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Sunday 9th
November 2008
Dear Parents,
The wind is rattling the panes of the study windows and I can hear it rushing down the chimney as well: it has been quite a wild weekend but we’ve been lucky enough to fit an awful lot into it between the downpours
Well done to all the boys and girls who played for a team on Saturday despite being a little under strength through illness. The girls and junior boys, in particular, were struck down by the sickness bug that’s working its way through the school at present. Only the U9 soccer was called off though and teams such as the U11 and U12 netball battled on to creditable performances against the mighty Holmewood House with some of the less likely sporting heroines proving their worth. The 1st team were also under strength but managed a fine win, while the U10 boys stole the show on the soccer field with their 5-2 victory. Mr Mason thinks that he may have recorded the first 1st XI victory against Woodcote House during his time in charge.
All that over and we got down to the serious business of the day which was the Halloween party (8th November perhaps a little late for Halloween, but then our party isn’t really Halloween either). The highlight for most Ashdownians is the round of entertainments in the Barn, as designed and managed by the 1s. It is a wonderfully home-spun event with children wrapped in duvets and ghastly make-up and the point of most games seems to be to run into each other and make lots of noise (but what was that one about sending electric shocks up your arm?). I was rather bemused as to quite how the sweets as prizes worked (although, funnily enough, they all seemed to go by the end of the evening). Then it was down towards Beech House to collect toffee apple and hot dog (I was given a cup of mulled win…I’m presuming the children weren’t!) and to watch Tony’s bonfire. Not quite so successful this year as the wood was a bit wet but we did get it going and burn everything but there was certainly no concern about setting the bushes on fire as I remember last year.
This morning was our Remembrance Service. Thank you to Mr Bendit for playing Last Post and Reveille so beautifully from the Schreibers’ balcony and well done to the children whose singing was about as good as I remember it. The Chamber Choir’s rendition of ‘Tears in Heaven’ was a good deal more modern than the headmaster’s choice of hymns. ‘Abide with me’ was beautiful with each verse rising in volume to a crescendo and we managed ‘ O God our help in ages past’ unaccompanied outside.
On the remembrance theme, we have a visitor from the British Legion speaking to the children this Wednesday evening (do ask them about Colin Javens last week – he was wonderful – and please give generously in the Carol Service collection towards spinal injury research). Our walk to the Airman’s Grave on Tuesday will be our first such venture: 9 miles through the forest to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of the first world war. I was running across much of the route this afternoon with Mr Branfoot, bashing in signs to stop people getting lost. There is currently some anxiety about the walk (more from the staff than the children, perhaps?) but the forecast suggests that Tuesday might be our best day this week which is a relief. We will have a short service at the side of the memorial where all those children who complete the walk will be awarded their special badges.
This might also be a good time to pass on some news about staff changes at Christmas: Mr Baker is going to Caldicott to take up the position of Head of Boarding and Miss Lyn (Davies) will finally accede to the fact that she is now Mrs Davies and will be joining her new husband, Rob, in North Wales. Both will be a great loss to the school, but I’m delighted to say that Mrs Landers will be taking over as senior matron and joined from January by Joy Eady who has experience as a school matron and was the unanimous choice of the whole matrons’ team: we’re sure she’ll fit in really well here. I am just in the process of selecting Mr Baker’s replacement although Mrs Broadbent is stepping up to become Head of Science, reflecting her significant experience as a teacher and school inspector.
The final change to announce is that, as I’m sure many of you know, Mrs Lane-Cole goes off to have a baby after Christmas. She is determined to return to Ashdown but, in her absence, we’re delighted to be welcoming David Scott, the former Head of Art at Holmewood House. He is a very experienced Art teacher and will build on all the really good work that Jane has done over the last couple of years, but in his own different style.
After a trip to Hong Kong and Dubai and the pressures of our inspection before half-term (a fantastic success and a really rewarding process: we’ve yet to read the written report but will forward a copy to you all when it arrives), we’re all glad to settle back into a more conventional routine. Some special congratulations: to Louisa Elliott for going above and beyond her duties as dorm captain with the 5s’ girls: our own Florence Nightingale; and to Hugh Maitland-Jones, the only boy in the school to achieve the Portsmouth 300 badge for archery (300 points in six dozen arrows) thus far.
We are holding a 'Very Much At Home' day on Saturday (15th November) for anyone who might be interested in Ashdown for their children. Do mention it to any friends - timings etc are on the website or via Sue.
With all best wishes
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