Malvern View Autumn 2014

Rugby tour to South Africa

MALVERN VIEWIssue 20 | Autumn 2014 www.malverncollege.org.uk

Antony ClarkHeadmaster

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You will see from this edition of the Malvern View that the fast pace of school life continues. Our pupils are engaged in their studies and in a myriad of activities outside the classroom. They are out in the community helping run events and supporting charities in term time and in the holidays too.

There are some significant academic achievements recorded here and we congratulate all those who have worked hard to gain those successes in this and other fields too.

Cena Meritorum DinnerThe Cena Meritorum Dinner is hosted by the Headmaster each year to celebrate the contributions to College life made by the top 50 merit award recipients in the past academic year.

All year groups were well represented at this wonderful event where there was the chance to recognise the significant achievements of our pupils. Some had produced excellent academic work, some had performed in concerts or plays or in House competitions; others had shown outstanding determination, working extremely hard to achieve a particular goal. Pupils also receive merits for acts of kindness, helping others and showing care for those around them. Mr Henderson, Head of English, gave a superb address and spoke of the importance of courtesy and respect for others, as vital today as they have always been in knitting our communities together.

Top score for Aidan in the Biology ChallengeFifteen year-old pupil Aidan Baird has won a Gold Medal Certificate in the ‘Biology Challenge’, the schools junior version of the Biology Olympiad, designed to test pupils’ knowledge of Biology and stimulate their enthusiasm for the natural world. Aidan, in winning a Gold Medal Certificate, is in the top 5% of the 32,500 pupils entering the competition this year. In addition, pupils at Malvern College won eight Silver and thirty Bronze Medal Certificates. Aidan was the school’s highest scorer and has been invited to the Royal Society to receive his award at an event in London where the guest speaker is Professor Alice Roberts. In his year group Aidan is not only one of Malvern College’s top academics but he also excels at Athletics in which he represents the school at the triple jump. He is a great all-rounder.

Chris Hall, Head of Science, Biology

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Tour of Britain duty for CyrusCyrus Goodger (No.9, Upper Sixth) is a trained First Aider with the Red Cross and was asked to support Stage Four of the Tour of Britain cycle event that passed through Malvern in September this year. The willingness of trained volunteers, like Cyrus, to attend is one of the great hallmarks of community events in Britain.

Many local supporters flocked to see the stars of the race, Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish and were rewarded with great views of this colourful spectacle.

Paul Wickes, Housemaster No.9, Economics and Politics

Aston Martin lectureThe Malvern Festival of Innovation came to Malvern College this term when Dr Bal Choda, an engineer and STEM Ambassador from Aston Martin UK, spoke about the design process, systems engineering, and the innovative energy that goes into the creation of an Aston Martin sports car.

Pupils from local schools, as well as Malvern College pupils, attended the lecture and there was certainly a great deal of interest in the Aston Martin parked outside the building, which afforded many photo opportunities.

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US University morningDuring the University Morning for the Lower Sixth, 22 pupils spent time working on their university applications to the USA. They divided their time between researching suitable colleges, beginning work on their application essays, and

Friday 30th January Thanksgiving Service

From February Images of Sport

From February Tree of Life

Sunday 1st February Indoor Hockey Tournament

Monday 9th February OM Lecture: Dr Angus Kennedy

Saturday 28th February OM Football Tournament

Monday 9th March OM Lecture: Dominic Sandbrook

9th –19th March Malvern Art: Past, Present and Future

Sunday 22nd March Malvern College Gala Concert with Thomas Trotter

Monday 20th April OM Lecture: Ahmed Rashid

23rd – 24th April Henry V by William Shakespeare

Wednesday 29th April Choral Evensong at Tewkesbury Abbey

Thursday 30th April Malvern v Repton Anniversary Cricket match

Tuesday 5th May Evening Reception at the House of Lords

Friday 5th June Evening Reception at Blenheim Palace

Saturday 4th July 150th Anniversary Ball

For more information please visit www.malverncollege150.org.uk or contact Leigh Ralphs, 150th Project Co-ordinator, email: [email protected].

Overseas Receptions for Old Malvernians and Friends will be held all over the world – please email [email protected] or telephone 01684 581 517 for more details.

Malvern College: 150th Anniversary

From the Headmaster

We anticipate a stimulating year ahead in which we will renew old friendships and have the chance to meet so many of those who are, or have been, associated with Malvern College in one way or another.

I want to take this opportunity to thank those who have supported Malvern over the years for their loyalty and encouragement: we have valued traditions and deep roots, but are also a dynamic school which is forward-looking and seeks to develop year by year in fulfilment of our mission to be the best co-educational school in the United Kingdom.

Celebrations will take place both at home and abroad and I trust that you will be enriched by your association with the Malvern community wherever you may be and that our 150th year will be something special to us all.

Antony Clark, Headmaster

getting advice on the best use of their SAT scores and exchanging stories about their work so far.

Dr Martin Harris, Head of US University Applications, Classics


Man Booker prizeMalvern’s English Department has been running a shadowing exercise in the run-up to the announcement of this year’s Man Booker Prize for fiction.

“It was heartening to see the enthusiasm and literary ambition of so many pupils during this project. We had six reading groups, focused on each of the novels, and then an evening together in the library when we talked about what we had read and thought,” said English teacher, Elizabeth Charman. “The humanity and power of many of the ideas and stories struck home with everyone. Response to the intellectual playfulness of some of the narrative structures was more varied. Everyone liked the cake and helium balloons!”

Staff profile: Jonathan Brown – Director of MusicJonathan joined Malvern College as Director of Music in September. He is a professional singer with an extensive repertoire. He is married to Rebecca who is a singing teacher and cellist. They have two daughters Jessica and Helen who are reading sciences at university but who are both very musical. The family has 2 cocker spaniels, Molly a most promising vocalist and her puppy Saffy who has yet to declare her musical intentions.

Jonathan confesses to an interest in sport but has abandoned his active sporting engagements for the time being.

LIKES: Swindon Town FC, walking the dogs, golf DISLIKES: Snakes, when people tell me to ‘enjoy’

There’s a mouse in the house this Christmas!Lynne Hallett, a member of the English and Drama departments at Malvern College, has recently published three stories for children.

‘There’s a Mouse in the House’ is a delightful rhyming story for pre-school children, ‘Who Cut Up the Moon’, a prize-winning classic picture book and ‘Awesome Adventures’ comprises two comic rhyming tales for four to seven year olds.

Lynne has been writing for seven years and enjoys it enormously. “It’s something which makes me happy and it’s nice to know that what I write may bring pleasure to others, too,” she said.

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Dramatic Society productionIn October dramatists from the Upper Sixth presented ‘Blue Stockings’ by Jessica Swale which was first performed at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in 2013. The play is set in Girton College, Cambridge, in 1896 and centres on the campaign to allow female students to graduate. All manner of themes are explored as the play examines the prejudices faced by the pioneers of women’s education. The production moved from moments of high comedy to thoughtful debate on the feminist cause and provoked much examination of the struggle for women’s rights, not only in the Victorian past, but also in the present.

Keith Packham, Director of Drama

Kathryn wins a place at Oxford School of Music and DramaFrom hundreds of applications and with only 15 places on offer, Kathryn Withnall (No.3) has successfully won a place at the Oxford School of Music and Drama to study Musical Theatre.

“We are exceptionally proud of her achievement,” said Fiona Packham, Housemistress of No.3. “We wish her well and hope that this is the first step on her way to reaching the West End stage!”

Malvern View • Autumn 20146

The Odyssey by Homer, adapted by Hattie NaylorThe Foundation Year play

This year’s Foundation Year drama production was Homer’s epic poem, that chronicles Odysseus’s return after the bloody exploits of the Trojan War and his eventual return to his loyal wife, Penelope.

Angus Good (SH) played the leading role with intensity and gravitas, and Elise Black (No.3) his faithful wife. Omnipresent were the three Fates – the Moirai of Greek mythology – eerily performed by Annie O’Gorman (No.3), Lauren Maxey (No.3) and Miranda Bruce (No.3) and looking down upon all of them from Mount Olympus were Amelia Wilson (No.4) as Athene, Jack Bishop (No.7) as Zeus, Declan Swinburne (No.2) as Hermes, and Elliot Gilling Smith (No.1) as Poseidon. Supporting roles were played by Ali Hawkins

The Kite RunnerThe Malvern Theatres offers a wonderful programme of performing arts and local residents, and Malvern College, have the best of opportunity to see top class performances on our doorstep. Last term Fiona Packham, Housemistress of No.3, took some of the girls from No.3, on their first House outing of the year, to see ‘The Kite Runner’.

“It was a very emotional and thought provoking play, leaving many of us with questions in our minds about the importance of family, friendship and the significance of betrayal. The girls were all pleased to have been given the chance to see such a moving piece of theatre and it is an evening that we will remember for some time,” said Mrs Packham.

(No.4) as Nausicaa, Darcy Wilson Burgess (No.3) as the Cyclops, Shaun Cassini (No.1) as Telemachus, Scarlett Woods (No.3) as Anticleia and Maddie Martyn-Smith (No.3) as Laertes.

Tackling Homer’s epic story was a considerable challenge for this group of 38 young thespians but they can be proud of their performance. The audience showed their great appreciation for the way this play had been approached with skill by this young troupe of actors.

Keith Packham, Director of Drama

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Art Timothy Von der Heyden (No.7) with his painting entitled ‘Duplicates’, based on his ideas of dehumanisation and the pressure from society to conform, and the greyness that ensues.


Malvern College: An Anniversary Portrait by Roy Allen

About the book

Entertaining anecdotes and personal reminiscences from Old Malvernians bring to life great characters from Malvern’s history and Roy Allen’s meticulous research, drawing on the centenary account by Ralph Blumenau as well as a host of new sources, illuminates key aspects of the College’s history and development up to the present day.

The book is divided into two sections: the first a clear chronological account of Malvern College from the founding to the modern day, set against the background of our national and international history; and the second a series of chapters arranged thematically, focusing on such cornerstones of the Malvern experience as scholarship, sport, the Arts and training in leadership, as well as the tradition of service by the school and its pupils. The recent evolution of the school is considered, along with the vision for its future.

Orders can be placed by emailing [email protected]. Please provide your full name, postal address, phone number, the number of books you wish to order and whether hardback or leather bound. We will contact you by phone to arrange payment. Your order will be delivered shortly after the launch of the book in late January 2015.

Prices

Hardback (ISBN 978 0 74781 305 7): £40Leatherbound (ISBN 978 0 74781 306 4): £120Postage & Packing: £7.50 for 2nd Class Royal Mail delivery within the UK only.

We are happy to quote individually for overseas postage, recorded delivery or multiple copies.Copies ordered by those who subscribed to the publication earlier in the year will be delivered before Christmas.

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No.4 ReunionIn June record numbers of OMs from No.4 attended their House Reunion. The day began with a Chapel service, followed by drinks in the bright sunshine on the lawn outside the Sports Complex and this was followed by a delicious lunch in the Gryphon Room. Anne Sharp, Housemistress of No.4, then gave a speech comparing life today with how it might have felt to be in No.4 in the past. After lunch and the speeches, there were organised tours of the campus and of No.4 where a special archive of old photographs and memorabilia was set out for visitors to see.

Syd Hill, Secretary to the Malvernian Society

Lead climbing in the Peak District The ‘learning to lead’ climbing course has become a regular event in our Outdoor Pursuits programme and this year five keen climbers spent a busy weekend on the crags in the Peak District.

In spite of some very wet weather the team elected to climb outdoors rather than retreat to the comfort of one of Sheffield’s fine indoor climbing walls and as a consequence we spent a very wet morning at Yarncliff quarry. This proved to be the right decision because as we headed off to the bolted routes of Horseshoe Quarry in the afternoon, we were able to climb in wonderful sunshine. The dry rock and permanent fixings allowed the climbers to fly through the grades and many routes graded at 6a were tamed! Conditions improved still further as the weekend progressed and the team headed off for the classic gritstone crag of Bamford, where a full day of cragging ensued!

Big thanks to Louis Kennedy (No.1), Becca Wakefield (EH), Jacob Edwards (No.1), Polly Woodhouse (EH) and Laurence Elgar (No.5) for their enthusiasm and bravery!

Justin Major, Housemaster No.2, Outdoor Pursuits, Modern Languages


‘The Arab-Israeli conflict’On Friday September 20th, Malvern College was fortunate enough to welcome retired Commodore Rupert Wallace who delivered an engaging presentation on the Arab-Israeli conflict, combining both meticulous research and his years of experience in the Middle East. Fittingly, Commodore Wallace introduced the topic by highlighting the pivotal differences between religions whilst emphasising their fundamental similarity. He convincingly tied this to the present conflict in the area, underscoring the role of Jerusalem, which is surprisingly only about the size of Malvern. He went on to talk about the extraordinary story of Judaism in exile, starting with their initial expulsion from their homeland, through their extensive persecution and the formation of Zionism, and finally on to the creation of Israel, the end of their exodus. This was followed by a close analysis of the Palestinian-Israeli relations that have today become the source of much suffering and strife. Commodore Wallace then perceptively noted that a lasting solution could not be imposed by the West, but would need to originate from within the troubled region. To end, he described his own views on how the situation would likely develop in the future. He predicted a reduction in Western influence predominantly due to shifting American geo-strategic interests, and in particular those related to energy production due to fracking. This, and the unpopularity of Western values could then lead to a drift towards Islam throughout the Middle East, including, perhaps worryingly, in Turkey, a traditionally Western oriented state. The ensuing discussion between the speaker and the floor brought up issues ranging from the religious development of the United States to the morality of present-day Israeli action in reaction to provocation. All in attendance found the presentation to be thoroughly thought provoking and entertaining. The College thanks Commodore Wallace for an illuminating talk.

Joseph Zivny (SH), Jom Werling (SH) and Ed Street (SH)

No.7 ReunionWe can always rely on No.7 to produce an excellent turnout for a House Reunion. There were over 140 OMs and their guests present to meet up with their contemporaries, former teachers and Houseparents - James and Kirsten Ferguson, Andrew and Lin Murtagh, Roger Brierley, Peter and Alison Gray and the current team, Dan and Anna Eglin. The various tours round the school after Lunch in the Gryphon Room were also well supported and much appreciated, as well as the customary visit to the “new” No.7.

Syd Hill, Secretary to the Malvernian Society

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HOUSE LIFE HOUSE LIFE HOUSE LIFE HOUSE LIFE HOUSE LIFE


Preparatory Schools’ Arts DayOver two hundred pupils from ten preparatory schools had great fun creating Art, Music, Drama and Design Technology projects at Malvern College during the Prep Schools’ Arts Day. The musicians played in the orchestra and sang in a choir, all performing pieces learned from scratch; the artists created stunning items of clothing; Design and Technology pupils were introduced to 3D modelling software, whilst the actors presented a series of extraordinary headlines from the newspapers

All performed superbly at a final concert for parents and staff and each of our visitors can be proud of everything that was achieved on the day.

No.4’s Great Gatsby Musical and Arts Soiree No.4 hosted its second Music and Arts Soirée last term, this time with the theme ‘Great Gatsby’. Organised by Natasha Bishop, this was a glamorous evening where parents and visitors dressed in the style of a Gatsby party and were served prohibition mocktails created by Maisy Titterton in which quotations from the novel were attached to their straws. There was a progamme of music performed by the girls and an exhibition of their Art, Design and Technology work.

Anne Sharp, Housemistress No.4




Indoor Cricket TournamentFour preparatory schools battled it out in this year’s Indoor Cricket Tournament. Birchfield, S. Anselms, The Downs Malvern and Abberley Hall each played the other in the group stages before Abberley and The Downs met in a terrific final. Abberley were the victors and were awarded the trophy. Well done to all teams for contributing to a great day of cricket and good sportsmanship.

Mark Hardinges, Master i/c Cricket, Economics

Team Spirit at SHBeing the decent chap he is, Valentin Bertiaux designed and presented T-shirts to the SH boys in his year group – the Hundred – most of whom are pictured here. This is an incredibly kind gesture on Valentine’s part and much appreciated by the boys, who have an eye for the sartorial. And, of course, the French have the last word when it comes to style – or should that be the Italians?

Jamie Russell, Housemaster School House

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International youth drama Edward Barnes (SH), and Angus Good (SH) took to the boards this summer in productions that were part of a series of Youth Drama and Youth Music Festivals. Ed participated in a two-week project entitled ‘Harvest Fire’, run by the Youth Music at the Lemon Tree Theatre in Aberdeen. The production was staged as part of the Aberdeen International Youth Drama Festival. Angus performed in the Youth Music Theatre production of Terry Pratchett’s ‘Soul Music’ at the Rose Theatre, Kingston. Both boys will have gained valuable experience of working with professional West End theatre directors and their associated creative teams.

Meanwhile Martha Doherty (No.4) spent four weeks in Seattle at Cornish College, a visual and performing arts centre, on a programme that prepares students for the rigours of drama school.

Victoria Bosly in SenegalVictoria, who is in No.6, describes her time in Senegal this summer:

“I went to Senegal for two and a half weeks to teach French and Mathematics to children between five and seven years old, helped them brush their teeth and showed them how to wash. We played games, and we sang and danced a lot. I also spent half of the time with various families from the village, helping them with the dishes, the laundry, the food preparation, and we played a lot with the children”.

Victoria is in the back row, fifth adult on the right hand side with a little

boy on her back.

Martha Doherty, far right

Ed Barnes, left

Angus Good, right

What we did this year on our holidays

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Expedition to BorneoDuring the summer holidays Georgie Bullock (No.4) and Lucy Davies (No.3) spent two weeks with the charity Earthwatch, working on the Sabah Biodiversity Experiment in Borneo. The charity seeks to solve questions posed by ecosystems and to examine the potential for regeneration of the forest after logging has taken place there. The charity is currently in the process of carrying out one of the largest scientific investigations in this area of study. Georgie and Lucy worked hard in humid conditions and were fascinated to identify over 100 different species living in the forest – among them leeches, king cobras and orangutans!

Summer School Scholarships for No.6 girlsJulia Heimann and Carla Schröder were both awarded summer school scholarships this year, Julia a full scholarship on the course in Social Entrepreneurship at the IE University in Madrid, and Carla a place on Yale’s Young Global Scholars Programme. Carla won the Director’s Award for her

“exceptional achievement and leadership”.

Solenne’s adventure to Costa Rica and PanamaThis summer, Solenne Spitalier (No.6) had the unforgettable experience of taking part in a programme in Costa Rica and Panama, looking at the habitats and behaviour of primates.

She spent time in the Rainforest studying ecology systems and had hands-on time with the monkeys they studied there. Solenne also learnt how to conduct field research in the wilds of the countries and managed to observe the animal group dynamics at play in a large troupe of wild Howler monkeys.

“My favourite part of this trip was when we volunteered at the Blue Banyan Inn Animal Rehabilitation Sanctuary” said Solenne, “and we created toys for the enrichment of the lives of a group of Marmoset monkeys”.

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Remembrance Malvern College was at its best for this year’s special Remembrance Service which brought to mind the 457 Malvernians who were lost in the Great War and all OMs who have been lost in conflict. Two Chapel Services, full to capacity, were conducted around the Act of Remembrance at St George and some 1400 parents, pupils, parents and OMs were in attendance at this powerful commemoration. In the corridors of Main College, there hung photographs of the College’s fallen, allowing pupils to gain insight into the lives of their predecessors and to appreciate the young ages at which many of them died. In his address during the Chapel services, the Headmaster spoke not only of the sacrifice made by those who had little choice when caught up in war, but also about the courage needed to emulate their selflessness in the contemporary world. Wilfred Owen’s poetry reminded us that war should not be glamourised; but nor should we shrink from doing what is right and proper to preserve peace and justice in the world. As is our tradition, prayers were read by pupils in a range of languages reflecting the diversity of our international community.

Reverend Andrew Law, Chaplain

Malvernians and The Great WarIan Quickfall, the College Archivist, spoke to pupils, Common Room, and Friends of the College this term about Malvernians who were amongst the Fallen of the Great War. He described how, at its foundation, Malvern and schools like it, were popular with a successful business class that wanted to educate their sons well to secure their future. These schools were organised and run on the basis of hierarchy, and leadership roles were an important part of this. There was a Prefect System and an established House System and a great feeling of House spirit. The Combined Cadet Corps (or Officer Training Corps as it was then) was an integral part of the school routine and the boys were trained by instructors from a local county regiment as a regular part of their education. Thus when the country went to war in August 1914, and a small army needed to be rapidly expanded, contingents of boys from public boarding schools were commissioned as junior officers and platoon commanders. These were the officers who led their men

‘over the top’ and amongst whom casualty rates were very high indeed.Malvern’s memorials to the Fallen of WW1, provided on behalf of the school by the Malvernian

Society, are the oak panels in the Chancel of the College Chapel on which are inscribed their 457 names, the statue of St George in the quadrangle, the set of 12 leather bound books recording their details and carrying their photographs that are kept by the Malvernian Society, and the Memorial Library, dedicated to those who so valiantly gave their lives in WW1 and in subsequent conflicts. Other schools also sustained similar, and sometimes greater, losses in the Great War and there are over 20 statues of St George in public schools up and down the land. Most poignant of all is perhaps at Eton, where the losses were extremely high, of a young boy, arms outstretched, inscribed with the text from Isaiah “Here am I, send me”.


A century ago this year, in August, the Great War began and on the eleventh day of the eleventh month 96 years afterwards, Jeremy Paxman returned to his old school, Malvern College, to talk to an audience of over 300 pupils, staff and visitors about his book on World War 1, entitled Great Britain’s Great War. His book casts a new light on the experiences of those who were involved in this war and looks at what that war meant to the common man. He draws new parallels that serve to bring their experiences to life for those that read it.

Mr Paxman gave an enthralling personal account of the historical developments of the period 1914 – 18, focusing on the ordinary family; what it was like for young men and why they felt compelled to volunteer; what it was like to enlist and how hard it became to serve in the trenches. How Britain was ravaged by the outcome of the war and how the losses of their young men devastated communities at home. How Britain still strives to recover from the loss of a generation that made the ultimate sacrifice to enable us to live our lives differently.

Four hundred and fifty seven Malvernians were lost, 400 of these young platoon commanders who had received their training in the school’s Combined Cadet Force (or Officer Training Corps as it was then). So many with so much potential were lost forever as they led their men out of the trenches into combat. Mr Paxman described the arrival of a new recruit to the Front in 1916 to learn that his life expectancy was estimated at just 2 weeks. Tactics were being thwarted by a lack of technology and the enormous casualties suffered were the price paid. He also talked of the importance

of the role of women in the war effort, employed in the Land Army, in making armaments at home and stepping into jobs that had previously been occupied by their men who had gone to war, and how society would be reshaped by this development forever. This is a book where the facts of war are described through the experiences of those who lived through it, and it is poignant and compelling.

We have a great deal to thank those who gave their lives to secure our freedom and this book, in describing the experience through the eyes of those like us, does much to bridge the generation gap that widens as history evolves. In making the story real Mr Paxman ensures that we will never forget them.

Malvern Proprietary College Company [Limited]

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Although Malvern College does not celebrate its sesquicentennial anniversary until January 2015, the origin of the school can be traced back to August 22nd 1862, when a meeting was held at the Imperial Hotel, Malvern. Those present included The Bishop of Worcester, who chaired the meeting, Lord Lyttleton, Sir Edmund Lechmere, Major General Wilmot and eight other local worthies, including Frederick Lygon MP. At the meeting they resolved to establish a Proprietary College “based on the model for a Public School, in an eligible location ..”, recording that it was “… highly desirable, given the present state of education in England, and if conducted properly, it was likely to be successful and of great public benefit.” They also commented that the town of Malvern, “from its bracing air, gravelly soil and pure water and convenient access by railway, is well adapted for an undertaking of this nature.”

And so the great project that we now know as Malvern College began.

Ian Quickfall

‘Great Britain’s Great War’ presented by Jeremy Paxman

View to Great Malvern in the mid-nineteenth century.

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Plugged/UnpluggedA large audience filled the Rogers Theatre for the first of this academic year’s Plugged/Unplugged concerts. The audience of pupils, parents and staff were entertained for over an hour by the twelve acts, who performed an eclectic variety of contemporary music as well as some original compositions. As the Plugged/Unplugged concert is entirely pupil-led, the atmosphere in the theatre is always special and there was certainly a distinct air of inclusion and support, with torch waving as well as spontaneous clapping-along with the performances.

Rhian Grundy, Music and Housemistress No.8

SATIPS Songfest 2014The festival was held this year in Big School at Malvern College, and was hosted by The Downs Malvern.

Nine prep schools attended the festival, making 280 children in all, who filled Big School with the most amazing sound. The day concluded with a concert for parents and visitors in which the children performed all the songs they had learnt throughout the day, interspersed with solo items from each participating school. This was a tremendous day of music making, fun and quite a bit of laughter.

Lesley Hunter, Head of Music, The Downs Malvern

Concerto Concert This year’s Concerto Concert took place in Big School, a programme of 13 performances, each accompanied by an orchestra comprising professional musicians and pupils from the College. For the first time in many years all the families of instruments were represented at the concert, including singing, and works ranging from composers as varied as Vivaldi and Handel, to Milhaud and Rodrigo, via Mozart and Grieg were performed. Many congratulations to the soloists and all who performed with them!

Iain Sloan, former Director of Music


House Singing Competition Slightly later than usual this year, the much rehearsed for House Singing Competition took place at the town’s Forum Theatre. Each of the eleven boarding houses had spent six weeks arranging and practising their own choice of song and in October they performed to the huge crowd present at the Malvern Theatres. This competition is one of the most exciting and fiercely contested in the school calendar and it is always wonderful to witness the involvement of every pupil, performing on stage, or supporting enthusiastically in the stalls!

The adjudicator, Mr John Jenkins, Director of Music at Sherborne Girls School and an expert in choral singing, announced that No.4 were this year’s winners with their performance of Madonna’s ‘Like a Prayer’. Natasha Bishop conducted the No.4 choir sporting amazing angel wings throughout. The Tims Cup, awarded to the best House of the opposite gender, was won by School House who sang a technically complex, four-part arrangement by Aaron King (SH.09-14) of

‘Blue Moon’.A level music pupil Maria Blyth with her No.3

singers took home the adjudicator’s prize for her conducting skills and the singers’ responsiveness to her direction. Well done to everyone, what a wonderful night!

Rhian Grundy, Housemistess No.8, Music

Farewell concert for Director of Music, Iain SloanA surprise concert was held in Big School to pay tribute to the retiring Director of Music, Iain Sloan. The idea to hold a farewell concert was initiated by a group of musical OMs and it marked the end of Iain’s 42 years in the teaching profession, 22 of those spent at Malvern College. George Lacey (OM), whom Iain had taught since the age of two and a half, conducted the 30-voice choir, which consisted of OMs and members of the current Chamber Choir and staff.

Contributions were also made by the peripatetic music teachers and these were enjoyed by all (Iain was invited on stage to sing with them). The concert programme included the ‘trade mark’ Siyahamba and Rutter’s The Lord bless you and keep you. A retiring collection raised £430 in aid of Hospice Care Kenya, a charity that Iain and his wife, Gwyn, have supported for the past 17 years. Iain was also presented with his portrait, painted by Gwyn, which will hang in the Music School along with those of the past Directors of Music at Malvern.

No.4

SH

No.3

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The Sir John Thomson Memorial SwordFormer Senior Chapel Prefect Rupert Harris received the prestigious Sir John Thomson Memorial Sword at Shuttleworth Old Warden Aerodrome in Bedfordshire. The trophy commemorates Air Chief Marshal Sir John Thomson and is awarded to the Best CCF (RAF) Cadet of the year. Rupert, a member of Malvern College’s CCF (RAF) from 2010, achieved a great deal at school. He attended camps across the world and completed his Gliding scholarship in Vikings at RAF Syerston in April 2013. He gained a flying scholarship at Tayside Aviation in September 2013 and is a keen pilot. He led the College’s RAF Section in the Air Squadron Trophy for two years in succession and won the Leadership Trophy in 2012. After leaving Malvern in the summer of 2014, Rupert is taking a gap year working with the children’s charity, the Rainbow Trust. He hopes to study Construction Management and Engineering at university.

Parachute Jump for Help for HeroesIn June, the Airborne elements of Malvern College Combined Cadet Force (Malvern College cadets from the Royal Marines, Army and RAF sections) conducted daylight jumps over Swindon. Alongside them were a number of brave novices, a contingent of Malvern College pupils making their first parachute jump also aiming to raise funds for the Help for Heroes charity. All jumps were successful and made to the designated drop zones.

Pupils raised money for the charity Help for Heroes and the total came to over £1,000. Fantastic!

John Nichols, SSI CCF Malvern College

350th Anniversary Royal Navy Parade In July four Royal Marine cadets from the Malvern College CCF took part in the RM 350 Foundation Parade in London. In all, 488 members of the Royal Navy, including cadets drawn from across the country, marched from Horse Guards Parade via the Mall to deliver a Royal Salute at Buckingham Palace. Afterwards the cadets and their guests were hosted at the Wellington Barracks where they received a delightful afternoon tea.

John Nichols, SSI Malvern College CCFL.Cpl. Ismay Keane (No.3), L.Cpl. Matt Calderwood (SH), Capt. Jan Clifford,

L.Cpl. Josh Cook (No.7), Cpl Deema Mozayen (No.9)


Over the summer Sgt Francis Tocher ((Malvern College CCF, No.5) and I took part in the first RAF Summer Camp for the CCF to the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. This was no ordinary RAF summer camp; Gibraltar is a very interesting spot and remains a strategically important base for the Forces, as it has done from the eighteenth Century.

“Gibraltar is only three square miles in area but our cadets had access to many interesting places on ‘The Rock’ that are not on the official tourist route. Along with 50 cadets from all over the country they would benefit from a week of thrilling visits, activities and new experiences.

The first new experience was our accommodation on the RAF base, that backed straight onto the runway! Hardly the norm and certainly not an average billet! Secondly, we had flown from Birmingham Airport and had to cross the runway we had just landed on as the road runs straight across it! Throughout the all-too–short week we would also do some fire fighting at the airport’s fire-station unit, and on a visit to the bomb-disposal unit, operate a state-of-the-art bomb-disposal robot (worth several hundred thousand pounds).

We discovered that Gibraltar had other dangerous features and that we should be on our guard against: wild apes (which turned out to be quite friendly), dangerous spiders, scorpions and some sea ‘friends’. Luckily, we were not accosted by any of these.

Every day brought something new. We visited the amazing St Michael’s cave, which has been naturally carved out of the Jurassic limestone on the inside of ‘The Rock’. During the war this cave was a hospital, deemed the safest place for casualties, but now it is used as a concert hall! At the very highest point on Gibraltar there is the famous O’Harra’s Battery, which houses a disused 9.2 foot gun and from which position you have a fantastic view of Gibraltar, Spain

and Morocco. We also had the privilege of visiting the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, to do some shooting in the lanes of the DCCT (Dismounted Close-Combat Trainer). This facility has a high-spec laser trainer where infantry hone their skills, and practise command tasks as a team. ‘The Rock’s’ police dog-handlers told us about the basics of training and how the dogs are trained to attack.

Gibraltar is well known for its extensive network of tunnels built for use of the Army during WW2; there are some 34 miles of them. Some parts of the networks are open to tourists but some are used for military training and we had the chance to go inside with the volunteers from the Regiment who explained to us how the tunnels were used during the war; how they had grown from the 1700s and how they were mined right up until 1972. They said “the idea was, to build a fortress inside a fortress that was capable of housing 16,000 troops should the need arise.”

Quite often the afternoons were occupied playing sports like rounders and football and in the evenings we were able to swim at our nearest beach. But one of the highlights of the week was the Dolphin Safari. This was a great excursion and we saw too many dolphins to count. Flying fish were out ahead of the dolphins and were devoured by the sea eagle that followed the boat. Finally, in time-off everyone went to Spain to a water park and we were also able to visit an adventure park equipped with ropes and climbing walls.

We had been very well looked after and were able to take much from this visit but we had also had a great time. I would encourage anyone who gets the chance to visit the camp to take the opportunity.

Sgt Anna Yaudzemis (No.6), Malvern CCF

RAF Gibraltar: August 2014

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Moscow & St PetersburgTwenty-eight pupils travelled to Moscow and St Petersburg this autumn at Half term. The group visited many sites of outstanding historical interest, including, in Moscow, Lenin’s mausoleum, Red Square, and the Cathedral of St Saviour; and, in St Petersburg, the Hermitage gallery, the site of Tsar Alexander II’s assassination, and the tombs of Tsar Nicholas II and his family.

Jon Herod, Head of History

Normandy and ParisOur Modern Languages pupils visited Normandy and Paris this Half term to learn about both the Norman Conquest of 1066, and the D-Day Landings in June 1944. As a counterweight to the serious side of the trip, they paid a visit to Disneyland Paris before returning home for the rest of their Half term break.

Christine Clemit, Head of French


Surfing in PortugalSix excited surfers hit the Atlantic coast of Portugal in the first week of Half term. They were eager to experience conditions in which they would be challenged and our location of Sizandro Beach, near Lisbon, did not disappoint. For the first few days a three-metre swell was running, but everyone in the group made excellent progress with their surfing and their confidence grew. On a day out at Peniche, at a more sheltered location, they surfed at Baleal, and here the group was able to paddle “out back” for the first time.

At the world famous, aptly named beach break of Supertubes, the world’s best surfers were competing in the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) world tour event. Our arrival was timed perfectly to enable us to watch the two semi-finals, enjoyed by a crowd of around 10,000 others!

As the week ran on the swell began to drop a bit, allowing all of us to surf in good waves at low tide. The group had lessons every day at Sizandro Beach, and enjoyed one session at Santa Cruz about 5km away. On the final day the group needed to tackle the most challenging surf conditions they had faced all week, and the enthusiasm and bravery displayed by Lleyton James (No.1), Alexandra Medcalf (No.4) and Luc Gillard (No.1) was particularly impressive. Polina Burak (No.4), Pavel Burak (No.5) and Alex Roberts (SH) all made excellent

Our trip to Pembrokeshire was designed to help us to learn more about Ecological systems and Environmental Systems and the Ecologists got straight down to work on the rocky shore at Dale Fort to carry out our first field investigation; measuring the size of rough periwinkles at a specific height on the shore. At Jetty Beach we carried out a belt-transect study. So this is what it would feel like to be a professional ecologist? Day three and a Sunday, we headed off to the salt marsh, doing a little crabbing on the way off the Dale pontoon to collect some samples. The marsh was home to an abundance of different plants and we were able to use several new practical techniques to gather information on them.

Meanwhile the environmentalists took a trip to Skomer Island where there were close encounters with the inquisitive

puffins, and sightings of dolphins and seals to delight us. Our last day was spent collecting plankton from trips made by speedboat and this, unsurprisingly, was the best part of our collecting of samples experiences.

What memories will we have from this successful trip? Wonderful sunny weather, excellent and inspiring teachers, exciting fieldwork and time with great friends and hopefully we have also become better ecologists! The myth that Wales exists in a perpetual vale of mist and rain is well and truly refuted!

Lydia Westwood (No.8 Lower Sixth) and Josie Steiskal (No.6 Lower Sixth)

Biology field trip to Pembrokeshire

progress as beginners too, making the trip a resounding success and unforgettable experience for all involved. For the second year running Lleyton James was named Malvern’s Best Surfer of the trip.

Will Mathews, Modern Languages

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German exchangeMalvern College was delighted to welcome 20 pupils and two teachers from Gymnasium Steglitz, Berlin for a week shortly after Half term. Over thirty of Malvern’s pupils have enjoyed wonderful experiences in Berlin over the past few years, thanks to the generous hospitality of families from Gymnasium Steglitz, and we were delighted to be hosting another group of their Year 10 girls this summer. Activities during the pupils’ stay included trips to Birmingham, Bournville and the Cadbury factory, Bath and the Roman Baths and, a little closer to home, the Three Counties Show.

Engineering the futureThis summer I was privileged to receive a week of work experience at UTC Aerospace Systems. I have been awarded an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship and UTC Aerospace Systems, a leading producer of aerospace components and systems for manufacturers of Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Eurocopter and many others, is my sponsor.

The Wolverhampton site specialises primarily in actuators (expensive pistons to you and me!) and this is where I was based. I was taught how to use the CADIA V5 design software and shown the materials, design, systems and manufacture departments on the site. One of the highlights of being on the production line was seeing how so many engineers contribute to the intricate process of assembly. The Boeing 787 Thrust Reverse Actuator was the part I worked on and, in some aircraft, flying out there somewhere, is the part I helped assemble.

Another highlight of my week at UTC was being set a design task. Designing the Aileron Actuator System for a narrow-bodied airliner was the task chosen for me and I had to present my ideas to the UTC senior engineers. I think it is safe to say it was quite a challenge, but it was also thoroughly enjoyable seeing the world from a systems engineering perspective and being set a real challenge in an area I have a great passion for.

My other engineering exploit has been to work with The Downs Light Railway Trust and with another No.5 Old Malvernian, Tim Pennock (5.98 -03) who left Malvern a few years ago and is currently working in aerospace research. We worked on one of the steam locomotives which was in need of a replacement boiler and regulator valve, and we gave it a full overhaul of all its moving parts and associated fittings.

Francis, pictured here on the shooting ranges at Kingsbury, hopes to combine his love of engineering with a placement in the RAF.

The Downs Light Railway has been a long-term project undertaken on odd evenings and weekends over the last three and a half years, so it was very rewarding to finally see the engine ready to steam again and reaching around 140psi. It had worked! What a great relief to see that our late nights had paid off and how great to see the smoke pouring out of the engine and the whistle sounding again.

I hope to study mechanical engineering at university and the insight I have gained into various fields of engineering design and assembly is invaluable for an engineer. I am looking forward to a future packed with similar challenges.

Francis Tocher, No.5

Malvern’s Remove pupils who study German proved to be excellent hosts, chaperoning our guests to lessons and showing them the ropes in the boarding houses. Our guests also sampled wall climbing, tennis and a walk along the Malvern Hills, before experiencing an entertaining farewell party on their last night with pizza and a disco in the Sixth Form Centre.

Will Matthews, Modern Languages


Meeting Simon Schama Budding artists from The Downs Malvern, St Hugh’s, Oxford and The Elms, Colwall joined our own pupils from Malvern at the Cheltenham Literature Festival in October, where Malvern College was supporting the renowned author and historian Mr Simon Schama. Mr Schama was speaking about his book

‘Rembrandt’s Eyes’, a biography of the Dutch painter, that has

Photographs by mcphersonstevens.com

been re-issued to coincide with an exhibition of the painter’s late works at the National Gallery in London. The author met and chatted to pupils and staff in advance of his presentation to an audience of 900 at the Times Forum, where he both amazed and informed all present.

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Ghana 2014Malvern’s annual trip to Ghana this year was successful in many different ways. We helped the communities we visited in a practical way, but the trip also helped us understand the difficulties experienced by these and similar communities in Africa and their need for help.

The pupils from Malvern worked very hard on community-based projects for 10 days. It was physically exhausting but everyone was very touched by the welcome we received and by their appreciation of our efforts. For our part, there is no doubt that this visit has made a lasting impact on all who took part in this trip to Ghana.

In addition to the community work there were some lighter and most memorable moments which included: an elephant’s arrival at our campsite; Malvern’s humiliation (on more that one occasion) in a tug of war contest with the children’s team from the local school; our visit to the slave forts on Ghana’s coast, and some wonderful hours on the beach.

Giles Hopkirk, Geography, Academic Development Co-ordinator

Duke of Edinburgh Award Gold on Dartmoor Thirteen intrepid pupils completed a gruelling expedition across Dartmoor to gain their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Whilst out on the moor they encountered all types of weather: rolling fog, torrential rain, cold wind but also some sunshine, the weather changing sometimes within the space of a few hours. Not only were they deemed ‘competent’ by the assessors and passed, but they were praised for their resilience and application.

Rob Winwood, Mathematics


Matt Hind wins the Beacon Golf TrophyThe Beacon Trophy, an annual competition much looked forward to by Malvern College golfers, this year involved all 16 of our regulars, competing over 18 holes in a stableford format, off a full handicap allowance. And on a fine, dry afternoon on our home course at Puckrup Hall Golf Club, scoring conditions were perfect. Everyone was in with a chance.

With one group remaining out on the course (that comprised our top three golfers), Charlie Hickman (No.5) from the Remove nervously awaited their return to see if his excellent 36 points was going to be good enough to win the trophy. But it was not to be: Chris Rhodes (No.7) in the last group, holed out for 37 points and then Matt Hind (No.5), Captain of Golf at Malvern for three years and who has represented Gloucestershire at the U16 level, put his experience into practice in scoring an excellent 39 points off a three handicap, to take the trophy.

John Cox, i/c Golf said, “This was an outstanding performance and he thoroughly deserved to win the trophy”.

Lee Westwood Golf Tour 2014In this year’s Lee Westwood Golf Tour, the UK’s largest junior tour of its kind, Chris Rhodes (No.7) won his Regional Competition (there are 12 regions across the country) to qualify for the National Finals.

Chris has been playing in regional events since April, earning Order Of Merit Points in the U17 category. In the Regional Competition, he made a clean sweep, winning everything he was eligible for: the U17 Nett, Overall Boys Gross and Overall Boys Nett. Having won the Overall Boys Gross, Chris also secured a place on the Jamega Pro Golf Tour in 2015.

In the National Finals held in Newcastle in late September, Chris put in a tremendous performance, finishing six shots off the pace, a fantastic achievement given that he is only 15 and competing at U21 level.

OMGS Golf Awards 2013/4Each year, at the Sunningdale Golf Club, the Old Malvernian Golf Society Awards are presented to high achieving Malvern College golfers by Richard Thompson OM, Honorary Secretary of the OMGS.

Winners this year were: Alex Taylor (No.5), in the Hundred at the time of the award, won the College’s Most Improved Golfer, and Charlie Hickman (No.5) then in the FY, the College Player of the Year.

Articles by John Cox, i/c Golf, Director of Boys’ SportAt the clubhouse, Sunningdale Golf Club.

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Mixed-years House Hockey tournamentMalvern held an inaugural mixed-years inter-House Hockey tournament this term and the event was a resounding success. All the girls who took part, and their supporters, enjoyed an afternoon of brilliant hockey; it was fantastic to see all the year groups working together. In the end the outcome of the

Lydia wins Equestrian Gold Over the summer holidays Lydia Thomas (No.4) and her pony Shandrum Misty were selected to represent England in the Scottish Home Pony International show jumping event, where they gained the Gold Medal. In the process she qualified for the Horse of the Year Show in October where she competed against the top 24 riders in the country. A very good performance in the rarefied atmosphere of this competition placed her in tenth position, and means that she has a very exciting future ahead of her.

Anne Sharp, Housemistress No.4

tournament was very close; it came down to the final two games to decide the winners of both the Shield and the Plate. No.8 were the winners, with No.3 coming second. No.4 were the winners of the Plate competition, just edging EH out by one point.


Athletics county trialsFrom the very competitive Malvern District trials meet this summer, eighteen Malvern College athletes, of all ages, were selected to represent the Malvern District at the Hereford and Worcester County trials held in June.

In the Senior Girls’ 800m, Hebe Vosper- Brown (No.4) and Nancy John (No.4) represented Malvern and both girls ran a good tactical race to come an impressive 1st and 3rd respectively, each qualifying for the Mason Trophy at the Alexandra Stadium in Birmingham. Alas, both Hebe and Nancy, already committed to their DofE expedition were not able to attend but Lauren Maxey (No.3), throwing the discus, carried the flag for Malvern in Birmingham and finished well, in the top half of her age group. Very well done girls for all of your vast and varied accomplishments.

Chey West, Director of Girls’ Sport

Two medals at the Triathlon National ChampionshipsGeorgina Denham (No.6, FY) won two national medals at the British Triathlon U20’s Festival, a major national event for up-and-coming Triathlon competitors. Georgina achieved a Team Gold with the East Midlands IRC team and an individual Bronze in the Tristar 3 (13 to 14 years age category). This places her at number two in England and third in the UK, and she still has another year at this level.

Vanessa Young, Housemistress No.6, Design & Technology

ISFA selection for Girls’ FootballHeather Macdonald (No.3) and Carla Schröder (No.6) have both been selected for Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA) national squads.

Heather impressed the selectors at the ISFA U18 training camp in August this year, and was selected for the national squad. She will attend training camps in Cambridge and at the National Football Centre at St George’s Park and the U18 Squad will play Australian Schools in February 2015.

From the 40 girls invited to the ISFA U16 training camp in August, Carla was selected for the ISFA national U16 representative squad. She will train with the National Squad at the National Football Centre at St George’s Park in December.

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Alex Milton’s clean sweepAlex Milton (OM) capped off his final cricket season at Malvern by winning the Malvern College Foster Trophy. This wonderful trophy, forged in memory of RE ‘Tip’ Foster (OM), still the only player to have captained England in both Cricket and Football, was donated earlier in the year by the Foster family and will, each year, be given to the member of the XI who scores the most runs during the season. Alex scored 690 runs this season with an average of 78, and was the standout batter of 2014. During the season he made four centuries in a row; a remarkable effort.

Alex was also awarded Worcestershire County Cricket Club’s Foster Trophy for Player of the Year, after a fine season with the WCCC Academy and this is a magnificent achievement. In No.5 he followed a long line of excellent sportsmen, not least all of the Foster family, who were renowned for their sporting prowess at Football, Cricket, Golf and Rackets. How fitting therefore, that Alex should have won both awards this year.

Malvern cricketers enjoy a successful summerThe summer holidays proved a fruitful period for many of our cricketers. Ben Twohig (No.2) Freddie Wynn (No.7) and Alex Milton (OM) all represented Worcestershire CCC 2nd XI. Alex scored an unbeaten century against Middlesex. Freddie’s call-up came on the back of two hundreds for the Under 19s and some good performances in the Midland Under 17 side. Ben was also part of the Midlands side.

In the younger age groups, Josh Haynes captained the Midlands Under 15s at the prestigious Bunbury Festival, putting in some creditable performances.

Worcestershire Cricket Academy SelectionCongratulations to the following boys on being selected for the Worcestershire Cricket Academy. This is a fantastic achievement and we wish them all the best for the winter ahead.

Liam Smith (No.5)Freddie Wynn (No.7)Zen Malik (No.5)Ben Twohig (No.2)Josh Haynes (No.5)George Amphlett (No.9)Jack Charters (No.1)

Articles by Mark Hardinges, Master i/c Cricket, Economics

These boys are all hoping to follow in the footsteps of Tom Kohler-Cadmore (OM) who has had a successful first season with Worcestershire CCC and has recently signed a new two-year contract.

Very well done to those mentioned and to all of the boys who have also played representative cricket this summer. Roll on 2015!


Lambs Independent

Schools’ Rugby trials

The tournament referees and organisers selected their best eight players of the tournament, drawn from all of the teams competing, for their ‘dream team’ and named Karen Ribeiro, Heather Macdonald and Francesca Hsu in their eight. Well done indeed to this team for their enormous success and for their first major win in European competition.

The girls were tremendous ambassadors for the College, both on and off the field, drawing compliments from the organisers and the other teams and their coaches for their fair play, friendliness and courtesy. Joe Gauci, in charge of the team, said, “The girls were an absolute delight to take on tour and the tour was made all the more pleasurable by the support of five sets of Malvern parents who attended the tournament.”

The tour party, accompanied by Mr Gauci and Miss Selvatico, was Carla Schroder (No.6, Captain), Heather Macdonald (No.3), Anna Rautmann (No.3), Karen Ribeiro (No.3), Isabelle Dugdale (No.8), Laura Dell’Antonio (EH), Bobbie Fabels (No.3), Veda Baldota (EH), Theresa Wendelstadt (No.6) and Francesca Hsu (No.6).

The Mediterranean CupAt Half term the U18 girls’ football team entered the fray of European football to compete in the Mediterranean Cup, in Verona. Over the three days of the tournament the U18s played superbly, taking part in nine matches against teams from Italy, the Czech Republic and the Middle East. They finished top after the group stages of the tournament, scoring 13 goals and conceding just two. In the Final they met St Stephen’s, Rome, probably the strongest school side in Italy and twice winners of the Mediterranean Cup. The first half was even and it took until the second half for Theresa Wendelstadt to break the deadlock to put Malvern ahead by scoring this, her fifth goal of the tournament. The U18s twice narrowly missed out on extending their lead but were delighted to finish as the winners of the Mediterranean Cup. This was an excellent all-round team performance, and they were presented with the cup in front of several hundred spectators.

Karen Ribeiro picked up the individual award for Player of the Tournament, scoring five goals in the competition and showing great attacking flair. In addition, Francesca Hsu won the Hot Shot competition for the fastest shot from the 60 girls taking part (registering 77 kilometres per hour).

Malvern hosted the Independent Schools’ Rugby (‘Lambs’) trials for the U11 and U13 age groups again this year and more than 90 boys attended from 26 different schools across the region; the highest number of entries in the three years that Malvern College has hosted the West Midlands trials.

The rugby was of a fantastically high standard and this reinforces the fact that superb work is being undertaken at preparatory and junior schools across the country. The selectors had the onerous task of choosing the representative sides for each of the age groups, and our congratulations go to those boys who have been successful. The next trials at Bilton Grange yielded a representative side for the Midlands and we look forward to seeing how this side will fare against the regional opposition.

Nick Tisdale, Master i/c Rugby

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Children from the HOKISA orphanage with the Malvern players.

Malvern Rugby Tour to South AfricaThe enormous success of the recent Rugby tour to South Africa, where both the 1st XV and the Development XV sides were unbeaten in all 10 of their matches, is testament to the skill and application of the players and their coaching staff. It was for all, the tour of a lifetime, changing perceptions of the world and raising players rugby skills to a new level.

With a strong fixture list and pool of players that becomes more accomplished each year, the time seemed right to set off on a tour abroad. And where better to test their talents than in South Africa, a nation with a passion for the game that prides itself on its rugby history and reputation.

Nick Tisdale, Master i/c Rugby and Dan Eglin, Housemaster No.7 accompanied the tour and report:

“The squad of 43 Malvern players and the coaching staff were well prepared and knew that they would need to hit the ground running on arrival in South Africa. Anyone who knows about rugby knows that South Africans are revered for their physicality and so preparation for this contest was long in the making and our sides were in great physical shape to undertake this tour. But the players’ mental preparation was also vitally important. In a tour of only twelve days, with a five-match schedule, team building and the engendering of respect for each other’s game strengths, were paramount. Playing excellent rugby and winning our matches was, of course, a major goal but this tour undoubtedly developed in all who participated in it an awareness that sport is a superb way of learning to live and play together, of seeing a different part of the world, of experiencing a new culture and making friends through many new associations. Being billeted with host families for two of the games greatly contributed to this. Our outlook was broadened and our vision of what exists in the world around us, changed forever.

The boys can be immensely proud of their exemplary conduct on and off the field. They got the balance right from the very start when we visited HOKISA, the charity that provides a home for children orphaned by AIDS. Our players and the children played rugby together with an unbounded spirit of fun that was heartening to see. Our new friends from the children’s refuge came to support the Malvern sides at

Future Activities 2015Sun 15th March National Preparatory Schools’ Cross Country Championships

Sun 22nd March British Open Ladies Doubles Rackets Championships at Malvern

OPEN DAYSSat 16th May Malvern CollegeFri 27th February The Downs MalvernSat 28th February The Downs Malvern

the match against Fish Hoek High School and our boys, in anticipation of seeing them again had, of their own volition, shopped for small presents to give them. This is the stuff that memories are made of and these experiences stay with everyone who took part in the tour.

Rugby at Malvern is now reaping the rewards of a solid and sustained coaching regime which encourages good playing practices, hard work and application from the players. Our players are now gaining access to pathways to club level and beyond and this is an exciting prospect.”

Malvern View • Autumn 201432

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Malvern View Autumn 2014