62-63 / 168
St Edward’s:
150 Years
64
65
Chapter 3 / Houses
In the House Singing Competition, our rendition of ‘Rock
DJ’ was a committed, charged and enthusiastic effort, and a
great show of House spirit and determination. It was without
a doubt the best unison performance from this House since
I started as Housemaster. We were thrilled to take home the
cup for the best House Harmony, the highest honour in this
competition, for our entry of ‘Oh What a Night’.
The Lower Sixth are a year well-accustomed to academic
success: in the days of year-group effort prizes they won the
prize five out of six terms. Their diligence, commitment and
leadership by example have rubbed off on the other year groups,
particularly the Fifth Form. Peter Phillips achieved the top Current
Affairs score in the Lower Sixth, and his brother, Will, the runner-
up result in the Fourth Form, which was impressive.
I am incredibly proud of my Upper Sixth and their
achievements and plans. Academically we are a powerhouse,
and again we just need to glance in the direction of our
House Prefects to see a shining example of dedication
and excellence. Without exception, they are all high-flyers
academically. They have high but achievable offers at some
of the best universities in the UK and the US. I am very
excited about their academic futures and their prospects in
the world of work. But more than this, they are just the most
delightful, charming, interesting, caring and personable young
men. They are a credit to themselves, their families, the
House and the School.
David Gibbon
Housemaster, Segar’s (G)
Segar’s (G)
This 150th year of St Edward’s also marks the tenth anniversary
of the new Segar’s accommodation: the Segar’s boys and their
Housemaster moved in September 2003 into what is still the
newest and most modern building of all the boys’ houses. Segar’s
boys are tremendously proud of their House, and loyal to it.
We believe in having fun together. Mrs Gibbon bakes
a cake for each boy who has a birthday during term time,
using fresh eggs laid by the Segar’s chickens. On Saturday
nights after their activities, all boarders eat a meal in their
Housemaster’s kitchen, prepared by Mrs Gibbon, often helped
by the boys themselves, and enjoy socialising together.
The list of achievements of Segar’s boys this year is
impressive both in teams and year groups, and individually.
We were very proud when Angus Spratling was made Head
of School and he, Charlie Everett (Head of House), Harry
Kennedy and Frazer Worboys (Deputy Heads) – and all our
Upper Sixth House Prefects – have helped to set the tone for a
highly successful year.
The Shells and Lower Sixth brought home the Best Play
and Best Actor awards in the Shell Play and Film Festival. Our
boys debated their way to the final of the Junior Interhouse
Debating Competition, where they lost narrowly to a polished
Oakthorpe team. We saw off all our opponents along the way
to the final of the House Challenge Competition (similar to
University Challenge), and met Kendall in the final, where
we sadly lost narrowly. What really struck me in the House
Challenge was the level of committed support from the whole
House to our team.
‘One activity was occasional attempts on the
record for the number of boys fitting into the
confines of the horsebox with no part of the body
protruding from the side or the top. Regretfully I
cannot remember the record number!’
– Steven Handscombe, (G,1957–63)
Below:Steeplechase:Segar’sHousemasterDavid
Gibbon and Assistant Housemaster Chris Pollitt
in action on Port Meadow, October 2011.
Left: Matthew Havey (Segar’s House prefect) on the Shell punting trip,
September 2012.
Below: Harvesting strawberries in the Segar’s vegetable garden, June 2012.
Inter-House football, March 2012.
House BBQ in Mr Gibbon’s garden, June 2012.
Chad Moss’s 14th birthday party, September 2012.