Rhubarb Issue 1

r h u b a r b

In the first week of the holidays, ten members of the Fifth Form and Lower 6th travelled to La Coruña in the autonomous region of Galicia in Spain. The group stayed with Spanish host families and had 9 hours of classes tailored to their needs, saw the local football team play at home, learnt how to make Spanish tortilla, surfed in the Atlantic ocean, and experienced the magnificent views from the Monte de San Pedro and la Torre de Hercules. A mixed 1st XI and development squad of thirty boys also headed to Spain, spending early April in La Manga for pre-season practice. Three fixtures were played against other sides on tour: St Peter’s, York, Blundell’s and Repton. All three encounters offered useful points for development which were rewarded with three excellent performances for the 1st XI in their first three fixtures back at School. Eight Upper and Lower 6th pupils travelled to Paris on a History of Art trip, enjoying visits to the site of the first Impressionist exhibition in the Boulevard des Capucines, Montmartre, the Pompidou Centre, the Musée d’Orsay and the Rodin Museum. Pupils also enjoyed another highly successful Gold Expedition to the Lake District during the first week of the Easter holidays, and this was despite atrocious weather conditions. Heavy rain was quickly followed by heavy snow, surprising pupils who woke

“I am delighted to announce that Stephen Jones, currently Headmaster of Dover College, has been appointed Warden at St Edward’s, and will take up his post in September 2011. Stephen’s teaching experience includes spells at Radley College (where he was also Housemaster for 8 years), Cheltenham College and the Dragon School. Whilst delighted to welcome Stephen to St Edward’s, I will, of course, be very sorry to say goodbye to Andrew Trotman, who has overseen a radical improvement in the School’s academic performance (last year’s A Level results were the best in the School’s history, and this year’s IB results were outstanding), the establishment of the North Wall Arts Centre and a significant growth in boarding numbers. I am also delighted to announce that St Edward’s has acquired The Lemon Tree, previously a restaurant to the north of school which adjoins Important news from our Chairman of Governors

s c h o o l n e w s

Stephen Jones

our current Music Department on the Woodstock Road. This offers us an unparalleled opportunity to create a world-class music centre, in keeping with our exceptional performance in music at all levels. The Governors have already committed £1.5 million to this exciting development; a major fundraising campaign is underway to reach the target of £5 million. In the interim period, the School will use the building for additional teaching space.” Mike Stanfield (G 1955 – 1960) Chairman of Governors cycling holiday in Italy. A complex series of six train connections then ensued, as Mr Elzinga raced to get to Montélimar station in time to be picked up by the mini-bus on its return journey. Once he was safely on board, the bus headed for the ferry, making check-in with just 8 minutes to spare – tension on the 20 hour journey having been kept at bay by Mr Rowley sharing his vast knowledge of French history with the group. All were very relieved to finally make it back to Oxford in the early hours of the morning.

George Parris, Lower 6th, Travels with the

prestigious Rodolfus Choir The Rodolfus Choir (Rods) is one of the top youth choirs in the country, run by Ralph Allwood, Director of Music at Eton. Following his attendance at an Eton choral course last summer, George Parris, Lower 6th, was awarded the high honour of being invited to become a member. Over the Easter holidays, George sang in two concerts of Austrian and British choral classics, the first in Guildford Holy Trinity Church and the second in Kingston-on-Thames parish church. Tracy van der Heiden also writes the School’s ENews, a publication produced every two weeks during term time. If you would like to receive regular news about the School to your personal email, please let Phillipa Minty in the OSE office know and she can add you to the mailing list.

was the revision trip to France. When the dreaded Icelandic volcano struck during the Easter break, it left a group of twelve St Edward’s pupils and Mr Ian Rowley stranded.

one morning surrounded by 6 inches of it! The weather was so severe that even planned bad

An emergency meeting at School resulted in a rescue mission being mounted –

weather routes had to be modified. But all the hard work was rewarded with sunshine on the final day. A small group of

Richard Hayes, the Estates Bursar, and Kevin Mills, Head Green Keeper, volunteered to set off at once in a mini-

bus to collect the group. But making alternative travel arrangements was fraught with complications, since thousands of other people were trying to do the same thing. By a fluke, after several

students and staff ventured to the very north west of Britain, to the beautiful and tranquil island of Iona in Scotland, to join the Easter celebrations in the abbey, revise for GCSEs

An eventful revision trip to Paris

and enjoy the scenery. Highlights included a boat trip to the island of Staffa, the beautiful Easter day service in the Abbey, aggressive games of Monopoly in the hostel, and lovely shared meals in the evening. But by far the

hours of trying to get through to the ferry company, a booking was finally made, and the rescuers started their mammoth 20 hour journey. Meanwhile, Mr Elzinga had made contact, as he too was stranded following a

most dramatic holiday activity

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