Old Princethorpians

Judy Vick a mainstay of the College's dedicated cleaning team has been recognised for 40 years of service to Princethorpe.

She was presented with her award, a new flatscreeen TV and CD player, by Mark Johnson, Estates Manager.

Judy, who now has six grandchildren, first came to the College when her own three children were small, working first as a cleaner, then moving into the bustling laundry.

The laundry, now Photography, was a hive of activity with the College at the peak of boarding. Judy was appointed by Matron, Maria Lawless, and fondly remembers the boarders who brought their clothes and bedding down every week for washing and pressing.  This alongside the linen of the MSCs and all the sports kit meant there was never a dull moment for Judy and her colleagues including Mrs Flavell and Mrs Mercer.

Nowadays Judy is often to be seen with her colleagues Lester and Cynthia keeping the College spick and span.

Comments Judy, "I have very happy memories of all my time at Princethorpe, there's been lots of fun and friendship, it's been a huge part of my life and still is!"

We thank Judy for all her hard work and ever cheery disposition!

Going into the inaugural AROPS Old Girls Hockey Tournament on Sunday 13 September, the OPs were feeling quietly confident after a successful outing earlier in the month against the College at the OPs Sports Day.  Having played recently together may well have given them the upper hand as the tournament unfolded.

Captain Letty Heath was ably supported by an strong squad of fellow past pupils including Carmen Simpson, Millie Bray, Ellie Eaton, Lucy Fisher, Jodie Fisher and Izzy Powell plus for this first event members of teaching staff Rachel Mack, Lil Gane and Debs Brookes.

The tournament held at the Coventry Schools Astro  was the first national event of its kind. Our girls were taking on old rivals the Old Coventrians but also the unknown quantity of the Old Queenswoodians from Hertfordshire. 

Playing against King Henry’s first Princethorpe settled into their groove quickly, dominating play with excellent passing and movement. The 6 – 0 final score was fully justified. Next was Old Queenswoodians who were highly competitive and their squad held a number of talented hockey players. The opening exchanges were extremely tight and it wasn’t until Princethorpe broke their resistance with 2 quick goals in succession before half time that the game was won. In the second half Princethorpe controlled the possession and created many opportunities as the game wore on and with some excellent finishing Princethorpe secured another 6 – 0 victory.  

At the end of the tournament Letty Heath was delighted and proud to receive the brand new AROPS Cup from organiser Shaun Schofield.

Comments, Princethorpe Director of Sport, Neil McCollin, “I am extremely proud of the girls for their achievement. It was great to see the quality that we had in all areas on the pitch and the joy and competitive nature that playing for Old Princethorpians brought out in them all. As pupils they would have spent a lot of time playing at Coventry Schools astro – Warwickshire cup tournaments, fixtures against King Henry’s and Bablake – and therefore to add another layer of success for the Old Princethorpians on that pitch is tremendous. Huge thanks to Letty for organising the side and to the staff who turned out this year to help with the fixture. I look forward to the girls retaining the title next year."

AROPS are keen to hold the tournament again next year with more teams involved and the OPs plan to be there defending their title.

A good day down at Kenilworth RFC on Sunday 6 September with a very strong turnout of 28 players ready to represent the Old Princethorpians, led to a never in doubt 24-19 victory to the OPs. Players ranged from boys who have just left the college, to those who have been gone for a number of years, including OPs Chairman, Peter Rollason.

The opening exchanges were full of surprisingly good rugby as a number of boys put on their boots for the first time in quite a while! Kenilworth got across the line twice in the first half and with one, long range, first half try from Mitch Cook, the half time score was 12-5 to the Babas.

The second half was a nip and tuck affair; a converted try from Chris Easton leveled the scores and one from Tom McNevin put us in a strong position, only for Kenilworth to score a late try to lead 19-17. With only a few minutes left, a long-range effort from Man of the Match Chris Easton and a cracking conversion from Dom Owens settled the result at 24-19. T

he benefit of rolling subs, a large squad and 4x20 minute periods allowed us to keep a fresh team on the pitch throughout the game, which certainly benefited some players more than others.

More important than the result on this day was the reason the game was being played, with many of Wallis’ old school teammates playing. It was a fantastic game, played in good spirits with a fantastic turn out from both players and supporters.

Harry O'Brien 

A fantastic day of sport was staged on Saturday 29 August when Old Princethorpians and current pupils came together for the annual OPs Sports Day. On the day the OPs take on the College for the honour of raising the Alex Wallis Memorial Shield and John Shinkwin Trophy (in their fourth and seventh years respectively). 

The sun shone brightly and it was a great day in terms of numbers attending with plenty of new 'old' faces both playing and supporting the teams.  There was much reminiscing, sharing of great memories and catching up with old friends as the Princethorpe community young, old, past and present came together.

It was always going to be a huge challenge for the College players with the Old Princethorpian teams able to pick teams with the cream of players from the last few years.  Up to half time many of the games were evenly matched, but in the second halves the OPs got the upper hand to clinch wins across the board.

All the College boys and girls showed great mental and physical stamina and the lessons learnt from the day are invaluable ones that will benefit them for the up and coming season.

At the after-match meal the Old Princethorpians were proclaimed the victors, retaining the John Shinkwin Trophy for Rugby 64 - 5 and the overall Alex Wallis Memorial Shield 101 - 25.

Sports Results:

Girls Hockey
Princethorpe College 2 - 4 Old Princethorpians

Boys Hockey
Princethorpe College 0 - 7 Old Princethorpians

Girls Netball
Princethorpe College 18 - 26 Old Princethorpians

Boys Rugby
Princethorpe College 5 - 64 Old Princethorpians

The touch line and games fields have been a huge part of the lives of all who attend the College and we hope that the OP Sports Day allows all who participate to keep in touch with their old school and continue to play a part in the life of the Princethorpe family.

Next year the OPs Sports Day will form a major part of the College's Golden Jubilee 'Princefest' Celebrations on the weekend of Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September 2016.  Plans for the sport include a larger number of College and OP teams taking part in the girls' and boys' hockey and netball. 

Princefest on Saturday will culminate in a music festival and firework display, with a more relaxed day on the Sunday. Keep reading the Old Princethorpian for more details of the Princefest weekend.

Please click here to see a gallery of pictures from the event.

Many who have visited Princethorpe in the last year or so will have noticed that the old Woodhouse Hotel close to the College had been demolished and the site cleared. Progress has been slow but building work has recently started in earnest with a soaring red steel structure appearing in the last few weeks. 

The architects, HB Architects of Rugby, have confirmed that the project is intended to provide a conferencing facility and wedding destination with a traditional 'country house' feel, conservatory style restaurant and contemporary cocktail bar.

There will be 40 contemporary bedroom suites within the property. The gardens will be re-landscaped and a new car park provided on the frontage. The conference facility will be located in a semi basement under the hotel which provides it with excellent sound reducing qualities and a panoramic window arrangement is proposed facing the gardens looking out over the rolling countryside.

The project is due for completion by Christmas 2016.

We will watch the project with interest as we hope it will provide comfortable accommodation for Old Princethorpians when returning to the College for reunions and events in the future.

Click on the pdf below to view artist's impressions of the new build.

Woodhouse New Project.pdf

OPs Nigel Hall, Jerry Peacock and Mark Deacon had their own OPs reunion when they met up with their wives at the Seven Stars Inn, Bottlesford, Wiltshire earlier in the summer.

They enjoyed a good lunch and a couple of beers in the 17th century thatched pub in the Wiltshire countryside. Unsurprisingly the conversation was around school and what they have been doing since leaving, holidays, and what they wish to do once they actually get around to retiring.

Nigel comments, "It was good to catch up with the old friends with their wives. If there are any OPs in the Berks, Hants, or Wilts area who want to establish a local chapter of OPs then we could look into this."

If you might be interested in meeting up with this group please email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk and we will put you in touch.

Image shows from left to right. Mark Deacon, Nigel Hall, Stephanie Peacock, Susie Hall, Sue Deacon, Jerry Peacock.

Many congratulations to former Headmaster, Fr Dan O'Connor, who celebrated his own Golden Jubilee of 50 years of priesthood in the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, this summer in Cork with his family and confreres.

Alex Darkes, who was a pupil at Princethorpe from 1968 to 1975, writes of his fond memories of Fr Dan.

Dan O’Connor was one of the MSC clergy who was already here when I arrived at Princethorpe as an eleven-year-old in September 1968, when John Kevin Fleming was head. Dan took over from Bill Clarkson as Dean, when Bill rose to the headship a year later. I always think of Dan looking eternally youthful, something which he has managed to perfect! He was well established as a Maths teacher – later becoming Head of Maths - and of course, has always loved his sport, particularly rugby and squash. Always known as “Dan” to everyone  (staff and pupils alike; how cheeky was that?) he managed to cleverly tread a path which meant that as a strong disciplinarian everyone was always slightly frightened of him, yet the humility, fairness and kindness which shone through always won everyone’s unequivocal respect. His teaching was much revered; he always took the top Maths set and to get into that group was seen as something of a trophy. But could he shout?! Always though with a glint in his eye, as he persistently banged the chalk against the board, much to the consternation and amusement to those in the adjacent classroom, where they expected that he might come through the wall at any moment…

It was when he became the Form Master of E1 in September 1972 that I really got to know him. He was wonderfully supportive and always there to help and encourage us. I realised quickly that the bark was much worse than the bite. To come back to Princethorpe to teach and find him as a colleague in 1979, was wonderfully rewarding and we have kept in touch ever since. He found himself thrust into the limelight overnight when he took over as Headmaster in 1982. He always gave the impression that he would have been happier on the back benches, yet he carried out the role in a wonderfully professional way, always appreciative, motivational and wonderfully considerate. He also never forgot his marvellous sense of humour. His stewardship only came to a close when he became unwell and he was always amused that he ended up on the same hospital ward as Jonathan Hall, the then head of Arnold Lodge in Leamington Spa, so they had plenty to talk about! Mercifully both made full recoveries. It was no surprise to see Dan as the Community Superior and a long-term member of the Provincial Council.

His quiet, unassuming support and kindness came to the fore when he represented the Provincial at the funeral of my mother in 2004, flying over from Cork specially. I had no idea that he would attend and there could have been no kinder or more appreciated gesture. Typically Dan.

Congratulations on your Golden Jubilee!

Lesley Topham, our superb catering manager for the past nine years left us during the summer and moves to a new job at Sedbergh in Cumbria. Lesley’s memorable stewardship at Princethorpe was always marked by her great cheer, lively personality and a marvellous “can do” approach. Lesley was as happy providing daily lunches as she was managing the food for formal dinners, weddings, barbecues and outdoor events.

An enthusiastic dressage rider, one of Lesley’s tasks last term was to provide hospitality for the Two Day Event, which she was also able to attend as a spectator on the day of the cross country. Those who attended commented that they had eaten the best lunch at any equestrian event ever!

Colleagues presented Lesley with flowers and gifts on her last day at Princethorpe. We wish her well in her new job; Lesley will be hugely missed at Princethorpe.

Those who have been following the progress of the new building at Crackley can’t fail to have noticed that the roof on the main hall is nearly finished and  the roofers have started to add the roof lights and waterproof membrane. Other parts of the building are already watertight, with the electrical first fix well under way. The last of the floor slabs is now being completed and then the screed will follow over the next two weeks. Brick work is just about done and then there will be the big task of plastering internally and fitting out.

Company Managing Director, Nick Henderson, of Southam-based contractors, Trendgrey, has kindly said that Crackley pupils wearing protective equipment and hi-vis jackets will be able to have a sneak preview inside the £2m project towards the end of September. Children and staff have eagerly followed the progress from upstairs windows over the last twenty-six weeks.

The new play surface has been completed with a special porous tarmac and over the next fortnight the splay onto Fennyland Lane and the new gates will be finished.

Headmaster, Robert Duigan commented, “The new east end development at Crackley will give the school outstanding facilities which fit totally with its aspirations. We gain a superb new hall which will allow all of the school to meet together in a bright, modern and uplifting space. Musicians will gain a new home in specially designed accommodation and we win two state-of-the-art classrooms which will be fully equipped with IT”. He continued: “This is also an opportunity to say thanks to everyone involved with the school and the local community for putting up with disruption during the build, but we know that any short term pains will give the school huge long term gains”.

The outstanding contemporary design is the brainchild of Tony Pugh of local architects AT Architects in Leamington Spa, who completed the £4.5m 14-classroom Limes project at Princethorpe College in 2014. The scheme will provide the school with a much needed 240-seat multi-purpose hall, two classrooms, four specialist music teaching rooms and a large tutorial room. The hall will be fitted with sports equipment, a demountable stage and full lighting and sound facilities. Work is due to be completed for Spring 2016.

Once again Princethorpe pupils have performed well in the public examinations.

Out of a cohort of 102 Upper Sixth Formers at Princethorpe, the overwhelming majority have gained entry into the universities of their choice with over a quarter of all grades at A* or A and over three-quarters of all grades at C or better. In addition, over 70% of the students were awarded the Princethorpe Diploma, encompassing academic success, work experience, extra-curricular achievement and service to others in the community.

Headmaster, Ed Hester, said that he was delighted with the results; “We have had more top grades than ever before and the results show how the hard work of both students and staff has been rewarded. Whilst we are of course delighted with their academic achievements, these students have many other fine qualities: kindness, respect and a strong sense of right and wrong which will be as important for them - if not more so - as they move on to the next phase of their lives. I am delighted they have been rewarded for their efforts; we all wish them well for the future”, he commented.

From a cohort of 134 GCSE candidates at Princethorpe, a third of grades are at A* or A, over 60% at grade B or better and 14 pupils achieved at least ten A* or A grades.

There were many distinguished performances, but the best individual results were from Alana Eckland who achieved 13 A* grades.

Headmaster, Ed Hester, continued, “I am delighted that the vast majority of this cohort will continue into our wonderful Sixth Form."

The College's Golden Jubilee plans for 2016-17 are taking shape.

Various committees are taking forward different elements of the year including Princefest on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September, a weekend of celebrations including the established OPs Sports Day plus fun for all the family, stalls, entertainment, food and music, culminating in a firework display on the Saturday night. Followed by a more relaxed Sunday including Mass, brunch, tours of the College and time for OPs to meet up.

A Golden Jubilee Prayer book is being produced as a keepsake for all current pupils and a commemorative Golden Jubilee book charting the College's history, mainly in pictures, from the times of the Benedictines to the present day, will be launched as part of the anniversary celebrations.

Plans also include a special MSC event, which will take place on 8 December, a cycling pilgrimage between Issoudun and Montargis and a Jubilee Ball as a finale to the year.

More details will be released in the next edition of the Old Princethorpian, to register your interest in any of the Golden Jubilee elements please email goldenjubilee@princethorpe.co.uk.   

The Old Princethorpians' Summer Supper on the evening Friday 12 June was a fabulous night and fitting farewell for Peter Griffin who retired this summer after 37 years of service to the College. Colleagues Kenny Owen and Bernie Moroney spoke eloquently and affectionately about Peter's time at the College before handing over to the main man himself.

This year's supper, attended by some 90 past pupils and current and former members of staff, also provided a focus for a landmark 40th anniversary reunion for the leavers of 1975, a significant number of leavers from 1977 also gave them a run for their money! This approach of focusing on specific year groups seems to work well so the OPs Committee have decided to make this event a focus for OPs celebrating their 10th, 20th, 30th and 40th anniversary of leaving the College in future.

Longstanding members of staff were recognised including Margaret Robinson who celebrates 25 years at the College and Registrar Loretta Curtis who after 17 years is moving from admissions into the role of Development Secretary.

Comments OPs Chairman, Peter Rollason, "Friday night summed up everything that is good about Princethorpe College and it was wonderful that so many OPs could be a part of it. I feel that Peter Griffin must take a huge amount of credit for all the love, care, attention and sheer professionalism that he has given to the institution during his time here and we wish him and his wife, Liz, a wonderful and well deserved retirement."

He continued, "A huge thank you to the College's wonderful catering, maintenance and grounds staff who worked so hard on the Committe's behalf and made the evening go so well. Here's to next year!"

The University Women's Club in Mayfair proved to be a superb venue for the annual Old Princethorpians London Meet last Friday 15 May.

The evening social in the Club's fantastic Library attracted more OPs than ever before, including plenty of new faces from across the decades. The group included longstanding teachers Alex Darkes and Peter Griffin, along with OPs Chairman, Peter Rollason and Headmaster, Ed Hester.

The OPs mingled over drinks and canapés, swapping stories and catching up on news.

Comments Peter Rollason, "Following on from last year's event at the East India Club, we decided that the University Women's Club should be our next venue to publicise the great deal for lady leavers as part of Princethorpe's HMC connection.  The staff at the club really made us welcome.

"It was great to see such a good number of OPs in attendance and the generations mixing with such good humour and fun. We hope everyone had a good time!"