The Aldworthian Magazine 2020-2021

THE ALDWORTHIAN

2020 – 2021

INTRODUCTION

View from the
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Despite spending five years here as Second Master,
walking up the drive on my first day as Blue Coat’s
25th Headmaster, the decades rolled away and I could
easily have been 11 years old again starting at secondary
school! Nervous excitement coursed through me: the
anticipation of the unknown, settling the new pupils, my
first assembly, Covid...
In one sense, the pandemic was the ever-present issue;
‘What a year to take over’ was something said to me
regularly. Covid sought to fragment essential community
and cohesion. Assemblies could not be held physically;
for much of the year, staff meetings went online
too; competitive sport was severely restricted, and
parents largely kept away; ‘bubbles’ meant Year Group
integration was limited; 8-weeks of wintry lockdown
were a grind; exam uncertainties followed by TAGs
raised eyebrows and heartrates. It was, for everyone, a
rollercoaster.
I’m no adrenaline junkie, but one thing I have learned
is that the experience is much more enjoyable when
shared with others. Despite some fairly hefty and
obvious difficulties, every day there were acts of
wonderful kindness, something to make you laugh out
loud, a conversation that grew a connection. When
time as a whole school together was harder, meaningful
moments of connection became even more precious,
be that with staff or the pupils. When we were – finally
– allowed some larger gatherings, we enjoyed the
tremendous talents of staff and students at Swing into
Summertime, celebrated many achievements at the
prize giving services, and said a wonderful thank you and
farewell to our 2021 Leavers.
Nothing was possible under last year’s restricted
circumstances without a huge amount of extra work
from the staff, both operations and academic, who
kept the School’s wheels turning and the pupils’ minds
expanding. Likewise, the pupils showed great resilience
and cheerfulness in the face of uncertainty, and parents
supported the School’s efforts while having their own
difficulties to deal with.
I’ve been on some camping adventures during which the
weather has been inclement, to say the least. Last year
was a little like that – weathering the storm and adjusting
plans. There will be other storms to weather, but for
now the sun is out, so let the adventure continue!

Mr Pete Thomas
Headmaster

CONTENTS School updates

Highlights 36 Heads of School
37 Staff
4 Academic 41 Charities
12 Sporting 42 School Site
18 Creative 43 Old Blues
28 Co-Curricular
34 Houses

FROM THE EDITOR

Without a doubt, the 2020-2021 academic
year was one of the most unusual in Blue
Coat’s long and colourful history. In our 375
years, the School has never been tested and
tried as much as it has been in the 12 months
from September 2020. However, the relief of
being able to do a bit more of ‘what we know’,
from concerts, performances and sports fixtures,
allowed our community to come together again after
what felt like a long year apart.

In September, we admitted new pupils into Year 7, 9 and 12, and welcomed new
members of staff to the Blue Coat community. Social opportunities were still a little
few and far between, when we remained unsure of what was to come; but when the
weather began to change, it was clear to see that we would not be locked-down for
another summer!

In the Spring, pupils were encouraged to ‘Break the Screen Routine’ after spending weeks at
home, learning remotely, and in the summer term, Blue Coat enjoyed Sports Day, a slightly rainy
Swing Into Summertime and fixtures aplenty.

Mr Tom Strudwick
Marketing and Communications Officer

3

HIGHLIGHTS – ACADEMIC

It has been an incredible year for the academic completed engineering challenges using household
life of the School. I have never been so proud objects. The photos of them sitting on chairs
of the staff and students as when seeing they built from waste cardboard were fantastic!
them rise to the twin challenges of online
learning and Teacher Assessed Grades. When the government announced the cancellation
of public exams for the second year running,
In the most recent our staff stepped up to the difficult challenge
of providing rigorous but fair opportunities for
lockdown, every lesson our pupils to demonstrate their abilities. They
simultaneously supported the final few months
was taught live online. of preparation for the pupils whilst also writing,
marking and moderating assessments that would
This was a herculean normally be provided by the examination boards. In
response, the pupils threw themselves into revision
effort for the pupils, and assessment preparation, which resulted in a set
of qualifications of which everyone can be proud.
as well as the staff. Our Year 13s and Year 11s can both move on to
the next stage of their education knowing that they
New resources had are well-prepared and that they truly earned the

to be created, and in grades they achieved.

Year 8 Kaiden working in his home office some cases, brand Mr Rob Tidbury
new approaches had Deputy Head

to be developed. We needed a new approach to (Academic)

science experiments, DT practicals and drama

performances to name just a few. For the students,

their concentration and perseverance was put

to the test. In a physical school day, the constant

movement around the site and different locations

provides much needed breaks and variety. I was

particularly impressed by the ingenuity of our

pupils in making the most of our ‘Breaking the

Screen Routine’ day, where they had a whole day

of non-computer based activities. On a personal

note, my favorite time each week was seeing

the amazing work of our Year 7 pupils as they

GCSE RESULTS 63%

A* (9-8) 84.4% 94.8%
A*-A (9-7) 7.8 100%
A*-B (9-6)
A*-C (4+) 69.6%
Average Grade
88.9%
A LEVEL RESULTS 95.3%

A*-A
A*-B
A*-C

4

Breaking
the Screen

Routine!

Geology
History

HIGHLIGHTS – ACADEMIC

Geology

The 2020-2021 year started with two groups of Year 12
Geologists entering into the Geological Society of London’s
annual inter-schools’ competition.

This competition is an annual event, in which students are
given the opportunity to showcase their interest in geology,
learn more about the way geoscience impacts our lives and
tests their team-working and presentation skills. Blue Coat
entered two teams into the competition and, whilst both
produced fantastic work, The Rock Squad were selected to
take part in the final on March 18th. Their presentation was a
news-style broadcast, based on the potential flank collapse of
the volcano on La Palma, in the Canary Islands. The collapse
of this volcano could potentially produce a giant tsunami that
would radiate across the Atlantic Ocean, causing widespread
damage to coastal communities and endangering lives. The
boys filmed their presentation with green screens to create an
incredibly professional finished product.

In June, the Year 10s conducted a two-day field study in and
around the Weald.

The boys had a fantastic day looking at the oolitic limestones
of Oxfordshire and then went on to study the famous K-T
boundary at Owl Pit Quarry. Incredibly, the rain held off,
allowing them to study palaeoenvironmental changes from the
Jurassic right through to the Palaeogene.

They then completed the last leg of their fieldwork at Eridge
Rocks and Dryhill by collecting data on some remarkable cross
bedding and formulating a structural history of the region. They
consolidated their knowledge when they returned to School
by writing up a full geological history of the region.

The Year 13 Geologists completed their bonanza of Somerset
Geology by studying the tectonic setting of the region.
Although there was a nip in the air, the calcite and gypsum
veins glistened in the late Autumn sunshine and the students
were wowed by the spectacular faults and inversion features
which allowed them to see for themselves how dynamic this
basin was in the Mesozoic era.

While studying hard, one Year 13
also found the opportunity to play
hard and provide readers of The
Aldworthian Magazine with a little
entertainment: see if you can spot
Michael in the picture to the right!

Mrs Gillian Finucane
Head of Geology

6

Year 12 Geologists study Lake District

From Monday 21 to Friday 25 June, our Year 12s completed a week of fieldwork in the Lake
District, where they ticked off no fewer than 12 specified practicals, giving them the tools
by which they can solve further geological problems in a lab setting.
On day one, they arrived at Derwent Water for their introduction to the region and the
spectacular Geology that makes this place so beautiful. On days two and three, pupils
enjoyed spectacular weather and amazing scenery, before ‘walking the aureole’, and
seeing how a large igneous intrusion can transform the surrounding country rock. Seeing a
mountain biking parrot and a Chinook helicopter beneath them were particular highlights.
Before returning to Berkshire, our geologists enjoyed lunch in a particularly idyllic spot and
waved farewell to the Lake District. Mrs Finucane said ‘They have seen countless exposures
that consolidated their knowledge of everything learned in the classroom and they’ve made
some great memories. It was a pleasure to take such a lovely group of students away.’

7

HIGHLIGHTS – ACADEMIC Sonning in World War I

History War was declared on Tuesday 4 August 1914 at 11.00pm.
The hope of some last minute international settlement was
Thanks to Miss van der Werff, Miss Plowman, Mr Leigh, Mr already dashed as German forces advanced quickly into neutral
Johnson and Ms Thomas, our pupils learn about History in a Belgium. Next morning there was such a scramble for news
variety of ways. School trips lend themselves particularly well to that Mr Prior’s little shop in Sonning’s High Street had sold out
the History Department, and pupils have opportunities to visit of copy by the end of the morning. Four trips on foot back
local, and not-so-local, historical sites relevant to their studies; and forth to Reading along the dusty Bath Road were needed
in a normal year, that is... Unfortunately, the Department to keep stocked up with newspapers. Meanwhile, in Reading,
was unable to travel at all in 2020-2021, so teachers had our School, then situated at Brunswick House, Bath Road, had
to consider what they could do to bring the history into the broken up some weeks previously for a long summer holiday:
School. memories of a sunny Reunion cricket match on the 28 June,
and friendly farewells after the Malthus Service were still fresh
Local History Month in everyone’s minds. Headmaster Samuel Illingworth Butler,
and his wife, who combined the roles of Housekeeper and
Miss Plowman introduced the idea to celebrate our own Matron, prepared anxiously for all the uncertainties of running
local history, and invited pupils to research the histories a school of eighty boys, mostly boarders, under wartime
of their own families. Among those to research Sonning’s conditions. No one really knew what to expect. Many were
local history was School Archivist, former-pupil, -teacher buoyed up with the belief that any war would probably be over
and -editor of the Aldworthian Magazine and much-loved by Christmas; younger folk sensed a welcome opportunity
member of the Blue Coat community, Mr Peter van Went. to break away from tedious routines and even enjoy some
Peter attended Reading Blue Coat from 1960 to 1966, adventure in their lives. Older heads worried there would be
before studying at the University of Cambridge. In 1974, shortages of most things while others knew instinctively many
he returned to Blue Coat as a Teacher of History. After of their friends might never be seen again.
taking a very short retirement (perhaps a few days) Mr
van Went took up residency as the School Archivist and As the war rolled on, more sombre announcements from
now has an office in School House, which is filled with back the Headmaster reporting the latest casualties during morning
copies of the School magazine, photographs and reports assembly, were harsh reminders of what was happening in
from years gone by and the gowns and stockings worn by far-away places. One of the first Old Blue casualties, aged 35,
our prefects. From his extensive research, this is what Mr was John Howes, killed on 22 September 1914 when his
van Went has learned about Sonning over the time of the ship, HMS Hogue was in action against a German submarine
First World War. in the North Sea. Between 1916 and 1918, three past pupils,
all in their twenties, from the Odell family had died in quick
8 succession. Operations in the Dardanelles brought news of
other fatalities during 1915. Private Arthur Beechey, from
Reading, died of wounds, aged 18, when serving with the
Royal Marines Light Infantry battalion at Gallipoli. In August
that year, Private Cude of the Hampshire Regiment, aged 20,
followed him. In June 1916, pupils were told about the death
of Percival Bundy, a plumber’s mate on board HMS Black
Prince, who lost his life at the Battle of Jutland, aged 25. John
Bawden from Reading and Frederick Fullbrook from Sonning
Common, both lost their lives when taking part in General
Allenby’s Palestine campaign: their names are recorded on the
big war memorial in Jerusalem.

When news of the Armistice finally arrived on that cold, foggy
morning of Monday 11 November 1918, it travelled very fast,
and so loud were the hooters in Reading that they could be
heard in Sonning and even further afield: in minutes, peals
of church bells rang out and flags brought out. Four years of
agonising war had ended at last. Our School emerged stoical
but sadder from the experience. Headmaster Butler’s pre-
war ambitions to upgrade and modernise his School were
tempered by a host of serious financial worries, which were
to inhibit its progress for more than twenty years.

Three miles away, the parish of Sonning,
destined to be the School’s home forty
years hence, witnessed a steady departure
of young men, including from Woodley and
Sonning Eye, to “join up” and head off for
France and Belgium. Most had grown up in a
rural community where little had changed for
generations, and on the 9 August, the vicar
read out a long list of them during Morning
Service, “commending them in prayer to
the goodness of God.” Whenever a church
bell tolled at noon, it was a reminder that
another Sonning man had died at the Front.
By the autumn, villagers began to see refugee
families displaced by war from Belgium, many
of whom were put up in Thames Street
cottages. As the fighting in France intensified,
many women and older girls volunteered
to help in the Royal Berkshire and Battle
hospitals. Others made khaki uniforms, caps,
bandages and slings for the wounded; some,
including older children, worked on the land
and tried hard to “keep things going” as food
rationing tightened. Waste paper conservation
and packing up warmer winter clothes for
the troops in France were necessary tasks
as well. Blue Coat pupil John Pilling’s father,
who lived at Turpins Cottages, was sent out
to the front as an Army driver, returning safely
when the war was over. By 1917, the “war
on waste” was in earnest. Shipping losses
resulting from Germany’s prolonged U-Boat
campaign across the Atlantic made self-help
and self-sufficiency high priorities within a small
community. An exhortation in the December
edition of the Parish Magazine that year reads:
“Don’t waste Sonning water! It takes oil to
pump it up and water and oil again to pump it
out as sewerage.”

When news of the Armistice eventually reached
Sonning it was accompanied by a loud of peal
of bells from St. Andrew’s Church; flags of St.
George and the American Stars and Stripes
suddenly appeared from everywhere, and a
telegram was sent to the King and Queen from
the Vicarage. “Thus ended Sonning’s share in
the rejoicing of the Empire”, wrote the Vicar,
Revd. Gibb Craufurd.

Mr Peter van Went
School Archivist and Old Blue (1966)

9

HIGHLIGHTS – ACADEMIC

Breaking the Screen Routine

A month into the third Lockdown of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Blue Coat community broke the screen
routine in a bid to spend less time in front of the computer screen, while in the rut of working from home!
Deputy Head (Academic) Mr Rob Tidbury said, “This day was about embracing everything that could be done
without using a smart device, about resetting ourselves to a pace of life and way of thinking that we may find bring
benefits as we move forward together through this difficult time.”

The day was split the up into three sections that mirror student-life at Blue Coat: Academic, Pastoral and Co-
curricular. There were variety of challenges for each section, and pupils were invited to work through a booklet
of enjoyable tasks. One such pupil is Year 8 OJ Jackson-Rose, who was certainly busy throughout the day!

Who would have thought that just twelve months The kitchen was ready for me, so I donned
ago, a day without screens would incite such my apron in preparation for the mass cookie
excitement? When the announcement was made, bake. I spent the morning baking vast amounts
ideas instantly spawned and whizzed around of biscuits to make the table with; each cookie
my brain. I was super-excited; could I create was measured and cut to size, so they slotted
the Globe Theatre out of matchsticks, plough together properly. The time flew as I got lost
through the next book in my current series or in podcasts; initially on-topic, about different
build a bug hotel? All of these ideas were instantly elements, but then moving on to ‘50 things that
cast aside as I watched an episode of the Bake Off made the modern economy’ with diverse facts
while reading a book I got for Christmas, about about block-chains, canned food to even sewing
the elements. I had my ‘eureka‘ moment; I could machines and pencils.
combine these two passions and bake the entire
periodic table out of biscuits. What was better, I
could then eat it! Win, win all round!

I started the day as I usually do with my 5k run
around the Cricket Green where I live. A chance
to clear my head and dream of eating all those
biscuits I was about to bake. As I waited for the
morning family chaos to clear, I read the first few
chapters of ‘The Tao of Pooh and the Te of Piglet’,
a book I had been promising myself to read in
memory of my late Uncle but never get round to
reading. I still need to get my head around what
a cuddly, happy-go-lucky bear has to do with
vinegar tasting!

10

After grabbing a quick sandwich, my mum,
brother and I strode out onto the Heath for a
walk. Staggering onwards with a stick to help me
keep a steady footing in the thick, slippery mud,
we got a rare sighting of a stag frozen in amongst
the gorse on the gloopy path, watching us with
the same interest we watched it. As we neared
home, we stopped to collect some more twigs
and bits and bobs to build our miniature shelters
– a challenge set by Capt. John and something
I’ve wanted to do but never seemed to have the
time. We arrived home to see we had achieved
4.95 miles, which was amazing considering the
terrain.

Who would have thought that a surprise delivery
of a few biscuits could cheer people up so much
– these are strange times. I know people say it all
the time, but life really is all about those simple
things… as for me, perhaps next time I write,
it will about my time as a contestant on the real
Bake Off, reminiscing about the time we were
locked down and I decided to bake the entire
Periodic Table!

OJ Jackson-Rose
Year 8

After a quick wash up and with aching legs, I
started the final stage of icing my periodic table.
First, I rolled out sheets of blue icing to cover
the central part; all to the same thickness, using
a small ruler to cut the squares. The middle bit
started to take form. As I worked, my family
started to appear from work or school, so
we turned up the music, each taking a turn to
choose a song.

By this point, my periodic table was almost
complete, it was just missing one crucial
element: the writing. I began to pipe the letters
on, and it suddenly came to life – a recognisable
periodic table. By the time I had finished, the sun
had set. I just had to wait a few more agonising
minutes whilst mum took photos and then finally,
I could tuck in. It soon became apparent, even
after a massive hike, that I could not eat my way
through so many biscuits. I decided to give away
some and deliver bags of biscuits to neighbours
and friends in the village. Thanks soon started
streaming in – ‘I never knew aluminium was so
tasty’ and ‘eating Ruthenium was a first’ were my
favourites.

11

HIGHLIGHTS – SPORTING

2020-21 was very much a year for development from Rowing Cricket
a team RBCS perspective. Due to the pandemic and Rounders
restrictions around competitive fixtures in the first two
terms, we were limited to just in-house training and
focusing on both individual and team skills. It was a real
testament to the commitment of the pupils, as well as the
ability of the coaches, that attendance at training sessions,
both after school and on a Saturday were consistently
high.

When pupils were having to isolate at home, our Head
of Rowing, Mr French, made sure that the squads did not miss a beat by delivering out
the Ergos and running regular online sessions so that motivation to train stayed as high
as possible. The benefit of this training was on show over the summer in the handful of
regattas that were able to take place.

Mr Gerwyn Wilson
Director of Sport

A L E V E L - Physical Education 100% A*-B
2021 100% A*-B
2020
2019 67% A*-B

G C S E - Physical Education 87%
2021 96%
2020
2019 76%

One sport we were able to play competitively last year was Cricket, and although Athletics
we couldn’t host spectators, it was still a welcome return to competitive sport. Sports Day
Some of the highlights at the top end of the school were beating our local rivals by
two runs in the 1st XI and having a 2nd XI that played regular Saturday fixtures for
the first time in many a year. At the other end, both the U12A and U12B were able
to record unbeaten season.

Beyond cricket, the girls were able to squeeze a couple of games of netball and
rounders in against local schools which was great, and although they didn’t get
a chance to conclude the competition, the tennis teams also had a couple of
opportunities to swing a racket in matches against Claires Court, Pangbourne
College and Leighton Park.

12

Rowing

Rowing throughout the 2020-21 season 3.5 lengths. The Regatta came to an end the
saw a huge amount of disruption caused by following day against an exceptional Eton crew
Covid-19, but throughout the pandemic, the who were eventual winners of the event.
rowers showed incredible resilience. They
continued training consistently from home, Despite the early challenges, the season ended
using every mode of training at their disposal to up as the most successful on record and a huge
stay fit and strong in preparation for the return well done must go to the athletes and a big
of racing. thanks to the coaches and parents for all their
support in a difficult year.
Training on the water started back in spring,
in preparation for the first upcoming race: Mr Allan French
National Schools Regatta. It was brilliant to Head of Rowing
be back racing on the National stage and
Blue Coat certainly made the most of it by
producing the best set of results ever for the
School on both the boys' and girls' side, with
medals and record finish positions.

Over the summer half term break, two
boys from the senior squad competed at
Great Britain trials - Ed Bindoff and Cameron
Beyki finished second overall in their pair
and featured strongly in the following matrix
competition. Unfortunately, shortly afterwards,
the pandemic meant that Great Britain’s
involvement in the European and Junior World
Championships had to be withdrawn and the
boys missed out on the chance to compete for
their country.

The squads moved on to the summer regatta
programme and Marlow Regatta at Dorney
Lake in June saw the rowers out in force.
This included the first ever 2K side by side
race for our Year 9 and 10 rowers, which
was a huge success! The senior squad again
came away with extremely strong results. The
highlight was the first ever win in junior eights
for Blue Coat against some of the best school
programmes in the UK.

Attention now fell to the British Rowing
Championships and the re-arranged Henley
Royal Regatta in August. British Champs saw
the pair of Ed and Cameron back out on the
water, and another great performance saw the
boys crowned British National Champions,
another first for the School.

After a successful pre-Henley training camp,
the pre-qualified 1st VIII moved on to Henley
Royal Regatta, where for only the second
time in the School's history and for the second
time in succession, Blue Coat won their first
round, beating a strong Pangbourne crew by

HIGHLIGHTS – SPORTING

Cricket U14A v Bradfield
College
U12A v Merchant Tuesday 25 May 2021 Venue: Home

Taylors’ School Result: won by 11 runs

Saturday 1 May 2021 Venue: Away Blue Coat batted first - James Isbell (30) & Alfie Agar (91) played
extremely well. They put on 99 for the first wicket. Alfie batted through
Result: Won by 2 runs to the 20 the over and got 91 in 69 balls and Krishna Anup got a quick-
fire 20 in 9 balls. Blue Coat got 153 for 3 in 20 overs, which was a
In their first representative opportunity for the School, the boys good score against a good bowling attack. Bradfield really struggled to
were thrilled to finally be on the sports field. Captain for the day, get going as we bowled tight and fielded really well. Krishna bowled
Hanson Martin, won the toss and decided to bowl. The bowling with pace with figures of 4 overs, 1 maiden, 1 for 4 and Rohan Sharma
attack consisted of ten bowlers and all bowled with venom and bowled very smart, some variation with figures of 4 overs 2 for 13.
a real determination to impress. The fielding was truly excellent,
and it was this that restricted a fine batting team to just 83 runs. U15A v Shiplake College
The batting could not quite match the bowling display, but the bowling Saturday 22 May 2021 Venue: Home
was fearsomely fast for an U12 match! However, after a genuine spread
of runs throughout the team, the result came down to the wire, and Won by 4 wickets
the boys needed two off the final two balls. The batsmen continued
their positive attitude and easily secured the tie with a single leaving Blue Coat turned out a polished team performance against their local
one to win off the final ball. Cricket provides excellent opportunities for rivals with a consummate win on Saturday. Arnav Kulkarni led from the
character development no matter what the result and on this occasion, front, with a fine 63 off 42 balls to fire our boys into a strong position,
the Blue Coat batsmen stepped up to the crease full of confidence and and was then backed-up well by Aaryan Kotecha (30).
placed the ball through the fielders for a fine victory. In the field, Blue Coat turned in a much-improved team fielding
performance, with some great catches from Kulkarni, Kotecha & Bertie
Pain and a run out from Bharath Rajesh. This was supported with some
incredibly tight bowling from Dylan Baker and Rajesh (7 overs and 10
runs conceded between the 2 of them).

2XI v Merchant Taylors'
School
Saturday 1 May 2021 Venue: Away

Result: lost by 37 runs

U13B v Abingdon The first time Blue Coat have put out a 2nd seniors team on a Saturday
School for quite a number of years! Ella Phillips, Krishal Maru, Ed Philpott and
Saturday 19 June 2021 Venue: Home Henry Waghorn bowled well and put pressure on a young MTs team.
However, batting is an area to improve if we are to be competitive this
season. Scorers were Henry Waghorn (24), Krishal Maru (21) and Harry
West (14-3), with Henry also taking Player of the Match for his excellent
bowling and batting.

Result: Lost by 46 runs 1XI v Shiplake College

On an unpredictable artificial strip, the boys were excited; Abingdon Saturday 22 May 2021 Venue: Away
less-so when they started the first innings- some deliveries ‘pea rolled’
whilst others reared up, catching everyone by surprise! Henry Johnson Result: Won by 2 runs
kept amazingly well-behind the stumps on a wicket that played similar
to one you’d find in Glamorgan in February. Harry Martin and James Isbell opened the batting for Blue Coat on a
Blue Coat bowled well - particularly Shlok Sharma (2-5) and Archie dank overcast Saturday in May. A sharp over from the opening Shiplake
Ludford (2-6) and reduced the Abingdon line up to 33-6. It was great to bowler removed James and No.3 batsman James le Fleming to leave us 2
see all fielders bowl at least two overs and there were some excellent down for 20. Harry and new man, Matt Donovan, struck back by blasting
catches - Tom Cox’s particularly memorable on a skier. However, a quick fire 41 and 22 respectively. The middle overs proved fruitful and
ill-disciplined bowling (37 wides, 9 nb - costing 2 runs apiece) meant contributions from Alfie Agar and Andrew Perkin brought the team total
that Abingdon reached a total of 100 for 7 without really troubling the up to 145 at the end of the allocated overs. The Shiplake innings started
ball with their willow. well from a Blue Coat point of view, as Ashwyn Rupasinha took two early
The RBC innings started really well and Tom Cox and Connor wickets leaving the home side with a lot to do. Oli Lancaster, James and
Fleck put pressure on the field with their running and built a strong Andrew Perkin bowled with control and deft skills to restrict the Shiplake
partnership of 20 in 3 overs. Then, remarkably, Abingdon hit back batsmen through the middle over phase of the game. In the final over,
with a hat-trick, decimating the top order. What followed after that Shiplake required 8 to win. Ashwyn returned to bowl the final over, and
was 4 run outs in quick succession, but the boys still chased up a total supported with some outstanding work in the field, which kept them
of 54 off 11 overs. down to 6 to seal the victory and an outstanding and closely contested
game.

14

Rounders
U18A v Holyport
College
Wednesday 5 May 2021 Venue: Home

Result: Lost 11.5 - 14.5

A very close friendly with great
attitudes from both sides;
it was great to see the girls
show some competitiveness
in their first opportunity to
play against another school.
There was some great fielding
by the whole team, with
some excellent catches from
Millie Young. Ella Waldron
bowled some great balls and
some excellent rounders
and the whole team worked
cohesively. A great game with
excellent team spirit.

Athletics

U15A v Bohunt School, Wokingham

Tuesday 11 May 2021 Venue: Home RBC 217 – Bohunt 172– Forest 159

Captain Luke Fearn led from the front with a win in the shot (10.47) as he juggled his organisational responsibilities
with his own performances extremely well. Other event-winning performances came from Nathan Kisaka (100m),
Luca Thomas (200m), Tom Ellington (800m), James Harris (Triple Jump), Eddie Nieland (Javelin) with the 4 x 100m
relay team of Nathan, Luke, Luca and Paddy Wisener also winning in 53.1s in an extremely close race. Special mention
must also go to Jaden Appiah who ran extremely well this season, but pulled up with a hamstring strain in the 100m.
The Year 10s fared equally well, as they were given a real boost as team captain, Tom Day, secured his release from
a Drama recording (thank you Mr Möller!) to win the Long Jump, 800m and relay. He too ensured every event was
filled, despite some late chopping and changing with winning performances coming from Nadir Naseem (200m), Lucas
Dance (400m), Sam Deacon (Triple Jump), Harry Smith (High Jump), Kian Morjaria (Shot) and the 4 x 100 team of
Harry, Lucas, Tom and Nadir ending the meeting with a run featuring superb changeovers, which, given they were on
grass, made their time of 49.5s very impressive!

U13A District Match

Thursday 10 June 2021 Venue: Away

Unbelievably, this was the debut match for all the Year 7 and 8 athletes, so there was a mix of excitement and a few

nerves! The A-team secured a convincing win over Littleheath, Bohunt and Prospect, scoring 39 points in the process

with the second-placed team scoring just 27. Leading the way was Alex Main, who bookended the day by winning the

first race of the day, the 75m in 9.9s and he helped the excellent relay team including Will Benjamin, Henry Johnson

and Ollie Arnold to the fastest time of the day in the final event in a time of 53.9s. Other match day winners included

Will in the 150m, Ollie also in the 150m as the B runner, Theo Maynard in the 1000m, Josh Knee in the 600m B,

Finlay Griffiths in the B Long Jump and Billy Nieland in the Javelin, who all secured maximum points.

The B-team also fared extremely well and came second in their match, behind an extremely strong Forest A-team

but beat both Hugh Farringdon and Maiden Erlegh Reading A-teams. James Lunn won the B 75m while Ollie Collins,

George Olney and Elliot Hilly all went faster than their A-team counterparts to press for selection in the A-team next

week. Hanson Martin jumped 3.83m and Dan Guest threw a 23m javelin, which were also very much on par with

the A-team performers. 15

HIGHLIGHTS – HOUSES

Sports Day

16

Every year, pupils compete to earn sporting glory for their Houses, 17
this was among the most fiercely contested Sports Days in Blue
Coat history.

More important than the stories of victory and competition are the
stories of those members of our community who made impressive
efforts, stepped out of their comfort zones and placed themselves
in the focus of the whole school. Heads of Houses, House Captains
and Prefects are, of course, immensely proud of their respective
Houses’ wins, but moreso, they celebrate the personal victories
of those pupils who ran their own race, in some form or another.

HIGHLIGHTS – CREATIVE

With Mrs Liz Harvey as Head of Art, Mr Devin Möller as Director of Drama and Mr Richard
Meehan as Director of Music, the Arts at Blue Coat are thriving. Despite the pandemic, Music
and Drama continued to plough their way into the 21st Century; making concerts, recitals,
plays and performances virtual, and welcoming audiences into the School via their computer
screens.

While there is no alternative for the rumble of applause, much like there is no alternative for
the ‘pop’ made by a champagne bottle being opened, pupils had a very different experience of
The Arts during the 2020-2021 academic year, learning to make compromises and allowances
as they did in many aspects of their time at School over the last two-years.

A fully virtual Whole School Production was held via YouTube, the RBC Big Band performed
at a social distance, and virtually-attended doodle clubs were all parts of that experience, but
by no means did it prevent our pupils and staff from achieving excellent academic results and
producing memorable and genuinely enjoyable performances.

A LEVEL 100% A*-A
Art 87.5% A*-A
Drama
Music 100% A*-A

GCSE 71.4% Grade 7-9
Art 52.3% Grade 7-9
Drama
Music 80% Grade 7-9

Mrs Liz Harvey Mr Devin Möller Mr Richard Meehan Mrs Lisa Bennett
Head of Art Director of Drama Director of Music Head of Public Speaking

18

Art
Public Speaking

Drama
Music

HIGHLIGHTS – CREATIVE Self Portrait in the style of Picasso, by Thomas Wong

Art

Despite the challenges of COVID-19, 2020-21 was an
exciting year for the development of the Art Department.
One of the biggest changes was the opportunity to
develop printmaking in the Department. A new etching
press was purchased and the GCSE students took to it like
the proverbial ducks to water, producing a wide range of
print pieces inspired by their theme of ‘Structures’. The
Year 7s were not going to be outshone though, and they
too developed their printmaking skills, with all students
in the year group producing lino prints on the theme of
mythical creatures. Year 8 and 9 students worked hard to
develop their skills through a range of projects including
mixed media Picasso pieces, abstraction from architecture
and landscape studies inspired by the artist Cat Croxford.

We were extremely lucky to have Cat visit the
Department throughout the year, to work with different
groups of students. She did a ‘painting in a day’ workshop
with the Year 11 GCSE Art students, who all went on
to produce exciting and colourful acrylic landscapes
inspired by her work. She also joined us for the Sixth
Form Activities week and worked with a group of Year 12
students to produce large scale landscapes inspired by the
School site.

It was a positive and challenging year for Year 12, who
despite the difficulties of not being able to visit galleries
and see original works of art, all selected a work from an
online visit to the National Gallery in London and used
that to inspire their work for the year. Their work has
developed in strong, personal ways over the year and
they are all finding their artistic voices. Our Year 13 artists
excelled in their chosen media and all produced very
strong paintings. Much of their work is now on display in
the Department and it serves to inspire our next group of
Blue Coat artists.

Mrs Liz Harvey
Head of Art

Woodland Walk, inspired by Cat Croxford, by Caitlyn Tse
20

Mythological Creature prints, by Year 7 pupils
The River Thames at Sonning, by Harry Herbert

21

HIGHLIGHTS – CREATIVE

Drama

An Evening of Drama and after school rehearsals for the six students this cast on my very first production at Blue Coat
involved: Dexter Beard, Euan Guthrie and Daisy was an absolute privilege; but the talent on offer
An Evening of Drama was a concept born out of Pettifer (Year 13), Mia Harvey and Jude Lancaster at the school did not stop there.
the desire to provide audiences with engaging (Year 12) and Barnaby Grandin (Year 11). These
pieces of drama that, despite the sustained Drama students thrived under the additional Amongst the extracts of Priestley’s play, An
threat of a pandemic, could navigate the logistical challenge provided by COVID, exploring the Evening of Drama contained vignettes from a
challenges of year-group bubbles, social distancing subtleties of realism and relishing the opportunity variety of plays, performed by individuals, duos
and frequent isolations without sacrificing the to develop nuanced approaches to acting for and small groups. From Anna Rook performing
high quality drama with which Blue Coat has the camera. The three extracts chosen by the Leah’s monologue from Dennis Kelly’s DNA
become inextricably associated. This production Department enabled them to explore the integral to Barney Pawson, Mattie Roberts and Ollie
also had to manoeuvre the shift of an integral part narrative dominant throughout Priestley’s Smith’s exploration of Seth Kramer’s existential
of live performance: the audience; not only did morality play: the death – and its cause – of short play, The Tarantino Variation, this special
the Department need to create a programme Eva Smith. The enthusiasm of the cast, their one-off streamed performance showcase all of
of innovative performance for a number of year commitment to the challenge of rehearsing for what Blue Coat had to offer; it demonstrated
groups, but a new methodology of capturing live the camera, and their willingness to give up their the vast talent of its A-Level and GCSE students,
performance within the first five weeks of a new weekends to record these extracts in the Buttery and their passion for diverse styles and genres of
term. made my first experience of Drama at Blue Coat performance.
all the more memorable.
Auditions for J.B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls As I left the School site on the night of this live-
had taken place virtually in the Summer term As the youngest member of the cast, Barnaby streamed event, I drove home thinking how
of 2020 in the hope that it could be performed created an impressive Inspector, demonstrating proud I was for this to be my first show as a
to a live audience in the illustrious Way Hall, his omniscience in sophisticated ways. Mia, in teacher – not just at Reading Blue Coat, but since
but the new medium of live-streaming invited her first production at Blue Coat, portrayed the completing my PGCE in the summer of 2019.
us to rethink how to create drama that suited complex naivety and strength of Sheila Birling, Working with the committed and professional
the screen. Excited by the challenge, Mr Möller and Dexter navigated the subtlety of Eric Birling’s team, we are honoured to have in the form of
and I choose three ten-to-fifteen minute-long guilt-driven descent into alcoholism. Jude and Mr Devin Möller (Director of Drama) and Mr
extracts that could be used to frame a number of Daisy shone greatly portraying the traditional and Chris Bond (Technical Theatre Manager), and the
monologues, duologues and group pieces varying somewhat archaic views of the older generation, excellent talent in the form of Blue Coat’s Drama
in terms of performance style, genre and content. presented through the characters of Mr and Mrs students, I couldn’t wait to approach the next
Birling, and, finally, Euan gave a sensitive and production with the knowledge that we could
Rehearsals for An Inspector Calls began in the mature portrayal of the upper-class Gerald Croft continue to tackle any challenge posed by the
first week of term with a number of lunchtime – engaged to Sheila Birling but haunted by his past pandemic and continue to produce work of an
relationship with Eva Smith. To have worked with outstanding quality.
22
Mr Joshua Stone
Teacher of Drama and English

The Show Must Go On! The Show Must Go On! was a miraculous In Year 12, I was involved in the school
I was delighted to have the chance to create success, considering the challenges it faced production of The Show Must Go On!. Although
a fresh and new musical, one that would during lockdown! Pupils and teachers had to COVID-19 severely affected us throughout
allow me the creative licence to showcase work hard in isolated year group bubbles to the making of the production, the Drama
a variety of musical extracts from some of produce their acts, which were combined to Department stayed enthusiastic and encouraged
our favourite musicals. This would be the create a final, fabulous, musical production. us to keep rehearsing until our performances
first-ever Blue Coat musical to be streamed As a Year 7 pupil, this was a completely new were perfect.
live and would highlight extracts from Les experience for me. The rehearsals were a little As a girl joining Reading Blue Coat for Sixth
Misérables, Oliver, Hamilton, Come From nerve-racking at first, but after conquering my Form, I felt just as included as the other boys
Away, Jersey Boys, Joseph and many more. fears, I really enjoyed all the singing and dancing. who had been in previous productions, further
Having to work in year group bubbles meant The show was fun to be involved in and I have down the school. This production helped
that selecting appropriate musical extracts great memories of it all. It was also lovely to be to increase my confidence and expand my
was an exciting opportunity to showcase able to get to know my newly-made friends, who friendship groups across the year, enabling me
musicals old and new. also really enjoyed the musical! to quickly fit in at Blue Coat when, I previously
Despite no live audience, the show still went on! knew no one.
This musical production consisted of 27 It was streamed and watched by families and
performances from 14 different West End friends of RBCS up and down the country. A Suzie Donnan
musicals, with over 130 members of the Blue tremendous effort was required from all the Year 12 cast member
Coat community working tirelessly to bring Tech Crew behind the scenes, giving lights, many,
the show-stopping spectacular to our digital many, many cameras and plenty of action! The Despite the obvious obstacles the last few years
stage! show received rave reviews and it was one of the have thrown at us, I really enjoyed being a part
most enjoyable memories I have of lockdown! of The Show Must Go On! Having seen previous
In light of the social climate, I found it school musicals such as Little Shop of Horrors
important that we as a School community Harry Dean and Our House, I was very keen to audition for
were able to give back, and in particular try Year 7 cast member The Show Must Go On! The added element of
and support the many individuals who were recording the show was also very interesting,
out of work as a result of the pandemic. The as I got to see a new aspect of Drama, which
musical aimed to support the Royal Theatrical we wouldn’t see under the usual circumstances.
Fund, to help the actors, dancers and West The Year 10s were joined by the Year 9s and
End performers and crew who had been participated in musical excerpts from Jersey
unable to work through the Coronavirus Boys, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour
pandemic. While we would usually ask Dreamcoat and We Will Rock You. The Show
audiences coming to a Blue Coat production Must Go On! was an exciting production and we
to pay for their ticket, this year we asked our were grateful, in a year full of restrictions and
virtual audience to make a donation to the lockdowns, that we could come together to still
Royal Theatrical Fund. As a community, we create a musical.
were able to raise £3,086, which we were
immensely proud of. Jake Pawson
Year 10 cast member
Even though we were working with a new
digital medium, I was thrilled with the final 23
outcome, and although audiences watched
the production in the intimacy of their
own homes, I know the audience was left
energised, having loved a fresh take on a night
at the theatre. Highlights for me were most
definitely the large ensemble dance routines,
in particular the moments from Hamilton,
Come From Away, and Matilda, which were
a visual feast for the eye.

The Show Must Go On! was a full team effort
and I am extremely grateful to have worked
with the production company I have. To my
fantastic cast and production crew, this show
is a reflection of your expertise, dedication
and passion to create theatre of the highest
standard at Blue Coat, even when having to
reinvent how we do this.

I personally cannot wait to start the process
all over again as we finally plan to stage Billy
Elliot in 2022!

Mr Devin Möller
Director of Drama

HIGHLIGHTS – CREATIVE

Music feature of this year’s cohort. The Way Hall looked Second Lockdown: a
magnificent, thanks to Mr Bond’s lighting, and time for composers
although glitches in the live stream did get in the way
of this, our first live studio broadcast, an improved

Music in the year of video released two days later tells the story of just Just when we were about to start back in January,
COVID what a special event this was. the second lockdown happened and once again we
found ourselves at home, constructing an imaginary
Chamber Concert school in our heads as we stared into our screens
from our dining room chairs. This half term usually

As the new academic year arrived in September involves a lot of rehearsal, but performances take

2020, we found our School life still in turmoil from The steep learning curve continued as we turned a back seat to make way for the annual Senior
COVID. It was as if the Rubik’s Cube of our weekly our attention to the Chamber Concert. By now, we Production. The thought of trying to produce group
activities had been subjected to an attempted were becoming familiar with the occasional time- performances online now being too exhausting
solving, and although some faces looked more or outs that suspicious coughs were causing before test to contemplate, we instead chose to focus on
less like they should, rotating the cube a few degrees results were returned, making planning ever-more composers. Starting with
revealed that the other cube faces were more uncertain. Nevertheless, for the Chamber Concert Nathan May’s wonderful
disordered than ever. And so, we set out to greet in October, we were able to iron out the broadcast movie music set to real-life
each other in a school newly divided into year group glitches of the Newcomers’ Concert and produce an footage of World War 2,
bubbles, navigating the one-way systems to find the evening of diverse and thoughtful music making, with this was followed by piano
largest and most ventilated available spaces, while solos including Ashwyn Rupasinha on harpsichord, compositions by Ashwyn
a nearly, (but not quite) identical narrative of the Nathan May on organ, Jake Pawson on French horn, Rupasinha, Alex Miranda-
school year ran in parallel online in Teams, YouTube Alex Miranda-Zezula playing his own composition Zezula and Will Luff.
and on other digital platforms. Throughout it all, we and Sidni Brener’s ever wonderful Brasshouse Work with a more
worked hard to keep things going, doing our best Band closing the event. Michael Wilkinson’s arch personal focus was heard
to mark the familiar shape of the year, and making compèring also led us through some great ensemble from Jake P, who produced
something special out of the situation whenever we playing from a sizeable string orchestra, Woodwind a beautiful electronic
Quintet and Sax Group. lullaby sampling Strauss’
could.
Nocturne. Henry Hawes

Scholar’s Recitals showed a keen ability to

inhabit the modern pop
style with “Lonely World

The first new opportunity we were given was Year 12 Ella sings Burn from the musical Hamilton With You”, with a lovely Year 8 Zac after receiveing the Composition Prize
the purchase of three new matching still-and- video provided by Sidni
video cameras, with a selection of mountings Brener. The most viewed
and appropriate hardware and the given video was provided by
challenge of working out how to use them. Year 8’s Zac Gamble, who
Using Thursday’s activity time, we set about performed drums and
this task, and the learning curve was steep, as keyboard on his 70s-style
it involved not just familiarising ourselves with protest song, as well as
the individual pieces of hardware, but also how three-part vocal harmony,
they interacted with each other, and then how for which he was awarded
to use them to capture our music making, and the composition prize.

ultimately how to communicate it. Starting from

the second week of the year, we recorded and put

Grand Concertout a series of Scholar’s Recital videos, featuring the
best work of our most capable musicians. The first

brave soul to put themselves forward was the ever- It was two days before the Grand Concert that disaster hit. We had been preparing for this for some time, expecting that each
reliable Alex Miranda-Zezula on piano, followed by Year Group would present one ensemble and one solo item live in Way Hall and all other cross-bubble ensembles would be
newcomer Nathan May on piano, and Ella Waldron’s recorded with the players at a distance beforehand. Just as we finished recording the Chamber Orchestra, the announcement
sensational rendition of Burn from Hamilton proving came through that Year 10 were to be sent home, followed shortly by all of Year 9 and a good number of students in other
something of a talking point and break-out hit.
years. Sadly, this meant no Year 9 band and no close-harmony singing from the Year 10s, and their solos had to be performed

from home as well as one Year 11 solo. Nevertheless, we remained undaunted, and set about putting on our most ambitious

The Newcomers’ live stream show yet. A particular highlight was a pair of performances from the RBC Big Band, and a performance by our full-
School orchestra in the Sports Hall of our School Hymn concluding the event.

Concert

Video recording and broadcasting are two very
different disciplines, as we found very early on in
the academic year. The first large-scale event was
the Newcomers’ Concert, in which we welcome
all performers new to the School. It was particularly
heartening to welcome many talented Year 7 boys
across a wide range of disciplines, with strong
trumpet and drum kit players being a particular

24

The RBC Big Band performing the School Hymn from the Sports Hall

Biennial Festival Headmaster Mr Thomas and Director of Music Mr Meehan with Biennial Festival winners Anoop, Sanay and Guy

As the second full lockdown was announced, we Senior musicians Michael and James perform their final Blue Coat number at Swing Into Summertime
planned that, as soon as we were permitted back on
site, we would hold our Biennial Festival, in which The evening’s final performance: The Beatles’ Hey Jude, performed by Bentley, Anoop, Jake and Mrs Crossland
all our musicians are invited to take part. And so,
it proved to be, that as soon as School reopened, 25
we spent three days in the Buttery hearing the
first rounds of the festival, in which well over 100
performers gave nearly 159 performances. Cath
Millar and Hilary Smethurst-Evans of Berkshire
Maestros gave warm and insightful feedback and the
technical crew, now seasoned practitioners, ensured
that the streams worked without a hitch.
The following week, the winners of each category
gave their winners’ performances with full lighting
and camera work in Way Hall, an extremely high-
pressure task to which they responded magnificently.
These were sent across the Atlantic to Ralph Ford,
a composer arranger who had become known to
us through his wonderful T.M.I., which had proved
a big hit with the Jazz Cats, a Lower School group.
Mr Meehan spent an evening into the wee-small
hours remotely recording Ralph’s feedback, which
was funny, insightful and showed his experience
gleaned from a career of many decades. After
much deliberation, Sanay Sadhwani was awarded
the winner of the Junior category with his soulful
drumming, Anoop Sira of the Intermediate with his
amazing voice and Guy Barwell, once again winning
the Senior category with a performance of the entire
Aratunian Trumpet Concerto accompanied by Anita
d’Atellis.

Swing into Summertime

The blessing of fair weather we had for the Junior Concert
was sadly not to last. Over the two hours before the
concert was due to start, we were subject to the most
torrential downpour, which undoubtedly dampened
some spirits, along with an England match which called
away some of our fair-weather friends. Nevertheless, the
performers’ spirits remained undampened, with a huge
number of committed and capable performances across
the evening. The Jazz Cats performed a thrilling rendition
of adjudicator Ralph Ford’s T.M.I. Leavers James le
Fleming and Michael Wilkinson (also a compère) let their
hair down in front of the Jazz Band with Mr Meehan’s
Pop-Punk Medley, and the whole event was rounded
out, “once-more with feeling” style, with a combined
performance of Hey Jude featuring Jake Reeve, Anoop
Sira, Bentley Bradley, Mrs Crossland and a guest cameo
by rising star Isty Cole, as we set our sights on the
summer ahead and the academic year beyond.

Mr Richard Meehan
Director of Music

HIGHLIGHTS – CREATIVE

Public Speaking

The Cheeky Speaky 2021

In 2021, Covid-19 continued to dominate and Miles Edwards, Ted Aplin and Ed Bungay
dictate which events could take place and whether
they could be live, or not. After a period of online Kyle Wheeler teamed up to share crazy world
learning from January to the beginning of March, records- none to be tried at home!
we suddenly found ourselves back in school, face-
to-face (well... mask-to-mask), with a very small Every year I am always genuinely sad to say farewell
window of opportunity to put The Cheeky Speaky to those in Year 13. They have been fantastic to work
together - a window of two and half weeks! The with. There are so many highlights, but it would be
senior Public Speakers like a challenge, so when I remiss of me not to mention Miles, William and Ted
contacted them via Teams about the possibility of winning the National Rotary Competition when they
putting together a programme at extremely short were in Year 8. This will hold a special place in my
notice, they were all up for it! heart as well as theirs.

It was clear that we could not have an audience and I have been grateful for Mrs Head’s help with
that it would need to be live-streamed: this required coaching, long may that continue. My final words
technical expertise, something that was not required must go to thanking Sid and Nathan for making
pre-Covid! Mr Bond, Sidni Brener and Nathan May the Cheeky Speaky 2021 happen. Their expertise,
came to the rescue. They all worked tirelessly to generosity and unflappable approach allowed Year
make the event happen. 13, in particular, to have their say.

Initially, I thought the biggest challenge would be Mrs Lisa Bennett
getting the speeches ready in time. I was wrong! Ted Teacher of Religious
Aplin got in touch to say that he had to self-isolate Studies and Head of
and would return to School the day after the Cheeky
Speaky. Before I could even utter the words to say Public Speaking
how sorry I was that he would miss his final concert,
he said ‘don’t worry, Miss, Sid and Nathan are
going to do a live link’! Funnily enough, I did worry!
I suggested that Ted pre-recorded his compelling
speech on mental health, his sketch with Michael
and his ‘brutally honest Covid Briefing’ with Miles
Edwards and William Peters. This was to no avail.
I appealed to Sid and Nathan, thinking they would
agree to pre-recording, but I was wrong about that
too! If I am honest, their gung-ho response of ‘it
will be fine, Miss’ didn’t quite allay all of my worries.
They did all of course manage brilliantly, but my
nerves were in shreds!

As ever, there was a wide range of topics; from sage
advice on voting from Michael Wilkinson, Matthew
Watkins got us up to speed on the legend of Dick
Turpin, Jim Roberts urged us to delete social media
accounts, Miguel Nabais informed us about LGBT
through history and James Bowie covered what
went well in the pandemic. Matt Kirk made his debut
talking about pet ownership, Sam O’Leary spoke
intently about world systems theory: Orwelllian
tyranny or the future, and Charlie Kirk gave us a fly-
on-the-wall account of being a volunteer at Oxfam.
There was an episode of Room 101 from Rayyan
Ferozdin, Sergio Grannum and Robert Page-Mason,
where the audience voted to banish fussy food in
tiny portions! Will Dean and Samuel Norrington
ingeniously presented a current affairs slot through
the medium of mis-speaking and Nick Tawse and

26

A Conversation With...
Sidni Brener

Sidni Brener joined Reading Blue Coat in September 2014 into Hall House.
An avid musician, Sidni played the saxophone and even formed his own
group, the Sidni Brener Brasshouse Band. He is also a keen drone pilot and
photographer, and, you guessed it, formed his own Drone club at the School!
A real self-starter, Sidni will undoubtedly go far, so we had a conversation to
find out what the future holds...

Tell us briefly about your time at Blue good, but those are the two of which I'm
Coat the most happy with the outcome. This was
I joined in Year 7 on a Foundation Scholarship due to the fact that The Show Must Go On
and stayed all the way through until Year 13: was made up of lots of different productions,
the full Blue Coat experience! So much was which, on the tech side of things, was a real
on offer, so naturally I joined a bunch of clubs - challenge for the three-man production crew
public speaking, various School bands, science working on it. Neither of us would have been
club and even started my own club in Year 10, able to do it alone, so it was great to work with
based around building drones. Josh Hines and Nathan May.

When did you first get involved with What did you find most challenging
the Drama and Music tech crews? about the work you were now doing
I wasn't involved in the tech crews until with the School?
lockdown began, when I was in Year 12. It The main challenge was organising my
was for the virtual Swing Into Summertime schedule to fit in all the concurrent videos
that kick-started the idea of streaming and events we were running, as well as my
and recording performances over the last four A-Levels, music practice, personal video
two years. It's always something I've been projects and freelance work. It left me next-
interested in, but since Drama (and Drama to no free time, but the experience I gained
tech) wasn't an option when I was choosing from dedicating my time to the Blue Coat
my A-Level subjects, it's not something I really community is exactly what got me my first job
pursued formally. just two months after leaving school, so it's by
no means a negative thing.
How did you cope with remote
learning, and life in general, in What are you doing with yourself now
lockdown? you have left Blue Coat?
I got on fine with remote learning, I’m able to Now that I've left, I've gone straight into
focus quite easily and get on with work, so I work. I’m two-months in and I've got a job
was finishing work in half the time I would have at Kinisi Productions in Maidenhead, where I
done at School. Outside of that, nothing really do anything and everything technical; whether
changed. The limited outdoor exercise times, coding, filming, editing, 3D-modelling,
for example, didn’t really bother me as it gave illustrating or something else, as well as helping
me the chance to get outside and take photos. out with ideas for things that might make TV
programs appeal to younger people.
When the School ‘went remote’, which
events did you most enjoy working on 27
and why?
There are two I'm the most proud of: the
Christmas Carol Service and The Show Must
Go On!. That's not to say the rest weren't

HIGHLIGHTS –
CO-CURRICULAR

Activities Week

Mr Selvester’s Farewell

CCF

Model United Nations

28

Model United Nations

Over the last year, Model United Nations has thrived at Blue Coat; with a host of new
members from across the Middle School and Sixth Form (and for the first time the
Lower School), we have enjoyed debating both in School, and out, on some of the most
pertinent issues of the day in a recreation of the United Nations format.

We began the year by talking within School; on the issue of the Belarusian presidential
election, representing countries such as the UK, Russia, Brazil, and of course Belarus.
With solutions ranging from an independent review of the election result and police
response in the nation to calling for a new election, it was a great chance for those old
and new to hone their skills within school.

With national lockdowns looming, MUN went online for a few weeks. This did little
to dampen our spirits however, and we returned in full flow with a conference on the
question of political oppression in Russia, particularly in the case of Alexei Navalny.
We also had the opportunity to research extensively into the Israel-Palestine conflict,
looking at the UN’s historical responses and potential resolutions to the situation.

Our main internal conference this year,
however, was in relation to the US
presidential election and the legitimacy of its
result. In a slight twist on the typical MUN
format, we each represented a US state
(Florida and Pennsylvania) as a member
of one of the two main political parties.
Researching in depth into the electoral
college system, debate was lively with pupils
representing the population, politics and
views of both their area’s constituents and
parties line.

With regard to events outside of School,
we attended our very first virtual MUN
conference hosted by Reigate School. The
event was a complete success with hundreds
of students representing delegations for
countries all around the world; several of
which were represented by Blue Coat.
The day involved a General Assembly and
other key features of the UN and acted as
an excellent microcosm of the real thing
and it was interesting to mirror the use of
global technology exactly as the UN would.
The event was a brilliant opportunity for
students of all ages to develop social and
debating skills and to make friends outside
of the School setting, which was valuable
to all students involved. Although this event
was not as good as the normal conferences,
which are held regularly throughout the
year, it was still an outstanding alternative
and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

The last year in MUN has been unique; with
external conferences thin on the ground,
we had the chance to debate intellectually
with our peers as well as returning to events
outside School. With thanks to Ms Thomas,
Mrs Bennett, Miss Plowman and all the
teachers that have helped run MUN, we
look forward to another year of debate and
discussion.

Year 12 Matthew Watkins and
Year 10 Alex McLoughlin

HIGHLIGHTS – CO-
CURRICULAR

In The Navy

2020-21 was a year unlike any other for the time as Cadet Coxn and Petty Officer during year group ‘bubble’ per session, and telling
Royal Navy Section, as it was for all elements this period. Social distancing rules meant they the boys that if they capsized they may have
of School. Covid restrictions meant we couldn’t be inside to train younger cadets, as to stay in soggy kit as the changing rooms were
couldn’t sail in the Autumn Term, as whilst we Year Groups had to be kept separate; they still still only available for a maximum of four - they
may have managed to ‘bubble’ Year Groups managed to do all sorts of inventive outdoor accepted these restrictions with delight, and
in different minibuses and sailing is an outdoor activities, with the help of Mr Wilson and Mr it was a joy to see them back on the water,
activity, social distancing in a Topaz would be French in particular, to instil the teamwork that where they proved they truly belonged. We
tricky, and Dinton Pastures was only allowing is the hallmark of a developing cadet, displaying also had our first visit from our Area Instructor
four people in the changing room at a time! remarkable resilience and flexibility in their PO Voller for over a year, who completed
leadership. some CFAV training with the staff, and told us
As a result of all the extra time we had at we were her best School!
School, the section was drilled to perfection When schools were shut and a third lockdown
for Remembrance Day, but in Year Group loomed, we moved RN CCF training to Teams, Last year was my thirtieth year at Blue Coat
bubbles, and often in sports kit rather than CCF and I found a wealth of amazing resources in all and as an officer in the CCF, but at times it felt
uniform, as our own changing rooms were sorts of places, including of course YouTube, as if it was my first, as we often had to work out
shut. If a cadet had rowing or rugby training so units on knot tying, navigation exercises, completely new ways of doing things. It has
after school, they spent the day in sports kit! and even polishing boots could be completed, been an incredible relief to be almost back to
In the event, with the second lockdown, the and photographic evidence submitted and normal this September. I am immensely proud
Remembrance Sunday School service and ‘marked’! It was a relief to get back to School of what we managed to do as a section in very
British Legion Parade were cancelled, so we though, and we managed to complete 1*, 2* difficult circumstances, and am very grateful
were really pleased that the senior cadets and and 3* qualifications. to Toby, Miguel, Mr Wilson, Mrs Crossland
officers of each section had taken part in a short and Mr French for their support and help in
but poignant service and minute of silence at In the summer term, as restrictions eased keeping our training going.
the School’s war memorial during the School slightly, we actually managed to go sailing -
day on 11 November. proudly taking the first groups of Blue Coat Lt Tanya van der Werff CFAV RNR
students off site for the first time in over a Head of History and Royal Navy Section
Toby Ward and Miguel Nabais had a tough year. We managed this by only taking one
Leader

30

16 Years’ Service

July 2021 saw the end of an era: Duncan Selvester’s retirement from 16
years as Contingent Commander, and 28 years in total of service as an
officer in the Army section. Thousands of cadets have benefited from his
knowledge and expertise over the years, on Thursday parades, weekend
exercises and Easter and Summer camps. Many CCF officers in turn
have fond memories of his kindness, generosity and endless supplies of
chocolate bars and awful jokes.

The time and commitment this job entails is very obvious at times
like Remembrance Parade and in the excitement and ceremony of a
Biennial Inspection. Not many will have realised his dedication to the less
glamorous behind the scenes work on the impenetrable Westminster
military computer system, countless conferences and hours of minibus
driving to collect and deliver ammunition and weapons. We are all
grateful to him and wish him all the very best in his retirement.

Lt Tanya van der Werff CFAV RNR
Head of History and Royal Navy Section Leader

31

HIGHLIGHTS – CO-
CURRICULAR

Activities Week

Activities Week is a great opportunity for our pupils
to try things they may not otherwise have the chance
to try, and to enjoy new experiences outside of the
classroom. 2021 provided a truly exemplary Activities
Week for pupils at Blue Coat, as they travelled far and
wide, trying their hand at film-making, white water
rafting, paintball and much more.

Year 7 spent their week between Dinton Pastures,
where they sailed and spent time on the water, Go
Ape, where they took to the skies, swinging and
climbing the treetops, and the Blue Coat School site,
where they produced a play in a day! Elsewhere in the
Lower School, Year 8 enjoyed raising money with a
sponsored walk along the River Thames, where they
met Old Blue, Simon Birley (1972) on his boat. The
boys also made rafts at Wokingham Waterside Centre
and went paint-balling.

In the Middle School, pupils travelled to the Lee Valley
White Water Centre in London, where they took
on the challenge of white water rafting and paddle
boarding, and also enjoyed other water sports. When
they returned to Blue Coat, they made the most
of the School site with a day of laser tag. A visiting
company provided the digital weaponry, along with
barrels, inflatable barriers and blockades, and a few
members of staff were also spotted doing their best
Rambo impressions!

Years 10 and 11 observed a Day of Service, in which
pupils had to offer their time and energy to members
of their community. Among their efforts were Alex
McLoughlin’s litter picking, Lewis Main’s cooking for
his grandmother and Tristan Hart’s neighbourly dog
walking. Others volunteered at care homes, charity
shops and at home, where they took care of a variety
of chores.

The Sixth Form had a slightly different week, as
the focus for them was on service and education.
Although most enjoyed raft-building and rounders,
other pupils tried their hands at rat-dissection and
bird box building. The boxes were then raffled off, and
the multi-storey bird apartment complex was won
by Marketing and Communications Officer Mr Tom
Strudwick.

The Newton Society, a newly formed student
organisation that seeks to improve the education of
all things LGBTQ+, took the chance to paint a mural
to raise their profile in the School. Later in the week,
they also visited Brighton for an LGBTQ+ tour of the
town, and visited Bletchley Park and the Alan Turing
Museum. The Community Action group took to
the Thames path to collect litter. Some of our more
creative pupils enjoyed a workshop with local artist
Cat Croxford, who visited the School several times
throughout the year.

All in all, the week allowed pupils to kick back a little,
after a gruelling exam period and more than a year of
disruptions caused by the Coronavirus. We’re already
looking forward to next year!

32

White Water Rafting

On the third day of Activities Week, students in Year 10 were treated to a A group of boys even made a so-called ‘super-SUP’ out of three paddle
trip to the Lee Valley White Water Centre in London, where the canoe slalom boards!
was held during the 2012 Olympics. The Year 10s were given the opportunity
to participate in white water rafting, stand-up paddle boarding and challenges Also on the lake was the inflatable obstacle course that demanded
on an inflatable obstacle course, of which all enjoyed. determination and agility to balance and scramble across. The boys were
challenged with doing the course in human chains and even with their eyes
The most highly anticipated activity was the rafting, as it requires groups of closed, a challenge at which few succeeded. Despite this, there wasn’t a
nine to co-ordinate their paddles and overcome their fears of heading full frown in sight, as we were all too busy laughing, joking and enjoying ourselves!
speed down the Olympic course’s rapids, corners and drops. Although many
boys (and even staff) fell overboard, rafters enjoyed drifting down the course The trip was a huge success and a thrilling experience for the Year 10s, adding
to meet back with their boat at one of the many eddies at the sides of the to their list of adventures within Activities Week, out of and about the Blue
rapids. A handy boat-lift was also nearby to give the rafters back-to-back runs Coat site. Thank you to Mrs Watmough-Starkie for organising the trip and Mr
of the course maximising the fun throughout the day. Selvester, Mr Baker, Mr Dance, Miss van der Werff, Miss Thomas, Mr Bond,
Miss Willis, Mr Sydenham and Mr Cook for supporting and accompanying us.
A lower lake at the Centre provided a sense of comfort away from the intense
action of the white water, giving students time for cruising, sun-bathing and Fergus Jones
conspicuous capsizing of each other on the paddle boards. Year 10 Student

33

HIGHLIGHTS – HOUSES HALL
ALDWORTH

Heads of Aldworth: Heads of Hall:
Adam Wright and Dexter Beard Cameron Beyki and Toby Hoare

MALTHUS RICH

Heads of Malthus: Heads of Rich:
Ewan Guthrie and Holly Cookson Harry Herbert and Rebecca Hyde

34

House Photography

Zoe Fearn, Year 12, Aldworth

Finlay Griffiths, Year 8, Malthus Miss Truman, Teacher of English and Film Studies

Gregory Pyne, Year 9, Rich

Sidni Brener, Year 13, Hall Viyan Kumar, Year 11, Rich

Barney Broadhurst, Year 7, Aldworth Results Year 10
Jospeh Willings, Year 10, Malthus 1-Tree, Joseph Willings (MAL)
Year 7 2-Flood, Matthew Allen (MAL)
1-Moss on a log, Barney Broadhurst (ALD)
2-Lambs, Hanson Martin (HALL) Year 11
3-Sunset Reflection, Hanson Martin (HALL) 1-Orchid, Viyan Kumar (RICH)
2-Firepit, Viyan Kumar (RICH)
Year 8 3-Jurassic Coast, Oli Bryant (RICH)
1- Reflection, Finlay Griffiths (MAL)
2- Archie Ludford, (ALD) Year 12
3-Tree, Ollie Collins (HALL) 1-Dandelion, Zoe Fearn (ALD)
2-Matthew Watkins (MAL)
Year 9 3-Robin, Zoe Fearn (ALD)
1-Bee, Gregory Pyne (RICH)
2-Skeleton, Jack Mallett (RICH) Year 13
3-Mushroom, Jack Mallett (RICH) 1-Snow, Sidni Brener (HALL)
2-Robin, Ollie Bailey (ALD)
3-Sunset Walk, Ted Aplin (ALD)

SCHOOL UPDATES – HEADS OF SCHOOL

Heads of
School
2020-2021

Ollie Bailey
Susanna de Maio

Senior
Prefects

Michael Wilkinson
Ed Bindoff
Grace Edmondson
Andrew Perkins
Delyth Barnes
Will Mackean (not pictured)

Deputy Heads
of School
2020-2021

Lucy Dawson
Ted Aplin

Senior CCF
Cadets

Michael Wilkinson
Ben Yeo
Lucy Dawson
Harvey Roper
Teo Petersen
James Calliss

36

SCHOOL UPDATES – STAFF

Valete Bursar’s role with Blue Coat able to continue to but also in pastoral issues. Our students aren’t
develop on a strong foundation. He has given a immune from the effects of living in the modern
great deal to us and can rightly look about the world, and all those issues that are affecting
School and feel proud of the impact he has made. young people in society in general (particularly
mental health problems) have been manifest
Mr Pete Thomas among our Sixth Formers too. George has had
to lead on these issues and has done so with
Victoria Fangen-Hall Duncan Selvester professionalism and tact. More than this, he has
had vision – particularly about how the School can
Victoria has been the perfect person to lay a really It is fitting that Duncan’s last trip in a School better accommodate and validate LGBTQIA+
strong base for the Foundation Office: very calm, minibus should have been returning students pupils. The existence of the Newton Society, and
with tremendous poise and presence. Victoria from CCF camp. Trips feature significantly our commitment to the Rainbow Flag Award, is
has managed to build up the Old Blue database throughout Duncan’s time at Blue Coat. Himself entirely down to him
and engage, or rekindle links, with thousands an accomplished rugby player, Duncan coached George leaves us now to take up his new role on
of Old Blues. The launch of the 1646 magazine, the 1st XV until 2007, running tours to South the senior leadership team of Edgbarrow School.
the Richard Aldworth Society, many more Old Africa, Italy, New Zealand and Australia, which We know he will be a huge success in this job,
Blues’ reunions (pre COVID, of course, but will, as we all know, have been highlights for the and he goes with our thanks and very best wishes.
then continuing engagement via video messages, students of their time here. Whilst hopefully great
letters, cards, online talks) and opportunities to fun for the staff, they are also enormously hard Mr Malcolm Stewart
engage with the School have all built a greater work to organise and run too.
sense of belonging for the wider community Celia Rule
that exists beyond our grounds and with literally Duncan was Assistant Boarding Housemaster
thousands of people who have a very strong here and then, as boarding finished in 2000, he The Learning Support Department of Reading
affinity with us. It is a work that requires very moved into a Head of Year role, predominantly Blue Coat wished a fond farewell to Celia Rule at
careful thought and plenty of energy, patience and assuming responsibility for the GCSE students Easter 2021. Celia was an able right-hand person
care. It doesn’t stop. and making sure they were as well prepared for to the Head of Department and effective support
their exams and their next steps as possible. to her students. Working initially on a peripatetic
All of us will have enjoyed and benefited from basis, Celia became a permanent Learning Support
Victoria’s company, time and kindness, and we Attempting to encapsulate 28 years of service into Teacher in the Department for just under ten
are very sad to be losing her to Bryanston School a few paragraphs means that much will inevitably years. Celia was known for her ability to deal with
in Dorset, where she will take on the running of be missed but, in summary, Duncan has been a whatever was brought to her and make a tangible
their Foundation. What she leaves behind is in fine servant of Blue Coat for nearly half of his life. That difference to the outcome for her students. She
health and poised to develop wonderfully for the is amazing and we are so thankful for what he has was always student focused, reassuring, kind, and
health of Blue Coat going forwards. given and wish him every happiness as he moves calm in unexpected circumstances. Celia worked
into a no doubt very active retirement with Mary incredibly diligently to support the running of
Mr Pete Thomas and the family. the Department and was valued for her highly
professional written/verbal communication and
Mr Pete Thomas manner. One of her professional interests lay in
handwriting, and Celia led the integration of the
Simon Jackson George Morton Department’s touch-typing program. On her
departure, Celia was looking forward to pursuing
Simon has been hugely important in ensuring George joined us eight years ago as a hard- a house renovation project with her husband
that Blue Coat’s growth in numbers has been working and innovative English teacher. Very before finding a part time role to support students
met with an exceptional improvement of our quickly, his talents became recognised and he was 1:1 with significant specific learning difficulty/
46-acre site. Keeping our site superb is not just appointed Director of Sixth Form, a job he took occupational therapy needs.
down to Simon – whilst he’s got a hard hat, he up in August 2015.
isn’t out with a hoe or tractor, nor does he carry Mrs Sarah Berry
a hammer or wrench - but he has a great eye for We have all witnessed how the Sixth Form has
the possible and much of how the School looks grown over the past six years: not just in number, Lynn Jones (née Douglas)
today is because of his vision.
There was a huge amount for Lynn to process
Since I have been here, I have lost count of the in a very short period; ever-changing legislation
number of remarks made by opposing team related to the pandemic swallowed time as
parents or those here on open days, who say they ‘exciting projects’ arose, mass-testing and track-
hadn’t realised what a beautiful school we have. and-trace being two of the most enjoyable.
Alongside Covid, there was everything else;
Simon’s work has meant that he leaves the health and safety around the site, organising
significant aspects of events such as the leavers’
festivities. To say that Lynn worked hard would

37

be to massively underplay the reality of the year Tim Liversage Helen O’Reilly
she had; she managed a huge workload and
numerous curveballs by putting in long hours. But Tim returned to Blue Coat for a second stint Helen was the third member of the O’Reilly
always, no matter what was on, Lynn made time at the School in September 2018 in his role family to pass through Reading Blue Coat when
for those who needed it. Kindness and a calm, of Boathouse Manager and Assistant Head of she joined the School as a Receptionist in 2016.
measured approach to decisions were hallmarks Rowing, and it was fantastic to have him back Her eldest daughter, Emma, had already moved
of her service and, I am sure, that ability to keep involved with the School and Boat Club. Tim had on to university by this point, but her youngest
calm under pressure will have been significant an outstandingly quick wit and brilliant sense of daughter Zara joined the Sixth Form just a month
attributes desired in those who appointed Lynn to humour and even during the darkest and wettest prior to Helen joining the Staff body.
her new role of Bursar at a school in Abu Dhabi, sessions in winter, Tim could deliver a line that
her long held ambition to work abroad realised! would have the coaching team in hysterics. Helen is a truly infectious character; her smile
lights a room and her laughter is enough to cheer
I know that Lynn will need all of her skills to Alongside his rowing commitments, Tim helped us all up, even on the gloomiest of days.
continue to flourish and am so grateful that she out in a number of areas in the School, primarily
had the opportunity to hone them at Blue Coat in in the Sports Department but also volunteering Helen ensured that standards were kept high and
a year of great need. to look after the children of key workers, making stayed there, both in terms of appearance and
PPE during the pandemic, and in his last year at attitude.
Mr Pete Thomas the school, becoming a middle school tutor.
While Helen moves on to pastures new at
It was a pleasure working with Tim and as he Leighton Park, the stories of her kindness,
moves on to become Head of Rowing at Emanuel warmth and sense of humour remain at Reading
School, I look forward to the chats on the river Blue Coat as the lasting legacy of the wonderful
bank and hearing the latest rowing gossip. O’Reilly family.

Mr Allan French Mrs Jane Jarrett

Judith Taylor David Robins Jennifer Parker-Dyer

There is very little to say about Judith, apart from David Robins started working at Blue Coat as the Jennifer joined the School in February 2019 as a
what a superb job she has done for so many Design Technology Technician in 2002, taking over part-time Receptionist, and immediately fit right
years within the Chemistry and wider Science from David Herbert. If you speak to anyone in the in as if she had been a member of the team for
Departments. School who has come across Dave, be it parent, years.
pupil or colleague, and the same adjectives and
As Senior Technician, Judith managed the science phrases are used; kind, helpful, knowledgeable, Being a mother of three teenage boys, Jennifer
support staff and prep rooms on a day-to- friendly, always has time, nice bloke, supportive, was utterly unflappable and dealt with the
day basis. The reality of the matter is that the and nothing is too much trouble. From a personal numerous challenges faced by our Receptionists
Chemistry Department has been utterly reliant point of view I owe him a great debt. I have with grace and decorum.
on her efficiency and good humour. We could learned so much from him in so many areas, that
not have wished for a more diligent, or indeed with his backing, I have certainly become a better Her quiet confidence came not from shyness, but
tolerant technician. Whatever the request (at teacher. I am proud to call him ‘friend’. from an almost unrivalled level of professionalism,
however short notice) Judith has been unfailingly which she took with her when she moved on to
attentive and not only accommodates but refines The School and the Design Technology work at the Stanlake Park Vineyard and wedding
the practical task or demonstration in ways not Department will be a poorer place without him, venue in Summer 2021.
anticipated by the teacher. Her organisation was and I know I speak for many hundreds of ex- and
second to none- the slightest tampering with the current pupils, parents and staff past and present, She will be greatly missed from the Reception
system was noted; Physics teachers hoping to when we wish him a long, fruitful and healthy team, but will undoubtedly make dreams come
help themselves to chemicals or equipment never retirement. true in her new role.
went unnoticed.
Mr Duncan Selvester Mrs Jane Jarrett
I have been utterly dependent on Judith in
Chemistry, and wider Science Departments and
would like to wish her all the best as she leaves
Blue Coat looking forward to a happy retirement.

Mr Michael Jerstice

38

Salvete

Josh Stone Emma Archbold Imogen Rhodes

Josh joined RBC in September 2020 after Emma joins the Biology Department from North Imogen joined Blue Coat in September 2020
completing his NQT year at a well-established Yorkshire. She moved to the South to attend as a Teacher of Physics. After studying a BA in
state school in Richmond, London. Before Oxford University before spending three years Physics at Jesus College Oxford, she stayed on
qualifying as a Teacher of Drama and English in at Rye St Antony in Oxford before. Outside of to complete a PGCE. Her previous position was
2019 at UCL’s Institute of Education, Josh studied School enjoys spending time with her husband at d’Overbroeck’s in Oxford where she taught
Drama and Theatre Studies at Royal Holloway, and their cat, Dora, as well as walking, drawing, in their Sixth Form and International School. She
University of London. During this time he was and singing. has enjoyed taking over the Lego Robotics Club
President of the Student Workshop – a Drama this year, and is looking forward to expanding it
student society – leading a group of nine other Angela Jolly back to its pre-Covid form. In her spare time, she
undergraduates to put together twelve shows enjoys singing with her local choir, playing board
throughout the year. Josh’s love of Drama and After starting out at Standard Life, Angela worked games and swimming.
theatre developed from a young age, attending for fifteen years at an IT services company before
a youth theatre group at The Watermill Theatre, starting at Blue Coat. In her spare time, Angela Lizzie Atherton
Newbury. He participated in copious productions enjoys going to the West End with her friends;
in primary and secondary school, gaining several she’s recently seen The Phantom of the Opera Lizzie started her career as a Chemstry teacher
awards for acting and directing, and, eventually, and Pretty Woman, with an upcoming trip to see in Hastings at the Ark Helenswood, and then Ark
he gained a place to work with the National Youth Wicked planned. Angela also has two not-so- Alexandra Academies. She studied Chemistry at St
Theatre in 2008 and working with a number of little children, who both attended Maiden Erlegh Hilda’s College, Oxford, completing her Masters
other young people and theatre professionals in School. project in chemical education. At university Lizzie
a production called S’Warm. Outside of school, was a competitive archer so she is also leading the
Josh is an avid theatre-goer, writer (predominantly archery activity sessions at Reading Blue Coat.
playwriting), and baker (he’s got more of a sweet-
tooth than a taste for savoury).

Emilie Ashley Liz Harvey Simon Sydenham

After studying Marine Geography at Cardiff, Brought up in Birmingham , Liz studied for an Art Simon joined the school in September 2020 to
Emilie moved to London to work for a shipping Foundation course in Bournville and went on to teach Physics. Simon lives in Windsor with his
firm before training to cook at Leith’s Cookery study Fine Art and History of Art at the University wife and three daughters. He has been enjoying
School. She trained to teach Geography at of Reading. She went on to teach in Oxfordshire rugby, football and cricket sessions. Outside of
RGS High Wycombe, then moved on to The before leaving the UK to teach in Egypt, Malaysia school, Simon is active in many outdoor activities
Beaconsfield School and eventually, Reading Blue and France for ten years. She and her family usually water based ranging from sailing to stand
Coat. Emilie is originally from Worcestershire returned to the UK in 2011 and she worked at up paddling and open water swimming.
and now lives just outside of Marlow with her The Abbey School for nine years before coming
husband and two young children. She enjoys to Blue Coat
walking in the countryside, cooking, running,
biking and painting.

39

Samantha Manning Fiona Pringle

Dr Manning studied Zoology at the University of Having run a family business for over 15 years, the
Manchester and an MSc in Conservation Science opportunity to join Reading Blue Coat in July 2020
at Imperial College London before completing came at the perfect time for Fiona. Following
her PhD. Sam split up her time in academia by lockdown, she wished to spend a short amount
working as a zoo keeper, conservation scientist of time working outside of the home, so she set
at Chester Zoo and in a range of conservation up an online Second-hand Uniform shop with
field programmes across the globe; carrying the assistance of the IT Department, the profits
out biodiversity surveys and camera-trapping of which go to the Aldworth Foundation to offer
in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, conducting bursarial support. While Fiona continued to run
amphibian surveys in Costa Rica, tracking the Shop, she also worked tirelessly to assist
leopards in South Africa and managing a field in the organising of the Summer Term events.
project studying Amur leopards and Siberian Having worked on the Lateral Flow Testing Team
tigers in the Russian Far East! over the Spring Term, Fiona enjoyed taking on the
various roles and found it the perfect way to get
to know everyone in the School community.

Andy Lambourne Moss Steven Williams

Andy joined the School as a Mathematics teacher Before joining Blue Coat as our Health and
in September from the Abbey School. She has Safety Officer, Steve took up a position at
enjoyed teaching boys again after six years in Pangbourne College as Domestic Bursar, which
a girls’ school. She has been teaching for 11 eventually led him into the murky waters of
years, having gained 10 years’ experience in the health and safety. As a person who enjoys
software industry, working for Microsoft and puzzles, Steve approaches the task at hand as
living in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, where though he were flicking though a copy of the
both her children were born. She has a degree in Puzzler!
Physics, but prefers to teach Maths. She currently
lives in Reading with her family. When she gets the
chance she likes to try and tame the wilderness
that is her very small garden.

40

SCHOOL UPDATES – CHARITIES

Garden Leave

Excuse the pun, but the idea for a School allotment was germinated lockdown. The winter was long and very cold, culminating in April snow over
by Mrs Mitchell, who oversees the Aldworth Partnership. The the Easter holidays. All gardeners and allotment owners can testify to the
School’s aim has always been to engage pupils in service to the incredibly hard growing season we’ve faced. Blight struck all the tomatoes
wider community, and as this year has seen more local families on our site, and the prolonged cold meant that lots of plants bolted as soon
relying on food banks because of the Covid-19 pandemic, she as the weather warmed up. With the six large beds, until we were able to
thought this would be a way for our students to help others less purchase vegetable cages, deer and rabbits happily dined on our vegetables,
fortunate. often decimating a bed overnight.

The allotment is now up and running and has truly been a However, this isn’t a story about hardships, but about overcoming them.
community project. The father of an Old Blue donated many We have donated around eight large vegetable boxes to charity, students
strawberry and raspberry plants. A member of the public, after have enjoyed picking vegetables and, strangely, once we bought a hose to
hearing about what we wanted to do with the allotment, sent a water the garden, students were lining up to water the beds, with just a little
donation to help us achieve our aim. The Old Blues gave a huge water being sprayed on the workers – accidentally of course! Having seen
boost to our project and donated enough money to buy vegetable one growing season through, I am now more aware of where to place next
cages and tools. Head of Activities, Mrs Theresa McConnalogue year’s vegetables so that they can benefit from the most shade or sunshine.
gave money to help buy compost, and the School’s Grounds and We are even about to start a competition for students to design a vegetable
Maintenance teams kindly built us a fabulous storage and growing bed that will not only give maximum yield but have companion plants and
shed in their own time, even digging a channel across the old Ha- pollinators for our insects.
Ha to give us easy access to water. It has been genuinely humbling
to have so many people help set up this project. Our next aim is to find a way to raise money to create an area near the
vegetable beds that has aromatic plants and a bench in the middle, so
The design of the beds is simple – six large square beds and four students and staff can sit and be re-energised by nature. Nature may throw
slender beds, from which we hope to create amazing flower us challenges with growing, but the benefits of what it can do to our mind and
displays that will supply the school with flowers and bees and souls must not be underestimated.
butterflies with pollen.
Ms Barbie Truman
This year has been a challenging year, and I’m not just talking about Teacher of English and Head of Film Studies

Woodland Wonderland

From the start of 2021, our Grounds team create a woodland management plan, of which a high proportion are beech and
have been out in force to make the most with the vision to enhance the landscape hornbeam, to preserve the historic nature
of our incredible site, and transform the and ecosystem’s qualities, as well as its of the woods.
woodlands into a space to be proud of. educational and recreational potential;
thereby improving the wood’s natural The School has also been able to set
Mr Matt Wharton, Head of the Grounds resilience to climate change, pest and aside costs for woodland development, in
Department here at Blue Coat, obtained a disease. order to continue the great work already
grant from Professor Ali Driver, Director achieved. Well done to the Grounds Team
of Re-wilding Britain and friend of the Further to this, the 2019 Forestry (Matt Wharton, Seb Janas, Harry Pearson,
School. The grant was awarded for habitat Commission approved the 10-year felling Alex Littleboy, Elliot Whitehouse and Jay
enhancements in Sonning, for which Blue licence for the RBCS woodland management Taylor), Mr Rob Cook and Capt Stuart
Coat received £16,500 for pond restoration plan. Having done so, the first phase of John for their incredibly hard work! Thank
and wild flower meadow creation at the felling and restocking within the woodlands you also to Thames Valley Tree Care for
nature reserve across the road from the has already taken place, with 0.66 hectares clearing the area of woodlands, which
School, and woodland thinning and planting having been cleared of invasive cherry took around a week, and to Jack and
in the woods at Holme Park. laurel. The team also selectively felled Giavanna, who specialise in climbing and
further trees to enhance light levels in the abseiled down steep areas of the bank to
Through the grant funding, Matt and the woodlands, providing better conditions for replant.
Grounds Team commissioned Chris Leyland, those recently planted trees. In total, over
the School’s arboriculture consultant, to 1,100 trees and shrubs have been replanted,

42

Old Blues Update

Despite the many restrictions enforced during exclusive content such as virtual tours of the School his expedition to Antarctica and an interview with
2020, the Foundation Office have managed to keep from the Headmaster (and Arthur the dog). Old Victoria Sauven (2010) on working in the world
a steady stream of communication and interaction Blues could also take advantage of the amazing of engineering. Along with the other fascinating
with the Old Blues alive and well. Our extensive online content put out by the School such as ‘An articles, interviews and updates from Old Blues, this
events programme had to be postponed however Evening of Drama’ and the wonderful Christmas culminated in a really fantastic publication which was
we did manage to hold an online event in the shape Carol Concert to name but a few. another great way for the School to stay connected
of the Richard Aldworth Soicety Lecture. Delivered with the Old Blues community.
by the Richard Aldworth Society President, Dr We have been delighted to see several Old
Michael Fopp (1964), this event was attended by Blues giving talks to students via Teams or Zoom At the end of the 2021 academic year, Victoria
those who left Blue Coat before 1979 and included including a wonderful talk from Grace Plant (2013) Fangen-Hall left the Foundation Office to peruse
Old Blues tuning in from Singapore and South to A-Level Drama students about a career in the pastures new at another school in Dorset. Sarah
Africa! Dr Fopp gave a fascinating speech on the Arts and studying theatre at University. We also Bunnell-Pyper, who had been working in the
importance of Remembrance and the Headmaster hosted several Old Blue speakers who spoke to Foundation Office for several years, has taken over
gave an update on the School. All in all, it was a our prospective Medical Students about careers in this role and is very much looking forward to wel-
really lovely event and indeed sparked those who Medicine and Old Blues contributed to our Careers coming Old Blues back to the School for the long
were attending to set up a group on Reading Blue page on the School website, talking about various awaited return of our events programme. Sarah is
Coat Connect as a way of sharing memories and career paths from advertising to working for the also extremely excited to launch the Foundation
photographs. United Nations! Thank you so much to all the Old Office’s fundraising campaign in 2022 and will be
Blues who have given talks to students over the in touch with Old Blues and the wider community
Reading Blue Coat Connect played a vital role in last year. about how they might get involved very soon!
the School staying connected with Old Blues during
a time at which it was very easy to feel isolated. The Foundation Office published the second edition Mrs Sarah Bunnell-Pyper
With nearly 1,000 members on the site, the of the Old Blues magazine, ‘1646’. This included Foundation Director
Foundation Office sent out regular updates including articles written by Jamie Facer-Childs (2005) about

43

Contributors:
Pete Thomas, Rob Tidbury, Gillian Finucane, Peter van Went, OJ Jackson-Rose,

Gerwyn Wilson, Allan French, Liz Harvey, Josh Stone, Devin Moller, Suzie
Donnan, Harry Dean, Jake Pawson, Richard Meehan, Lisa Bennett, Sidni Brener,
Matthew Watkins, Alex McLoughlin, Tanya van der Werff, Fergus Jones, Barbie

Truman, Sarah Bunnell-Pyper