Old Princethorpians

Plans for the College’s Careers Fair on Saturday 18 March are taking shape with the confirmation that freelance consumer affairs journalist, OP, Felicity Hannah (née King-Evans) has kindly agreed to be the keynote speaker for the 2023 event.

Comments Head of Careers, Jacqui Quinney, "We are delighted to have Felicity on board to open the event and set the tone for the day. She has forged an amazing career in broadcast journalism and her presentation promises to be one not to miss."

After leaving Princethorpe in 2001, Felicity studied Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. She then spent several years as a print journalist, writing for The Times, The Independent, The Mirror, The Herald and others, and is now a freelance journalist. Felicity regularly presents the Radio 4 programmes Money Box and Money Box Live and Wake Up To Money on BBC Radio 5 Live. She co-presents the BBC's Big Green Money Show with Deborah Meaden from Dragon's Den, and she's a regular on Radio 4's Today programme, providing the business news. Felicity has made a number of TV and radio documentaries, and has been named Broadcast Journalist of the Year at the Headlinemoney Awards for three years in a row. Her latest Podcast on BBC Radio 4 is entitled Understand: The Economy and promises everything you need to know about the economy and what it means to you. Click here for more information.

Mrs Quinney continues, "We have had a great response from our Old Princethorpians, who alongside our parents are forming the backbone to the Fair. We have some speakers from previous events who have kindly agreed to speak again and new speakers helping us for the first time.”

Thanks to the many OPs involved hosting workshops on a variety of careers areas, including Evie Bonsall, Nigel Bromley, Bob Cheshire, James Davies, sol Elliot, James Hewitt, Ed Hunter, Tori Jones, Alfie Kay, Paddy Kerrigan, Jamie Kettlewell, Matt MacLellan, Tom Pilling, Bethany Rees, Oli Thomas, Taylor Vaughan and Anna Wells.

There will also be a number of universities speaking who will be providing ideas and advice and companies and organisations who offer various career entry points exhibiting in the exhibition part of the fair.

Foundation Principal, Ed Hester, comments, "We are really indebted to all the OPs who have volunteered their time and energy to make the Careers Fair a success for our current Year 10 to Sixth Form pupils and their parents."

If you would be interesting in helping with future Careers events, please email jacquiquinney@princethorpe.co.uk.

Online membership of Princethorpe Connect, our alumni network for former pupils, staff and parents from across all the Foundation schools, has been steadily building over the last few months and now stands at over 1,250.

We’d like to see the number of online members increase and we would also like to see our current members engaging more with the platform. So, to encourage more interaction the Princethorpe Connect Team is inviting you to connect with the platform by Friday 31 March to be in with a chance to win a delicious Hotel Chocolat Easter gift box.

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

For your chance to win, simply either ‘Create a Profile’, or if you are already an online member add to your current profile with a photo, update your work or contact details or invite a friend to join from your profile page. Do any or all of the above at https://connect.princethorpe.co.uk/ by Friday 31 March 2023 to qualify for the draw.

The draw will be pulled from all online members who have interacted with the site from 10 February to Friday 31 March and the lucky winner will be notified in time for their prize to be dispatched for Easter.

Good luck to all!

Princethorpe College was delighted to welcome two much-loved and well-respected former members of staff into school on Wednesday 1 February. Margaret-Louise O’Keeffe, former Deputy Head Pastoral, and Sue Francis, former Director of Music, visited Princethorpe to work with College Archivist, Catherine Lewis.

The ladies spent an enjoyable morning working through archive material putting names to faces, bringing characters to life and sharing stories never heard before. It was fascinating to pick their excellent memories from their many years at Princethorpe and to record such rich history in the archives.

Catherine is working hard to extend our knowledge and is looking forward to welcoming more former members of staff into school to support her work.

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’s Arts Centre on Friday 18 November 2022.

Before the ceremony, the Old Princethorpians Committee hosted a special Drinks Reception for the returning Class of 2022 and their parents, providing a welcome opportunity for last year’s cohort to get together and catch up.

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 then Father Alan Whelan MSC then led the assembled community in an opening prayer.

In his formal address, the Headmaster, Ed Hester, gave thanks to all those who make Princethorpe the special place it is. His warm words paid tribute to all that is done by so many in support of the College, the kindness, the compassion and the values that underpin the success stories of so many of our pupils and not just those who received prizes on the evening. He reminded us of St. John Henry Newman’s words ‘To live is to change’, and reflected on the changes we all experience, before congratulating last year’s Year 11 and Upper Sixth on their resilience and tenacity over the course of the last three challenging years.

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 Choir, whose performance of Rainbow Connection was both enthusiastic and uplifting.

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

Finally, we came to the main award, the Princethorpe Shield, the oldest and most prestigious College award presented annually to the student who is seen to embody the spirit and ethos of the College in many facets of their school life. It was a very popular decision this year, with the audience cheering a delighted and surprised Greg Burford who was thrilled to receive the Shield.

Headmaster designate, Grove du Toit, then spoke echoing Mr Hester’s congratulations, before the current Heads of School, Freya Mills, and Head Boy, Pratheesh Prabakaran, gave an eloquent vote of thanks.

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

The full list of Prize Winners can be found in the Prize Giving Programme here.

Recent Upper Sixth Leaver, Grace Leigh’s stunning and atmospheric photograph Phantom Of The River received a Highly Commended in the Key Stage 5 Photography class at the Independent Schools Association’s prestigious National Art Competition.

Her picture was one part of her triptych that was presented at the College’s Art Show last summer. The photo was an original unedited work, and by all reports the water in the lake was exceptionally cold when the young artist staged her shot. Princethorpe College Head of Art, Paul Hubball, was delighted to see Grace's work receive recognition at the national event.

Grace's photo has already taken first place in the Midlands Regional ISA Art competition back in October when two further Upper Sixth Leavers also won prizes.

Art Scholar, Tillie Benford’s compendium of drawings, Last Day Of High School took first place in the very competitive Midlands Key Stage 5 Sketchbook class. Exploring themes of nostalgia and sentimentality her sketchbook submission showcased her preparations for her final piece that was also of an incredibly high standard.

While Art Scholar, Mary Lomas’ graphite pencil drawing Reflections Of The Dark Triad took second place in the Midlands Key Stage 5 Drawing class. Her drawing of a photographer poised to take a picture featured a self-portrait and reflection.

Princethorpe College Head of Art, Paul Hubball, was delighted, commenting, “Many congratulations to Grace, Tillie and Mary. Their pieces were exceptional, a product of many hours of work as they prepared for the A-level examinations. The girls received many compliments on the quality of the work and it is marvellous to see their talent rewarded in this way.”

Mr Hubball went on, “This year’s judges were very tough. Their experience made them look for the best technicians on show so we were very pleased to have these students recognised.”

OP Tom Pilling joined Princethorpe staff, Rod Isaacs, Cyp Vella, Andy Compton, Ellie Callan, Clare White and Ben Collie at the end of January to pound the pavements and paths around Leamington and Warwick in a half marathon in January. The hardy runners were fundraising for a charity close to Princethorpe's heart, Mary's Meals. They all completed the challenge successfully although there were a few sore knees the next day.

Mary's Meals provides daily meals in a place of learning, with just £15.90 feeding a child for a whole year. Through Mary's Meals, Princethorpe College supports Makalanga Primary School in Malawi, raising the funds to feed their 600 children every day. Pupils and staff take part in activities such as World Porridge Day and the 24/7 challenge to raise money for the charity. 

If you would like to show your support for the runner's intrepid efforts please follow the link below:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/princethorpemarysmeals

Christmas came early for OP, John Naylor (1993 - 2000), who was the lucky recipient of our Princethorpe Connect Christmas Hamper Prize Draw.

John works for Northampton based wealth management company, MHA Caves Wealth, where he is an Investment Manager and Head of their Investment Committee. He lives in Leamington Spa and is married to Tricia, with whom he has two young sons.

John received his prize from OPs Secretary, Melanie Butler, who hand delivered it to his home in Leamington just before Christmas.

Commented John, “I was delighted to hear of my win, it will be lovely to share with the family over Christmas!”

John, who turned 40 the same week and is still in touch with his OP friends, “Even 20-odd years on I am still very close to the friends I made at Princethorpe. A group of us got together only a couple of weeks ago for a lovely walk via a few pubs to celebrate my birthday.”

Remembering his time at Princethorpe, John added “Even though it was more than 20 years ago, I think the economics I learned in Mr Griffin’s class is still engraved in my memory! He was a brilliant teacher.”

Old Princethorpians Lauren Mason (Class of 2021) and Caitlin Mason (Class of 2022) were the first pair to meet up as part of this year's OP Friendly Faces Campaign.

With Lauren now in her second year at Cambridge University, she was on hand to provide Caitlin with all the top tips about starting university life there. 

After originally planning to meet during Freshers Week, the pair were swept up in new beginnings and rearranged to meet on another day.

Lauren and Caitlin eventually met up on Sunday 16 October at Selwyn College for brunch, which is part of their university campus. Lauren said: "We chatted all things Princethorpe, and starting life at Cambridge! Thank you for putting us in touch."

A huge thanks to Lauren who agreed to be part of our Friendly Faces campaign and offering her time and advice to Caitlin. We look forward to hearing more about their time at the University of Cambridge!

Just before the Christmas holidays, we waved goodbye to OP and Marketing, Admissions and Communications Assistant, Molly Geehan.

After joining us in August, Molly had worked across both the Admissions and Marketing departments, helping to prepare for Entrance Eams and other events taking place at the school. 

However, opportunity beckoned, in the form of the England Netball team, and Molly has now started a new adventure as the new Digital Assistant for England Netball, a life-long dream of hers. After studying to be a journalist, and growing up playing netball to a very high level, this role was just perfect and one not to be missed! 

Molly said: "My time working at Princethorpe was wonderful. Everyone was so welcoming and a joy to work with. It was strange at first working with all my old teachers, but I soon got used to it. I never thought I would get the chance to work with England Netball, but here I am and it's amazing!

Some of my duties are covering England and Superleague games, creating content for their social media channels and I will be travelling around the world with the team. I'll be sure to keep Princethorpe updated as to where I am!"

And she has already had her first reports published on England Netball's website here.

We really do wish Molly every success in her new career and cannot wait to see what she gets up to. 

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

Our Zaini hats and headbands are back in stock (at £18 and £15 respectively) and there are just a few of our stunning 2023 Princethorpe Calendars left that have now been discounted to £3. 

If you are looking for a gift with a difference you could consider sponsoring a Brick or Paver in the new Science Centre. Click here for more details.

Other popular items on our online shop include:

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

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

Grove du Toit has taken on the Headship of Princethorpe College with effect from January 2023. He succeeds outgoing Headmaster, Ed Hester, who has held the post since 2009. Mr Hester now becomes Foundation Principal, a dedicated role with responsibility for the strategic vision and direction of the whole Princethorpe Foundation, its three schools and nursery.

Mr du Toit was appointed as Headmaster back in May 2022 after a rigorous selection process and until December was Deputy Warden (Senior Deputy Head) at Forest School, a co-educational independent day school for children aged 4 to 18, located on the edge of Epping Forest, a position he held for five years.

Married to Marike, with whom he shares two daughters, aged 14 and 11, Mr du Toit, 43, is a practising Christian. South African by birth, he moved to the UK in 2005 and after a brief period teaching in the maintained sector, he has held a variety of leadership roles in HMC independent schools in and around London. Following his under-graduate studies at the University of Pretoria, he completed a MA in Education Management at King’s College London, and has recently completed his MBA at Salford University through their Business School.

Comments, Liz Griffin, Chair of Trustees, “We are delighted to finally welcome Grove on board. The Foundation Trustees were unanimous in the decision to appoint him as the next Headmaster of Princethorpe College. His passion for education and young people shone through throughout the selection process and our many encounters with him since. He has immense vision and energy combined with a wealth of experience and leaderships skills, but most importantly his personal values marry perfectly with the ethos of the College.

She continues, “Our thanks go to Ed Hester, who has done an outstanding job as Headmaster of Princethorpe College over the last 13 years. Of course, Ed will continue to have a very keen interest in life at Princethorpe and will be on hand to ensure a smooth transition and successful handover to Grove, who will be supported by Princethorpe’s excellent Senior Leadership Team.”

Comments, Grove du Toit, “I am excited and honoured to take on the Headship of Princethorpe College and lead the school into the next stage of its development, building on the excellent work of Ed Hester. I recognise and fully appreciate what a special community Princethorpe is and upholding its ethos and spirit of family will be central to my role. I look forward to immersing myself in school life and building relationships with staff, parents and pupils alike.”

Outgoing Headmaster, Ed Hester, adds, “Grove is a great fit for Princethorpe and brings with him a vast amount of experience and skills. I am delighted to be able to hand over the reins of running the College to him and am really excited at the prospect of working with him over the years ahead.”

The Princethorpe Foundation educates some 1,400 pupils aged 2 to 18 years across its senior school, Princethorpe College, and prep schools, Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery in Kenilworth and Crescent School in Bilton, Rugby.

Pupils, staff, trustees, parents and friends of Princethorpe College have been celebrating and giving thanks for Headmaster, Ed Hester's, thirteen-year tenure at the College.

Pupils, staff, trustees, parents and friends of Princethorpe College have been celebrating and giving thanks for Headmaster, Ed Hester's, thirteen-year tenure at the College.

Mr Hester’s role changed in January to that of Foundation Principal, responsible for the strategic vision and direction of the Princethorpe Foundation as a whole, when new Headmaster Grove du Toit took over the day-to-day running of the College.

Over his time in office Mr Hester has driven many significant milestones and developments at the College and indeed the wider Foundation, which now comprises Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery in Kenilworth and Crescent School in Rugby. The school has grown from 762 pupils and five form entry in 2009 to six or seven form entry and around 930 pupils today, its optimum size.  Thanks to Mr Hester and the team he has built around him, the College has grown in credibility and stature over the last thirteen years and is now a ‘first choice’ school for many families. The Foundation has grown and developed too, and now numbers some 1,400 pupils aged 2 to 18 years.

At a surprise event for Mr Hester, invited guests took a look back at some of the highlights and developments of his headship including successful mergers with Abbotsford School and Crescent School, the College’s ethos and its links with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, excellent ISI Inspections, membership of the prestigious Headmasters and Headmistresses’ Conference, significant campus developments, the College’s Golden Jubilee celebrations and handling of the Covid pandemic.

The event also celebrated academic, pastoral and co-curricular success and achievements at the College and the central part Mr Hester has played in this over the years. From his enthusiastic involvement in many academic, musical, charity and house events from results day and jazz band to welly wanging and abseiling down the iconic Tower.

At the final assembly of term Mr Hester was presented with a cut glass tankard by the pupil body and a commemorative book signed by all the pupils. One last surprise was in store when the whole Princethorpe community launched into a rousing rendition of ABBA’s Dancing Queen, dedicated to the ‘Greatest Edmund we’ve ever seen!’ For once Mr Hester was lost for words!! 

To see the clip of the song, please click here.

To download Ed Hester's Princethorpe Journey Booklet click here.

Pupils, staff and trustees celebrated an important milestone in the construction of the new £8m state-of-the-art Science Centre at Princethorpe College. Headmaster, Ed Hester, donned a hi-vis jacket and hard hat and scaled the heights of the new building for a traditional topping out ceremony. Accompanied by the Heads of School, Freya Mills and Pratheesh Prabakaran, Year 7 representatives, Isaac Fowle and Chloe Sarkies, and invited guests, the topping out of the new £8 million Science Centre was celebrated on Wednesday 30 November.

Foundation Assistant Head, Alex Darkes explained that the practice of ‘topping out’ a new building can be traced to the ancient Scandinavian religious practice of placing a tree on the top of a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits of their ancestors who had been displaced. Though you will be pleased to know that no trees were removed in the construction of the Science Centre and we will be extensively landscaping the surrounding area and planting additional trees. The practice migrated to England with Scandinavian invaders.

Invited Princethorpe trustees and teachers as well as the Managing Director of contractor Trendgrey Construction Limited, Nick Henderson, were present at the ceremony joining in with the good humour of the occasion as the tree was decorated. An optional tour of the exciting new development followed the event revealing first-hand the ten new laboratories that will open for business at the start of the next academic year.

Nick Henderson described the progress of the development, “The project at Princethorpe College has been progressing extremely well and we’re delighted to be at a stage where the ‘topping out’ ceremony can take place. The new building will be state-of-the-art providing a wonderful teaching and learning environment for pupils at the College.”

Ed Hester, said, “We were delighted to celebrate this significant and traditional moment in the construction of our new Science Centre. We are looking forward to its opening next year. The building is looking incredible, and we are all excited by the learning opportunities it will present us.”

As we approach the anniversary of the start of the project, thanks to the hard work of the construction team and their contractors, Princethorpe’s new Science Centre continues to make great progress.

As at Week 50 of the build, the structure and layout of the ten new teaching laboratories is clear to see with the internal walls all in place. There are five large spacious laboratories on each floor, supported by preparation areas, workshops and storage spaces. The break-out area on the first floor, the staff bases, offices and plant room are all in place, as are the breakthrough points from The Limes. The roofing slates are on and the roof lights have been fitted. The windows are in, bar the main entrance, the brise soleil is complete and the wooden cladding has commenced. Inside most ventilation duct work is in place, as are most of the air handling units. The mechanical fit out of the plant rooms continues on both levels of the building. The construction team are starting to put up plaster boards and begin plastering and outside they are preparing to demolish the remaining portacabin as the ground is cleared for landscaping.

The new Science Centre will be an ‘intelligent’ building, driven by an integrated digital Building Management System to optimise heating and ventilation. Infrastructure will allow a progression, in time, to Ground Source Heat Pumps, for reliability. There will be LED illumination throughout, with presence sensors and daylight sensors to control light levels. An energy performance monitor in the ground floor circulation area will be visible to all will give a real-time picture of the building’s energy performance.

An immense amount of hard work, and energy has gone into the new Science Centre project and the build is progressing well. The project is on track to be completed by mid 2023 with the Science Centre opening its doors for pupils next school year, providing state of the art science facilities for the next generation of pupils to come through our doors.

As you can see in this latest time lapse clip, it’s all very exciting for us all here at Princethorpe!

Princethorpe College has a new Headmaster, Mr Grove du Toit, and as he settled into life at Princethorpe, the Heads of School, Freya and Pratheesh, sat down with him to ask him questions submitted by pupils from across the school. 

The question-and-answer session was recorded and shared with pupils, to help them all get to know more about their new Headmaster.

We also shared his answers on our social media, to introduce the wider Princethorpe community to Mr du Toit. If you missed the clips, you can find the full video on our school website here.

Following inspections by independent tree specialists and Rugby Borough Council, the College has very sadly started the removal of some of the Lime trees along the Lime Walk.

The trees, which date back to the early days of St Mary’s Priory, are aged around 150 years and have reached the end of their natural lifespan and there are signs of disease developing. The removal of some of the unhealthy trees may unfortunately compromise the remaining trees, although we will do our best to retain what trees we can along the east side of the avenue.

We know that this news will be upsetting to the Princethorpe community as the Limes are a much loved and integral part of the Princethorpe skyline. The trees were originally planted to commemorate the founding members of the St Mary's Priory community, the original Lime Walk running from the White Gate in Switzerland to the gate leading to the Acacia Walk. There is much within the archives to show how fond past pupils were of them, with pupils writing poetry about them, revising for exams under them and religious processiosn taking place through them.

The College is planning a programme of replanting elsewhere on the campus to commemorate the trees and the part they have played in the school’s rich history. Plans for landscaping and improving the area for school use will be shared as soon as they become available.

A rite of passage for all new Princethorpians is a climb to the top of Princethorpe’s iconic tower. With spectacular views across the Warwickshire countryside, it really rewards the winding nearly 200-step climb. It can be seen from miles around, is integral to the College’s identity and even features on the school crest. On Tuesday 31 January, in the bright winter sunshine, and as he marked the completion of his first month at Princethorpe, Mr du Toit made the climb to the top to take in the panoramic views. On the way up he discovered the secrets of the rooms in the Tower, including the bell room with nine old bells and the old water tanks for the Chapel’s organ. From the top he had a bird’s eye view of the whole College campus and of the progress of the College’s new state-of-the-art Science Centre.

The story sparked a lot of interest from OPs when we shared it on Facebook with a number of you recounting your climbs or regrets for never having ascended the Tower. From time to time we organise events or tours that include a trip up the Tower if that is something that interests you, please email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

The latest edition of the College’s annual magazine, The Tower Review, was published just before Christmas.

It tells the story of the school year, term by term, reflecting on the whole host of activities, achievements and successes that pupils from Year 7 through to Upper Sixth took part in. It includes highlights such as Prize Giving and the College production as well as reviews of sporting events and House competitions.

2021/22 was an amazing year filled full of wonderful and memorable moments to reflect on. We hope that our annual souvenir review will be treasured by pupils and parents alike.

The magazine was mailed to the Leavers of 2022 and an electronic copy can be found on the school website.

If you would like to receive an additional copy please email marketing@princethorpe.co.uk with your name and address.

On Friday 9 December, Princethorpe College said farewell to much loved peripatetic teacher, Mrs Chris Carpenter. Chris started working for St Joseph’s (now Crackley Hall) in 1998 before joining Princethorpe College in 2001 as a teacher of Drama and English, she returned for a second stint at Princethorpe as a LAMDA peripatetic teacher in 2014.

Her pupils have thrived and with her encouragement have successfully progressed through the LAMDA syllabus, some right to the very top level, a number achieving Gold Medals at Grade 8. Keen for all her pupils to achieve their full potential Chris has always structured her teaching to bring out the best in every piece of work under study. She actively supported school performance events and has helped LAMDA become an integral part of the performing arts offering here at Princethorpe College.

Diligent to the end, a delighted Chris, who had hoped to scuttle away with little fuss, was surprised with flowers as she was teaching her very last lesson. Headmaster, Ed Hester said, “We would like to thank Chris for all her hard work and dedication to Princethorpe’s pupils. She has been instrumental in the success of LAMDA at the College and we will miss her. We wish her a happy, healthy and well-deserved retirement.”

Thinking of becoming a teacher? Then why not consider training with the Princethorpe Foundation.

Whether you are a new graduate or contemplating a career change, we have a wide range of opportunities available across the subjects including: Art and Design, Business Studies, Latin, English, Geography, History, Maths, MFL - French and Spanish, PE, Psychology, RE and at Primary.

Though our association with the Lion Alliance, we offer a year’s training as part of the School Direct scheme, leading to Qualified Teacher Status. Placements would be at Princethorpe and also at other schools within the Lion Alliance. Our training is supported by Warwick University, Birmingham City University, Coventry University and by our experienced mentors here at the Princethorpe Foundation.

You can preview the courses on offer here: www.gov.uk/find-postgraduate-teacher-training-courses by searching the database using the details: 1K1 – The Lion Alliance

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 Dr Pyne at lizpyne@princethorpe.co.uk.

Further information about the Lion Alliance can be found at www.thelionalliance.co.uk.

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 get outside with a camera to capture the seasons as they pass.

There hasn’t been a lot of snow this winter, in this corner of Warwickshire but we have had plenty of bitingly cold and frosty mornings. Here are just a few winter morning photographs from this year’s finger chilling days.

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

On Tuesday 7 February, Princethorpe College hosted its first successful networking event for families past and present, who work in the farming and agribusiness sector. The evening was designed to bring farming professionals together, foster new connections, exchange ideas, build relationships and allow attendees to explore potential business opportunities.

During the evening the attendees heard from Jules Mold on the diversification of her and husband David’s farming exploits at Meadow Field Glamping, as well as from Dr Mathias Foo from the University of Warwick who spoke about his research into the use of light in agricultural practice. Both sessions were fascinating and informing and prompted many conversations.

The evening event was a great success, providing valuable opportunities for attendees to connect and learn from each other.

Steve Kowal, Development Director, said: “We would like to thank all our farming visitors and speakers for their participation and support in making the evening a success. We look forward to continuing to engage with the farming sector and building enduring and mutually beneficial relationships that support both our continued success”.

On Friday 13 January, the Foundation’s Development Team welcomed donors to Princethorpe for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour. Organised as a thank you for those who support the work of the Foundation, over 100 visitors enjoyed a fascinating evening uncovering a little of Princethorpe’s unique history and the stories of three very special Old Princethorpians who attended St. Mary's Priory between 1900 and 1910. Visitors were given a glimpse into the lives of these special OPs and of the subsequent impact they had on the world once they left school.

In this the third ‘Hidden Princethorpe’ event, guests were first treated to a presentation by Catherine Lewis, the College's Archivist before they began their tour. They explored many of the College’s hidden places, including a visit to the Organ loft and basement, Mount Zion in the Chapel and the College cellars, areas not typically open to pupils or the public.

After all that exploring, the evening finished with refreshments and drinks and plenty of convivial chat. Development Director, Steve Kowal, commented, "We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our donors who joined us at our ‘Peeps of Princethorpe’ event. We hope you enjoyed learning more about the rich history and vibrant community here at Princethorpe. Your support, and the support of all donors to the Foundation, is greatly appreciated and helps us to continue providing exceptional educational opportunities for all our pupils. Thank you to you all for being a part of the Princethorpe family."

The event was a great success and the donors left with a deeper understanding of the College's rich history and heritage, many thanks to all the donors who attended. The College is looking forward to hosting more events like this in the future.

To find out more about the work of the Development Team please visit https://connect.princethorpe.co.uk/supportus

The Annual Fund is the cornerstone of philanthropy at The Princethorpe Foundation and allows parents, supporters, and friends in the wider community to make a voluntary contribution to support the school. Those who give to this fund, including many members of staff, have the satisfaction of knowing that their donations have a significant impact. Such gifts touch the lives of every pupil in all our schools, every day of the year.

Each year, this fund supports the purchase of necessary academic and co-curricular equipment, ensures educational, enrichment and entertainment opportunities for pupils, and helps maintain the Schools’ academic and sporting facilities. The Annual Fund helps us to move forward with our plans to improve and develop the schools and the teaching and learning experiences that take place within them.

Gifts to this fund are unrestricted, allowing the Foundation’s leadership to determine where support is most needed, and can do the most good. The Annual Fund contributions are at the heart of all that we do, and all that we give to our pupils.

Every contribution is meaningful, regardless of amount and many of our supporters choose to make regular contributions, monthly or annually, big or small. These regular donations are helpful and popular as they provide critical and predictable support for the School, year on year, whilst also allowing donors to plan their giving. Those that give regularly, make a significant difference to our pupils' experiences.

Every year, parents, grandparents, Old Princethorpians, staff and friends of the Foundation donate to the Annual Fund. We invite you to help us by donating to the Annual Fund.

To find out more or make a donation visit the school website here.

The College's new Science Centre will be ready for teaching in September 2023, facilitating not only state of the art science education at Princethorpe but also the opportunity to redevelop the existing site for complete cross-curricular enhancement.

It is still possible to support the project in several different ways:

• By having a name engraved on a wall brick to be displayed in the entrance lobby of the Science Centre (£100)
• By having a name engraved on a chemical element on our Periodic Table display in the Science Centre (£250). Just 14 elements remain now please contact the Development Office to find out what is still available.
• By having a name engraved on a granite paver to be placed outside the entrance to the Science Centre (£500)
• By you or your company sponsoring a display panel featuring the picture and biography of a particular scientist, as well as your name, message and company logo (£1500)
• You could also choose to name a specific laboratory or piece of equipment (if you would like to discuss this further, please contact stevekowal@princethorpe.co.uk)

To participate, please contact the Development Office here.

So many of our parents, staff, OPs and friends have done much already to support the Foundation and we are incredibly appreciative of this. It’s fantastic to see the Princethorpe community joining together to make the vision for Science a reality.

Donations can be paid over a period of months, please contact the Development Office for more information.

Crescent School, the Princethorpe Foundation's prep school in Bilton, Rugby, is celebrating its 75th anniversary during 2023. The school has exciting plans to celebrate this wonderful milestone, with opportunities to get together, renew and strengthen relationships and revive old memories.

The year began with the school marking Founder’s Day on Monday 16 January. Founder’s Day was a new celebration in the Crescent calendar and provided an opportunity for the Crescent community to reflect back to its founding in January 1948 and to commemorate and thank all who have contributed to the school’s history. Pupils also spent Friday 20 January looking back to 1948, with teachers leading themed lessons exploring life in the 1940s.

During the year the school is planning to update A History Of Crescent School last published on its 60th anniversary.

At Easter, the school would like to welcome a panel of old pupils back in to school to talk to the children and they are looking for volunteers and for any memorabilia former pupils and parents may have from their time at Crescent School. Photos, school reports, examples of schoolwork, programmes from plays and concerts and even old school uniform would all be welcomed. Please contact the school office at admin@crescentschool.co.uk if you would like to get involved or the Foundation’s archivist catherinelewis@princethorpe.co.uk if you have anything to donate.

Then in the summer, the school will be inviting past pupils to visit the school when they hold their 75th anniversary celebrations on Saturday 10 June as part of the school’s annual Summer Fête.

More details of the events will be shared once plans are finalised. If you are interested in being kept up to date with the Crescent School's plans, then do please join our alumni community Princethorpe Connect https://connect.princethorpe.co.uk/ so we can stay in touch with you.

Crescent School look forwards to sharing this important milestone with you all.

Our OPs' Events Calendar has details of our events for the academic year.

This year's calendar features some of our regular favourites including our annual spring meet which returns to Leamington to The Royal Pug on Friday 10 March and the Summer Supper Reunion will take place on Friday 23 June, this time celebrating the leavers of 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003 and 2013, although leavers of other years are also very welcome.

All alumni, past parents and staff are most welcome to participate in any or all of the events.
For more information and to sign up to any of our events, please go to Princethorpe Connect.

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

Wednesday 22 February         
7.00pm  Ash Wednesday Mass, St Anne's, Wappenbury

Thursday 6 April             
7.00pm  Maunday Thursday Mass, Princethorpe College

Friday 7 April                 
3.00pm  Good Friday Service, Princethorpe College

Sunday 9 April               
8.30am  First Mass of Easter, St Anne's, Wappenbury
10.30am  Easter Mass, 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.

There are a number of opportunities to visit the school during the course of the year. We encourage prospective parents and pupils to visit us both formally and informally to get a true flavour of the school.

Most of our pupils enter at Nursery, Reception or at Junior 3, though pupils are welcome at any age, dependent on a place being available.

Those already attending Little Crackers in the pre-school year, and siblings, are given priority for places in Reception. 

Applications for places in the current Reception to Junior 6 are treated on an individual basis as places are limited. In years where there is no place available we operate waiting groups. 

Crackley Hall School And Little Crackers Open Morning

Saturday 4 March - 10.30am to 12.30pm

Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery, are holding an Open Morning on Saturday 4 March. Come and find out why Crackley Hall School has been judged 'Excellent' in all areas by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. It's a great opportunity for prospective families considering Crackley Hall School to come and have a look around and get a feel for the school. 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 visit our website here.

Friday 10 March 2023 - 6.30pm to 10.30pm 

This year's OPs Local Meet takes place on Friday 10 March 2023 upstairs at The Royal Pug, 141 Regent Street, Leamington, CV32 4NX.  

The OPs Commitee will be laying on a delicious hot and cold buffet, so do let us know if you would like to attend by registering on Princethorpe Connect, so we can cater for you.

We look forward to seeing you there!

There are a number of opportunities to visit the school during the course of the year. We encourage prospective parents and pupils to visit us both formally and informally to get a true flavour of the school.

Most of our pupils enter at Reception and at Year 3, though pupils are welcome at any age, dependent on a place being available. The school is proving popular so parents are being encouraged to apply early for places in Reception. 

We are currently operating waiting groups in most years apart from our current Year 1 and Year 2 classes where we do have some places available as these year groups each have two classes. Applications for places in the current Reception to Year 6 are treated on an individual basis.

Crescent School Open Morning

Saturday 11 March - 10.00am to 12.00pm

Crescent School, Princethorpe's junior school in Bilton, Rugby, will hold an Open Morning on Saturday 11 March. Come and find out why Crescent School has been judged 'Excellent' in all areas by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. It's a great opportunity for prospective families considering Crescent School to come and have a look around and get a feel for the school. There will also be opportunities to speak to pupils, key members of staff and to meet Mr Thackway, Headmaster.

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

Tuesday 14 March 2023 - 10.30am - 12.30pm 

The College's Open Morning gives prospective families a chance to visit the school on a normal working day, with Year 8 and 9 pupils acting as tour guides. Light refreshments will be available.

Click here to book your place: https://www.princethorpe.co.uk/open-morning

Please do spread the word amongst friends and family, all are very welcome! 

Tuesday 21 March 2023 - 11.00am

To mark St Joseph's Day on Tuesday 21 March, Crackley Hall School is holding a St Joseph’s Day Mass.

We cordially invite all former St Joseph's and Crackley Hall pupils and former staff to join us.

All are most welcome so please do sign up for the event on Princethorpe Connect here.

More information will be shared with all those registered before the event takes place.

Saturday 13 May 2023 10.30am - 12.30pm

We are offering OPs, former parents and staff the opportunity to visit the College and get a sneak preview of the new Science Centre, after a delicious complimentary brunch in the Refectory (served until 12.00 noon).

Foundation Assistant Head, Alex Darkes, who is project managing the build will lead the tour, that will also include other parts of the campus. 

Visitors are also welcome to watch the Sports Fixtures taking place that morning.

The Old Princethorpians' Association organises the brunch as an opportunity for all to reconnect with both the College and with each other in an informal, friendly environment.

If you would like to attend please register on Princethorpe Connect. Please do spread the word!

Saturday 27 May – Sunday 28 May 2023

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

This year the event includes a new 70cm class as well as the 80cm, 90cm and 100cm classes. Once again, the event also includes 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 23 June 2023 - 6.00pm optional tour, 7.00pm drinks reception, 7.30pm supper

OPs who left the College in 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003 and 2013 (or those who were in the same year groups) are cordially invited back to the OPs annual Summer Supper on Friday 23 June to celebrate their respective 50th, 40th, 30th, 20th and 10th anniversaries of leaving. Leavers of other year groups are also most welcome. 

Comments OPs Secretary, Melanie Butler, "We know 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 3, 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, former and current members of staff. The supper is preceded by an optional tour and drinks in the Quad. Every year the OPs recognise long-standing members of staff and say farewell to any staff leaving the College.

Numbers are limited to around 100 guests, so if you would like to attend please go to Princethorpe Connect by Friday 9 June to reserve your place.

Thursday 22 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and Sunday 25 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm

A celebration of our pupils' GCSE and A-level Art, Photography, Design and Textiles work will take place in the Sixth Form Centre on Thursday 22 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and on Sunday 25 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm.

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 be £2 per car including entry to the College's Summer Fête and Motoring Festival. Light refreshments will be served in the Quad.

Sunday 25 June - 2.00pm to 4.30pm

We are pleased to confirm that this year's PTA Summer Fête and Motoring Festival will take place on Sunday 25 June 2023.

This event takes place in the Orchard between 2.00pm and 4.30pm. There is lots of entertainment both for children and adults alike, which usually includes a large inflatable slide for the kids, BBQ, refreshments, bar, pupils’ stalls, over 30 external stalls, a raffle and many, many more exciting things for all the family to enjoy.  

Please add the date to your calendar. 

One of the highlights of the School Calendar is the Annual Motoring Festival. The Motoring Festival coincides with the Summer Fête and is open to anyone keen to bring any sort of classic, vintage, veteran or interesting vehicle along for the afternoon. There are rally plaques for all vehicles pre-booked by Wednesday 31 May 2023 and there are awards for self-judged competitions.

For more information and for entry forms for the Motoring Fesitval please visit the school website. 

Saturday 9 September 2023 - 10.30am to 4.30pm

The College always enjoys hosting OP reunions and events and no more so than the reunions for the old girls of St Mary's Priory, who were at school here before Princethorpe College came into being. The ladies are now fondly referred to as Very Special Old Princethorpians or VSOPs. 

We are currently making plans for our next VSOP reunion when we will welcome the group back to the College again on Saturday 9 September 2023.

If you are interested in attending or know someone who would like to please get in touch with Loretta Curtis at lorettacurtis@princethorpe.co.uk.

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

I was born and raised in Coventry until as a family we moved to Bubbenhall mid-way through my school years at Princethorpe, which was handy being so close. With work I have spent time living in Southampton, Ipswich and now Chester. I have always liked to move around and see different places, so this suits me down to a tee. I completed a BA Honours in Sport & Exercise Science at Coventry University. After this I decided to undertake a MSc in Strength and Conditioning at St Mary’s University Twickenham which I am due to complete this summer. Whilst this is going on, I am now working full time at Wrexham AFC as the First Team Strength & Conditioning Coach. I am fortunate enough to say that it does not really feel like a job, it is more like a paid hobby, which I have been striving to find since leaving school.

Age: I am 26 years old.

When were you at Princethorpe - years from and to?

I was at Princethorpe from Year 7 in 2008 and went all the way through to Sixth Form leaving in 2015.

What was the school like in your day?

School was great when I was there. It’s the classic, I didn’t realise how enjoyable it was until I left and now look back on it. I always felt very privileged to go to Princethorpe, the facilities, the teachers, the people... everything for me was great. I still find myself going back with my family occasionally for Mass on a Sunday, and I still get the same feeling I use to get when I was in Year 7. Every part of the school has it’s own memories, even the Science Labs.

How did Princethorpe affect the person you are today?

I blame Princethorpe for constantly continuing to develop my love for sport and competition, I have the sport teachers and Games department to thank for that. Success in sport had to be earnt and not just given out, that for me was invaluable. Princethorpe also taught me to explore so many different avenues, I just wish I had tried harder in Food Tech. Having a good understanding and not closing any doors through school, I think has been key for me in finding a job I wake up in the morning and look forward to doing.

What advice would you give to your teenage self?

Definitely to spend more time doing work at home. I didn’t mind doing it most of the time, but just had the mindset ‘just get it done’ instead of with quality. Also to find a decent barber instead of thinking getting a haircut was a waste of time.

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

My family, but that is a given, they have always been there for me through thick and thin. My mum’s kindness and constant positive outlook on life has always kept me going in the right direction. My dad’s desire to do everything he can for our family and always driving me to go above and beyond in everything I do Mr Whitehead, Mr Vella, Mr McCollin, Mrs McCullough, the list is endless. Finally my two closest mates, James Hobbs and Luke Bromley who also went to Princethorpe, we are always in touch and meeting up.

What keeps you awake at night?

Not a lot to be honest, there are some long days clocked up in football so I do value my sleep.

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

One of my proudest moments would have to be whilst at university, achieving a sandwich year placement at Southampton FC working with the First Team. The fact there was only one position out of the hundreds of people that applied, made it a great achievement for me personally. Without this, I wouldn’t be in the job I am in now, as it is somewhat about the people you know and how you have impacted them in the workplace.

What’s your biggest indulgence?

Going to new places very spontaneously and without planning. I have found with the trips I have been on, the most memorable experiences have been unplanned. Just wing it sometimes!

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

Without question a medium rare fillet steak (Forge Kitchen). Without sounding like a TripAdvisor review...  If anyone is ever up near Chester, this restaurant is exceptionally good.

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

Somewhere cold and with snow, I do have a thing for North America although I am yet to venture there. But ultimately, it would be skiing somewhere with my friends and a lively après ski after.

Lasting memories of Princethorpe:

There are too many to choose from. The South Africa Tour was an incredible experience, spending time with everyone, which I never wanted to end. Miss Coccane’s form group in yYar 11, every morning turned out to be comedy gold.

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

I am still in touch with a few people, Luke Bromley and James Hobbs mainly, although they’ve selfishly both migrated down to London.

Is there anyone you would like to track down?

I’m always open to catching up with people and seeing how they’re doing.

We are delighted to share the news that Alice Afford (nee Pickin) (Class of 2012) and her husband Tom welcomed their second child, Beatrice early in the New Year.

Alice comments, "Beatrice Emily Afford was born on 2nd January 2023 making it the most wonderful start to the year! We are delighted to have a healthy baby girl and William is proving to be a brilliant big brother!"

Congratulations to them all!

Sad news has reached the Old Princethorpians, that OP Graham Hurst passed away on Thursday 19 January aged 58 years. 

His funeral took place at Canley Crematorium on Thursday 2 February. Graham's old friend Michael Joannides sent us this information.

Graham attended Princethorpe from 1976-1983 gaining 11 O levels and one A-level. He was on strong medication from his mid 20s and spent many years at Town Thorns Residential Home in Easenhall and latterly at Hawthorne House in Tile Hill Coventry. 

He was enthusiastically chatty on many topics particularly late 60s and 1970s chart songs and British classic cars. Many will remember him for his amazing recall of specific dates with local weather events being another favoured topic of conversation, particularly snow events.

Our sincere condolences go out to all Graham's family and friends.

Sad news reached us just before Christmas of the sudden death of longstanding Princethorpe bus driver, Trevor Nicklin.

Trevor was a familiar face to many and will have been well known and liked by pupils and parents as he drove buses for the College for over 25 years. Over the course of his time with us he drove routes including Coventry, Stratford and Solihull, originally working for DeCourceys and then transferring to Ridleys Coaches six years ago.

Trevor was a thoroughly nice chap, unsurprisingly perhaps he was also quite the transport enthusiast and used to enjoy attending the College Motoring Festival.

His passing has come as a shock and our sincere condolences go to Trevor’s family, friends, colleagues and the pupils, past and present, who knew him. He will be missed by the Princethorpe community and we thank him for his faithful service.

Congratulations to OP Rosie Bagshaw (Class of 2017) who recently got engaged to her fiance Kyle Roberts. The happy couple have set the date for their wedding and are counting down the days.

An excited Rosie, comments, "We have set our wedding date for 27 July 2024 so we are busy planning away! We are planning to have a big marquee on my family’s farm!"

Rosie is a Teaching Assistant at Knightlow Primary School, where she has worked since leaving school, she met Kyle seven years ago at Young Farmers.

We wish them both a very happy life together!

Congratulations to OP Rowanna Hughes (Class of 2015) who has recently got engaged to fiance, Matt Furlong.

Rowanna takes up the story:

"We got engaged in the ski resort where we met seven years ago, Matt completely surprised me when he popped the question on the slopes as the sun was setting.

We bought our first house in Chester last summer and have settled in nicely with our dog Monty. I am working as a project manager for the Local Authority and Matt is a Detective for Cheshire Police. We are hoping to get married in summer 2025!"

We wish them both every happiness together!

As many people will know, Peeps of Princethorpe was the name of the school magazine produced by St. Mary’s Priory pupils from 1902 until 1964. It was an annual publication giving a detailed account of the previous school year, with various contributors. These magazines are a wonderful primary source, abundant with information about school life from sports matches, trips and academic successes to updates on Old Princethorpians.  They also give us a real insight into the feel of the school, the ethos, and the social and political situations that were occurring outside of the convent walls. In fact, it is easy to think the pupils were sheltered from the turmoil of outside events, but Peeps shows us they were well informed about world affairs and played an active role in major events.

The school magazines reveal a world of interesting stories but, most importantly, they show us the incredible people who once walked Princethorpe College’s corridors.  Throughout Peeps, there are so many examples of girls who have gone on to make significant contributions in many ways and it is time to look at one of those in more detail.  History has tended to forget pioneering women of the early 20th Century but through promoting the work of the archives, such stories can be kept alive, inspiring a new generation in the process.  In their heyday, these women were grabbing the headlines, but the passing of time has diminished their achievements and memory.  In our Development Donor event we celebrated three such women and in this edition of the Old Princethorpian newsletter we are sharing the story of one of them an Old St Mary's Priory girl, Oonah Keogh.

You can read about Oonah in more detail here.

Within the school archives there is a huge collection of photos, that we know our alumni community would enjoy seeing. Our Archivist, Catherine Lewis, has taken over the reins of the @PFdn_Archives Twitter account and just like her predecessor is sharing some of the photographic treasures in her care.

Over recent months her tweets have included photos of:

• 1975 Whole School Photo
• 1962 St Mary's winning team at the East Warwickshire Hockey Tournament 
• Bonfire night celebrations
• St Mary's past pupil Aileen Farrell, one of the first women to graduate from Oxford University
• Father Fleming walking the cloisters with pupils
• Crescent School pupils with a Dolphin Swimming Award c. 1970s
• Pupils checking the weather station in the Quad

Do you recognise them, can you help us fill in the details, such as the exact year and names of the individuals, in these photos here? Do email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk if you can.

Everyone is welcome to explore the 11,000 items in archive collection further, you can have a look here: https://archives.princethorpe.co.uk/, or you can receive regular updates, including lots of old photos, by following the Archive Twitter feed @PFdn_Archives

Our St. Mary’s Priory Theatre Programmes have now all been digitised and are available on the Archives website for people to see.

They contain some beautiful artwork by the girls, and they date from pretty much the entire lifespan of the school - from the 1840s to the 1950s. As well as showing us the types of plays the pupils performed over the years, there are also some illuminating insights into the political events of the time. For example:

SMP.31.01.084 is a programme from the early 20th Century which, as well as promoting the play, promotes votes for women

SMP.31.01.104 is a programme from World War I which contains songs about various people ‘doing their bit’

It’s all fascinating stuff, so why not take a look, you can delve into the archives here: archives.princethorpe.co.uk

Many thanks to OP Sean Kerrigan who helped us name the pupils in this photo that we shared in our last edition.

Left to right is Richard Dawtry, Steven Fullard, Derek Kelly, Robin Black, Martin Quick and then teachers Mr. ? and Mr Jones?

Although he didn't take Geography, Sean believes this was a Geography Field Trip in 1970.

Do you recognise the teachers? If you can fill in the gaps please let us know. Just email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

Emily Dawber got in touch after we published our last edition of the OP newsletter and was able to confirm some more details on the news clipping of the College's opening.

She told us: "I'm was just browsing through the OP email and came across a mention of John Wheildon possibly being in the photo of the opening ...I've recently been going through old photo albums and this photo looked familiar ...I have a framed photo which I believe is from almost the same moment but a different angle. My late father, John Wheildon is certainly there (second from left on photo attached), he moved from St Bede's to Princethorpe and I believe was one of the first boarders. I have also attached a couple of other framed photos I have found for your interest. The basketball was in the now theatre/study hall (or it was used as that when I attended in 1998-2000). The other looks to be the Mass of the opening."

Many thanks to Emily, we are always fascinated to see old photos and to find out more details of Princethorpe's past.

After a five year break, we were once again able to take a whole school photo this year and pupils had a lot of fun trying to find themselves once the photograph was hung upon the wall. We shared the image on social media, and it prompted several of you to get in touch asking after older editions.

The whole school photographs are hung on the walls of the cloister corridors. Have a look in the gallery to see some of the photos from across the years.

The archives hold many whole school photographs and our alumni are always welcome to contact the Foundation’s archivist Catherine Lewis at catherinelewis@princethorpe.co.uk if they are interested in seeing a copy of a particular year. Just email Catherine with details of when you were in school so she can see what is available in the archives.

It was exciting to see OP Jack Bromage-Eccles taking to the stage for the Royal Variety Performance on Tuesday 20 December, the show was screened on ITV.
 
Jack, who left Princethorpe in 2018, plays Tommy Boy in the musical Newsies, which won Tony Awards, including best original score, and is set in New York City at the turn of the 20th century and looks at the lives of young newspaper sellers. The cast performed a selection of numbers from the show which has just opened at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.

Comments Jack, "Newsies for me was a dream job and I am so grateful to part of this amazing show, it is full on and very energetic and the stage is like a playground where you can swing off the set and climb around it all like a child. The Royal variety Performance was an experience I will never forget and was such an honour to be able to perform in front of royalty." 

Jack is no stranger to the stage, having played Michael in Billy Elliot in the West End as well as being part of the the Australia tour with Wannabe The Spice Girls tour last year and being part of the, UEFA EUROS Closing Ceremony.

We can't wait to see where his career goes from here!!

Jack is pictured top row far right, at Royal Variety Performance on 20 December 2022 (Image: Royal Variety Performance 2022 on ITV) and in other shots from Newsies.

Congratulations to OP Libby Wilson who is a finalist for not one, but two Ladies First Awards. Libby who left Princethorpe in 2010 has been shortlisted in both the Excellence in Education and Inspirational Woman categories.

She takes up the story:

Hello I’m Libby and I own a Montessori Nursery School in a village between Rugby and Leamington Spa.

Just before I turned 21, I took a risk and opened a nursery using Montessori methods. When I first opened I checked my emails and voicemails 100 times a day worrying no one would sign up. Happily since the first year of opening, the nursery has been full with a three year waiting list

In spite of the tears, worries, stress and sleepless nights I still wouldn’t wish to do anything else.

I’m extremely grateful that I pretty well knew what I wanted to do from a young age, my parents have always worked for themselves which inspired me to do the same. Even taking a career personality test at school pointed me towards working with children.

Being dyslexic Montessori training and learning was the perfect fit for me. I’d always been a ‘child magnet’ and had a natural affinity with young children, maybe being dyslexic, struggling to fit the square peg into the round hole makes me see a little one’s learning through all different approaches the best way forward.

We wish Libby well in the awards!

OP and former Crackley Hall pupil, Toby Lee has been in touch to share the exciting news that he has reached the final five nominees for the 'UK Young Blues Artist Of The Year' in the 2023 UK Blues Awards.

Voting is open for the awards until Sunday 19 February, and it would be wonderful if our Foundation community could support Toby. You can vote for him here: https://www.ukblues.org/ We wish him the very best of luck!

Toby attended Crackley Hall School from 2014 to 2016 and then Princethorpe College until 2017. Dubbed a future superstar of the blues by Joe Bonamassa, Toby boasts an impressive musical CV.

In 2016 he was cast as Zack Mooneyham in the West End production of School of Rock the Musical for which he subsequently won an Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Achievement in Music'.

He has appeared on many TV shows around the world including TFI Friday twice, Little Big Shots USA, Spain and the UK, Comic Relief, Michael McIntyre, The X Factor, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Blue Peter and Tonight at the London Palladium where he performed with McFly.

Toby has shared the stage with a host of stars including Buddy Guy, Billy Gibbons, Peter Frampton, Slash, Lukas Nelson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and has appeared alongside his hero, Joe Bonamassa at the Royal Albert Hall.

Toby is off on tour soon. He is playing locally in Leamington in March, but the tickets for the gig have sadly already sold out. He is also playing at the UK Blues Awards in London in April.

You can find out more here: www.toby-lee.com

Congratulations to the new Dr Fergus Preston, who has successfully defended his Chemistry PhD thesis entitled “The Identification and Synthesis of Novel Fluorine-Containing Heterocycles as Starting-Points of Fragment-Based Drug Discovery” after a 3.5 hour viva voce examination.

Fergus (Class of 2013) is now a senior scientist at a company in Cambridge, where he has been working on synthesising new drugs to treat Parkinson’s and dry eye disease.

We wish him well with his new career!

To raise awareness of rare genetic conditions that babies are born with, OP Michael Curtis (1995-1999) will be running the London Marathon on Sunday 23 April.

Michael wants to thank the NHS and specifically Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) for the support they provide to families and parents. Michael will be running for the Lowe Syndrome Trust which is personally very close to him.

If you wish to donate to the Lowe charity please use the link here or to support the work of GOSH use the link here. In both cases please reference on behalf of M D Curtis.

We wish Michael the very best of luck!

We were delighted to welcome OP Tom Gahan (Class of 2017) back to Princethorpe recently and to show him round his old school. 

He told us, "I joined Princethorpe in Year 8 after struggling at my previous school. Within only a few months my teachers recommended that I test for ADHD and dyslexia, which my previous school hadn’t noticed at all. After finding out I had both my teachers helped me to learn in ways that suited me. Over my time at Princethorpe I was given the opportunity to thrive, not only academically in the classroom but on the field too. I joined many of the sports teams and was encouraged to push myself as much as possible.

"Looking back, I am confident that without Princethorpe I would not have got the grades that I got or be where I am now. I currently live in California and work for a bank doing cyber security. I don’t get much time to return to the UK so I was delighted, on my last trip, to visit Princethorpe. It was incredible to see teachers that taught me many years ago still there. A testament to the ethos and community at the school.

"After my visit I was affirmed in my beliefs that without Princethorpe I would not be where I am today. An enormous thank you to the staff for everything you did for me."

We were delighted to see you again Tom and to hear your latest news. 

Warwickshire property company The Wigley Group is celebrating more than 50 years of history with Princethorpe College – and continues to be a proud supporter today!

The family-run firm has more than 30 staff based at its Stockton House headquarters on Rugby Road, including six Old Princethorpians currently working at the company.

Chairman Robert Wigley was the first to attend the College, starting in 1972, with Group Communications Manager Katie Wigley the last to attend as she left in the summer of 2011.

Other College alumni include Chief Executive Officer James Davies, Chief Operating Officer James Ellerington, Property Assistant Jonathan Wigley, and Construction Manager Andrew Higham.

The company retains close links with the College today, sponsoring the Two-Day Equestrian event which takes place in May, and will also be hosting a stall and careers workshops at the Princethorpe Careers Fair on Saturday 18 March.

James Davies, who currently sits on the Old Princethorpians committee, said: “Having so many alumni from the same college is quite unusual, but we all have such fond memories of our time at Princethorpe.

“I know our team are looking forward to meeting students and telling them about the exciting opportunities we have here – such as our successful Apprenticeships, Graduate Scheme, and work experience placements – at the upcoming Careers Fair.”

The Wigley Group operates in property, development, and construction.

For more details visit www.thewigleygroup.com.

We were delighted to hear that two Old Princethorpians from the early 90s have worked together to raise awareness of MS. OP Caroline Thor (née Fielding), has produced a special episode of her podcast that featured her old school friend OP Jane Gould (née Pavis).

Caroline retrained as a professional organiser two years ago and started a podcast Living Clutter Free Forever back in the summer. Caroline had stayed in touch with Jane through Facebook but hadn’t seen her in years. Jane was diagnosed with MS over 20 years ago, and is now in a wheelchair, in the podcast she talks to Caroline about the difficulties of navigating her home in a wheelchair, and the clever organisational solutions she has developed to make her life easier.

The podcast, episode 24, went out in November and you listen to it here:
https://www.caroline-thor.com/podcast/

You can read Jane’s blog that she mentions in the podcast here:
https://abcms.substack.com/

You can find out more about Caroline’s work on her website here:
https://www.caroline-thor.com/explore

Thank you for getting in touch Caroline, it was great to hear from you and to hear of your project with Jane to raise awareness of the challenges of living with MS.

Old Princethorpian, Lily Blunsom-Washbrook, (Class of 2016) finished performing in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in November last year, playing the role of Juliet at the Kenneth More theatre in London. 

Lily takes up the story: "I got this job after a director saw me perform in my West End debut earlier last year, in Witness for the Prosecution at London County Hall. He was very kind about my work and offered me the audition for Juliet. It was a competitive job with over 1000+ applicants from actors for just the part of Juliet so it was quite the audition process, including lots of workshops and one on one speech work.

Funnily enough, the last play I took part in at Princethorpe was also Romeo and Juliet where I played Tybalt, (some would say he's the bad guy,) so it felt like a lovely full circle moment from being a student only just beginning to grow an appreciation for Shakespeare's text, to now being on stage in the lead role as a professional actor. I'm so grateful that I got to explore the art of theatre as much as I did at Princethorpe. It certainly crafted the performer I am today. Here's to the next show!"

Congratulations, Lily! We look forward to seeing what you get up to in the future. 

Congratulations to OP Bethany Rees who has recently graduated from Birmingham City University in Secondary Drama teaching, after completing her school placement with us at Princethorpe College.

Bethany has been working within a Prep school in London since September and has already directed two shows and is working on her third.

We're delighted that she will be joining us for our Careers Fair in March to host a workshop about ‘getting into teaching’.

Many congratulation to Chelsea Kempton who has graduated with a 2:1 in Physical Education from Leeds Beckett University.

Since graduating she has been working in a primary school as maternity cover and is now looking at going into the sports sector.

Congratulations to Old Princethorpian, Molly Geehan (Class of 2019) who graduated in November with a 2:1 in Journalism. 

She tells us about her special day.

"Graduation day was one I will never forget. I was coming towards the end of my first year when the pandemic started, so now being able to cross that finish line was so special. I not only made my family proud, but I made myself proud too.

I thourougly enjoyed my time at Worcester University; having several articles published and playing for our 1st team netball were definitely some of my highlights as well as being on our University charity committee. I will cherish those memories forever."

A huge well done to Molly!

A huge congratulations to Anna Wells, (Class of 2019) who graduated with a First Class Degree in Physiotherapy. 

We spoke to Anna to ask her about her time at University: "I had an amazing three years at Worcester University. I learned everything physio, including anatomy and physiology, complext neurological, respiratory and musculo-skeletal conditions, assessment and treatment skills. 

I enjoyed BUCS Wednesdays and fortunately had time to enjoy competitive netball alongside 1,000 hours of placement time. I'm now thoroughly enjoying working at Warwick Hospital as a Band 5 Rotational Physiotherapist."

Well done Anna! It was great to hear from you, glad to see you are keeping up with the netball and we look forward to seeing what you do in the future. 

Princethorpe leaver of 2021, Dan McCullough, has been given the honour of being The High Sheriff of Warwickshire Police Cadet for the year ahead.

Dan attended his first offiical ceremony on Thursday October 6 at the annual Thanksgiving Service for the current High Sheriff, Mr David Kelham. Dan has been with Warwickshire Cadets since he was 13 and will pass out as a senior in 2023. He is currenty studiying the relevant courses at college that will hopfully enable to follow a career in the Police in the future.

Congratulations Dan we hope you enjoy your year!