Welcome to the thirteenth issue of The Old Princethorpian, Princethorpe College's termly e-newsletter for past pupils, staff and parents, old and new.

The newsletter aims to keep OPs in touch with each other and news, developments and events at the College.

This issue includes news of a Golden Jubilee Brainstorm, Fr Teddy's tales from Hong Kong, a profile of OP Carl Tranter, and the latest College developments and OP stories.

If you have any comments on the e-newsletter or news to contribute to the next issue, which is due out in October, please email us at oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

The next OPs event is the London Pub and Pizza Meet on Friday 17 May at The Guinea, Bruton Place, Mayfair, followed by Pizza Express.  We'd love to see you there if you can make it along!

Have a great Summer!

Preview

News

Golden Jubilee Countdown - Brainstormers Needed

Plans for the College's Golden Jubilee in 2016-2017 continue apace.  OPs are starting to register their interest in some of the events already planned and to offer their ideas and help towards other OP specific events during what we hope will be a year of celebrations.

Sammi Tooze (2003- 2008) and Steve Ollis (1975-1982) are two OPs who have already come forward to get involved.

To kick start the planning, the OP Committee are organising a Golden Jubilee Brainstorm at the College on Sunday 30 June from 10.30am to 12.00pm in the Sixth Form Centre, all are welcome to come and contribute ideas, please email Old Princethorpians to let them know to expect you. The Brainstorm is just before the OPs Picnic and the College Summer Fete and Motoring Festival.

We are also keen to get representatives from each decade involved to help encourage attendance at events from across the generations and to contribute their memories and photographs to the book. If this is something you would be interested in doing please email Old Princethorpians to register your interest.

Dates for the diary:

  • Jubilee Festival Day - Saturday 3 September 2016 An informal event to include OPs Sports Day, tours of school and entertainment, culminating in a hog roast and firework display in the evening.
  • Jubilee Ball - Saturday 1 July 2017
    A formal black tie event to take place in a marquee in the grounds.
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East India Club Membership Offer - Reminder

As a benefit of the Headmaster's membership of HMC, the East India Club in St James's Square, London is offering full membership to Princethorpe gentlemen school leavers at a special rate.

The offer can be taken up within 18 months of leaving school, and provides membership to 31 December following their 25th birthday for the one off sum of £350 in 2013.  If you would like more information please call Sandra Prendiville, Membership Secretary at the East India Club on 020 7930 1000.

For more information on the East India Club please go to their website www.eastindiaclub.co.uk.

Old Princethorpian Gets A Facelift

No, this isn't some sorry story of botox and liposuction, we're pleased to announce that The Old Princethorpian e-newsletter will have a new fresher look for its next edition in October.

The look will tie in more with the College's new website and, importantly based on feedback from OPs, there will be larger format photographs.

If anyone has any other suggestions for changes to the format or new ideas please email Old Princethorpians in the next few weeks.

Dont forget you can also catch up with news by following the College on Twitter @PrincethorpeCol and on Facebook either Princethorpe College or Old Princethorpians.

Skills Bank - Interviews Skills Day 2013 and Careers Fair 2014

As in previous years we are looking for help from Old Princethorpians with our Interview Skills Day for our Upper Sixth Formers on Thursday 17 October 2013 at Princethorpe.

The day will begin at 9.00am with coffee in the Sixth Form refectory and an introductory talk for interviewers. The pupils will arrive from 10.00am onwards for their individual interviews. Many of the pupils will be applying for university courses, although some will be expecting to apply directly for jobs.  The type of interview offered will reflect what the pupil is hoping to do.  We anticipate that each interview will last approximately 30 minutes [20 minutes interview time and 10 minutes verbal feedback].  Written feedback from interviewers giving both areas of strength and areas for improvement for the pupil, tutors and Head of Sixth Form to work with would also be much appreciated.

The day will end at 3.30pm, with a break for lunch between 1.00pm and 2.00pm.

If you are able to help us with our interviews for all, or part of, our Interview Day please email margaretrobinson@princethorpe.co.uk or call 01926 634234 by Friday 14 June 2013.

Careers Fair 2014

We are also looking ahead to our next Careers Fair, which will take place on Saturday 29 March 2014, once again we will be looking for speakers on a wide range of different professions and careers and for organisations to take part in the Fair. If you are interested in getting involved please email melaniebutler@princethorpe.co.uk.

Margaret Robinson
Head of Sixth Form and Careers 

Towering Bravery As College Girls Abseil Historic Building

Twenty Princethorpe College girls have made College history by being the first pupils ever to abseil down the 100ft Chapel tower. As part of a drive to raise funds for their summer 2013 South Africa sporting tour the girls from Year 11 and Lower Sixth set themselves this once in a lifetime challenge. 

With only a light wind and perfect blue skies there was nothing to hold back the dare devil students from tackling the descent. Under the supervision of outdoor education specialists Peak Pursuits participants were kitted up in helmets and harnesses before being given their safety brief. First over the top was Sixth Former Lettie Heath followed by Ellie Lewis. Both girls led the way effortlessly abseiling the 100ft drop to cheers from waiting class mates on the ground.

Ellie described the event,

“There were a lot of nerves waiting at the top. It was really scary being that high up. The worst part was climbing the ladder to actually get yourself over the ledge. At that point you knew there was no turning back. You just had to listen to the instructions and take it slowly. Getting to the bottom felt fantastic, it was really emotional.”

A surprise appearance mid way through the afternoon was made by Princethorpe Head teacher Mr Ed Hester. Sporting full climbing gear he also made the 100ft descent to spur on those waiting their turn. He commented,

“The South Africa tour is a major event in the Princethorpe Sporting calendar. We always urge pupils to take responsibility for raising part of the cost of the trip themselves and this year the girls have impressed us all with their tenacity and community spirit.”

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Princethorpe’s Tower Of Strength To Beat Cardiac Sarcoma

Eight hundred and twenty Princethorpe College pupils formed the shape of a human Tower to show their support for cancer charity Team Bryant. Students wore house coloured shirts in red, blue, green and yellow to reconstruct the College’s iconic architectural feature. With each child making a donation it is hoped that the total raised by the event will be in excess of £800.

Princethorpe College House Co-ordinator Miss Rosie Hase explained the personal connection to the charity.

“Joanna Bryant was a close friend and fellow hockey player of two colleagues. She was diagnosed with Cardiac Sarcoma at the age of 29 in February 2012. Her defining motto was ‘never, never give up.’ Whilst fighting the disease Jo made a pledge to raise awareness of this rare cancer form and so Team Bryant was established. Famous faces such as Boris Johnson, Jess Ennis and even Prince Harry have supported her fight using the slogan ‘GO JB.’ Tragically, Jo’s struggle came to an end in January of this year. Princethorpe House Captains decided that the image of the Tower, representing the strength and ethos of the College, was the best way to show our continuing support for the work that Jo started.

Due to recent poor weather conditions the event has had to be postponed twice already this year but thankfully today, the sun shone and for one brief moment eight hundred faces were upturned and smiling in the face of adversity.”

Trustees Agree New Classroom Block Build

The College's plans for a new 15 classroom block on the side of the existing Sports Centre has been agreed by the trustees.

Tendering is in process for the £4.5 million project and work will start this Summer.

Comments Alex Darkes, Assistant Head - Marketing and Operations, "The build will provide 15 extra classrooms for English and Modern Foreign Languages with additional ICT facilities. Crucially it will allow us to cluster all departments within the school and remove the portacabins by the playground."

He adds, "The new block should be open for business in September 2014 and like the Sixth Form Centre and restored Roundhouse before it, we're sure will have a very beneficial effect on life at the College."

Princethorpe Enjoys Unprecedented Demand For Places

Princethorpe is enjoying unprecedented demand for places for entry to the school in September 2013.

After a bumper exam session in January, some 130 children have now accepted places in Year 7 for the coming academic year. As a result the College will be putting on six Year 7 forms in September.

Headmaster, Ed Hester, comments, “Princethorpe is a very special place. All our staff work tremendously hard to give each and every pupil the best possible education. With exceptional teaching, our children achieve great success both in and out of the classroom and with our emphasis on core values such as kindness, respect and friendship we feel that when they leave us, our pupils are properly equipped for life’s challenges."

He continued, "We are delighted that so many families are choosing Princethorpe and we are looking forward to this very talented year group starting in September.”

Image shows six of the incoming Year 7 pupils with Ed Hester, from left to right, Robert Hedderwick (The Crescent), Callum Cooke (Provost Williams), Katie Duigan (Crackley Hall), Jessy Butler (Telford Juniors), Aidan O’Rourke (St Mary's Immaculate) and Chloe Johnson (Our Lady's Princethorpe).

Hong Kong Trips Shows Relationships Have Stood The Test Of Time

The email which from Alan Young in October said simply: 'can you and Fr O'Connor find a week to come to Hong Kong?'

By sheer chance, I had met Alan some years previously as I rehearsed for a wedding in Princethorpe. Little did Dan and I realise just what a marvellous and memorable experience it was to be. As we emerged from the airport on an unusually warm Spring afternoon to be greeted enthusiastically by twelve former Princethorpe pupils, it seemed, in a sort of uncanny way, as we had been apart but for a very short time instead of the 40+ years.

Memories came flooding back as we embraced and came to recognise the boys we knew some forty years ago, each now successful in their respective chosen careers. All had taken some time off work, some indeed the entire week, to be with us. It was gratifying to be remembered and appreciated after such a long time.

Greetings over, we were taken to our residence at the Catholic Cathedral and told: "have a rest, Fathers - we failed to be called Dan and Teddy! - and we will collect you for dinner at 6". At this post-Chinese New Year  party in down-town Hong Kong, we were introduced to some of  the many people we were to meet throughout the following week. Here also we encountered the very high level of hospitality that so pervaded the entire week. Nothing was too much for Alan ('78/81) and his team - Heman Lam (78/79), Vitus Leung (78/82), Nelson Ngai (75/80), Stephen Yeung (71/74)  - together with those others who daily escorted us to the prominent tourist places in Hong Kong. Catering for our every need, they repeatedly thanked us for taken them to places they had never been and for bringing them together.

What became so clear as we spent each day with different past pupils was the depth of the relationship that had survived the test of some forty years. Their memories - and ours - of specific events disguised the deep appreciation that they felt for what they received at Princethorpe. Sharing of these memories proved also life-giving to Dan and myself as they validated the MSC commitment to education at Princethorpe College from the 60s onwards.

Those we met first made that long journey from Hong Kong when they were but 11 or 12 years old. They spoke with great humour of a favourite meal they liked - chip butties "because they filled us up" - and their oriental self-catering ("Ted never knew that was going on", "of course he did") as they spoke of their efforts to disguise the smell of oriental cooking in the then Sixth Form wing.    

The spirit of the week was appropriately summed up on the Sunday morning as Dan and I concelebrated Mass in the cathedral in the company of those who looked after us throughout the week. We were  applauded by the congregation as another Cork priest welcomed us. The emotion was tangible throughout the Mass - our hosts could be seen shedding tears - as Dan remarked to Alan Young: "just like the old days......".  After Mass we shared dim sum - breakfast or brunch to the uninitiated - which, translated, means 'a little bit of heart'. Indeed this gathering of families in a huge restaurant has stayed with me, as do memories of the many places visited and the variety of culinary delights that we shared: their welcome was palpably heartfelt. Their generosity - in giving of their time and resources was magnificent; their attention to detail and their concern to attend to our every need was, at times, overwhelming. We did not repay them because we could not and rightly so - theirs was a gift to us, a gift that we welcomed with gratitude.

A typical day saw us taken first to Stanley Market, a must for shopaholics who covet designer goods, then on to lunch hosted each time by a different Old Princethorpian. Then on to Deep Water Bay for a stroll by the sea after which we went to The Peak, the highest point in Hong Kong with a 360 degrees panoramic view of Hong. Then it was off to Happy Valley Racecourse in the evening, an adjustment to the planned itinerary because I mentioned that Fr Bill and myself liked the occasional flutter during the winter months at Princethorpe! We were guests of the Hong Kong Jockey Club for dinner, indicative of the influence exercised by many of the Old Princethorpians in Hong Kong.

Indeed, the many photos would suggest that we spent much time eating - which we did! All the food was delicious - healthy  (mainly steamed) with rice served only at the end of the meal (hence no weight increase during the week!). We were treated to Japanese lunch, Korean dinner (barbequed at the table), Malaysian supper, a Chinese post New year  party and, of course, full English afternoon tea overlooking Hong Kong harbour - and what a stunning view that is. All the while we obeyed the dictum: "do not ask what it is; just eat it!". Paddy Yeung flew down from Bejing to meet us for dinner in Shen Sheng, just inside the border with China. This was an unexpected experience of China - modern, wealthy and alive. On other days, we visited many Buddhist temples, including a 45 minute cable car ride to see the Big Buddha; had Maks Wanton Noodles in the afternoon and a stroll on the Avenue of Stars and some time spent viewing the harbour by night gave ample time for reminiscing.

The Gala Dinner on the Friday evening at the Eight Degrees Hotel was a splendid occasion, attended by some thirty former Princethorpians. It was a delight to meet their families, to be introduced to them and to sense their pride in introducing us to their children - "this is my maths teacher"  they would say about Dan. And they would recall their times sitting by the open fire in my room as Director of Boarders. I am sure now that none of us then appreciated their experience of being so young and so far from home in a truly foreign and quite spartan environment. We drank a toast (with Irish Malt whiskey, what else!), to absent friends and we remembered, in silence, those who had died. Dan and I could but express our gratitude and promise to be there for them should they come, at Ed Hester's invitation, to the Golden Jubilee celebrations at Princethorpe in 2016/2017. Ed Hester's message to them was greatly appreciated, as he honoured the past achievements of the College while expressing his vision for the future. Already there are assurances that some will attend in 2016/2017. When they do come over, they are assured of a great 'dim sum', in the tradition of the College and of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

I am left with the sense of wanting to maintain contact with the Asian Old Princethorpians. They reminded Dan and I of the "good old days" of Princethorpe College and of how important relationships are in the formation of the minds and hearts of young people. When they return in 2016/2017, I sense that, while they will see that much has changed, the spirit that promoted this First Asian Old Princethorpian gathering is alive and well.

I can't wait for the second gathering!

Fr Teddy O'Brien

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Marathon Effort For Emma and Rob

English teacher Emma Litterick completed her nineteenth marathon on Sunday 21 April, by taking part in the London Marathon. With bright blue skies and an entry field of over 36,000 it was an emotional day on so many levels. Starting at Blackheath, the same starting area as the elite women, competitors held an eerie 30 seconds silence in memory of the tragic events that took place in Boston just a week earlier. Many runners wore messages of support on vests, or written on their arms and legs.  All wore black ribbons as a united message of sympathy and camaraderie.

As ever, the race was spectacular taking in some of London’s most magical sights. Despite being a veteran marathon runner, Emma wasn’t quite sure what this year’s 26.2 miles held in store for her as in preceding weeks she had been blighted with injury.

A special moment occurred at mile five where she was high fived by Old Princethorpian and debut marathon runner, Rob Mackenzie. At just 18 years old Rob would have been one of the youngest runners to take part. They exchanged good will messages as the course unfolded.

Running in a full union jack sparkly dress and accompanying tinsel wig Emma felt strong throughout the race and finished in an admirable 3 hours and 30 minutes. She commented, “London is inspiring on so many levels. This year was no exception. Yes I was over taken by Tarzan, men dressed as babies and a storm trooper but to witness the speed and prowess of the elite male runners, as well as those running who were missing limbs or just raising money for charity, is always overwhelming.”

Rob Mackenzie, takes up the story, "I was lucky enough to run in the Virgin London Marathon in April this year. I decided to run the race as a fitness challenge and was lucky enough to secure a ballot place, I chose to run on behalf of Great Ormond Street Hospital. I completed the race in a time 4h 30m, which I was happy with for my first marathon run.

 "A highlight of the race was getting to run with Olympian Iwan Thomas, we stayed together from mile 14 and crossed the line together, during the event I was interviewed on BBC 1 by Colin Jackson. Running the marathon was a surreal experience with thousands of people lining the streets of the capital to cheer you on. The atmosphere was incredible and definitely a life experience. I would definitely like to do London again, and encourage anyone who is looking for a fitness challenge to enter the marathon."

 

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Move To The Merchants Gets OPs Vote Of Approval

On Friday 1 March around 30 Old Princethorpians gathered for the annual March Pub Meet at the new venue of The Merchants Inn, Rugby.

The group was made most welcome by the team at The Merchants, who also laid on a great spread for the hungry OPs.

As well as stalwarts from the OP Committee and past and present members of staff, we were delighted to see some new faces joining us for the evening including, Martin Cakebread, John Redding, Chris Dronfield, Nick Dando and Martin Frampton.

Old Year Books were mulled over with much enthusiasm and memories exchanged, a lovely good-humoured evening for all. Thanks to OP Sean Kerrigan for liaising with The Merchants.

The next OPs event is the Pub and Pizza Night in London on Friday 17 May. See events section for details.

We hope to see you there!

Events

Kaizen Walk 2013

July 2012 saw the launch of Kaizen Walk where ten teams of friends, families and work colleagues got together at Princethorpe College to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and celebrate their achievement and hard work.

Kaizen Walk is a 24-hour team walking event, running through the night where teams must make sure they have at least one team member on the track at all times. During the 24 hours there are themed laps to keep the participants enthusiasm and creativity going.

Kaizen Walk 2012 raised an astonishing £13,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support Coventry and Warwickshire. All money raised goes to helping those affected by cancer in our local area; for example £100 could pay for a Macmillan nurse for four hours.

Kaizen Walk 2013 is taking place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July within the College grounds, if you, your friends and family would like to get involved or would like some further information please do not hesitate to get in touch. The deadline for registering your team is Wednesday 5 June.

You can email Hannah Knowles, the event Chairperson on eventinfo@kaizenwalk.co.uk or phone 07585 338896, alternatively visit our website www.kaizenwalk.co.uk, Facebook page www.facebook.com/KaizenWalk and follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/KaizenWalk.

Eighteenth Princethorpe Motoring Festival

Sunday 30 June 2013

2013 sees our eighteenth Motoring Festival at Princethorpe, which takes place on the same afternoon as the Summer Fête – 30 June. Invitations have been extended to motoring clubs and already many parents and friends have agreed to bring along cars, motorbikes and commercials. There will be rally plaques for all pre-booked vehicles and awards for self-judged competitions.

There will be another informal morning road run of about 30 miles through local countryside, with a route book. Vehicles taking part in the run need to arrive at Princethorpe for 11.00am. Food will be available for a nominal charge on return to Princethorpe at lunch-time, or feel free to bring a picnic. The Festival is open to anyone keen to bring any sort of classic, vintage, veteran or interesting vehicle along for the afternoon. We are also still keen to hear from anyone in the motor trade who might be able to sponsor one of the awards. Motor clubs will be most welcome; please get in touch.

Telephone enquiries to Alex Darkes on 01926 634207 Fax 01926 633365 e-mail alexdarkes@princethorpe.co.uk

Click on this link to take you to the Motoring Festival page http://www.princethorpe.co.uk/news/events/eighteenth-motoring-festival

Or click on this link to book in a vehicle online https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGVZT1pWQ200ZzZ3bHVjVEh6SVRhMUE6MA

 

 

Summer Art, Photography and Design Show

Thursday 27 June - 6.00pm to 8.30pm

The Summer Art, Photography and Design Show, a celebration of our students GCSE, AS and A2 Art, Photography and Design work will take place in the College's Sixth Form Centre on Thursday 27 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm.

This year for the first time ever a wide range of design 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 and OP, "This is a great opportunity to share our students' fantastic creativity with a wider audience and to welcome more art and design lovers to Princethorpe."

All are welcome. If you would like to attend please email Shirley Allen so we can cater for you. Drinks and nibbles will be available.

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College Open Evening And Taster Days For Year 5 Pupils

Wednesday 5 June - 6.30pm to 8.30pm

An Open Evening for prospective pupils and their parents will take place on Wednesday 5 June from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

This will be an informal opportunity to look around the school and to meet pupils and staff. Children can particpate in fun activities in the different departments and the Headmaster will make presentations during the evening.

Year 5 Taster Days

Taster Days are now available for current Year 5 students (children born between 1 September 2002 and 31 August 2003), who are interested in admission to the College in September 2014.

The dates are as follows:

  • Tuesday 21 May
  • Monday 17 June
  • Wednesday 19 June

These days will involve a number of classroom sessions, a tour of the school, lunch and other activities. The days will run from 9.45am to 3.20pm.
Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. To book your child's place telephone the Registrars on 01926 634201 or email elainewarwick@princethorpe.co.uk or lorettacurtis@princethorpe.co.uk.

Taster days for Year 6 children are available in October and November.

Old Princethorpians' Summer Events

There's a whole host of OP events taking place this Summer, literally something for everyone, so we hope to see OPs and their families soon!

London Pub Meet - Friday 17 May 2013 from 6.30pm The popular Old Princethorpians' Summer London Pub Meet takes place on Friday 17 May 2013 at The Guinea, 30 Bruton Place, Mayfair, W1J 6NL (off Berkley Square, nearest tubes Bond Street and Green Park) from 6.30pm. Followed by Pizza Express (23 Bruton Place).

All are welcome to come along for a drink and a catch up!

Summer  Supper Meeting - Tuesday 11 June 2012 6.00pm for tour of school (optional), 7.00pm for drinks, followed by supper at 7.30pm. A relaxed meeting of OPs and former and long-standing staff over supper in the College's Sixth Form Centre Dining Room. RSVP to Old Princethorpians by Monday 3 June please if you would like to come.

OPs Golden Jubilee Brainstorming Session - Sunday 30 June 2013 from 10.30am. Why not come along and join the brainstorming session to discuss ideas for the Golden Jubilee.  All ideas welcome!

OPs Picnic - Sunday 30 June 2013 from 12.00pm The OPs Picnic takes place on Sunday 30 June from 12.00pm on the College's North Lawn by the big cedar tree. This is an informal opportunity for OPs to picnic together before the College's annual Summer Fête and Motoring Festival from 2.00pm to 4.30pm.

Email Old Princethorpians for more information.

Crackley Hall And Little Crackers Summer Open Events

Tuesday 14 May - 5.00pm to 7.30pm

Tuesday 11 June 10.00am to 3.00pm

Crackley Hall, Princethorpe's junior school and nursery in Kenilworth, is opening its doors for two summer Open Events in May and June.

These are great opportunitiies to look around the school and to meet staff and pupils. Light refreshments are available.

All are welcome, no need to book.

If you can't make the Open Events but would like to look around, please call on 01926 514444 and come on a day to suit you. We welcome visitors on most days or, if you have younger children, why not come to our Stay 'n' Play session for 0-4 year olds every Wednesday 10.00am - 11.30am just £2.00 per family.
For more information visit www.crackleyhall.co.uk.

Old Princethorpians Event Calendar 2012 - 2013 - Update

An updated version of the Old Princethorpians event calendar for 2013 is available here for download or visit http://www.princethorpe.co.uk/old-princethorpians for more information on Old Princethorpians.

J1627 PC OP Calendar card web update.pdf

Old Princethorpian Interview

Carl Tranter

Born: 1965   Age: 47

When were you at Princethorpe - years from and to?

From September 1977 to June 1984.  I was a day pupil for the first six years and a weekly boarder for my last year in Upper Sixth.

Originally I am from Leamington Spa although my parents, who are both still alive, retired to South Devon in the late 1990’s.  I now live in Rome.

After leaving Princethorpe I turned down university offers to study French and Philosophy at St Andrews, Dundee or Sheffield and instead accepted an accelerated Management Training Contract with what was then Midland Bank (now HSBC) and worked in various branches in Coventry, Warwick University and Daventry while also studying for professional banking qualifications. In late 1986 and after a couple of years of searching and discerning I left banking and moved to Ireland to begin formation for Priesthood and Religious Life with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC), the order of Priests and Brothers who ran Princethorpe College. 

After seven years of studies and formation (taking degrees in Philosophy and Theology in Ireland) I was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in Princethorpe College Chapel in July 1993, with music provided by the College Choir led by Sue Francis.  I immediately commenced my first ministry appointment in the MSC parish in Tamworth, Staffordshire.  In 1998 I went to Boston, USA to do a two year full-time Masters (M.Ed) in adult education and pastoral theology and then spent the next five years working across England, Ireland, Venezuela and South Africa supporting the formation of lay ministers in the Catholic Church.  During those years I was based in the MSC Community at Princethorpe and also began what would be a very happy and fulfilling 10-year term serving as a Governor and Trustee of the Princethorpe Foundation. 

From 2005 to 2011 I led an international MSC project in inner city Birmingham in a very poor, deprived and predominantly Muslim neighbourhood, working in the areas of inter-faith dialogue, support of refugees and asylum-seekers and cross community ministry.  In September 2011 I was elected to our MSC Congregational Leadership Team based in Rome.  I now spend most of my time travelling to visit our MSC priests and brothers who are working in 55 countries across all five continents.  In the last 12 months alone I have been in India, the Pacific Islands (Fiji, Samoa, Kiribati, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands), Australia, Senegal, Cameroun and most of Europe.  While I miss the type of direct ministry I was doing in Birmingham, this new role is opening my eyes to a much larger reality and allowing me to be part of leading and shaping our MSC mission for the years ahead.  It is great to see the next generation of young and enthusiastic Missionaries of the Sacred Heart passing on the charism and vision of the Order (“to be on earth the Heart of God”) much as it was shared with me at Princethorpe.  In the developing world where education is not universally available we are still beginning new schools (though much less grand than Princethorpe), but are also involved in social ministry, justice and peace work, communication and media, parish ministry, third level education, hospital and university chaplaincy and retreat/spirituality work.

What was the school like in your day?

When I started at Princethorpe it was a much smaller school population than it is today (about half the number of pupils), and it was boys-only.  Each year there was a two-form entry into the First Year classes of A1 and A2.  I can’t remember which year we first had girls in the Sixth Form, but there were only a couple of them! 

The College seemed immense and the smell of wood polish, school dinners and sulphur from the Chemistry Lab hung in the air.  We all fitted in the Chapel for Assembly or Mass.  What is now the Theatre was our gym (before the Sports Hall was built, about mid-way during my time at the College), and what is now the Library was the Study Hall for after-school study and exams.  The place could be creepy at night and the boarders regularly told ghost stories of the headless nun!  We had a very modern “Language Lab” in what is now the Chaplaincy Room, with individual sound-proofed booths and reel-to-reel tape recorders for speaking and listening exercises in French with Mme Crosby and Mme Jones.  I was a member of the photographic society and we had a studio and darkroom in the Tower.  I remember when computers first arrived in the School and we had one “Computer Lab” with about a dozen BBC Micro computers.  Sadly I was already in the senior school at that stage and so missed out on the new optional subject of computer science for the Third Years taught by Colin Morgan.  I was one of the first, however, to begin the new subject of “Woodwork” with Frank McGreevy (in the days before Technology and Resistant Materials!) – although I can’t say that I ever succeeded in making anything remotely useful or beautiful!  I remember paying a large amount of money for a fine piece of mahogany for very little to come of it!! 

I have fond memories of maths with Fr Dan O’Connor and Alan O’Grady (with his weekly cryptic quizzes, his missing finger, and who always stood smoking at his preferred window on the quad at break times), art and pottery with Lou and Barbara Skiffington, chemistry with Harold Crosby and John Miller, physics with wild but wonderful John Hopwood, biology with Bernie Moroney, English with Barbara Carpenter, John Harwood and Pat and Moira Weir (from whom I developed a life-long love of T S Eliot), geography with Mick Kitterick, history with Fr McManus, Pat Weir and Peter Rex, and our great, small Economics Sixth Form group with Peter Griffin (who is the only one still going strong at Princethorpe!!).  Marie Lawless was the College Matron and kindly nursed me though a knee injury in my first year and a back injury in the fourth year.  In the Lower Sixth I was the Librarian Prefect (alongside Mrs DeVries) in the small library at the back of the College Chapel. 

There was quite a large community of MSC priests in the school (Frs Bill Clarkson, Jim Mannix, Seamus McManus, Michael O’Leary, P C Horgan, Tom Hewitt, Teddy O’Brien, Tony Horgan, and Alan Whelan all had a significant influence on my life).  Often there would be MSC brothers with us for a few months or a year as part of their training.  There was also a community of Sisters of St Paul from Selly Park in Birmingham who resided in the College.  Sr Helen taught RE and Sr Julian worked in the Bursar’s Office.  I also have very fond memories of Srs Marguerite and Mary Jo.  About half the pupils were boarders.  Fr Bill Clarkson was Headmaster when I began and Fr Dan O’Connor was Head when I finished.  In later years both of them became cherished confrères within the MSC Congregation.  Bill died in 2009 but Dan is still well and is the Superior of one of our communities in Cork, Ireland.  Fr Seamus McManus, a wonderful embodiment of the essence of Princethorpe and a Formula One racing fanatic, sadly died in 1999 and is buried in the MSC grave at Princethorpe behind the College Chapel.  Fr Alan Whelan, who went on to become Headmaster, is now Deputy Provincial Leader of the MSC Irish Province but is still involved in the Chaplaincy at Princethorpe and Fr Teddy O’Brien is the Parish Priest of the local Parish. 

I thoroughly enjoyed all of my years at Princethorpe and always felt part of a very special community.  I especially enjoyed the opportunity to board during my last year at school where there was a really good community of us up on the VI Form Boarding wing.  I remember making hot chocolate to accompany late night conversations and recording the Top 40 on BBC Radio 1 each week on our cassette players so that we could then make compilation tapes.  The privileges of being a VIth Form boarder and Prefect were modest, but much appreciated.

There was a real kindness and humanity about the place, which had a deep and lasting impression on my life.  It is also true that there was a certain make-shift character to the College (nothing that a bit of hardboard, a few six inch nails and a lick of paint couldn’t solve) and quite a bit of muddling through!  The members of the maintenance department (Gerry, Max, Donie, etc.) were absolute legends!  Gerry Lovely has only retired in the last few years.  So too were our “Dinner Ladies” - I could never forget the kindness and sense of humour of Betty Waddups.

All of this laid the foundation for a significant lasting relationship with the College, with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and with many people associated with Princethorpe whom I have had the pleasure to know over many years.

How did Princethorpe affect the person you are today?

Princethorpe has had an enormous influence on my life, and I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today if my parents hadn’t opted to send me to the College in the first place.  It is very much in my blood.  I came from a non-practising Church of England family and had been attending the local state primary school in Whitnash, Leamington.

My parents were not at all sure about sending me to a Catholic school.  It was only because of the strong recommendation of good friends of theirs whose sons had both gone through the College in the early 1970’s, and because of a very positive meeting with the Headmaster, Fr Bill Clarkson, and his assurances that I wouldn’t be “indoctrinated”, that they opted for Princethorpe. 

Without the need for any indoctrination, my Christian faith came alive at the College during a retreat in the Fourth Form (now year 10) and grew with the gentle but encouraging support of a couple of MSC priests and some Catholic staff during the next three years of Fifth and Sixth Form.  I became a Catholic in the College Chapel the day after my 18th birthday, a celebration attended by several of my classmates and teachers, and I began to get very involved in the life of my local parish in Leamington.  The school modelled to me a very human, caring, kind, compassionate, good-humoured and down-to-earth face of Catholic Christianity, and I found in the MSC priests and Catholic staff at the school great warmth and friendship as I entered adulthood.  These were all seeds of my vocation to Religious Life and Priesthood, and first experiences of the charism and spirituality of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, shared not only by MSCs, but by members of the lay teaching staff as well.

I was not at all sporty at school, but thoroughly enjoyed English, drama, theatre, languages, photography and art.  I have fantastic memories of many school theatrical productions; plays, musicals, reviews and pantomimes led by a great team of creative, enthusiastic and generous teachers.  I particularly remember productions of Cinderella, The Three Musketeers and a Sixth Form outdoor production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed on the lawn next to the West Door (now part of the site of the new Sixth Form Centre) with the woods as a backdrop.  These were magical times of late night rehearsing, painting sets, putting up lighting, sleeping over at College, building friendships across year groups and sometimes being snowed in during winter pantomime preparation.  It was also a time for testing adult relationships with members of staff outside the more formal classroom situation, and of being treated as adults by them.  Having a key to the “Costume Cupboard” gave the added advantage of access to a kettle, and tea and coffee at any time of the day!  The acting, writing and even a bit of directing certainly helped build my confidence and equip me for public speaking and preaching in later life.

I also really enjoyed French at school, which I studied to A Level.  Through the encouragement and organisation of the French department I spent almost every summer from 12 years of age to 17 on a three or four-week exchange with a French family in various parts of France.  I was also involved with the Anglo-French Club in Leamington (run by Alliance Française), which was attended by quite a group of us in the Fifth and Sixth Form at Princethorpe (probably more so for the social life and discos with the girls from Kings High and Kingsley than for the French!)  By the time I left Princethorpe I was fluent in French.  This has also had a major effect on my life.  While still only a young student for the Priesthood I was regularly asked to provide simultaneous translation at international MSC Conferences.  This opened me up to a much larger world and many international opportunities that most of my confrères never had.  I now speak English, French, Spanish and Italian and regularly switch between all four languages in my work throughout the world.

After I left Princethorpe and began work for the Bank, I kept returning a couple of times a week to help run the Photographic Society with several other Old Princethorpians including Alex Darkes.  I also got involved with more OPs in running a charity providing holidays for underprivileged kids from East-End London.  We provided a week’s holiday in the College during the summer vacation with a whole range of different activities and trips.  For most of them it was a first experience of the countryside, and of sheep and cows.  For most of us it was a first experience of inner city, tough kids!!

Returning to live at Princethorpe in 2001 and become a Governor and Trustee for 10 years was like coming full circle and being offered a chance to give something back for all I had received.  Now that I live in Rome I am happy to keep up to date with events and progress at the Foundation through the regular electronic bulletins, The Tower, The Pinnacle and the Old Princethorpians page, as well as getting some news first hand from Ed Hester (the current Headmaster) and other contacts still at the College.  Princethorpe remains in my blood and I will continue to do all I can to support it.

What advice would you give to your teenage self?

Don’t take yourself too seriously and enjoy the gift of the present moment – it passes all too quickly! 

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

Sadly, I am not in regular contact with many.  The friend I have most contact with is Adam Hollier.  He was a few years below me and I got to know him though Photo Club.  I married him and his wife, Sam, a few years ago and we have now been very good friends for nearly 30 years.  I still have occasional contact with Richard Hill, Sean Webb, Marlon Naiken, Michael Simmonds and Grant Pegg from my year group and of course Alex Darkes, Sean Philpott, Peter Griffin, Alan Whelan and Eddie Tolcher who all still work at the College.

Is there anyone you would like to track down?

Over the last 20 years or so I have lost contact with good friends Tim Hunt, Nick Essex, John Beauchamp, Ian Lucas and Andrew Wadland and sadly didn’t have any further contact with Peter Carson or Felix D’Souza after they left Princethorpe.  Jeremy Masding and Paul McGrath were fellow prefects and my neighbours on the VIth Form Boarding Wing.  It would be great to catch up with any of them again some time.

Births, Deaths & Marriages

Ernest Ties The Knot With Gessyca

Many congratulations to OP Ernest Springley who married Gessyca Amazonas on Friday 5 April, we wish the happy couple every happiness in their new life together!

Ernest also updated us with what he has be up to since leaving Princethorpe.  

I worked for HELLA in Banbury for some 23 years, the Company was closed down due to the retracting Automotive industry in the UK, in 2007. I was kept on within the management team to 'land' the company safely after many years of succesful manufacturing and was then given the opportunity to relocate to one of the HELLA sister plants in the Blackforest, Germany in 2008.

At that time I moved over here on my own with my then wife and my two children, Melissa and Tristan remaining in the UK. At first it was uncertain if the family would join me, but things did not work out , so I decided to settle here and start a fresh .I regularly returned to the UK and also had the chance to visit Princethorpe on a few occasions meeting a number of old friends. Peter Rollason keeps me updated on what goes on, and I will try to get over again soon, but since the death of my mother, my divorce, and the children are now grown up, I  do not visit that often anymore.

I have settled well in this region, although the local dialect, was a bit difficult to understand at first, I soon became used to it and now feel very much part of the community. We even have a local pub run by an Italian Mancunian!, so I still get the chance to speak English, albeit having to adjust to the northern tongue :-).

Two years ago I visited Lausanne, Switzerland, renouned for it's beautiful lake Geneva and close to Mont Blanc. Whilst there I met Gessyca and a friendship blossomed very quickly. I now have a number of great friends there and visit the area regulary with Gessyca. We decided to marry early last year and as you know from the news letter, tied the knot this April, and now have a wonderful home here in the Blackforest, not far from the Swiss and French borders. Basel in Switzerland is only a stones throw from here.

Should any of my old friends visit the Blackforest for a holiday, drop me a line, would love to meet up with you again, and I am a pretty good 'tour guide' for this area!!

All the very best to you all.

Ernest Springley  

Memory Bank

Archive Project Update

There have been some recent updates made to the Princethorpe catalogue which is available on the website.

Of most relevance to Old Princethorpians are some new events programmes and newspaper cuttings. We are still looking to fill gaps, there are a number of school calendars missing from the series, and programmes for concerts or plays that aren't in the catalogue would be very welcome additions.

Click here to link to the Archive Project page.

If you have anything to donate or loan to the project please email Librarian, Celia Scott.

Photo Club Memory For Marcus

Old Princethorpians were pleased to be able to track down a photo for OP Marcus Core from back in 1985. The photo featured in that year's Year Book, and was taken at Napton Locks on a Photographic Club outing.

Alex Darkes was able to shed some light on the line up from left to right, the late Matthew Jacoby (d 1987) Eddie Tolcher, Giles Humphrey, Carl Tranter and Marcus Core.

 

Mike Binney Turns Back Time

After more than 35 years away I returned for a look around Princethorpe, this time with my two daughters, Elizabeth (11) and Francesca (8). We started with the excellent College Friday fish & chips lunch, and with the Headmaster jumped the line. I did ask a young lady at the front if she was in the Sixth Form or a teacher and she replied the latter rather sheepishly, they were not that young when I was at school! The layout was unchanged from 40 years ago, although the dinning hall was much brighter and there were no Spanish cooks around anymore.

I was impressed with how well the two floors of boarders rooms had been transformed into classrooms, offices etc and all fully carpeted and heated. No more the cold feel of wood when we were boarders, although the creaky wood could still be heard under foot. The library converted from the old study hall, where all juniors had to do their homework in study periods after school, was impressive and a lot quieter than it had been in my time.

It was interesting to hear that the school now has living accommodation for teachers in the old Sixth Form boarders rooms.

When I was in the Sixth Form we thought we were doing well to have an exclusive common room. Now there is this large private Sixth Form wing, where the prefab language classrooms used to be. Obviously a great deal of thought had been put into it, no wonder the Sixth Form students now number around 200. I thought how greatl it was not to have prefab classrooms any more, until I got round to the other side of the main building and there they were, even more of them, I had to laugh.

My biggest shock was the Chemistry Lab where I did A-level Chemistry under Mr Crosby. It has not changed at all from 43 years ago, the benches, the smell, the equipment, the floor, decades of dents and scratches, lovely. Teddy O'Brien said it had remained unchanged from the time the French Nuns had acquired it well over 50 years ago. In fact, the area from the top of where the 1st year dormitory was, where "Scabby' used to rule the roost, down to the ground floor where the Sixth Form common room was, has hardly changed at all. The stairwell, where John M fell from the third floor bannister in the early seventies floors, is still as dingy as ever.

The conversion of the Roundhouse into a music room and the surrounding area is another formidably well thought out project, with the nuns still buried below. In my time it was just one large junk store. The old mortuary room has also made a good classroom, although I'm sure the pupils don't want to know what it was before.

What did I think after our tour? Well really significant improvements have been made to the infrastructure, but the aura of the place remains unchanged from my school days. Francesca said straight at the end of the tour that she now wants to go to Princethorpe and is still saying that a month after we have returned to Bangkok, let's see! She liked all that space, even though she goes to a newly built private school with over 1,300 pupils (but only 124 in the Sixth Form), it's something we all took for granted.

Thanks to Melanie Butler, Alex Darkes and Teddy O'Brien for a great tour and a walk down memory lane.

Update on the Binney Boys (1969 to 1979): I was at Princethorpe for seven years with my three brothers, Mark "Binney for Pope" was a year ahead and is a vicar with four churches in the Evesham area under his charge, he can't retire until he's 68. However, my youngest brother, Nick retires this September from the police force in Birmingham after serving 30 years. Paul, my twin brother is a Finance Director for a plc in Singapore and I'm a Director of a private group of companies in Asia Pacific with its head office in Bangkok.

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Missing & Found

Chris Fell Looking For Antony and Neil

Chris Fell (1966-1969) has recently been in touch with us via Facebook, recalling his time at the college, he commented, "I remember the woods...pinching bread and butter from the dining hall, and toasting it by a fire in the evening. We thought we were safe and well hidden, but Father Clarkson appeared one time...shared the toast...and had us in his office next day. Had to do charity sponsor work for a week. No more toast. This was '69'.

My best friends were Neil McIntosh (lived in Knowle) and Antony Vickery (lived in Stratford on Avon) and I'd be keen to get back in contact with them.

Old Princethorpians have sent an email to Antony (pictured from a previous newsletter) who now lives in the States but if anyone knows of Neil McIntosh's whereabouts please let us know and we can put him and Chris back in touch.

OP Updates

New Additions To The OP Database

Since the last edition of The Old Princethorpian, the following OPs have added or updated their details on the database.

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

  • Darren Swailes (1978-1982)
  • Bogdan Skrzeczkowski (1967)
  • John Farrow (1977-1983)
  • Alex Mobbs (2003 - 2008)
  • Tom Mylott (2001 - 2007)
  • Carl Tranter (1977 - 1984)
  • Michael Chan (1978 - 1982)
  • Manish Bamrolia (1983 - 1986)
Welcome to them all and we hope to see them at some of our events in the coming months.

Pace, Promise And Points As King Challenges For German Glory

OP Jordan King defied his rookie status to serve notice of his intent in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship as he made a bold bid for victory in round three of the 2013 campaign at Hockenheim – leaving his rivals in no doubt that he is every inch a serious contender for the top step of the podium this year.

Having claimed a rostrum finish at Hockenheim in the 2012 Formula Renault Northern European Cup and quipping that he ‘always enjoys circuits I do well at’, King returned to the demanding German Grand Prix venue confident in his ability to continue his impressive march up the F3 pecking-order and vie for the leading positions.

The 19-year old laid down an early marker by lapping third-quickest in both free practice sessions – fastest of the eight British drivers in attendance and a mere tenth of a second adrift of the outright benchmark in the fiercely-competitive, 29-strong field – but on a drying track surface in qualifying for races one and two, the talented young Warwickshire ace confessed to taking too much out of his tyres before conditions had reached their best.

The upshot was eighth on the starting grid for race one – highest of the five Carlin entries – and a disgruntled 12th for race two, stripped of the lap time that should have placed him sixth after he was deemed to have exceeded the track limits in his Volkswagen-powered Dallara single-seater.

“There was no real consistency in the weather weekend-long,” King lamented. “In fact, we’ve not had either a completely dry or fully wet race meeting this year, and for a rookie, that’s particularly tough, because what I need above all is experience. That’s an area in which the second-year F3 drivers have a big advantage over me; on their first lap out of the pits, they’re immediately ‘on it’, whereas it’s taking me a little longer to find my feet.”

The highly-rated Stoneleigh-based speed demon nevertheless wasted no time at all in getting down to business in qualifying for Sunday’s third outing, with a superb display seeing him hold the top spot for much of the session. Ultimately, he found himself pipped by a hair’s breadth by guesting team-mate Daniil Kyvat – a Red Bull Junior driver accustomed to racing one step further up the motorsport ladder in GP3 – and the Russian had needed to bolt on a fresh set of rubber in order to do so.

“It was obviously disappointing to have it snatched away like that so close to the end and by just five hundredths of a second,” King reflected of a result that on any other weekend would have been a sensational maiden F3 pole, “but whilst we missed out on the one-lap glory, I knew I would be in a better position for the race than Daniil tyre-wise – and I was still fastest of the championship regulars.”

Indeed he was, and the McLaren Autosport Award finalist, British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) SuperStar and MSA Academy member acknowledged that it was quite a boost to have outperformed adversaries of such a tremendously high calibre, including protégés from three title-winning F1 outfits.

Following a bright start in a damp opening encounter, King admitted to making a few errors in the slippery conditions – a reminder that despite his scintillating raw pace, he remains on a learning curve this year – as he fell from sixth to 11th, but a more composed effort in race two yielded ninth at the chequered flag. The best, however, was yet to come, as the 19-year-old saved his final flourish until Sunday.

“I got a good launch to move past Daniil, but Felix Rosenqvist got away even better and leapfrogged both of us, which left me second,” he recounted of race three. “I received a nudge from behind into Turn Two for the first time, which cost me my momentum down the following straight and Félix Serrallés was able to tow past me. The safety car then came out for a shunt further down the field, and at the re-start I re-passed Serrallés on the brakes into the hairpin.

“I subsequently caught and overtook Rosenqvist into Turn Five, but I was probably a touch over-ambitious and couldn’t quite make the move stick. I ran wide on the exit, which lost me the lead and allowed Serrallés to get a run on me too and he had the racing line for the next corner.

“I kept tucked in close behind him, but Daniil towed past me down the straight, and if I hadn’t backed off when we got to the following corner, there would have been a collision. I then made a small mistake that enabled Raffaello Marciello to overtake me and relegate me to fifth, but he went off the track to do it, and I was amazed he wasn’t penalised for the move – that was extremely frustrating.”

Be that as it may, in such esteemed company – racing wheel-to-wheel against three of the top four contenders in the standings – King more than held his own, and setting the fastest lap of the race underlined his outstanding potential. As the Hugo Boss brand ambassador turns his attentions now towards the next outing on the calendar around Brands Hatch’s short Indy Circuit later this month, he forecasts that both qualifying and fitness will be absolutely key on home turf – but then, he has yet to be found wanting in either of those areas so far.

“It was encouraging to prove that the speed is there, but obviously disappointing that we didn’t come away with the win that had looked to be on the cards and that we clearly had the pace to achieve,” he mused in conclusion. “We’ve known we’ve been capable of this kind of form all season, though, and there’s definitely more to come – so I’m sure there will be further opportunities to fight for victory in the upcoming races...”

You can keep up-to-date with Jordan’s latest career news and results at www.jordanking.co.uk and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/42jordanking.

 

 

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Alex’s First (And Last Ever) Stand up Gig?

I’m not quite sure how it happened, and sherry may have been involved in the decision making process, but I signed up for “Stand up if you dare” for Comic Relief in March this year. I was told to get some material together and attend a boot camp at the Glee Club in Birmingham on a freezing Friday afternoon. I’d been told that the aim of the game was to raise money for Comic Relief and I’d be in a group of strictly amateur comics just having a go. I was amateur, the others pretty much well acquainted with the comedy circuit.

I turned up for Boot Camp at an empty Glee Club and was introduced to my audience of three – Comedian (and one of my all-time favourites) Jasper Carrott, The owner of the Glee Club chain and the Operations Manager of the Glee Club Birmingham. So no pressure there then!

To be honest they were wonderful, I hadn’t a clue what I was doing and was so nervous I was having trouble speaking. I had a pep talk from Jasper (first name terms you’ll notice) and then I took to the stage. I decided to leave the microphone in the stand when asked what I wanted to do with it. I was like a comedy pretender in the spotlight, and I was totally petrified. I stumbled through a bit of my material. But I was awful, the best they could come up with at the end was “My, haven’t you got a lovely voice”. I was gutted. I’d already started getting in sponsorship and I couldn’t back out!

So I went away and wrote and rewrote and practiced and practiced and rewrote a bit more. And finally the day came, I was due on stage near the end of the evening, they must have reckoned I’d be so bad I’d need the other acts to prepare the audience and stop them from lynching me.

It didn’t help that I was on crutches from ankle surgery, but I wrote it into the act. I took a deep breath and hobbled onto the famous Glee Club stage, into a bright spotlight to loud rock music and thunderous applause. This was it, and it was for charity and they knew I was a novice. And I was ready to die … so I started.

Most of my material isn’t suitable for the Old Princethorpian's readership during daylight hours, but suffice to say it hit its target audience running, and they laughed. They carried on laughing for my full seven minute set, there were times when I had to stop for them to laugh so that I could be heard for my next gag.

It was surreal. A bit like jumping out of a plane and not knowing if you have a parachute in you pack until you pull the ripcord. I pulled the cord and the parachute magically appeared.

The adrenaline rush felt great, I’m a writer by trade and have never really wanted to appear in front of an audience, I like others to use my scripts, but it felt really good.

I’d improved 6,000 per cent according to my new best friend Jasper, (so you can tell how awful I was to begin with), but he was really encouraging and said I should do it again as did my other new best friend from BBC Midlands Today Nick Owen. And I impressed the Glee Club bosses so I was pleased with myself.

And so did I enjoy it? Hell yes! How much money did I raise? Over £350! And was it my first (and last ever) stand up gig? Well it was my first, as for my last … definitely not!

Alex Johnson, nee Healy, St Joseph's and Princethorpe College (1986)