Exam commendations

This year the examination boards have continued their recent practice of recognising exceptional achievement in public examinations by issuing commendatory letters to those of our students achieving ‘top-five' or ‘top-ten' marks for their subject specification. While many pupils nationally achieve these top marks, they are only a very small proportion of all those who are entered for each examination. It is, therefore, a tremendous accolade both for the forty students (29 at GCSE, seven at A level, three at AS level and one at AEA level) and all the departments who have been recognised in this way. To see a full list of commendations, please click here

'West Side Story'

The first formal event is about to take place in the magnificent new Edward Alleyn Building. The School’s production of 'West Side Story' is the first full-scale production to be performed in the new Michael Croft Theatre and has been a sell-out. Demand was so high for tickets that an extra night had to be added to its run!

Just another brick in the wall?

How many of us past and present pupils, former and current staff, as well as countless parents and visitors to the School have walked within feet of the Art Department wall – facing onto the side entrance steps into the Main Building – and failed to notice this little gem of Alleyn’s history? Many tens (hundreds?) of thousands to be sure, but not, on one recent occasion, the ever alert Dr Colin Diggory! Thus he spotted the single red brick (located centrally between the windows), finely inscribed ‘J H Smith 1898’.

Neil French, honorary archivist for the School, suggests an explanation: the first Headmaster of Alleyn’s School, from 1882-1902, was the Rev J H Smith; he is perhaps commemorated here to mark the construction of this building extension, four years after the original Science and Woodwork Block (current Art & Technology) was built in 1894.

Honours board research

I have often wondered who the people were behind the names listed on the School’s honours board. A chance conversation with David Harley, head of the School’s History Department, pointed me in the direction of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and its online database of military records. Now, after hours pouring over the records and gleaning morsels from the School’s archives, I have amassed a wealth of information on the School’s First World War Fallen, which is now available on the Club’s website along with a summary of facts discovered. I hope that this research will be of interest and pertinent to current pupils as well as to alumni.

The research is an on-going project – I am about to start researching the names of the Second World War dead. If you are interested in finding out more – or can provide any further information, I would be delighted to hear from you.

Founder’s Day

Next year’s Founder’s Day will be held on Saturday 27 June. At the recent reunion of Old Boys held at the Oval, £170 was raised as a contribution to the installation of a new honours board. This honours board will commemorate those former pupils who have died in military service since the Second World War.

If you can give any information about former Alleyn’s pupils who have died whilst on active service, please let me know.

A 60-year reunion of the 1949 Upper VI

Following the successful reunions which took place in the Pimm’s Tent at this year’s Founder’s Day, Peter Rodway (Cribb’s, 1942-50) would very much like to get together the Upper Sixth of sixty years ago along to Founder’s Day 2009 (27 June). Please contact him at ‘Uplands’, 22 Cameron Road, Bromley, BR2 9AZ.

Alleyn Old Boy’s sporting medals find

Antiques dealer, Peter Greenhalgh, father of Year 12 pupil, Hugo, recently found two medals, which commemorate one Alleyn’s pupil’s sporting achievements during the First World War period. HH Farthing’s name was inscribed on both of the medals, one for athletics (pictured right) and the other for swimming. Challenged by the Headmaster to find out more, I discovered a wealth of information and connections. Click here to find out more.

Fives at Alleyn’s

Bob Dolby (Cribb’s 1956-64 and ardent Fives player) has written a beautifully researched article about the history (and current play) of Fives at Alleyn’s for the Rugby Fives Association’s Annual Review. It has been posted on the Club’s website.

Fives Courts refurbishment

For some months the School has been planning to improve the Fives Courts by attempting to reduce condensation problems by enclosing the courts, replacing the roof with insulated metal sheet and installing a heating system. Additionally it is aimed to provide new enclosed viewing areas to each end of the building to improve comfort levels for those waiting to play as well as spectators. Given sufficient funding availability it is also proposed to install walls of safety glass to help viewing, particularly by the disabled, access for whom to one side of the courts will be possible, after the modifications.

Donors have committed to cover part of the development costs and the budgeting for the balance will be prioritised along with other projects during the impending budget considerations.

Room to Read

Alleyn’s Junior School (AJS) has just given over £13,600 to the charity Room to Read. The charity partners local communities throughout the developing world to provide educational opportunities. Louise Holmes, Development Director (Europe) at Room to Read, said: ‘Alleyn’s Junior School’s support for Room to Read has been amazing and inspiring. It has been fantastic to see so much enthusiasm and many creative fundraising ideas put in to action. Parents, children and teachers alike have pulled together over the last two years to achieve this fabulous result…. By directing AJS’s support towards a new school building in rural Nepal, AJS will help hundreds of children for many years to come: allowing them to learn in safe, sanitary, uncrowded conditions and to have access to a Room to Read library filled with books, games and puzzles. It is an incredible, long-lasting gift.’ The new school will carry a plaque recognising the source of funding as Alleyn’s Junior School.

Charity Evening at Covent Garden’s LK Bennett

Nick Flynn (Roper’s, left 2001), events manager for the women’s-wear luxury fashion house, LK Bennett, contacted art teacher and the School’s charity events organiser, Annabel Boltsa, to see if he could host an evening’s event for staff to benefit a charity of the School’s choice. And thus, one October night, 40 female members of staff headed off to the LK Bennett store in Covent Garden where they quaffed champagne and fingered through racks of frocks and frills. An impressive £600 for the British Neurological Research Trust was raised from the evening’s retail therapy.

In the picture left to right:
Flavia Ingham, Receptionist; Sue Connolly, Cribb's Housemaster; and Headmaster's PA, Catherine Horan

© Alleyn’s School, Townley Road, London SE22 8SU