is easy, just use the 'Menu' button (three horizontal lines) to access the menu, select a section and then scroll down to choose an article to read. From this same menu button, you can also access previous editions of the newsletter and see any key dates.

You can still read the newsletter on your laptop if you prefer, with the 'Next' and 'Menu' buttons working in just the same way.

The photo galleries have also had some improvements allowing you to browse through the accompany images more easily.

We know the new look makes the newsletter easier to read on a mobile and hope you find it easy to adapt to.

If you have any questions or comments on it, please just email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

We were delighted to welcome our OP Committee to Princethorpe College on Tuesday 14 January, for their second meeting of the academic year. New and long-serving members of the committee came together enthusiastically and ambitious plans were formulated; all fuelled by a tasty supper! 

It was a particularly important moment for the committee, and thus the wider Old Princethorpian Association, as we welcomed long-standing member, James Davies (pictured here on the back row between Grove du Toit, Headmaster, and Ed Hester, Foundation Principal), into his new role as Chair. 

James (Class of 1995) is a current parent, with children at both Crescent School and Princethorpe, and you can find out more about him in this issue's Old Princethorpian Interview. As Chair, James will use his leadership skills and experience to guide and support the committee, which is comprised of past pupils, parents and staff from across the decades and associated schools of the Foundation.

The chief aim of the committee is to serve the interests of our alumni and nurture an enduring relationship between past and present members of The Princethorpe Foundation, and at the meeting in January it was clear that exciting and productive times are ahead. A summary of the meeting outcomes is outlined below:

Communications: A thorough audit has been conducted and plans are afoot to roll out a communications content plan focused around emotionally charged content such as memories, archive stories, milestones, characters and of course the wonderful environment at Princethorpe, with the aim that this will grow our audience of engaged OPs. The Comms Team also want to explore greater use of LinkedIn as a platform, and would encourage all OPs to follow the College and Foundation's LinkedIn pages and mention their school on their accounts.

Careers: This is a key point of connection between past and present pupils. The committee has already begun to support and promote increased OP involvement, seeing a rise in OP visits to subject departments, more OPs speaking at the upcoming Careers Insights event than ever before, and the introduction of the OP Professional Profile, a career-based biography that can be shared with current pupils as a digital or print resource and source of inspiration. The next step is to establish a more formalised network of OPs who can offer Work Experience opportunities or connections. If you think you can help with this, please email jacquiquinney@princethorpe.co.uk. You can also follow the LinkedIn pages for The Princethorpe Foundation and Princethorpe College, and list Princethorpe College as your former school, which is a great way to connect with the wider alumni community in a professional or networking capacity.

Events: As published in the OP Calendar (see the Events section), our programme of events is underway. It aims to cover a range of interests, tastes and life stages, but an audit is in process to review reach and impact of the events, and proposals are being formulated to explore new ideas. If there is an event or activity you would like to see built into our programme, as a one-off or as a recurring event, we'd love to hear your ideas. Please email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

We would like to thank all members of the committee for giving their time and talents so generously to serve the wider OP community.

If you would like to get involved in the work of the OP Committee, we would love to hear from you. Please email us at oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

Plans for the College’s Careers Insights Event on Saturday 29 March are excitingly taking shape with the confirmation that OP, Tunde Olanrewaju (Class of 1998) has kindly agreed to be the keynote speaker for the 2025 event.

Comments Head of Careers, Jacqui Quinney, "We are absolutely delighted to have Tunde on board as our keynote speaker and have no doubt that he will set the bar very high for the day. He has forged an impressive career in global management consultancy, working at the most senior level with a host of clients and his presentation promises to be one not to miss."

After leaving Princethorpe in 1998, Princethorpe Shield winner, Tunde studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Management at Imperial College. He is currently a Senior Partner with McKinsey & Co in London, a global management consultancy that advises Private, Public and Social sector institutions on a range of issues. Tunde is the managing partner for McKinsey’s UK, Ireland and Israel offices and also a member of McKinsey’s Shareholders Council, the firm’s global board of directors. Prior to this role he was the firm’s Global Chief Technology and Platform Officer, responsible for ensuring the cyber and operational resilience of McKinsey’s client and colleague-facing technology assets across the world.

In his client work, he works with a range of financial services, private equity, real estate, consumer facing and public sector institutions. He has also published on a range of research topics, including on the evolving UK corporate landscape and the impact of the UK arts sector (in collaboration with 70+ leading UK arts institutions).

Outside McKinsey, Tunde is a trustee of Oxfam, a not-for-profit organisation that fights against poverty, a member of Imperial College London’s Council, and a board member of Innovate UK, the United Kingdom’s commercial innovation agency. He has also been recently appointed to the Government’s Industrial Strategy Advisory Council of Business Leaders to offer independent advice as it develops its industrial growth ambitions.

The biennial Careers Insights Event is open to Year 10 to Sixth Form pupils and their parents. It provides a ‘one stop careers shop’ with speakers representing a wide range of careers and professions, along with universities on hand to offer advice and guidance.

Careers Insights will run from 9.30am to 1.00pm and, as well as the keynote speech, attendees will be able to attend up to four careers or university related workshops depending on their personal interests.

Mrs Quinney continues, "Registrations will open in mid-February and with over 50 speakers there will be plenty to interest and inform our pupils and their parents."
 

Princethorpe was delighted to welcome OP John Dawkins (1991 to 1998), to his 'old stomping ground' in December, to support our current pupils in two very different ways.

Firstly, John talked to A-level Business Studies students, sharing his experience and insights into the Music industry, which is the focus of the Case Study provided by their exam board this year. As one of the founders of the music management company, Various Artists Management, he has managed some of the biggest names in the industry. He was able to offer a unique insight into how record deals are made, considerations relating to live performances and strategies for artist promotion and management. He also kindly offered advice for working in business in general and generously engaged in a Q&A with the students.

John's generosity did not stop there as he then shifted gear to become the Special Guest Judge for our annual hotly contested House Singing Competition, which take places every year on the College’s Feast Day. John introduced himself to the assembled throng of singers, publicly greeted his former school mate and current member of staff, Tom Gleghorn, and respectfully acknowledged his former Headmaster, Father Alan Whelan MSC.

We are very grateful to John for giving his time so generously.

You can read the full write up on John’s visit on Princethorpe Connect here. 

Strength and conditioning coach, and Old Princethorpian, Rich Hill, returned to his old school on Wednesday 29 January. Rich left the College back in 2008 and remembers his time at Princethorpe well. He was and still is a Field Hockey enthusiast and he proudly led the College’s First Team as Captain for two years.

Rich went on to study Sport and Exercise Science at Coventry University and made the most of his placement year, after landing a role working with the First Team at Southampton FC. After completing his degree, he undertook a voluntary placement at Coventry United Ladies FC before working as Strength & Conditioning Assistant at Ipswich Town FC while completing an MSc in Strength & Conditioning. It was then the opportunity arose to move to his current role as Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wrexham AFC.

As well as enjoying a tour of his old school, Rich kindly spoke to talented sports players from Years 7 to the Sixth Form. He spoke about his journey to his current role and gave the pupils an insight into his daily life, the science behind his work and the commitment and professionalism required as well as some of the benefits to his job.

Rich then shared his advice for the College’s young athletes and for those interested in practitioner roles to help them get a head start in their future careers. He stressed the importance of a firm foundation in strength and conditioning and how that can help give you an advantage on the pitch. He encouraged them to never say no to an opportunity and to always put in 100% effort as that certainly made the difference for him.

Our thanks go to Rich for taking time out of his busy schedule to visit the College and for generously sharing his expertise with pupils and staff. We were delighted to welcome him back to school and hope he enjoyed meeting some of his former teachers as well as revisiting his old haunts.

We are always grateful for the support of our Old Princethorpian community, they are such great role models for our current pupils, inspiring and encouraging them to follow their dreams.

We welcomed OP Molly Geehan (Class of 2019) back to school on Wednesday 27 November. Molly joined us to talk about her journey to a career as a Sports Journalist and Content Creator for one of Mrs Pascoe-Williams’ English Enrichment Lectures.

Molly very much enjoyed writing at school and studied English Language & Literature, Psychology and PE at A-level. She even wrote her own blog while at school, Moll’s Moments, developing her writing skills by sharing her thoughts on her life, her experiences and her favourite sport, netball. She first played netball at Princethorpe back in 2012 and with the support of the Sports Department went on to play at U21 National Level, playing for the likes of Wasps, Loughborough Lightning and Severn Stars. However, it was the College’s Careers Advisor, Kerry Low, who set her on course to her current career, when she recommended Molly combine her passions and study journalism at University.

After graduating from the University of Worcester, Molly was lucky enough to work as a volunteer Flash Quote Reporter at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. That was an incredible experience that allowed her to meet international netball players and top-quality journalists and her work was used all over the world, from The Daily Mail here in the UK to 7News in Australia. It also gave her the contacts for her first sports reporting role.

After a brief return to Princethorpe working with the marketing team, Molly landed her dream job when she joined England Netball as their Digital Assistant. For two years she managed their social media and content creation successfully growing their followers as she engaged with their audiences. She worked across the world including in South Africa at the Netball World Cup. Day to day she could be found writing match reports, reporting on live events, interviewing netball players, attending photo shoots and even working with social media influencers as she looked to promote the English Netball team.

Now Molly has a new challenge and one she is really enjoying. She is working for the Premier League football team, AFC Bournemouth. Her new role as a Content Executive has her working across the men’s, women’s and academy teams.

She finished her talk with some sound advice for pupils looking to work in journalism or as a content creator. It included, ‘go with your gut’ and always be prepared to try new things, remember ‘it’s okay to say no’ to keep your workload balanced but to have an ‘always on approach’ and be happy to learn from everyone.

It was fantastic to welcome Molly back to school and to hear all her latest career news. We are always grateful to OPs who take the time to come in to school to share their knowledge and experiences. It won’t be that long before we see her back here again though, as she has kindly offered to run a workshop at our 2025 Careers Insights event.

Three Princethorpe Upper Sixth leavers were awarded top honours in the Regional ISA Art Competition, a testament to the depth and range of talent in Princethorpe's Art and Photography Department.

Gifted artist, Lara Cutri, was awarded first place in the Painting Over 16 class. Lara’s winning painting, titled The Sky, was part of her coursework for her A-level Art examination. It features the rituals associated with the Mexican Day of the Dead, when the gates of heaven open and souls return from the sky to their families on earth. It was a striking portrait and a well-deserved winner. Lara also earned herself a Highly Commended for her compendium of drawings in the Over 16 Sketchbook class. Her sketchbook submission, The Kiss, was of an incredibly high standard and showcased excellent examples of a range of techniques.

Then, talented photographer, Emilia Case took second place in the Photography Over 16 class for her stunning and atmospheric photo (In)Dependence. Her picture was one part of her triptych that was presented at the College’s Art Show in the summer that used high-powered LED lighting to feature the eyes. The photo is an original unedited work, part of her personal investigations into understated emotions. It was first-rate work and worthy of its recognition in the competition.

While exceptional draughtsman, Alexander Matheson, was rewarded with a Highly Commended for his brilliant lifelike work, a stunning, photo-realistic, drawn portrait titled Lara, in the Over 16 Drawing class. Alexander has been a skilful sketcher throughout his years at the College and is deserving of this public recognition.

Paul Hubball, Head of Art and Photography, comments, “Many congratulations to Lara, Emilia and Alexander. Their pieces were exceptional and the product of many hours of work. It is marvellous to see their talent recognised and rewarded in this way. Schools are allowed to submit only one entry in each competition class, so to have had four pieces recognised is a truly excellent result.”

A huge well done to them all!

It was a pleasure to welcome OP Alice Afford (Pickin) to Princethorpe on Tuesday 21 January, when she combined a trip down memory lane with a professional networking opportunity.

Alice was a pupil at Princethorpe from 2005 to 2012 and is now Commercial Manager for Northampton High School. Alice returned to Princethorpe to meet with the Foundation's Commercial Enterprises Manager, Gemma Cullinane. Over coffee, they discussed the current climate, the importance of commercial enterprise, and how to work together as a sector to ensure schools are successful.

They were then joined by Alumni Relations and Development Officer, Caroline Spencer, who accompanied them on a wander around the campus, so that Alice could see how her old school has evolved over the past 12 years. When asked if she was still in touch with any friends from her school days, Alice named Katie Smith as a friend with whom she is still in touch but has not been able to see for several years. Happily, Katie now works at Princethorpe as Bursary Assistant, so Alice was able to surprise Katie in her office, and they enjoyed catching up before Alice had to head home. 

Former pupils and parents are always welcome to come back for a visit. Simply email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk to arrange a date.

OP Lucy Litwinko (née Hayes), Class of 2000, was the lucky winner of this year's Princethorpe Connect Christmas Hamper Prize Draw. 

Lucy received her prize from Alumni Relations and Development Officer, Caroline Spencer, who hand-delivered the hamper to her home in Rugby, she commented, "It was such a lovely surprise to hear I was the lucky winner and to receive such a lovely hamper!"

Lucy has a long history with the Foundation, as she is a former St Joseph's Convent School pupil and was amongst the first girls to arrive at Princethorpe when it became fully co-educational in 1995. She was in Year 8 when she started alongside her sisters, Emily and Amy. Lucy takes up the story:

"There was only one other girl in my class and only a handful more in the year. It was a bit of a culture shock, having been at St Joseph’s Convent beforehand which was all-girls, but Mrs O’Keeffe (former Deputy Head Pastoral) went out of her way to help us all settle into school life. She created a little haven for us in the boarding dorms so we could have a break from all the boys when needed!"

She continued, "I have so many happy memories of my time at Princethorpe, especially of the Music department with the amazing Mrs Francis. Princethorpe will always have a special place in my heart, so much so that my husband and I were married in the Chapel in 2006 and our little girl, who is not so little now, was also christened in the chapel in 2014."

Nowadays, Lucy is Director of KAM Project Consultants, a company which focuses on the distribution and logistics market, and she lives with her husband and two children.

Thanks to all those who engaged with Princethorpe Connect in the run up to the Prize Draw. We will shortly be launching the Easter Prize Draw, so keep an eye on our Social Media for the announcement if you would like to be in with a chance of winning your own seasonal hamper of treats, courtesy of the Old Princethorpians Association. You've got to be in it to win it!

A huge thank you to all our Princethorpe Connect members!

The start of 2025 has seen a milestone reached in our engagement of alumni across the Princethorpe Foundation. We are delighted to share that we have now reached 1,700 members in our online alumni community, Princethorpe Connect. The Foundation is keen to engage with all former pupils, parents and staff and is delighted to be building a thriving alumni community.

Princethorpe Connect offers all members a one stop shop for alumni news and events, the ability to reach out to old friends and former colleagues across the Foundation schools, the opportunity to link up with mentors, as well as hosting our online shop for gifts and memorabilia.

Please do encourage all alumni you know to sign up. You can invite them via the 'Invite Friends' tab on your own Princethorpe Connect profile, or they can register easily themselves by going online to the Princethorpe Connect homepage at connect.princethorpe.co.uk.

We are pleased to announce the arrival of two new items in our Online Merchandise Shop!

Debbie McLaughlin, who is the artist behind the beautiful Tower painting on our A3 and A2 prints and Greetings Cards, has created a stunning new piece entitled 'Princethorpe Heritage Buildings Trio'. It features the Roundhouse, the Tower of Our Lady's of the Angels Chapel and the original Chapel with its clocktower that together form such a unique vista at the top of the College drive. We will be selling copies of her painting as an A3 Print and also as a Greetings Card. You can pre-order your choice of these items now by visiting the online shop, see link below.

Also, to help raise funds for the next Princethorpe South Africa Sports Tour, we have released a Princethorpe College Umbrella which features the Princethorpe College name and Crest on alternate panels of the sleek, black design. It's just the thing for a wet Spring! The  umbrella is available for collection only. 

We also have fresh stock of the previous South Africa Tour items, the Zaini Bobble Hat and the Zaini Headband, both fleece-lined and sure to help you stand out in a crowd.

You can still get hold of our last few remaining 2025 Princethorpe Landscape Calendars reduced to clear at £2 - we're only two months into the year so plenty of time to make the most of it. The twelve images showcase the Princethorpe grounds so beautifully, it makes for a lovely keepsake!

As always, we have plenty of gift ideas for the OPs in your life, or why not just treat yourself?

Popular items include:

• The Princethorpe Foundation Pen - a sleek chrome design with Tower motif, presented in a gift box, priced at £16.00 + p&p
• The Old Princethorpian Tie - a classic 100% silk tie with a repetitive gold Tower design and thin red diagonal stripes on a navy blue background, priced at £19 + p&p
• The Old Princethorpian Scarf - university style in 100% wool with navy blue, red and gold stripes, priced at £31 + p&p
• A Spirit Of Family: The First Fifty Years Of Princethorpe College - a book produced to mark the College's Golden Jubilee, this beautiful keepsake is a reflection on the first fifty years of Princethorpe College, written by Nick Baker and Alex Darkes. It was published on 1 September 2016 - now reduced to £10 + p&p
• The Soaring Redbrick Tower Fine Art prints and cards - priced at £40 for A2 print, £25 for A3 print, and £3 for the A5 greetings card, + p&p
• St. Joseph's Convent and School Fine Art print - priced at £12 + p&p

All items are available to order online from Princethorpe Connect. To see the full range of items, and to place your order, please click here.

Princethorpe has received its second review by the prestigious Good Schools Guide. The Guide, which selects schools to be included on merit alone, is famous for its unbiased and candid reviews of state and private schools and is trusted by families worldwide. Princethorpe is one of just 1,300 schools currently reviewed by the Guide, out of over 30,000 schools in the UK.

An editor from the Guide visited the College in December 2024, interviewed the Headmaster, Grove du Toit, toured the campus, observed lessons and spoke to pupils, staff and parents.

The nearly 3,000-word review, which appears on the Good Schools Guide’s website and will be included in the next hard copy edition, includes a pen portrait of the Headmaster, plus insights into exam results, teaching and learning, co-curricular life, pastoral care and the College’s ethos and heritage.

Comments Grove du Toit, Headmaster, “After two years in post I was excited to welcome the Good Schools Guide back to Princethorpe to update their review. I am delighted with their findings, especially their recognition of our exceptionally strong pastoral care. Our ‘Spirit of Family’ approach shines through, along with the fact that while we are proud of our Catholic ethos and heritage, we are an inclusive community that welcomes all faiths and none. I am also heartened by the parental feedback on our positive and encouraging approach to teaching and learning, that engages creatively, sets high expectations and gently pushes pupils to achieve.” He continues, “It’s good to have our wonderful rural location and facilities highlighted, including our new Science Centre, and our commitment to developing our campus further, particularly in relation to improving and expanding our sporting facilities – we have very exciting projects planned. All in all, to me it feels a very fair picture of the school and I would encourage current and prospective families to read it.”

The very comprehensive and positive review concludes with a Last Word, which sums up the Guide’s findings:

"Scratch beneath the surface of Princethorpe’s majestic façade and landscaped beauty, and you’ll find pastoral care is its beating heart. Imbuing all disciplines and endeavours, it pumps pupils with confidence as they develop and learn. A picture-perfect pastoral idyll."

To read the Good School Guide’s review in full click here. 

Another exceptional year of achievement, progress, creativity and contribution was celebrated at Princethorpe College’s annual Prize Giving Ceremony at the Butterworth Hall, at Warwick University Arts Centre on Friday 22 November. 

Before the ceremony, the Old Princethorpians Committee hosted a special Drinks Reception for the returning Class of 2024 and their parents, providing a welcome opportunity for last year’s cohort to get together and catch up.

Then Chair of Trustees, Mrs Liz Griffin, opened the proceedings, warmly welcoming parents, friends of the College and Princethorpians old and new to the occasion and Father Alan Whelan MSC then led the assembled community in an opening prayer.

In his formal address, the Headmaster, Grove du Toit, gave thanks to all those who make Princethorpe the special place it is. He reflected on all that has happened this last year and encouraged us to celebrate and appreciate the journey of our pupils. He reminded pupils that they are, and always will be, a part of the Old Princethorpian family and encouraged them to stay in touch.

All evening the atmosphere was joyful and celebratory and there were superb musical interludes from the school String Orchestra, Concert Band and the Year 7 Chorus.

Listening to the citations for the awards was truly inspiring and humbling. The talent in evidence, the grit and determination, the passion, enthusiasm and commitment were all applauded and honoured.

The final award, the Princethorpe Shield, presented annually to the student who is seen to embody the spirit and ethos of the College, was presented to Connor Silvester. It was a very popular decision, with the audience cheering as a delighted and surprised Connor came up to receive the Shield.

Foundation Principal, Ed Hester then spoke echoing Mr du Toit’s congratulations, before the current Heads of School, Sebastian Bainbridge and Megan Shipton, gave an eloquent vote of thanks.

The evening came to a close with the singing of the College Hymn, Here I Am Lord.

Click here to see the Prize Giving Programme. 

Photos from the evening are available here.

The latest edition of the College’s magazine, The Tower Review, has just been published.

Telling the story of the last school year, term by term, it celebrates the adventures, achievements and successes of pupils from Year 7 through to Upper Sixth. It includes highlights such as Prize Giving and the College's productions as well as reviews of sporting events and House competitions. 

2023/24 was an incredible year filled full of wonderful and memorable moments. We hope our annual souvenir review will be treasured by pupils and parents alike. A keepsake copy of the magazine has been sent home to families who had pupils at school last academic year and mailed to the leavers of 2024.

You can also read and download The Tower Review here.

Preparations for the College's biennial Careers event 'Careers Insights', on Saturday 29 March 2025, are moving apace.

The event is aimed at pupils and parents in Year 10 through to Sixth Form, to give them detailed and personal insights into a range of careers and professions. Comments Jacqui Quinney, Head of Careers, "We have ambitious plans for this year's event. We have listened to feedback and are focusing on the Insight sessions with hopefully more speakers, and careers and professions represented, than ever before."

Alumni Relations and Development Officer, Caroline Spencer, has been supporting the Careers Department to secure speakers from the OP Community, commenting, “Feedback has shown that our students are particularly inspired by those with whom they have a shared history, so we are keen for as many of the speakers as possible to be Old Princethorpians.”

We are delighted to share that along with OP Tunde Olanrewaju as Keynote Speaker, we have a record number of OP speakers confirmed already, covering sectors that include Aviation, Business, Law, Marketing, Medicine, Performing Arts, Photography and Renewables.

However, we are still looking for speakers from the Armed Forces, Civil Service Fast Stream and Music. If you or anyone you know is able to help, from these or other sectors, please email jacquiquinney@princethorpe.co.uk.

Significant numbers of Old Princethorpians enter their children for the College's entrance exams each year. For September 2025 entry we had around 30 candidates with close OP connections, almost ten per cent of the 240 children sitting the exams.

After hours of pain-staking reference checking, exam results analysis and individual letter production offer letters went out on Thursday 28 November, to successful candidates.

Comments, Melanie Butler, Foundation Director of Marketing, Admissions and Communication, "The number and standard of candidates taking the entrance exams this year was once again very high, with a big demand for Year 7 places. It's lovely to see high levels of interest from the Old Princethorpians, with generations of families coming through the school.

"Members of the admissions panel had a very hard job deciding who might be joining us and we're looking forward to welcoming what promises to be a fantastic year group to the College in September."

Those parents wishing to accept a place need to send their signed confirmation and £400 deposit back to Mrs Catherine Rogers, the Registrar, by Tuesday 4 March 2025 please, to secure the place.

As we finish one year's admissions cycle, another one begins and for September 2026 entry  we are now accepting registrations for the Entrance Exams on Saturday 8 November. There are plenty of opportunities for prospective pupils and their parents to visit the College before then, including our Open Morning on Thursday 13 March and our Open Evening on Wednesday 4 June, plus Taster Days for Year 5 children in May and June.

If you have any questions about the admissions process please contact the Registrar, Catherine Rogers, on 01926 634201 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Thinking of becoming a teacher? Then why not consider training at Princethorpe College. Our established programme has supported over 50 teachers who have gone on to work in both the independent and state sector. 

We work in partnership with the Lion Alliance, offering a year’s training as part of the School Led Route, leading to Qualified Teacher Status. Bursaries from the government of between £10,000 and £28,000 are available to support those training in Chemistry, Computing, Maths, Physics, Languages, Geography, Biology, Design Technology, Art and Design, English, Music and Religious Studies.

Further information about the Lion Alliance can be found here: www.thelionalliance.co.uk and information about Getting into Teaching and possible bursaries can be found here: getintoteaching.education.gov.uk

Our Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning, Dr Liz Pyne is also happy to offer advice about the different routes into teaching and what Princethorpe can offer you. Please email: lizpyne@princethorpe.co.uk

Applications are currently open for next year's scheme! 

On Tuesday 28 January, 123 Lower Sixth Formers took part in a very successful Interview Skills Day that was designed to perfect their interview technique, sharpen communication skills, presentational qualities and their ability to respond to feedback. Taking on the role of interviewer were senior professionals from a variety of different business backgrounds. All were past or present pupils, parents or friends of the College, with years of interviewing experience out in the working world.

In readiness for their one-to-one interviews, students had submitted their curriculum vitaes to be scrutinised beforehand. Exactly like in a real interview these documents formed the basis of questions that were discussed. Then at the end of the interview the professionals provided valuable feedback with constructive suggestions for improvement.

Feedback was very positive with many of the interviewers commenting on how impressed they were with the College's Lower Sixth Form students, and the students equally delighted and impressed with the suggestions and support received.

Head of Careers, Jacqui Quinney, commented, “Our Lower Sixth were encouraged to prepare well for these interviews. Our aim was to provide them with a head start in developing their interview technique. It was an extremely important day for them all as they face the looming reality of university and workplace interviews. The skills practised today will benefit all our students and we are immensely grateful to all of the volunteer interviewers who have given up their time to help us today.”

Hugely talented amateur photographer, John Barnstable, in our Estates team, kindly shared these amazing autumnal images of Princethorpe with us. The colours are incredible and the views of the campus and surrounding woodlands give a real flavour of the Warwickshire countryside that surrounds us here. We thought our Old Princethorpian community would particularly enjoy them so we shared them on our social media and we are also including them here.

Some say climbing the Princethorpe Tower is a little spooky. The winding dimly lit stairs, the cobwebs around every corner, the echo of footsteps, the howl of the wind as you climb higher and higher but the view from the top makes it all worthwhile. For those who have never made the climb, last Halloween we treated on social media followers to a special spooky trip. If you missed it you can find it on our Facebook page here.

There is nothing like a landscape shot to engage our alumni community. We know you can never get enough and whatever the weather we try to capture the seasons as they pass.

Snow came early to Princethorpe this winter, with a decent fall turning the countryside and campus white in mid November. We sent our photographer out in the biting cold to take a few photos to share with you all. 

Take a look at the gallery, we are sure they will prompt a few memories of cold winter mornings when you were at school!

For many years, the Annual Fund has been an integral part of the Old Princethorpians community, with alumni generously supporting projects that enhance the pupil experience, improve facilities and provide financial assistance to those in need. Now, in an effort to maximise support for our schools, we have launched the appeal to our current parent body, inviting them to join you in shaping the future of the Foundation.

The response from parents has already been incredibly positive and we are excited to ask you to consider supporting your school in this appeal. Your generosity has always played a vital role in ensuring that pupils continue to thrive in an environment of excellence, opportunity and innovation - and with your support, we can do even more.

Why Now?

The Foundation’s finances remain strong, but like all independent schools, we are committed to long-term sustainability and affordability for our families. As many OPs will remember, families - just like yours did - make significant sacrifices to give their children the best possible education. We want to ensure that as many families as possible can continue to access and benefit from a Princethorpe Foundation education, both now and in the future.

At the same time, recent economic changes and government policies, including the implementation of VAT on school fees from January 2025, are adding additional pressures. We want to proactively strengthen our position so that we can keep our schools accessible, sustainable and forward-thinking, while continuing to provide an outstanding education for all pupils.

Through the Annual Fund, your support directly strengthens the Foundation’s financial sustainability. Donations are tax-efficient, meaning every pound given has a greater impact on our bottom line than an equivalent amount generated through fee income alone. Put simply, a donation goes further in helping us continue to invest in our pupils, our facilities and our future.

What is the Annual Fund?

The Annual Fund provides vital funding for:

• Bursaries and Hardship Support, helping talented pupils from all backgrounds access a Foundation education.
• Facilities and Campus Enhancements, ensuring our schools continue to provide inspiring and well-equipped learning environments.
• Innovative Educational Programmes, investing in new technologies and teaching methods that keep our schools at the forefront of best practice.

Every donation - large or small - makes a direct and lasting impact.

Why Your Support Matters

From the moment you first stepped through the doors of your school or sent your children to us, you became part of the Foundation’s story. Now, you have the chance to help write the next chapter.

By supporting the Annual Fund, you are:

• Enhancing classrooms, resources and extracurricular opportunities for current pupils.
• Expanding bursary and hardship support to ensure financial circumstances never prevent a child from benefiting from a Foundation education.
• Investing in the future of our schools, allowing us to develop new facilities, improve sustainability and continue our commitment to educational excellence.

Learn More and Get Involved

To see how we’re sharing the appeal with parents, we invite you to watch the messages from our Foundation Principal and Heads of each of our schools, where they speak about the importance of the Annual Fund and why this support matters so much. These messages are just as relevant to our OP community and we encourage you to take a moment to hear directly from them. Please click directly on the titles below to be directed to the relevant video:

Presentation by Mr Ed Hester, Foundation Principal

Message from Mr Grove du Toit, Headmaster at Princethorpe College

Message from Mr Robert Duigan, Headmaster at Crackley Hall School

Message from Mr Joe Thackway, Headmaster at Crescent School

Your support, whether large or small, will make a real difference in keeping our schools thriving and accessible for future generations. If you would like to contribute, you can make a donation today via this link: Donate to the Annual Fund

Thank you for being part of this journey and for continuing the tradition of generosity that has shaped the Foundation. With your help, we can ensure that today’s pupils benefit from the same opportunities and experiences that meant so much to you.

Every gift matters. Every donation makes an impact. Together, we can shape the future.

View the Annual Fund Brochure, here.

Former pupil, Pratheesh Prabakaran (class of 2023) and Head of School during his final year, got in touch recently to update his former History teacher, Tracey Hester, on his recent successes at Bristol University, where he is now in his penultimate year studying Law. He was awarded the prize for Best Student in First Year with the highest overall mark in his cohort of over 400 law students. He also received prizes for Best Marks in two modules: Contract Law and Law and State.

It is always encouraging to hear when Old Princethorpians are doing well, but in Pratheesh's case, as a recipient of a Bursary* award during his time at Princethorpe, his story is a powerful example of the life-changing impact that Bursary awards can have on the recipient. Pratheesh is very open about the impact he feels it had on him and his family: "Thanks to the bursary, an education that was considered unattainable by most in our position became a reality."

With Pratheesh's parents having immigrated to the UK amidst a period of civil war in Sri Lanka, their priority was to ensure Pratheesh and his brother received a first-rate education. After visiting Princethorpe College for the first time back in 2013, his parents were overjoyed that their children were fortunate enough to receive a bursary which significantly discounted the school’s fees.

Pratheesh shared more of his story with us, and you can read it in full on Princethorpe Connect, here.

To Mrs Hester, Pratheesh confided, regarding his first year as a Law student, "Assessment season was difficult, emotionally draining and unlike anything I’d experienced before. But equally, university life has been so enjoyable - it's especially exciting to engage in seminars led by tutors who have written our textbooks or submitted evidence to the courts on landmark cases. 

I am always very grateful for the essay skills and writing technique you helped me develop in our History lessons. I learnt a lot at Sixth Form, both in terms of academics and character development. I hope I’ll be able to attend an OP event in the future to see everyone and the school again."

If you would like to know more about our Bursary and Hardship Funds, please visit The Annual Fund | Princethorpe Connect or email Steve Kowal, Development Director, at stevekowal@princethorpe.co.uk.

*Bursaries provide financial assistance to families who may otherwise be unable to access our schools, ensuring inclusivity and widening access to a quality education.

We are delighted to welcome John Fisher as our new Chair of Trustees at The Princethorpe Foundation. John joined the Trustees back in 2020 bringing with him extensive experience, having spent his career in the housing and construction sectors, firstly in London and then in the Midlands. John is a director of a housing consultancy business working across the UK and chief executive of a procurement consortium. He also chairs a small rural charity.

John, who has played an active role in supporting and guiding The Princethorpe Foundation, most recently as Chair of the Finance Committee, took over from retiring Chair of Trustees, Liz Griffin, in December.

John is also a former Princethorpe parent whose three children Anna (Class of 2011), Lucy (Class of 2012) and Simon (Class of 2015) were all educated at Princethorpe College, where they benefited from a great academic education as well positive support and guidance and pursued a range of extra-curricular activities. The ethos of the school helping to shape them, as it has so many others, for later success.

John comments, “I am honoured to take on the role of Chair of Trustees and look forward to working with my fellow Trustees, Foundation Principal, Ed Hester, the Heads and their management teams to continue the excellent work of The Princethorpe Foundation in delivering an outstanding education for all our pupils. I am also very grateful to my fellow trustees, Sally Rosser and Richard Harcourt, who have agreed to take on the roles of Deputy Chairs; the three of us will be working closely together to support the Foundation.” 

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Princethorpe Weddings!  

Want a truly exceptional venue for your dream wedding? Then look no further, as our beautiful College is now available to help create unforgettable memories for a couple's special day.

Our website and social media channels are now live, so please give us a follow to stay updated on all things Princethorpe Weddings. You'll find stunning photos, inspiring wedding ideas, and all the information you need to plan your dream wedding with us.

Venue Highlights:

• Nun's Library: Perfect for intimate gatherings of up to 50 people
• The Atrium and Sixth Form Lawn: Ideal for larger celebrations, accommodating up to 120 guests
• The Quad: A charming spot for drinks receptions and blessings
• Chapel Ceremonies: Catholic services in our stunning chapel for up to 120 guests
• The Orchard: For those really big weddings, featuring a marquee for up to 500 people

Plus, our experienced wedding coordinator will be with you every step of the way to ensure everything goes smoothly. Tours are available to book online for any couples wanting to start their wedding planning.

Visit our website at Princethorpe Weddings to download the brochure and follow us on social media @princethorpeweddings for the latest updates and inspiration.

The Princethorpe Weddings Team

Crescent School celebrated the life of former headmistress, Mrs Christine Barrett, at its Founder’s Day Assembly on Wednesday 15 January. Mrs Barrett, who passed away recently, began teaching at the school in 1965 and was headmistress from 1971 until her retirement in 1992.  

The school was pleased to welcome Mrs Barrett’s daughter, Isabel Barnes, a former pupil at the school, to the assembly, as well as Foundation Principal, Ed Hester, Clerk to the Trustees, and former Crescent School pupil, Eddie Tolcher, and Foundation Trustee, Sally Rosser.

During the assembly, Headmaster, Joe Thackway, reflected on the long history of the school, which marks its 77th birthday this year, the incredible contribution that Mrs Barrett made, including overseeing the school’s pivotal move from its original site on Horton Crescent in Rugby to its current Bawnmore Road location in Bilton.

Year 6 pupils shared extracts from Mrs Barrett’s memories of the school’s early history. Dressed in original school uniform, they spoke about the experiences of the early pupils when the school was situated in Rugby town centre, on Horton Crescent adjacent to Rugby School.

Current staff member, and former pupil, Sally Dowling, spoke of her memories of Mrs Barrett, commenting, “I remember her as firm but very fair. She was a lovely lady that everyone really respected.”  

After the assembly, Mrs Barnes was invited to officially open the new heritage area that has just been created at the school. The space includes a timeline of key milestones and the headteachers, as well as old photos, paintings and memorabilia which is all proving fascinating for the current generation of pupils at the school.

Our thanks also go to current parent, Mrs Lorimer, who kindly framed some of the pictures that have gone on display in the heritage area.

Copies of the second edition of A History of Crescent School  which was produced last year are available to download for free on the school website here. 

Pupils and staff at Crackley Hall School will be welcoming a new member of staff to the school’s leadership team after February half term when St Joseph's School alumni, Mrs Narelle Copland, will join the school as Assistant Head of Pastoral.

Mrs Copland brings a wealth of experience to her new role having played a significant part in the development and management of a number of primary schools. She joins from Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School in Birmingham where she has held the role of Deputy Head, SENDCo and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for the last two years. Previously she taught across the primary age range and held a variety of positions at St Thomas More Catholic Primary School in Coventry, including Key Stage 1 Phase Leader and specialist Dyslexia Teacher.  

She has been recognised as an outstanding teacher and is passionate about delivering excellent teaching and learning. As a member of the senior leadership team, she will work closely with the Headmaster, Rob Duigan, and colleagues to ensure that pupils achieve to the very best of their abilities.

Explaining her approach, Narelle Copland, comments, “I want every child to have the opportunity to shine and succeed. My focus will be to nurture the whole child, not only academically but by providing a wealth of experiences and opportunities in a safe and supportive environment. I am delighted that I have been given the opportunity to lead on Pastoral at Crackley Hall. I look forward to working with all of the parents and staff, but my main aim will be to engage Crackley’s pupils to help them reach their potential.”

Narelle feels as if she is coming home as she is a past pupil of St Joseph's School (Crackley Hall’s previous name) and remembers her time at the school fondly.

Rob Duigan, comments, “We are delighted that Narelle has accepted the position of Assistant Head Pastoral. Narelle stood out in terms of her wealth of experience, proven leadership skills and an approach to teaching, learning and pastoral care that is fully in tune with Crackley's Catholic ethos and values. We wholeheartedly congratulate Narelle on her appointment, she will further strengthen Crackley's Senior Leadership Team and I wish her well in her new role.”

Narelle is pictured here alongside Headmaster Rob Duigan, Deputy Head Academic, Sharon McAloon and Assistant Head of Ethos and RE, Sorcha Horan.  

Our 2024-2025 OPs' events calendar includes all our regular favourites and allows you to pick and choose the best time to come along and catch up. 

Upcoming is OPs Local Meet in Leamington, this time at The Micro Pug, 66-68 Clemens Street, on Friday 7 March, and the annual Summer Supper Reunion that takes place at the College on Friday 27 June, celebrating the leavers of 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2015, although leavers of other years are also most welcome.

Don't forget our Bluebells and Brunch on Saturday 10 May, the perfect opportunity to walk round the iconic Mile Walk with the family after enjoying a tasty spread.

Following discussions with the OPs Committee it has been agreed that from January 2025, for certain events where significant hospitality is provided, we will require a small donation in support of bursaries* upon booking. Please refer to the individual event listings on Princethorpe Connect for more details.

All OPs, past parents and staff are welcome to participate in any or all of the events. Visit Princethorpe Connect, our online alumni community, to register and book onto events.

*Bursaries are vital in providing financial support to pupils who demonstrate both academic promise and financial need. By fostering an inclusive educational environment, these bursaries ensure that every pupil has the opportunity to thrive and succeed. Click here for more details.

Team Super Sports are back this February half-term for an action-packed week for children aged 5 to 16 years. From Monday 17 February to Friday 21 February, our Holiday Camps will run from 8.00am to 5.00pm.

Children aged 7 to 16 can choose from a variety of sports to create their own personalised sports camp! For our younger campers (ages 5 to 7), along with sport we’ve got arts, crafts, and dance activities to keep them engaged and having a blast!

Why Team Super Sports? They’re experts in sport and multi-activity holiday camps, providing top-level coaching for all abilities.

The camps are open to all children.

Click here to visit the Team Super Sports website to secure your child’s spot.

Camps are priced at £38 per day. 

Sibling discounts and flexible booking options available!

Friday 7 March 2025 - 6.00pm to 10.30pm

Our annual OPs Local Meet is on the horizon, just five weeks away, and this year it's taking place at the cosy and quirky venue, The Micro Pug, Leamington Spa. Why not come and join us?

It is a popular event, and we are hopeful for a great turnout this year of OPs from across the decades, including members of the OPs Committee plus a few former and long-serving members of staff.

We will be meeting in the 'secret' downstairs room, accessed through a Smeg fridge door, which has its own bar, private garden area, and even a pinball machine!

There will be the customary welcome drink or two, courtesy of the OPs Committee, and included in the ticket price will be a delicious buffet to suit a variety of dietary requirements, along with dedicated bar service by the venue's friendly staff.

Alumni of all our Foundation schools, with their partners and friends, are most welcome. Click here to view the event page on Princethorpe Connect for more info and to sign up.

Saturday 8 March - 10.30am to 12.30pm

We are holding a Nursery and whole school Open Morning on Saturday 8 March. The Open Morning is a great opportunity for prospective families considering Crackley Hall School or Little Crackers Nursery to come and have a look around and get a feel for the school and Nursery. There will also be opportunities to speak to pupils, key members of staff and to meet Mr Duigan, Headmaster.

To find out more and to book your visit to Crackley Hall and Little Crackers Nursery visit our website here.

Most of our pupils enter at Nursery and Reception, though pupils are welcome at any age, dependent on a place being available. We are still accepting registrations for entry to Reception in September 2025 and have 2, 3 and 4-year-old places available in Nursery. 

Applications for places in the current Reception to Junior 6 are treated on an individual basis as places are limited. Click here to find out more about mid-year and mid-term admissions. 

If your child is turning two, get in touch and come and take a look around our Nursery or come along to our friendly Stay 'n' Play Toddler Group on Wednesday mornings in term time. Click here to find out more. 

Thursday 13 March 2024 - 10.30am to 12.30pm

As part of the launch of the 2026 Admissions Cycle, the College's Spring Open Morning will give prospective families a chance to visit the school on a normal working day, with Year 8 and 9 pupils acting as tour guides. The Leadership and Admissions Teams will be available to answer any questions visitors might have. Light refreshments will be available.

All are welcome, please book your place by clicking here.

Entrance Examinations Day for September 2026 entry will take place on Saturday 8 November 2025 from 9.30am to 3.30pm. The deadline for registrations, scholarship and bursary applications is Friday 26 September 2025.

Limited places are also still available for entry to the College in September 2025 in current Years 7 to 10, and a Spring Entrance Exams Session will take place, after the Open Morning on Friday 21 March.

For further information please contact the Admissions Team on 01926 643201/297 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Saturday 15 March - 10.00am to 12.00pm

We are holding our Spring Open Morning on Saturday 15 March. This is a great opportunity for prospective families considering Crescent School to have a look around and get a feel for the school. There will also be opportunities to see sport and music in action, speak to pupils, key members of staff and to meet Mr Thackway, Headmaster.

The school will have two Reception Classes in September 2025 and we are still accepting registrations for the last few places.

To find out more and to book your visit to Crescent School visit our website here.

Applications for places in the current Reception to Year 6 are treated on an individual basis as there are limited places. Please get in touch with our Registrar, Mrs Becky Witcomb, at admissions@crescentschool.co.uk, regarding availability for September 2025.  To find out more about mid-year and mid-term admissions click here. 

We are now also taking registrations for September 2026 entry to Reception and Year 3. 

Wednesday 19 March 2025 - 2.00pm to 5.00pm

To mark St Joseph's Day on Wednesday 19 March, Crackley Hall School, formerly St. Joseph's Convent School, is holding a St Joseph’s Day Mass.

We cordially invite all former St Joseph's and Crackley Hall pupils, parents and former staff, to join us. After Mass, there will be time to chat over refreshments, view artefacts and photographs from the archives, and then an opportunity to take a guided tour the school at 4.00pm.

It is a lovely opportunity to return to the site of St Joseph's Convent School and catch up with other former pupils and long-serving members of staff.

All are most welcome so please do sign up for the event on Princethorpe Connect here to let us know you're coming.

Final details will be shared with all those signed up, in the days before the event takes place.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit​
Wednesday 9 April, 2.30pm and 4.00pm and Thursday 10 April, 2.30pm and  4.00pm

As part of the Foundation's drive to increase non-fee income, our Commercial Enterprise Team are delighted to be hosting LOL Theatre Company's lovingly adapted production of The Tale of Peter Rabbit in The Clarkson Theatre in the run up to Easter.

When young Peter Rabbit disobeys his mother and enters the forbidden garden belonging to Mr McGreggor, he indulges himself with lettuce, green beans and radishes, however he soon starts to feel sick and goes in search of some parsley to soothe his stomach ache. Who does he encounter when he ventures further into the vegetable patch? None other than Mr McGreggor himself! After a frantic chase, he loses his clothes and his sense of direction. Will Peter Rabbit escape Mr McGreggor's clutches and return home unharmed? More importantly, will he learn his lesson and listen to his mother's warnings next time? Let's hope so!

This 45 minute family friendly production is based on the classic short story by Beatrix Potter and teaches about the importance of listening to warnings, doing the right thing and facing the consequences of your actions. Recommended for ages 4 and above.

This enchanting theatre show brings Beatrix Potter’s beloved characters to life! This is a public performance and all are welcome.

Tickets

• Adult ticket - £10
• Child ticket - £5
• Under 4s go FREE

Click here to book your seats.

Fr Teddy O'Brien MSC invites the Princethorpe Community to the Easter services at either St Anne's, Wappenbury or the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels, Princethorpe College.

Thursday 17 April              
Maundy Thursday Mass - 7.00pm Princethorpe College

Friday 18 April                
Good Friday Service - 3.00pm Princethorpe College

Saturday 19 April
Holy Saturday Reflective Service and Mass - 8.00pm Wappenbury

Sunday 20 April            
Easter Mass - 8.30am Wappenbury
Easter Mass - 10.30am Princethorpe College

If you would like further information about St Anne's, Wappenbury please use the link here.

Fr Teddy looks forward to meeting you all.

Saturday 10 May 2025 - 10.30am to 12.30pm

Our popular annual OPs Bluebells and Brunch is a great way to mark the warmer weather and celebrate our thriving alumni community. So, why not put the date in your diary and come along to enjoy tasty food, great company, and a stroll around the beautiful grounds of Princethorpe College? 

This is a lovely opportunity for OPs, former parents and former staff, from across the Foundation schools, to visit the College and catch up over a Full English, pastries and fresh fruit. You can arrive early to watch the Saturday sports fixtures if you wish, and, after the leisurely brunch, enjoy a guided tour of the campus and a wander around the Mile Walk to admire the bluebells. To whet your appetite further, you can read about last year's Bluebells and Brunch here.

If you would like to attend, please visit the event page on Princethorpe Connect by Friday 2 May 2025.

And please do spread the word! We'd love to see as many OPs from across the generations and Foundation schools as possible.

Saturday 24 May to Sunday 25 May 2025

The National Schools’ and Riding Clubs' Two Day Event will once again take place on the Princethorpe estate.

Sponsored by The Wigley Group, and organised and run by Stoneleight Riding Club, the event includes classes at 70cm, 80cm, 90cm and 100cm for Riding Club and School teams and individual competitors. There are also Independent Schools' Association Classes.

Show Jumping and Dressage take place on the Saturday with Roads and Tracks, Steeplechase and Cross Country on the Sunday. 

For more information and to enter please visit www.stoneleighridingclub.com

The only event of its kind in the UK, the two-day event regularly attracts up to 300 riders.

Spectators are most welcome to come along and enjoy a wonderful weekend of equestrian competition.

Friday 27 June 2025 - 6.00pm optional tour, 7.00pm Drinks Reception, 7.45pm supper

OPs who left the College in 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2015 (or those who were in the equivalent year groups) are warmly invited back to the College for the OPs Annual Summer Supper Reunion on Friday 27 June, to celebrate their respective 50th, 40th, 30th, 20th and 10th anniversaries of leaving. Other year groups are also most welcome to share in the celebrations.

Comments Alumni Relations and Development Officer, Caroline Spencer, "We had a wonderful turnout last year, and know that many OPs are keener to come to these events if they can be sure of seeing some familiar faces.  By focusing on year groups ending in a 5 initially, we hope to get a critical mass of attendees, although OPs from other years are, of course, welcome too!"

The Summer Supper is an established event in the OPs calendar, attracting a large number of OPs, along with former and current members of staff. The supper is preceded by an optional tour and a Drinks Reception in the Quad. Every year, the OPs also recognise long-standing members of staff and say farewell to any staff leaving the College. You can read about last year's reunion on Princethorpe Connect, here.

Numbers are limited to around 100 guests and we already have OPs booking onto the event, so if you would like to attend please go to the event page on Princethorpe Connect by Wednesday 18 June to reserve your place. We hope to see you there!

Thursday 26 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and Sunday 29 June from 11.00am to 7.00pm  

As part of Warwickshire Open Studios, a celebration of our pupils' GCSE and A-level Art, Photography, Design and Textiles work will take place on Thursday 26 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and on Sunday 29 June from 11.00am to 7.00pm.

A range of design and technology projects, from resistant materials to textiles, will be showcased alongside the stunning art and photography work the College is renowned for.

Comments, Paul Hubball, Head of Art, "This is a great opportunity to share our pupils' fantastic creativity with a wider audience and to welcome more art and design lovers to Princethorpe."

All are welcome. On Thursday evening admission is free, on the Sunday admission will include entry to the College's Summer Fest. Light refreshments will be served.

Princethorpe’s PTA are joining forces with the Foundation’s Commercial Enterprises Team to host a new exciting event –  Princethorpe Summer Fest.

Building on the success of our established Summer Fête and Motoring Festival, the new event will take place on Sunday 29 June from 11.00am to 7.00pm and will include live music, a theatre show, a vintage car display, literary talks, art exhibition, activities, games and crafts and lots more, as well as lots of food, drink and artisan products for all to purchase and enjoy.

Get the date in your diary now, as everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy lots of summer fun in the glorious grounds of Princethorpe College.

Would you like to get involved, share your wares, showcase your skills, or perform at the event? Then get in touch here.

Tickets will be available to book after February half term. Watch out for more exciting details as we head towards the summer!

This issue, it seemed timely to approach our newly appointed Chair of the OP Committee for our termly Old Princethorpian Interview, to give our OP Community a more personal insight into our new Chair. James Davies kindly agreed to tell us a bit about himself, and we thank him for his continued support of the Old Princethorpian Association.

Bit of background, where you live, what you do for a living:

I live in Rugby with my wife and two children, and I am CEO of Wigley Investment Holdings Ltd. which owns and invests in several businesses that operate across the real estate life cycle, on behalf of the Wigley family. I spend most of my time in a leadership role, supporting our Managing Directors and Directors to deliver their strategies. At home, we also have a small holding with a small flock of rare breed sheep and ponies.

Age: 45

When were you at Princethorpe - years from and to?

1992 to 1995

What was the school like in your day?

Coming from a strict prep school environment, it was a liberating place to be. It felt huge at the time, but I enjoyed my time at Princethorpe very much.

How did Princethorpe affect the person you are today?

My time at Princethorpe was an important period for me. I have fond memories of certain teaching staff who supported me, and without their care and effort I wouldn’t have established the important foundations to go on and do well in higher education and beyond.

What advice would you give to your teenage self?

You can lead at any age, in any environment. Take individual responsibility to make yourself personally accountable to lead in whatever your journey. Whatever your current circumstance, be the very best you can be. I guarantee people will notice and will be attracted to your drive and energy.

Who or what has been the greatest influence on your life?

This is a very difficult question. Many people have influenced my journey, from my parents, friends and work colleagues. However, overriding that, I suppose I would have to say my wife, Sarah. She has been my rock and fulcrum for 17 years now, and her dedication to our children and life at home has allowed me to work and invest time in growing a company and making some bold decisions.

What has been your proudest moment/greatest achievement so far?

I was asked to interview to become a Course Director at Warwick Racecourse in 2021, which I am now serving my fourth season. Having grown up loving horseracing through my father’s interest, I am very proud to undertake the role.

What’s your biggest indulgence?

Holidays with my family. We decided several years ago to enjoy time and experiences together over buying material things.

If you had to have one last meal, what would it be?

A large sirloin steak on the bone. Simple.

If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be and who would be with you?

In the Alps with my family.

Lasting memories of Princethorpe:

Its location. Set in acres of lovely countryside, it was a lovely place to come to everyday!

Are you in touch with any other Old Princethorpians, if so whom?

I am very fortunate to work with a good handful of Old Princethorpians, as well as sitting on the OP Committee as Chairperson.

Congratulations to OP Emily Wilson, Class of 2008, who gave birth to her first child on 2 July 2024.

Rex Jude Wilson Wilding, weighing 7lb 3oz, was welcomed to the world by his adoring family, and we are delighted to hear that he and the family are doing well.

Congratulations to OP Committee Member, Ed Hunter, Class of 2006, and his wife, Emily, on the birth of their third child. Clementine Eleanor McPherson Hunter, affectionately known as 'Clemmie', was born on 17 October 2024 at Warwick Hospital, weighing a healthy 3.48kg.

Clemmie joins Hettie and Percy to make this a family of five. Comments the doting dad, "We are all so in love. Em is doing great and she was in and out of hospital the same day which was good." 

It's wonderful to hear that Ed and his family are enjoying this new chapter of their lives, and we wish them well.

Libby Williams, former pupil of both Crescent School and Princethorpe College, got engaged to her partner, Alistair Mackay, on 30 November 2024.

Comments Libby, "We got engaged in a little Shepherd’s Hut in Somerset that we’d been to a couple of times before. After nearly six years together, it was a very welcome surprise and we’re now enjoying the wedding planning phase!"

Libby also joined the OP Committee in September 2024, so on top of the wedding planning she is volunteering her spare time to ensure the Old Princethorpian Association continues to grow and serve the interests of alumni across all the Foundation schools.

Huge congratulations to Libby and Alistair. We wish them a very happy future together.

Having just launched Princethorpe Weddings in January, we are excited that our first couple to celebrate their special day, from start to finish at Princethorpe, will be OP Lizzie Hester and her fiancé, Seb.

Comments Lizzie, "We are both thrilled to be getting married in July at Princethorpe College. We are absolutely delighted to have our special day at a place which holds so many wonderful memories. The ceremony will be held in the Chapel and the reception will follow in the main school. We keep our fingers crossed for good weather!"

We wish Lizzie and Seb a magical day and a happy future together.

If you would like to see how Princethorpe College is transformed into a stunning wedding venue, and find out more about our wedding packages, please visit the Venues and Events section of the Princethorpe Foundation website, here.

Congratulations to OP Emilio Doorgasingh (Class of 1983), who married his partner, Hugh McLaughlin, on 7 January at Chelsea Old Town Hall Registry Office.

Hugh has been Emilio's partner for 34 years, and we wish them a very happy future together.

In other exciting news, you can catch Emilio on stage at the RSC between 21 February and 5 April, playing the role of Pembroke in their production of Christopher Marlowe's Edward II. Visit www.rsc.org.uk  for more info.

Old Princethorpians were saddened to recently hear about the death, in December 2023, of TJ Boyle, aged 84, a former Head of English and member of the MSC community at Princethorpe.

A much respected and gifted teacher from Moylough, Co Galway, Father Boyle was at Princethorpe from 1968 to 1977, adding his expertise to the English Department, which he ultimately headed up, also becoming superior of the MSC community and a member of the Provincial Council. He was a keen and able sportsman, universally respected and was responsible for establishing an English language summer school for Spanish children at Princethorpe.

On leaving the MSCs to get married, he taught in a secondary school in Dublin. He and his wife had four children – all girls – one of whom, Claudia Boyle, is a revered opera singer. Fr Nick Harnan MSC and Fr Tony Horgan MSC (OP) recall a colleague who was instantly likeable and was outstanding in the classroom. “As the old, deconsecrated, parish church was being transformed into a gymnasium, he was responsible for making it suitable also as a basketball court. He became professionally qualified as a coach and referee and soon basketball was established as an important part of the school sports curriculum”. They continue: “TJ was a great PR man for Princethorpe, very much in communication with staff in English departments in other local schools, looking for ways to collaborate in order to improve the English department”.

Former pupils from the Year of 1975 recall an able and popular teacher, who was fair, fun, business-like and cool! Chris Evans writes: “It’s probably certain that not one of us was anything other than seriously impressed with him, even though we were a bunch of cynical folk, full of our own self-worth, a.k.a. teenagers!” Greg Morse continues: “Fr Boyle was an exemplary teacher. We were all lucky to have known him and have the benefit of his input to our care while we were at Princethorpe.” Kevin Marchant, who along with a number of other boarders, arrived at Princethorpe from a closing Franciscan-run school at Stony Stratford, recalls: “When we arrived at Princethorpe, Fr Boyle ‘reffed’ our very first game of basketball. He had his umpire collar turned up, immaculate basketball trainers and was chewing gum. I immediately thought ‘who’s this cool cat?’” Martin Holland recalls “an excellent English teacher and a really good and kind person”; Melvin Glynn concurs: “Fr TJ was a great guy and a great teacher; he taught us all very well I think”.

The funeral Mass took place on Thursday 28 December 2023 in Dublin.

APD

04 February 2025

We received the news from Marianne Horne, former pupil of St Mary's Priory, that her cousin, Valerie Tucker (née Morris), died at the beginning of November and was buried on the 13 November in Bridgwater, Somerset.

Valerie was also a pupil of St Mary's Priory, along with her elder sister Jennifer Holmes, from 1947 to 1952. Marianne tells us that Valerie started at the school when it was still lit by gas, and remembers coming back one term to find that electricity had arrived!  She was Head Girl for her last year. 

Valerie hadn't been well for some time and was in hospital for the last two months. We send our condolences to Marianne and all of Valerie's family.

It was with great sadness that we shared the news of the passing of Christine Barrett, former headteacher at Crescent School.

Mrs Barrett joined the Crescent School back in September 1965 when the school was based at its original Horton Crescent site. At that time there were approximately 60 pupils in the school, in five classes, and she began her career at Crescent teaching the middle class, Class III. In 1971 she took over as headteacher and she then led the school through its move to its current site, on Bawnmore Road in Bilton, in 1988, and on until her retirement, in July 1992.

Mrs Barrett was a much loved and respected headteacher and her philosophy and determination to educate were instrumental in building the school we have today. Back in 1985 she wrote in a school report, “With a school such as the Crescent it is very hard to fit all we would like to do into the school day, even with lunchtimes and after school sessions. We do our best and try to give the children not only a sound academic base but as many opportunities and responsibilities in other fields as we can. We also need to prepare our older pupils for life in the inevitably larger secondary schools and it is good to see the leavers when they visit us and hear of them tackling their new school lives with confidence and enjoyment.” It is interesting to note that much the same could be said of Crescent School today nearly 40 years later, which is testament to the strong foundations laid by Mrs Barrett.

Mrs Barrett visited the school back in September 2018 when the school marked its 70th anniversary and she is pictured in the first photograph then with the current headmaster, Joe Thackway, to her left and former headmaster, Huw Marshall, to her right.

When we shared news of her passing on the Old Crescentians' Facebook group and the outpouring of respect and love was incredible. Rebecca's comment just one of many that moved us all, "She was a inspirational educator, kind and gentle with the strongest of values, an unwavering moral compass and most importantly an absolute belief in each child that came into her care." 

The school celebrated the life of Mrs Barrett and her contributions to the school in its Founder's Day service on Wednesday 12 January.

Our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers go to Christine’s family and friends.

We received the sad news that Sr Julian Burrows, a member of the Sisters of Charity of St Paul, died at the end of January in Birmingham.

Sr Julian was part of Princethorpe community for many years from the late 1970s.  She was the student bursar, looking after pupils' accounts, and was held in affection by our boarding students for many reasons, not least because she was in charge of their pocket money!

Alex Darkes remembers her well:

Sr Julian was very much a creature of habit: the afternoon play on Radio 4 every day in her office, with the radio on at a very low volume, followed by her walk to the post box. If you ever asked her how she was, she would reply “I’m fine thank you, but I don’t think about it too much in case I find I am not”!

I always got the impression that she was very happy at Princethorpe and I know that when she moved to Selly Park Birmingham it was a great wrench for her and she was presented with a new bicycle as a farewell gift. I think that Princethorpe was in her blood as well as in her soul, as her mother had been a past pupil.

Her funeral mass took place on Thursday 5 February at St Paul's Selly Park in Birmingham.

May she rest in peace.

Here at The Princethorpe Foundation Archive, we’re always keen to find ways of working more sustainably and reducing our impact on the environment. 

In December, Foundation Archivist, Jo Wong became one of the first recordkeeping professionals in the country to undertake a new Carbon Literacy training course developed specifically for archives. The course, provided by The National Archives and accredited by The Carbon Literacy Project, covered topics including climate change science, carbon footprints, the impact of climate change on archives, and action planning to reduce our carbon emissions in the heritage sector. 

The training also included plenty of opportunities to share ideas and experiences with other archives and records professionals, and was followed by post-course work to help us achieve our goal of becoming a ‘greener’ archive. Successful completion of the additional work will result in Carbon Literate certification, demonstrating our commitment to making a difference in this area. 

Environmental sustainability is very much at the heart of The Princethorpe Foundation, as we continue our journey towards becoming carbon neutral. This is a process in which every member of our Foundation community plays a vital part, as detailed in our Environmental Sustainability Plan 2024 – 2029. 

Jo said, “I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to participate in this important new training. The course was intensive and challenging at times, but also inspirational and supportive, exploring how we can make changes in our own workplaces to protect our planet now and into the future. I am looking forward to sharing learnings from the course with colleagues across the Foundation, to help us all progress further towards our Net Zero goal.” 

Since attending the course, Jo has already started finding ways to improve the efficiency of the environmental control systems in the Foundation Archive strongroom, and has begun work on reducing the Archive’s digital carbon footprint through identifying and removing duplicate digital files. 

We look forward to reporting on further developments and sharing some Carbon Literate tips in future OP newsletters – watch this space!  

Images: 

1. CLP-Logo 
2. The National Archives logo
3. Princethorpe Magazine 1990-1 Please Recycle logo (info: Recycling logo designed by a Princethorpe College student in 1991, when the College started its first paper recycling scheme.) 

This term we are excited to be participating in the UK’s very first School Archives Day, taking place on Wednesday 12 March. We are looking forward to joining schools around the country in celebrating our wonderful heritage and all that our archives have to offer.

On the day itself, Princethorpe College pupils will have the option to attend a lunchtime talk by Foundation Archivist Jo Wong, where they can discover some of the hidden stories of Princethorpe and test their knowledge of the school! 

For the whole of the Lent term we also have a School Archives Day display in the College Cloisters, for all pupils, staff and visitors to enjoy. Incorporating items from all our Foundation schools and some of their predecessors, the display demonstrates the wide range of materials held in our Archive, and the fascinating information they contain. Please do stop by and take a look at the display if you are visiting us this term, or if you would like to arrange a visit then we would be delighted to help you with this – simply contact us at oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

If you’re based further away, then there’s no need to miss out – you can still enjoy seeing some of the items from the display in the 'Snippets from the Archives' article in this newsletter!

We are also hoping to get the Foundation's prep Schools involved in School Archive Day too!

Images:

1. School Archives Displays
2. School Archives Day logo
3. Abbotsford Classroom 1930s
4. Crescent School pupils with Totem Pole 1982-83
5. Pupils next to Crescent School statue 1983
6. Prize Giving Programme Cover 1974
7. St Bede's
8. St Mary's Priory
9. St Joseph's Sixth Form 1965-66

One of the most fascinating things about working in archives is that they are full of mysteries – and new ones appear on a regular basis!

Recently, Foundation Archivist, Jo Wong was asked to help identify a couple of mystery items discovered in the trophy cabinets at Princethorpe College. The first was a tug of war trophy engraved with the names of the winning houses from 1968–1973 inclusive; the query, however, was about the house names: Aidan, Chad and Boniface.

These were, as our Old Bedesians will know, three of the houses at St Bede’s College (the fourth house was Gregory, who unfortunately didn’t seem to get a look-in at tug of war during those years!) By 1968 St Bede’s had become a prep school only, since the senior boys had transferred to Princethorpe College when it opened in 1966. Physical education was an important part of the curriculum; a St Bede’s prospectus from this period states that ‘Sport not only affords necessary relaxation and physical fitness, but it develops the spirit of co-operation, unselfishness and courage.’

The second item has proved much more difficult to identify. This little copper cup has the words ‘Handmade Zambian copperware, Copper Crafts Ltd, Kitwe’ engraved on the base, but no other markings. Could it have been brought back from one of Princethorpe College’s South Africa rugby tours? Or did it come over with a visiting sports team? We would love to know the history of this cup and how it came to Princethorpe – if you remember it from your time at school and can shed any light on the mystery, please do get in touch at archives@princethorpe.co.uk

Images: 

1. St Bede’s Sports Day, c.1960s 
2. St Bede’s tug of war trophy
3. Copper cup
4. Copper cup base 

We received an unexpected Christmas present in December from OP Melvin Glynn (Class of 1975), along with a kind card wishing the Alumni Team and College staff well, he had included a 1978 copy of the Princethorpe magazine and a Games Calendar from 1973 – 1974.

Referring to the magazine, Mel pointed out that he had been sat next to Fr Jim Mannix MSC, his Art Teacher, on the day Fr Mannix drew the iconic sketch of the Chapel back in 1971. If you look very carefully you can see Fr Mannix’s name and the year towards the bottom of the picture, by some foliage and fencing.

The Games Calendar was the property of Mel’s brother Martin, who sadly passed away in 2022. Martin was in the Upper Sixth in 1973-74 and from his annotations on the card, showing the results from the matches, it looks like he was a key part of the College’s Hockey and Basketball Teams. Many of the past fixtures are against schools that we still play to this day.

Another interesting aspect to the Calendar is the Films section, with weekly Saturday night showings for the boarders of classics including Dr. No, West Side Story, Spartacus and The Magnificent Seven. Can you remember watching any of these?

The Card also gives brief details of key College Officials from the time, not only Head Boy John Berry and Deputy Head Boy Christopher Marot, but Martin himself who was Head Librarian, other important information featured are examination and term dates and other key events.

These publications give us a fascinating insight into the past life of the College and we thank Mel for thinking of us and sending them in, they will be duly passed over to Jo Wong, our archivist for safe keeping.

Following on from our participation in Heritage Open Days last term, and inspired by the theme of ‘Routes, Networks and Connections’, Foundation Archivist, Jo Wong looks into the perilous route which brought a community of Benedictine nuns all the way from revolutionary France to rural Warwickshire. In the first of two articles, we follow the nuns as they make their escape from Montargis to Dieppe.

Many of you will no doubt have memories (fond or otherwise!) of studying the French Revolution in History lessons at school; you might also remember that it played a central part in Princethorpe College’s history. Had it not been for the Revolution, the Benedictine community who founded St Mary’s Priory would almost certainly have remained in their original priory at Montargis, and the beautiful building which has housed Princethorpe College since 1966 would never have been built. However, the community’s escape from France was much narrower than you may have realised.

The Benedictine priory at Montargis had been founded in 1630 by a young nun named Marie Granger, who had been sent from Montmartre Abbey to establish a new religious house. The community lived a peaceful life enclosed safely within the priory walls, but this was all to change dramatically in the political and religious upheaval of the French Revolution.

From late 1789 the community received repeated visits from government officials, who attempted to take control of the priory and ‘free’ the nuns from their sacred vows. However, the Prioress, Mère Gabrielle de Lévis de Mirepoix, and her community resisted all attempts to force them into the outside world. In her brave and dignified speech to the Montargis officers, later translated into English and printed in The Catholic Spectator and Selector (1825), the Prioress states that ‘our feeble arms may bend undoubtedly under the chains of oppression, but […] our consciences, stronger than death, will obey but God alone’.  

The nuns would have known the dangers they faced by resisting the government officials. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed by the Assemblée Nationale in 1790, had heightened tensions between church and state, and penalties for opposing official orders were becoming increasingly severe. With a growing level of mob violence and incursions into the priory, by 1792 it was clear that the community could not remain safely in France.

Leaving Montargis was not a straightforward undertaking. Difficulties in obtaining passports delayed the nuns’ escape, and matters were further complicated by the fact that the priory was now patrolled by soldiers keeping a watchful eye on proceedings. Eventually, however, the nuns were able to start their journey, departing in small groups at different times of day to avoid attracting attention.  

The Prioress was among the last to leave, but shortly before her departure government officials arrived at the priory with a warrant for her arrest. Luckily a quick-thinking servant informed them that she had already left and sent them in the wrong direction; had the Prioress been arrested, she would undoubtedly have faced the guillotine. On returning to the priory the following day and finding all its inhabitants gone, the officials ransacked and destroyed the building.

The community planned to seek refuge in Brussels, but in order to leave France as soon as possible they would have to travel via England. Travelling in plain clothes, and taking only a very few possessions which they had been able to gather together in their hurried departure, they made the long journey northwards to Dieppe. Communities at other convents welcomed them en route, giving them the opportunity to regroup and rest as safely as possible before making the crossing to England.

After finally reaching Dieppe, on 17 October 1792 the nuns boarded the Prince of Wales packet ship bound for Brighton, where they were to reunite with the English, Scottish and Belgian members of their community who had gone before them. However, the crossing proved to be far from plain sailing, as the next article in this series will reveal – look out for it in next term’s newsletter.

Images:

1. Montargis Priory (from Stapleton). Caption: The Benedictine priory at Montargis, from The History of the Benedictines of St Mary’s Priory, Princethorpe by Sister Frideswide Stapleton O.S.B. (Hinckley: Samuel Walker, 1930)
2. Les Stations de Jerusalem inscription. Caption: Inscription in Les Stations de Jérusalem, one of the religious texts originally held in the community’s library at Montargis and later brought with them to England.
3. Swebach Pillage d’une Eglise. Caption: Jacques François Joseph Swebach-Desfontaines, Pillage d'une église pendant la révolution, c. 1793. Image: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

If you’ve ever tried your hand at family history or carried out some research into your local area, you will know what a fantastic resource the census is for finding out about the past. This term, Foundation Archivist, Jo Wong has been helping pupils at Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School in Princethorpe learn more about the census, and making some new discoveries about St Mary’s Priory in the process.

Year 5/6 at Our Lady’s have recently been exploring a History unit called ‘What can the census tell us about local areas?’ As well as using educational resources from The National Archives to find out what the census is and what we can learn from it, they also needed to answer the question ‘Who lived in our local area in the past?’ – and this is where the Foundation Archive was able to support!

The children started by looking at a late nineteenth-century photograph supplied by the Archive showing a man outside the St Mary’s Priory gasworks, and thought about what his job might be. With a bit of help from the Archive, and using relevant extracts from the census, they were able to find out that the Priory’s ‘Gas Maker’ at that time was Henry Flavel (later spelt Flavell). The 1891 census also showed that Henry lived with his young family in one of the Priory Lodges, just a short distance from Our Lady’s.

The class enjoyed tracing the growth of Henry’s family from 1891 to 1921 and the career paths of his children as they grew up, which reflected changes in society over the period. They noticed that while in 1911 Henry’s sons Thomas and Francis were a farm labourer and gardener respectively (most likely employed by the Priory), by 1921 they were working in industries in Coventry, with Thomas at Courtaulds viscose factory and Francis in steel manufacture at Auto Machinery Ltd. They also remarked on how the daughters of the family seemed to ‘disappear’ from the Flavell family’s census returns during their teens, a fact which indicates that they may have either gone out into service or married at a young age (the minimum age of 16 for marriage was not introduced until 1929).

Jo was able to provide some additional information on Henry from the archives which further highlighted the local relevance of Year 5/6’s research. In a 1909 application to register the old chapel at St Mary’s Priory for the solemnisation of marriages, Henry is one of the signatories listed as a regular worshipper at the chapel. As a Catholic family, it is almost certain that Henry’s children attended the village school which later became known as Our Lady’s.

During her research, Jo also came across a wonderful photograph of children outside the Priory’s Coventry Road Lodge in the early 1900s, held at Warwickshire County Record Office and available to view via the Our Warwickshire website. From looking at the ages of the children in the photograph against the Flavells’ census returns for 1901 and 1911, Jo believes that it depicts Bernard, Mary, Wilfrid, Thomas and Francis Flavell outside their home, c.1906 (and yes, you read that first name correctly; long smocks such as the one Bernard is wearing were commonly worn by boys up to the age of five during this period!)

Year 5/6 thoroughly enjoyed becoming census detectives, and we were very pleased that we could help them in their research. The children were keen to find out what happened to the Flavells after 1921; several of the family are buried in the parish cemetery, but we have little further information on them. We know that some of the family continued to work at the Priory and subsequently the College over the decades, so if you have any memories of them please do send these through to archives@princethorpe.co.uk and we will be delighted to pass them on!

Images:

1. SMP gasworks late C19th
2. Henry Flavell signature 

In this new series of articles, each term we will be sharing with you a selection of fascinating items from the Foundation Archive! We would love to hear any memories that they bring back for you – please do get in touch at archives@princethorpe.co.uk .

This term we’re looking at some of the items currently on display at Princethorpe College – see our article about School Archives Day to find out more about this display.

A Pop Poll for Princethorpe, 1980

Which bands were ‘Top of the Pops’ at Princethorpe College in 1980? The College Magazine has the answer! Well, to some extent at least… these are the results of ‘The Princethorpe Pop Poll’ undertaken that year by a Lower Sixth student, who received responses from around 160 boys.

Do you remember taking part in the poll? Or do you have any memories of listening to pop music at Princethorpe, or maybe even playing in a band during your time here?

See the images for: Princethorpe Pop Poll results and the Princethorpe Pop Poll header.

Letter for New Families at St Joseph’s Convent School, c. 1968

This letter to parents of new starters at St Joseph’s is full of fascinating details about school life, even down to the cost of text and exercise books! Information is also provided about suppliers of the school uniform, not forgetting the regulation brown hockey boots.

What are your memories of your first day at St Joseph’s? Perhaps you also remember going to buy your uniform in preparation for starting school? We would be delighted to hear your stories.

See the images for: Letter re starting at St Joseph’s

Crescent Golden Jubilee Bookmarks, 1996

These two beautiful bookmarks were created for the 50th anniversary of Crescent School’s founding. Intricately embroidered with the school’s special Golden Jubilee logo and floral designs on a dark green background, they also feature calligraphy on the reverse to commemorate this special event. Both bookmarks are signed in the bottom corner, presumably by the embroiderer – but unfortunately we have no additional information about them.

Did you perhaps receive a Jubilee bookmark, or do you remember seeing them at school during the celebrations? We would love to know who created them and whether there are more out there!

See the images for: Crescent Jubilee bookmarks and bookmark back 

Alex Darkes, who retired from his position as Assistant Head of Princethorpe College in 2024, but continues to support the Foundation as Archivist Emeritus, is hoping to reconnect with a former pupil of his, Jerôme Jullien.

Having been a pupil at Princethorpe himself (in the Houses of Edmund and, latterly, More, between 1968 to 1975), Alex returned as a teacher in 1979.

After leaving Princethorpe, Jerôme Jullien (More House, 1992 to 1999), went to live in France near to his father’s native Sarlat, and periodically revisited Princethorpe for the annual Hugh Page organ recital; he is an enthusiastic organist. As well as being an organ scholar, he was also a cellist during his time at Princethorpe (he played cello at the November 1995 GCSE Music Recital). He studied Music, English and French at A-level.

Alex says: “I assume that Jerôme is probably still in Périgord, but it would be good to reconnect and to know what he is now doing. I last saw him nearly 20 years ago when I gave him a lift from Princethorpe to meet his family at a Chinese restaurant in Leamington”.

If you have any information that may help Alex, please get in touch by emailing oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

If you are a former pupil, past parent or member of staff, you can connect with other Old Princethorpians and stay connected with your old school by creating a profile on our online alumni community at Princethorpe Connect, here.

Princethorpe College is looking to get in touch with two Old Princethorpians in order to return sports shields awarded to them in 1995, see the attached photograph.

Can you help us find them?

One of the shields belongs to Ian Rogers, for Princethorpe U16 Cricket. The other shield belongs to Richard Shepherd, for Princethorpe Cross Country and Athletics.

Our tradition has always been to present miniature shields and trophies to award winners that they can take home as a keepsake, in addition to having their names engraved on the larger shields and trophies we keep in school for display. It would be lovely, therefore, to return these shields to their rightful owners.

If you are in touch with these Old Princethorpians, please reach out to them and encourage them to get in touch. They can email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

On the In Remembrance of St Joseph's Convent Facebook Group we spotted this request from Delia Button, nee Hedderwick at the end of January.

I went to St Joseph’s Convent from 1972 – 1979. I was Delia Hedderwick back then. Were any of you there at the same time as me? I would love to catch up with some of my old school friends!

If you remember Delia, check her out in the Facebook group or message her via oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

We congratulate former Crescent and Princethorpe pupil, Libby Wilson (Class of 2010), whose business, The Old Rectory Nursery, won 'Individual Nursery of the Year' at the National Nursery Awards in December.

The award recognises an individual nursery which has created the ‘best environment to promote the very highest levels of childcare and staff morale’. Judges were particularly moved by the impact Libby's staff had on children’s learning and development, demonstrating ‘a truly personal connection with the parents to provide support’.

Comments Libby, "My nursery has been my whole life for the last nine years, and now it has been awarded Individual Nursery of the Year at the National Nursery Awards.

I have always believed my little nursery was something special, as I genuinely love what I do. Some days are more challenging than others, but it’s always rewarding. However, I never expected to win such a prestigious award. It is almost overwhelming; I cannot quite believe my nursery and my wonderful team has been recognised in this way. I have the most fantastic team, who I appreciate so much. They really are the best."

Well done to Libby and her team, and we wish them every success in the future.

We love to welcome former pupils and parents back to their old school for a chat and a tour, and most recently Princethorpe College had the pleasure of welcoming a few OPs from the earlier days of Princethorpe’s existence: Brothers Dennis and Graeme Hurry (Class of 1981 and Class of 1979, respectively), and Toby Jones, who moved up to Princethorpe in 1968 from St Bede’s, Leamington Spa, from whence Headmaster Father Flemming also came.

Toby Jones arrived at Princethorpe as a pupil just three years after the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) had opened the College, after purchasing St Mary’s Priory from the Benedictine Nuns in 1965. While arranging a date for his return last week, Toby commented, “I have fond memories of my time at Princethorpe. Whenever I travel past the playing fields located by the main road, I will often recall the rugby matches we played and associated cold legs at the start of the match.”

During the tour, Toby recalled, “Looking at the Tower reminded me of being taken up it in 1968, which to all of us new arrivals was an extremely thrilling event and one that I have never forgotten. To this day, I still have an occasional dream of ascending the Tower, as I found the trip to the top, all those years ago, a most fascinating and exceptional experience. I look back on these days with much affection and a sense of gratitude for the experience I received during that time.”

For the Hurry brothers, their visit brought back vivid memories too. Upon entering the Chapel, Graeme recalled his very first Headmaster’s assembly in there as a pupil: "Father Clarkson was stood at the front, facing us, and a hush just fell on us. His very first words weren't 'welcome' or 'good to see old and new faces', but, with command and presence, 'You only have one chance to make a first impression; make it a good one'. I have held onto those words ever since."

We were therefore delighted to receive Graeme and his wife’s kind feedback after their visit: “If we were parents looking to place a child in a school, Princethorpe would be a strong contender. Both of us left with a very strong and positive opinion of the calibre and, most importantly, of its values.”

Dennis enjoyed seeing the old Chemistry lab, now the Staff Room. He remembers his Chemistry teacher, Mr Miller, and Graeme also retains fond memories of the lab's smell, the ancient benches and the way the lessons were delivered, which gave him a life-long interest in the sciences.

Next to their Chemistry lab was Den's old Form Room. He recalls: "In it were lidded desks with ink wells. It was the graffiti "tattooed" into the inside of the desk lids, with biro and compass points, that introduced me to Black Sabbath and David Bowie."

Specific teachers came to Den's mind for their lasting impact on his education: "I fondly remember Mr Weir (History), Lou Skiffington (Art), Mr Price (Geography), Mrs Woodward (Music) and Mr O'Grady. All of these taught of life wider than the syllabus. I remember Mr O'Grady standing in for our regular Maths teacher and asking us to list our ten favourite sounds; He was as interested in encouraging general thoughtfulness as he was mathematics."

Post-Princethorpe, Graeme worked in operating theatres, on the technical side, and then forged a varied career in the police force, retiring five years ago. Dennis has also enjoyed a varied career, but with Engineering as a common core. Toby Jones went into carpentry and construction, running a business with his son, and now resides near Shipston on Stour.

It was an honour to hear the memories and stories of these Old Princethorpians, and learn more about what Princethorpe life was like for some of its students in the early days.

Why not get in touch to arrange your own trip down memory lane? Simply email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk to arrange a visit to any of the Foundation schools.

If you would like to reconnect with old school friends and keep in touch with the life of the College and its wider community, you can sign up to Princethorpe Connect here.

We were delighted to hear from Martin Holland (Class of 1975) back in October, who told us of his annual get-together with his former school friends.

Martin takes up the story:

"A good number of the class of 1975 got together on Tuesday 22 October at the Broadway Hotel, Broadway, Worcestershire, to enjoy our annual gathering. In total, 17 of us, including partners, attended and thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

We have already started discussing plans for our 2025 gathering which will be our 50th anniversary of leaving Princethorpe. It would be excellent to hear from classmates we have lost touch with who might like to catch up and celebrate this special anniversary with us."

If you recognise any of the OPs in this story and wish to make contact, or wish to share a story of your own OP reunions, please get in touch by emailing  oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

One of the joys of Princethorpe PTA's Christmas Fair is that it often draws former pupils of the College back to their old school, and we were delighted that this was the case on Sunday 1 December for Old Princethorpian Phillip Jackson, who hasn't been back to the College since he left in 1979.

Phillip and his wife were warmly greeted by the staff at the OPs and Admissions table, and were early enough to nab their free legendary Princethorpe Cookie. Caroline Spencer (Alumni Relations and Development) took the couple on an impromptu tour of the school, where Phillip spotted himself in the 1979 school photo and found his name on the Honours Board in the Refectory, having served as Deputy Head Boy in his final year.

We walked the Upper and Lower Pugin corridors where he pointed out his former bedroom and told us how boys on their birthdays would be sent skidding along the wooden floors of the corridors on bedsheets or blankets, often ending up with a few tricky splinters! He also recalled that rats and mice were a common occurrence. He discovered a packet of biscuits and a jumper in his set of drawers were chewed up one night, and a few years later he and his friends caught a rat under the floorboards in their room on Lower Pugin! 

Thankfully, the rats are long gone, but we remain grateful that students like Phillip, who also left a long time ago, return to the College and share their memories with us. 

Phillip has enjoyed a long career in corporate finance and is still friends with former pupil Paul Cooper.

We enjoy welcoming all OPs, past parents and former staff, so please do get in touch by emailing oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk, or calling 01926 634209, if you would like to arrange a visit.

If you would like to reconnect with old school friends and keep in touch with the life of the College and its wider community, you can sign up to Princethorpe Connect here.

Greg Burford, Class of 2022, shared with us a memory of his time at Princethorpe which became a pivotal moment in his development as a musician, crediting Director of Music, Gil Cowlishaw, as the teacher who made it so.

Greg takes up the story: "In the summer of 2019, Princethorpe's Orchestra, Jazz Band and Choir travelled to Vienna. I remember at the time struggling with one part of the Bass line from Mozart's Ave verum corpus during rehearsals, until Gil Cowlishaw (our Director of Music) suggested a helpful cue of "locking in" a note from an earlier part of the piece. Every time we would perform the song from then on, he would glance over to the Basses, at the right moment, and make a "locking" gesture with one hand against the side of his head, while conducting with the other. 

I am now in the very fortunate position of holding a Choral Scholarship at Cambridge University where I study Music, and there's no doubt in my mind that this patient and accessible method of tailored teaching from Gil is largely responsible for where I am now."

It seems Greg also made a big impression on Gil, as Gil recalls, "I'll always remember my first musical encounter with Greg at Princethorpe. It was the first day of a new school year, and as I arrived at school, I heard a warm young Baritone voice belting out One Day More from Les Misérables at the piano in the Roundhouse. I went in to introduce myself and see who it was, only to discover that Greg (Year 9 at the time) was not in fact new to the College, just new to the department.

From that day forward he was a constant fixture in the department, attending Choir, our Select Chorale and throwing himself into our Musical Theatre Group with gusto. He shone in the lead roles of Gallileo in We Will Rock You and Audrey 2 in Little Shop of Horrors. A natural leader, I was soon asking him to lead vocal warmups for me, and our young singers, especially the boys, thrived under his mentorship.

His time at Princethorpe coincided with the global Covid pandemic and the restrictions and lockdowns that accompanied this major event. Greg embraced the 'new normal', taking part in our 'virtual' performances, recording his own socially distanced collaborations with other sixth formers, and performing memorably as Caiaphas in our entirely virtual production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

As well as having a wonderful voice and great work ethic, Greg is a talented composer. At GCSE, he did not have the confidence to notate his fantastic compositions and we spent many a lunchtime together transcribing his ideas, but he always used these as learning opportunities, and by the time he was studying his A-levels he was confidently scoring pieces for full orchestra, not to mention writing a musical for his Extended Project Qualification!

It was a source of immense personal pride when Greg was awarded a place at Cambridge University to study Music, and even more so when he was awarded a Choral Scholarship as well!"

We thank Greg and Gil for sharing such special memories, and wish Greg every success in his musical studies and future career.

Congratulations to OP Lottie Jones (Class of 2014), also member of the OP Committee, who this month received the Next Generation Award at the HSBC UK British Franchise Awards.

The Next Generation Award is for franchisees under 30 years of age, who have established a profitable franchise, although they may not come from a business background.

Lottie's franchise, Onside Coaching - Coventry and East Warwickshire, is a sports coaching business providing active childcare all year round; in term-time offering high quality Physical Education and Forest School, and in school holidays offering active, affordable holiday courses where children can try new skills, make friends and create memories in a safe environment.

Comments Lottie, "To be shortlisted was an honour, but to come away with the trophy at the end of the night was beyond extraordinary. I am truly honoured and humbled to receive the award. This recognition is not just for me, but my entire Dream Team - from sports coaches and wraparound practitioners to part time holiday staff - and their hard work, dedication, and determination.”

She continues, “When I started my franchise journey, I had a vision to grow a sport’s coaching business to help children learn skills they could use throughout their lives. I truly believed that Onside could make an impact on the local community. Six years on, I have accomplished and grown my vision more than I ever thought was possible. As I look to the future, I am incredibly excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. We’re committed to continuing to innovate, to grow and to make a positive impact on as many young people’s lives as possible."

Many congratulations to Lottie; we wish her every success with her business.

Freya Mills served as Head of School for the academic year 2022-2023, alongside Pratheesh Prabakaran. She attended Princethorpe from Year 7 through to Upper Sixth, leaving in 2023 after studying Biology, Chemistry and Psychology at A-level, with EPQ.

Freya is currently in her first year studying Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at the University of Nottingham, and she has kindly shared with us her experiences so far and insights into the pathway she has chosen. You can read Freya's full story on Princethorpe Connect, here, but below are some of the highlights:

"I have wanted to be a vet since I was young. I grew up in a rural area, helped during lambing season since I was seven and have always worked with animals, with a passion for being their advocate. At Princethorpe, my GCSE and A-level Biology teachers encouraged my passion for biology and anatomy and the workings of living organisms. So, Veterinary was the obvious choice for me!

My first term at Nottingham has been amazing. I chose Nottingham because of how practical the course is compared to other Vet schools. We have had practical sessions since day one, including equine handling, dog behaviour management, cranial nerve examinations and ultrasound scanning. The abattoir visit was also incredibly interesting, as we learnt about the biosecurity and food standards that vets are involved with to assess meat entering the human food chain, as well as the ethics of the slaughter process.

In my free time, I have joined the tennis and clay pigeon shooting societies, which have both been incredibly fun and have great socials. VetSoc is the main society for Vet students, and they host many workshops, talks and handling sessions which are always great to go to. They also host the annual Vet Ball, which is the biggest and most iconic VetSoc social each year.

I am really looking forward to Years 4 and 5 which are the clinical years, where we get to go out into practice and learn from licensed vets. I would tell anyone going into Veterinary Medicine that is it hard, but once you understand it and start your clinical applications, it truly is the best degree and job to be doing.

The opportunities I gained from being Head of School helped immensely with my confidence, public speaking, leadership and teamwork skills. These skills I acquired at Princethorpe have allowed me to perform well in my Clinical Relevance sessions and to handle huge responsibilities in giving my patients the best care possible. I’ll always look back on my time at Princethorpe feeling extremely lucky to have been given so many amazing opportunities and inspiration, and meeting the most amazing people."

Thank you, Freya, for sharing your story. We wish you every success as you continue your studies.

Having left Princethorpe in 2018 as a student and then in 2019 after completing a year as a Teaching Assistant at the College, Ben Haden, went off to the south west of England.  He achieved a 2:1 from Exeter University for his Undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences and then went on to the Penryn Campus where he completed his Masters degree in Marine Vertebrate Ecology and Conservation achieving a 2:1 with Merit.

Ben remained in the south west and secured a three month Internship at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, working with both newly rescued seals to rehabilitate them back to the wild and also longer term residents of the sanctuary unable to be returned to their natural habitat.  The internship concluded in December 2024 but within a few weeks Ben was interviewed for a full time trainee post at the sanctuary and commenced work on a full time basis in February.

This post was on a 12-month basis with a view to qualifying as an Animal Care Specialist.  Ben successfully qualified in the role three months early and continues to work and live in Cornwall.  The role is challenging and varied but Ben is very much enjoying being the primary carer for long term residents of the sanctuary and completing rescues and releases along the Cornish coastline.

In addition to his working life Ben also found time out to run and complete the London Marathon in April 2024 together with fellow OP Will Pullen.  They completed the race together in just over 4 hours and raised several thousand pounds for Teenage Cancer Trust and Anthony Nolan respectively.

During the Autumn of 2024, Ben was asked to represent the sanctuary when the Blue Peter cameras visited to film an article on the work they complete.  The programme was aired on 31 January 2025 and is available on i-Player currently.

All in all, Ben has had a very busy and successful year.

We were delighted to receive an update of the latest travel adventures undertaken by former St Mary's Priory pupil, and long-serving member of the OP Committee, Mary Wheildon, whose book of travel anecdotes, To Beach Or Not To Beach, we promoted in the Trinity 2024 newsletter. She was accompanied by fellow former St Mary's pupil, Maria Cordoba Good, who attended our annual reunion for our very special Old Princethorpians, or VSOPS, as they affectionately known, back in September 2024.

Mary takes up the story of their visit to the headquarters of Mary's Meals, a charity close to Princethorpe's heart:

"After a sudden change of holiday destination at the end of August 2024 because of the Syrian war, Maria Cecilia, Cordoba Good and I found ourselves travelling from Doune, Stirlingshire, to Oban for the Inner Hebrides. We were driving towards the village of Dalmally, the home of the wonderful Charity Mary’s Meals (Homepage | Mary's Meals UK).

We drove up the rural bumpy lane and arrived at the Centre, the family home of Magnus Macfarlane-Barrow, the founder of the charity. We wandered around to the 'shed', the epicentre of the charity, and were very soon spotted by a group having a meeting right there within the house opposite.

Ruth, Magnus’ sister, came out to enquire who we were and proceeded to warmly invite us inside for a cup of tea. We were taken to a lounge where we chattered about all things ‘Mary's Meals’. I knew of Princethorpe’s years of support for this wonderful charity and had therefore chosen it for my Warwickshire Women’s Bowling Association charity while being President during 2020 - 2021.

Maria Cecilia chatted about where she lived (Key Biscayne, an island off Miami, Florida) whereby Ruth asked if she knew the lady who leads the Florida Mary’s Meals fundraising. Maria Cecilia did! She lives only a mile or so away on the island - small world.

Before leaving I gave Ruth and Magnus a copy of my book, To Beach Or Not To Beach, having told her that for each book signed, a portion goes to Mary's Meals. To date, the charity has benefitted almost £2,000 on the strength of those sales."

Our thanks goes to Mary for sharing this lovely story. If you would like to purchase a copy of Mary's book, you can do so at www.amazon.co.uk.

Bernadette Butterworth, a Princethorpe pupil from 2003 to 2008, got in touch to tell us about the exciting musical milestone she has reached in collaboration with her sister, Jessica (2009 to 2012). Bernadette takes up the story:

"Jessica and I have been working on a musical project called Satellite Fingers, which blends neoclassical music with interactive digital visuals. We are delighted to share that we recently released our first EP, Lockdown Melancholia Vol 1, on 20 January 2025."

She continues, "The project started during the 2020 lockdowns when I composed the first track from my home in Melbourne, Australia, and my sister, who was in England at the time, contributed violin from afar.

This collaboration kept us connected across three countries and has since evolved into a full, immersive, audiovisual experience. When Jess moved to reunite with me in Melbourne in 2023, this marked the start of live performances and the recording of our first EP."

Bernadette provided further insight into her artistic journey: "My path to making music has been anything but conventional. I moved to Melbourne in 2013 to pursue a Masters in Arts and Cultural Management at the University of Melbourne. Over the next decade, I fell in love with the city. What began as a deep curiosity about the creative industries soon became my career. As a Creative Producer, I moved across various fields, from managing a fashion photography studio to working in branding, recruiting for creative and digital advertising, and even producing large-scale TEDxMelbourne events.

More recently, I worked in an art gallery, where I had the opportunity to contribute to an exhibition featuring Daniel Johns of Silverchair. This experience helped me make connections within the music industry, including pitching Satellite Fingers and securing an artist residency.

Though I never set out to be an artist myself, preferring to work behind the scenes, the pandemic and Melbourne’s 262-day lockdown shifted everything for me. Lockdown Melancholia is a two-part project that reflects my experience during the pandemic, and the first volume is a neoclassical instrumental album that captures my journey through grief, healing, and reflection during that time. Jess and I began creating an immersive audiovisual experience featuring my husband’s digitally projected visuals, but, since then the project has grown, with performances at Melbourne’s Science Gallery and the classical music venue, Tempo Rubato.

My unconventional path has allowed me to build invaluable connections and gain insights from behind the scenes, so sharing this labour of love with the world feels like a natural step."

Satellite Fingers are currently working on completing the full album, aiming for a 2026 release, and we wish Bernadette and Jessica every success.

You can listen to Satellite Fingers' EP, Lockdown Melancholia Vol. 1, on Spotify, or follow Satellite Fingers on Instagram, at https://www.instagram.com/satellitefingers/

When Molly left Princethorpe in 2023, like many others, she was unsure what career path to take. She decided to take a year out but it wasn't long before a potential pathway emerged for her. Molly explains:

"I was uncertain about what I wanted my career path to be, so when I found a vacancy for a marketing internship I saw it as a great chance to explore the field of Marketing. I applied, got it, and had the incredible opportunity to work as a marketing intern for Farncombe Estate, a hotel chain in the Cotswolds.

With Farncombe Estate’s in-house marketing team, I worked closely with various team members, gaining great insights into different aspects of the industry. I particularly enjoyed contributing to videography and photography projects, as well as enhancing the brand's social media presence. 

My six-month internship extended into a ten-month internship, after which I was offered a full-time role alongside a degree apprenticeship. Whilst this was an incredible opportunity, I decided to pursue my studies at university, having gained the clarity I needed regarding my future career direction."

Molly is now in her first year studying Business and Marketing Management at Nottingham Trent University. We wish her well with her studies and future career.

Former Crackley Hall pupil and OP, Toby Lee, is making his mark on the music industry, having started young as the first original Zack Mooneyham in the West End production of School of Rock the Musical, and worked hard to forge a career that belies his tender age of 20.

Toby's new single, Count on Me, was released in January, and he has just created a Spotify Playlist of tracks that inspired him while writing it, which he hopes listeners will enjoy.

Comments Toby, "It’s been so amazing hearing it on the radio as I’ve been driving around - also getting lots of messages from friends every time they hear it!"

The release of this single follows some impressive industry recognition of his talents, as in January he won the Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award at the UK Americana Awards. 

Toby will be heading out on tour over April and May, and you can book tickets and find out more about Toby on his website, www.toby-lee.com.

We wish Toby every success with the sales of his new single and his future career.