their age groups! A wonderful afternoon concluded in a house social, where games of ice breakers and pizza feasts brought everyone together. Sporting success continued throughout the year, placing 2nd in House Netball in the Lent term, and 1st in Junior House Tennis recently! Unfortunately, due to some adverse weather, House Hockey was cancelled- something which we were all looking forward to. House Futsal was a raging success, as the Neal girls demonstrated their passion, teamwork and determination (particularly against Burgess!). We look forward to sports day on the final day of term, where the Neal girls can come together (some for the final time!) for the house. The Neal girls have attained a multitude of individual sporting achievements this year, and it has been amazing to hear of. The Shell footballers and netballers have had an incredibly successful year, winning numerous tournaments and showing great progress as a team. The Senior Swim Squad retained the Sussex Cup this year, involving Neal girls Iris McClelland and Phoebe Bruce. The 1st XI football and hockey squads have included many senior girls in Neal, and they were successful in reaching the quarter-finals of the ISFA cup and the Tier 2 National Cup respectively. Sporting achievements stretch further, as Eloise and Imogen Mode both received their black belt in Karate, demonstrating admirable commitment and dedication, Fi Grabham was selected to ride for Great Britain at Wellington International (this is the final selection trial for the Europeans) and Anna Edmonds won the Bronze medal position, in the Ball Cup at Eton Dorney, for the Women’s Junior pairs. Well done to all! Sporting achievements aside, this year has been a great success academic-wise, with many Neal girls achieving places on the Roll of Honour, for having an average effort grade of 4 and above, demonstrative of their hard work and engagement within their lessons. The Academic Competition this year was based on the theme ‘Sustainability’, with Polly Kapff winning the biology competition, Lizzie Hastings winning the history essay competition, and Maddie Heyburn placing runner-up in Psychology. Music has been a central feature of the Neal girls’ achievements this term. Music lessons and concert preparations have filled many schedules, and the beautiful concert at St Johns Smith’s Square saw a lot of participation from girls within house, with Lizzie Flood singing a solo. A sure highlight of the year. House song 2023 was a wonderful rendition of ‘It’s Not Unusual’, led by Maddie Heyburn. Placing 5th, we received many compliments on the vibrancy of our performance, and the commitment to the lower vocal range! It was a great success and wouldn’t have been so much fun if it wasn’t for the brilliant participation of the Neal girls. We look forward to seeing what they come up with next year! Cabaret was a huge success, and several Neal girls, including Matilda Segalini-Bower, performed beautiful pieces, driving many of the audience to tears. Mia Littlefair and Raquel Gonzalez-Kirby both participated in the House Slam Poetry Competition, showing great confidence and skill, performing moving poems in front of the whole school. Finally, the Lost in Motion Dance Show was an amazing display of the talent of many of the junior girls within house, and it was great to watch.
Fundraising is a fundamental aspect of life at Ardingly, and throughout the college there are so many different ways to get involved. Led by Charity Prefects Sophie Allsop and Annabelle Bower-Nye, Neal has really been involved in fundraising this year. We have supported the Women’s Gateway Centre as our House Charity for this year, and the Christmas Gift Bags and Easter Collection were very gratefully received. Some of our LVI are headed off on the Kenya Service Trip at the end of this term and have been working hard to fundraise. Sophie Allsop, Lizzie Hastings and Matilda SegaliniBower held a Quiz and Curry Night for parents, working extremely hard to organise each detail and rose a total of £1000! There have been numerous individual fundraising efforts in Neal this year: Ruby Brown held a cake sale for Nyakoe Safe House in Kenya, raising an impressive £142; Amber-Lily Webster supported Aidan’s Christmas Dinner Project, wrapping and delivering 90 hampers for families whose children are in hospital; Matilda Segalini-Bower organised a whole school hunger lunch for Planting Hope for Uganda. We are so impressed at these individual efforts as just a few examples of individual engagement, and we hope it is something that continues in the future. In support of mental health awareness, a beautiful ‘Hello Yellow’ display was created by Annie Bower-Nye and Sophie Allsop in the front porch, and Sorcha Dunphy, our mental health ambassador, gave an insightful mental health presentation in callover. This year has been full of wonderful memories, and all the girls within Neal have thoroughly enjoyed the social opportunities within Neal, finally free from Covid restrictions! Neal girls, parents and staff attended the Neal House Dinner, which was a huge success. The evening was full of wonderful food and fun integration, and concluded perfectly with individual performances. Those who performed entertained the audience with LAMDA pieces, touching poems and the Neal band even performed! Special mention to Emmy Bax, Keira Beasley, Imogen Large, Raquel Gonzalez-Kirby and Imogen Mode for such lovely entertainment. House dinner was not the only opportunity to socialise, as the House Easter Egg Hunt and Maddie Heyburn’s ‘wakeup-and-shake-up’ are just two examples of all the fun we have had within Neal! We have all enjoyed Crunchie Fridays, in which Prefects award the ‘House Points’, ‘House Spirit’, ‘Kindness’ and ‘Lioness’ awards to one girl within house each week. It is a lovely way to end the week as a collective, and as LVI, we hope it is a tradition that will continue. The engagement and participation of the girls this term has been inspiring, and we are so proud of all of their efforts and achievements. Although this year has been busy, and as always, packed with potential pressures and expectations, the resilience and determination of the Neal girls has endured, and we hope they have enjoyed the year as much as it seems! We hope that summer brings some well-deserved rest and relaxation, and we look forward to welcoming the girls back next year, both new and old! Have a wonderful summer holidays, and see you in September! LIZZIE HASTINGS LVI & POLLY KAPFF LVI Within Neal, there has been a myriad of both individual achievements and team successes, making us all proud to be involved in such a determined house, as celebrated in Friday Celebration Callover! held a cake sale for Nyakoe Safe House in Kenya, raising an impressive £142; Amber-Lily Webster supported Aidan’s Christmas Dinner Project, wrapping and delivering 90 hampers for families whose children are in hospital; Matilda Segalini-Bower organised a whole school hunger lunch for Planting Hope for Uganda. We are so impressed at these individual efforts as just a few examples of individual engagement, and we hope it is something that continues in the future. In support of mental health awareness, a beautiful ‘Hello Yellow’ display was created by Annie Bower-Nye and Sophie Allsop in the front porch, and Sorcha Dunphy, our mental health ambassador, gave an insightful mental health presentation in callover. This year has been full of wonderful memories, and all the girls within Neal have thoroughly enjoyed the social opportunities within Neal, finally free from Covid restrictions! Neal girls, parents and staff attended the Neal House Dinner, which was a huge success. The evening was full of wonderful food and fun integration, Within Neal, there has been a myriad of both individual achievements and team successes, making us all proud to be involved in such a determined house, as celebrated in Friday Celebration Callover!
his was the inaugural year for Pearson; hence it has been momentous and historic. The location was transformed from the old Woodlands classrooms over the summer holidays and Pearson now resides in swanky new premises. The House is composed of four separate year group common rooms with lots of comfortable seating, tables, lockers, and a central activity to do such as chess, pool or table tennis, for which we have regular internal competitions for. There are numerous separate work rooms and table areas, and the two changing rooms are pristine with immaculate new lockers, toilets and power showers. However, the most striking feature of Pearson is the top floor panoramic views over much of the main entrance campus; it is simply a wonderful location to have as a base. One of the key things that Mr Hart wanted to establish for the new House was a sense of identity and ethos. We have a much-admired burgundy colour and the boys love wearing their House shirts, which we feel generally ‘look pretty cool’. His initial idea of a new House motto was the three Ps of personality, politeness, and perseverance. However, when translated into Latin, this was rather long and unwieldy so, after a bit of help and refining from the Classics department, our ‘MCC’ motto was established. This stands for Pearson T Mores (character), Comitas (friendship) and Constantia (perseverance) and is suitably apt for a cricket loving fan like Mr Hart. We are reminded to aspire and adhere to these values on a regular basis and, not least, at least one of these traits will be a feature of one of our weekly Pearson Person of the Week awards. We also have a penguin mascot called Pingu who features in many of our photos and watches most of our events whilst wearing his knitted burgundy tank top and baby hat. For a relatively small House, without an Upper
102 | 103 Sixth yet to boost numbers in the bigger events, Pearson has competed very well in the House competitions. In the Steepo, Archie Mills won the Junior event and Archie Guppy came third in the Seniors. We sang ‘Great Balls of Fire’ with gusto, if not panache, for our first ever House Song, in which Henry Land was immense as the pianist and then a very brave solo singer of ‘Someone You Loved’ for the Ensemble. We felt ‘rather miffed’ at not winning either the Juniors, Seniors or overall Sports Day as we featured We have a much-admired burgundy colour and the boys love wearing their House shirts, which we feel generally ‘look pretty cool’. multiple track winners in Aku Winstanley (2 wins), Reece Taylor (2), Archie Guppy (2) and Henry Andrews, Sam Land and Flyn McLelland (1 win each). We also won 3 out of 4 Tug of Wars and came second in both 4 x 100m relays. Perhaps our Field events need working on in future years though. We won the Junior House Futsal (indoor Football) and we were generally competitive in the Football, Hockey (led by the superb, and mostly injured, Kent Sheard), Badminton and Tennis. Naturally, with greater strength and depth next year, we will look to do well in more events. In the Arts, Henry Land has been an ever present in The Schola choir and Mobi Floyd won the Young Musician of the Year with his amazing Oboe playing. Antonio Guzman has featured heavily in many concerts and Nick Carter was an excellent Mr Wormwood in the Junior musical, Matilda. However, probably our most decorated Arts performer is Teddy Foster, who is a supreme dancer and he featured in about half of the acts in the ‘Lost in Motion’ Dance Show, notably with his ‘Spiderman’ performance. He has also reached the last 50 in the prestigious national ‘Young Dancer of the Year’ competition, and he clearly has an exciting future ahead of him. Otherwise, in Martial Arts, Nathaniel Utting deserves a mention for his summer representation for Great Britian in a Karate category in Japan this summer. He is a mild-mannered gentleman but not one to underestimate as he is a very advanced blackbelt! We wish him luck. Two other things to mention which took place this year are The House Dinner and charity. In the former, it was great to get the whole House together, with parents, for the first time ever and celebrate Pearson. One, hopefully annual, entertainment feature of the evening was the House Staff Christmas songs Medley, with Mr Smith directing things with his piano playing and singing. In February, we did a collection for the Haywards Heath Foodbank, a very worthy cause, and supporting charity in general will be a key area which will focus on in future years. Finally, and I speak on behalf of all Pearsonians, I would like to thank all the House staff for their time, support, and patience over the last year. Mr Hart and Mrs Kelly are a great team as the main House leaders and we all ‘love’ and appreciate Charlene, our Day House Supervisor who often sorts us out with food, kit, general organisation, and under-stated support daily. Finally, I thank all our other House tutors as well for all their tireless work and guidance. It has been an exhausting first year in Pearson, but a fun and rewarding one and I am sure the House will go from strength to strength in the future. ADAM HATT LVI 102 | 103 We have a much-admired burgundy colour and the boys love wearing their House shirts, which we feel generally ‘look pretty cool’. multiple track winners in Aku Winstanley (2 wins), Reece Taylor (2), Archie Guppy (2) and Henry Andrews, Sam Land and Flyn McLelland (1 win each). We also won 3 out of 4 Tug of Wars and came second in both 4 x 100m relays. Perhaps our Field events need working on in future years though. We won the Junior House Futsal (indoor Football) and we were generally competitive in the Football, Hockey (led by the superb, and mostly injured, Kent Sheard), Badminton and Tennis. Naturally, with greater strength and depth next year, we will look to do well in more events. In the Arts, Henry Land has been an ever present in The Schola choir and Mobi Floyd won the Young Musician of the Year with his amazing Oboe playing. Antonio Guzman has featured heavily in many concerts and Nick Carter was an excellent Mr Wormwood We have a much-admired burgundy colour and the boys love wearing their House shirts, which we feel generally ‘look pretty cool’. in the Junior musical, Matilda. However, probably our most decorated Arts performer is Teddy Foster, who is a supreme dancer and he featured in about half of the acts in the ‘Lost in Motion’ Dance Show, notably with his ‘Spiderman’ performance. He has also reached the last 50 in the prestigious national ‘Young Dancer of the Year’ competition, and he clearly has an exciting future ahead of him. Otherwise, in Martial Arts, Nathaniel Utting deserves a mention for his summer representation for Great Britian in a Karate category in Japan this summer. He is a mild-mannered gentleman but not one to underestimate as he is a very advanced blackbelt! We wish him luck. in the Junior musical, Matilda. However, probably our most decorated Arts performer is Teddy Foster, who is a supreme dancer and he featured in about half of the acts in the ‘Lost in Motion’ D his ‘Spiderman’ performance last 50 in the pre the Year’ competition, and he clearly has an excitin future ahead of him Nathaniel Uttin representation for Great Britian in a Karate cate Japan this summer. He is a mild-mannered gentleman but not one to undere blackbelt! We wish him luck.
Rhodes A new year in Rhodes arrived with much change for the house, bringing in a new Housemaster, Mr Green, and assistant Housemaster, Mr Robertshaw, along with a new cohort of Shell pupils. It has been wonderful to witness the traditions and cultures adapting, but once again Rhodes has thrived. Rhodes has always been a house where every pupil is welcomed like family, and this year was no different. Michaelmas started strongly, with the introduction once again of the House pool tournament. Every pupil was entered with an entry fee going towards charity, helping raise significant funds. Games proved to be popular, with many students seen watching the marquee games of the day at break and lunch around the pool table in the common room. Mr Green stamped his mark as the new HoMM with a win from his first entry into the competition. Just before the October half term came one of the most anticipated events of the year: Steepo. Once again Rhodes performed impeccably, especially in the seniors, winning the Senior Cup and Senior Endeavour, with four senior boys finishing in the top 10 of the race. Finally, with the icy weather cancelling house football at the end of term, Rhodes still hold our title from last year! The Lent Term brought about the start of House Song and House Ensemble, in which ‘Be My Baby,’ by the Ronettes was chosen to be our song of choice. With a strong collective atmosphere in Rhodes this year, rehearsals got under way and every member of the house seemed committed to getting a win for Rhodes. Many thanks should go to Monty Brown, who led all the practices as our music prefect and ensured each year group played their part in an energetic and outstanding Rhodes performance. Come the big day, Rhodes were raring to go and the brilliant sound created on stage
104 | 105 was good enough for a fourth-place finish in the judge’s eyes, our best finish of my four years in house. House Song always brings the best out of the house and once again it was brilliant to see how well the different years came together as one to ensure the performance was the best showcase of Rhodes’ talent. The House Ensemble, led by Monty Brown on vocals, sang, ‘Just the Two of Us,’ and was certainly a crowd pleaser; the band of George Lawrence, Matt Miller and Sterling Brown, with Sam El-Turki on backing vocals, deserve a special commendation for it. The Lent Term culminated in House hockey, with Rhodes once again looking to retain the title won last year. The whole house was buzzing to get out there, and despite the weather there were strong performances all round. With a comfortable victory for the juniors, all that was needed was a win against Crosse in the final game of the seniors to secure victory. A 1―0 win meant that Rhodes, yet again, held this great sporting trophy and that, come the end of Lent term, Rhodes were the holders of the majority of the major trophies: House Football, House Hockey and House Athletics – sporting excellence exemplified. Over the course of the year, Rhodes has taken charity work greatly within our stride, supporting the Langalanga Trust, helping a few of the L6th raise the charity funds needed for their service trips to Kenya in July. Outside of the pool tournament, we also had a sweepstake for the football World Cup at the end of the Michaelmas Term. Games were shown on the downstairs TV during breaktimes and lunchtimes, so the sweepstake provided an extra incentive to watch the tournament and helped bring more of the house together to socialise. During the Trinity Term, as part of the charity fair, we set up a stall where teachers and students could be sponged. Our very own Ed Casement agreed to be sponged, which went down well with the crowds and resulted in a large sum being raised for charity at his expense – thank you Ed! In the Trinity Term, the house atmosphere shifted, yet again. This was due to public exams returning. It was amazing to see all the boys in the house supporting each other through this stressful time and the Fifth Form embracing the challenges of their exams. They have worked hard and should be proud of their efforts. To conclude, on behalf of all of Rhodes House we would like to thank all the House Staff, Tutors and Mr Palmer our matron, who have helped with all aspects of school life this year. Particular gratitude goes to Dr Porter, who will be leaving us at the end of this term. He has always been a friendly face around house, who will be greatly missed by his tutees, staff members and Rhodesians alike. We thank him for everything he has done to help Rhodes over the years and wish him all the best in the future. Lastly, our biggest thank you goes to Mrs Eustace, who is also leaving Rhodes at the end of this year. Mrs Eustace reprised the role of Assistant HoMM after Mr Robertshaw left in February. Thank you so much, Mrs Eustace, for the countless hours of dedication and commitment you have put into the house. Everyone that has been taught or tutored by you will agree your kindness and enthusiasm in Rhodes goes a long way to contribute to the atmosphere in house and you will be greatly missed. Everyone at Rhodes wishes you the greatest success in the future. RORY DALGLIESH LVI It has been wonderful to witness the traditions and cultures adapting, but once again Rhodes has thrived. Rhodes has always been a house where every pupil is welcomed like family, and this year was no different. 104 | 105 commendation for it. The Lent Term culminated in House hockey, with Rhodes once again looking to retain the title won last year. The whole house was buzzing to get out there, and despite the weather there were strong performances all round. With a comfortable victory for the juniors, all that was needed was a win against Crosse in the final game of the seniors to secure victory. A 1―0 win meant that Rhodes, yet again, held this great sporting trophy and that, come the end of Lent term, Rhodes were the holders of the majority of the major trophies: House Football, House Hockey and House Athletics – sporting excellence exemplified. Over the course of the year, Rhodes has taken charity work greatly within our stride, supporting the Langalanga Trust, helping a few of the L6th raise the charity funds needed for their service trips to Kenya in July. Outside of the pool tournament, we also had a sweepstake for the football World Cup at the end of the Michaelmas Term. Games were shown on the downstairs TV during breaktimes and lunchtimes, so the sweepstake provided an extra incentive to watch the tournament and helped bring more of the house together It has been wonderful to witness the traditions and cultures adapting, but once again Rhodes has thrived. Rhodes has always been a house where every pupil is welcomed like family, and this year was no different. to socialise. During the Trinity Term, as part of the charity fair, we set up a stall where teachers and students could be sponged. Our very own Ed Casement agreed to be sponged, which went down well with the crowds and resulted in a large sum being raised for charity at his expense – thank you Ed! In the Trinity Term, the house atmosphere shifted, yet again. This was due to public exams returning. It was amazing to see all the boys in the house supporting each other through this stressful time and the Fifth Form
Toynbee his 2022-2023 year was a year full of emotion and success for Toynbee House. After a long and relaxing summer, it was wonderful to return and see our returning Toyn-bees as well as welcoming many new faces. The year started with lots of social activities, such as the Safari dinner around the different boarding houses to welcome the new Ardinians with open arms and make them feel at home. The newly appointed prefect team, Greta Alfes, Elise Andriot, Saskia Bignell, Sandra Salcines Saez, Amelia Ward and Farah Wheeldon got to step into their role. Additionally, Elise was voted Head of House and Sandra the Deputy Head of House. The first half term was hectic with all the girls getting to know new teachers and their new subjects and classmates. However, Michaelmas half term came around quickly and was celebrated by our first House competition: Steepo. The Seniors proudly won it with our house motto in our minds and hearts: “una Industria, dulcis victoria!” In the second half of the Michaelmas Term, we got to welcome all the Toynbee students, from Shell to Upper Sixth, and their parents for our first House Dinner in three years. That Saturday, all of Toynbee came together to decorate and prepare the dining hall to receive everyone. It was a beautiful dinner which ended T in some questionable karaoke from the girls and their parents! The following Friday, Toynbee took over ‘Glow Wild’ at Wakehurst Place for our House trip. The girls got to spend time with their tutors outside classrooms and meet their families, all whilst enjoying the Christmas lights and a hot crepe. Lent term began with House Song rehearsals, led by Lolly Dogger, in preparation for the interhouse singing competition! The genre was “1955 to 1965
Rock ‘n’ Roll” and after weeks of rehearsals, we rocked ‘Respect’ by Otis Reading (famously covered by Aretha Franklin) in front of the entire College, whilst our House ensemble amazed the audience with ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac. We placed fifth out of eleven and even though we did not win, it was an opportunity for the whole house to come together and form a wonderful bond. Before Easter, Toynbee got into the final of the Interhouse debating competition, where Sandra, Katya and amazingly with combined results making us victorious! As for House Swimming, whilst our team was not made up solely of Swim Squad members, we took home the honourable mention of ‘best house spirit’ for having so many of our team just take part and give it a go. Within the course of the year, our dancers, Catie, Leila, Leticia, Anna, Alexine and Bridget worked hard during the second year of the “Lost in Motion” dance show. The spotlight also fell upon Catie, Trinity and Alessia for the much-loved production of “Matilda”. Additionally, Bridget and Farah worked tirelessly on the “9 to 5” production, which was a huge success with tickets being sold out within hours of release, and Farah Amelia had to argue against the motion ‘Will technological improvements solve the world’s environmental problems?’ After a long and intense debate against Woodard Boys, the girls unfortunately lost but our second speaker, Katya, received the Best Speaker Award. We were so proud of the girls, as they fought valiantly against an incredibly experienced debate team. Towards the end of Lent, we also set up a “Bubble Tea Stand” to raise money for our House charity, Chailey Heritage School. The Toyn-bees took shifts at lunch and after school to prepare and sell the bubble tea and raised just over £400. Two of our final house sporting events were House Badminton and House Swimming. We were proud to take the trophy home for House Badminton – both Juniors and Seniors played This 2022-2023 year was a year full of emotion and success for Toynbee House. After a long and relaxing summer, it was wonderful to return and see our returning Toyn-bees as well as welcoming many new faces. did not stop in the Trinity Term as she performed in the very recent “Dracula”. Additionally, it has been great to see some Toynbee musicians having taken to the stage during several music concerts this year, including St. John Smith Square, Cabaret and the recent ABC concert, all of which left the audiences in awe. We are all looking forward to House Day during the last day of Trinity Term, which is sure to be a nice opportunity to relax and socialise after a long and extensive exam period across many of the years. We must not forget to mention the many successes outside of House that many of the Toynbee students have received throughout the year: Pelican Awards, Stars of the Week, Toynbee Trophy (a College-wide award, not in-House), many House Points and even short stories being published. All of this is testament to not only the hard work, but also the caring and compassionate nature of many in our House. The Lower Sixth girls moving onto Woodard Girls and Godwin Hall next year will very much miss the ‘family feel’ Toynbee has to it. We are already looking forward to coming back next year to support. HOUSE PREFECTS 106 | 107 Rock ‘n’ Roll” and after weeks of rehearsals, we rocked ‘Respect’ by Otis Reading (famously covered by Aretha Franklin) in front of the entire College, whilst our House ensemble amazed the audience with ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac. We placed fifth out of eleven and even though we did not win, it was an opportunity for the whole house to come together and form a wonderful bond. Before Easter, Toynbee got into the final of the Interhouse debating competition, where Sandra, Katya and
Ourselves
Prefects Adya Agarwal Ben Chalmers Cher Chu Sofia Clamp Ethan Cowdrey Tea Ellis Nancy Foster Oliver Francis Isabella Grundmann Sofia Harrison Ed Hodder Rebecca Horton Henry Nott Bertie Nuttall Mario Ornaghi Jasmine Phibbs Eliot Robinson Ginny Saraconi Ben Shirley Emily Thomas Heads of House Prefects Aberdeen Philippa Wieandt Burgess Alice Stevenson Agatha Van Lennep Crosse Sebastian Ring Jack Stephens Hilton Felix Banke-Wallis Ali Hayter Moritz Fassin Mertens Eddie Hyatt Ollie Batten George Schooley Neal Lizzie Hastings Polly Kapff Pearson Adam Hatt Rhodes Rory Dalgliesh Ed Casement Kai Shaw Toynbee Elise Andriot Sandra Salcines Saez Woodard Boys Ben Shirley Oliver Frances Woodard Girls Jasmine Phibbs Ginny Saraconi Heads of School Tiffany Bascle Catriona Baxter Dan Childs Oliver O’Regan Advocacy Tiffany Bascle Isabella Grundmann Rebecca Horton Bertie Nuttall Charity Adya Agarwal Catriona Baxter Ethan Cowdrey Ed Hodder Pelican Cher Chu Sofia Clamp Oliver O’Regan Jasmine Phibbs Eliot Robinson Lower School Integration Oliver Francis Sofia Harrison Emily Thomas Middle School Integration Ben Chalmers Nancy Foster Mario Ornaghi Ben Shirley Sixth Form Integration Dan Childs Tea Ellis Henry Nott Ginny Saraconi < Fin Armstrong Fifth << Joseph Amenta LVI
ARCHIVE Pioneers in Co-Education: Ardingly’s First Girls Michaelmas Term 1972 began on Friday 15 September. For the first time in the College’s history, the letters DG were written next to three of the names in the school lists. With the arrival of Charlotte Banbury, Frances Cranfield and Sue Hamilton, Ardingly’s journey to full coeducation began. As we reach 50 years since these first steps were taken, we want to tell the story of these First Girls and reflect on their legacy today. Archivist, Laura Burchell, and Archive & School History Consultant, Andrea King, have combed the College Archive for revealing records: the papers of the College Council, the Annals, the photographs that capture change. And, of course, we listened to the First Girls themselves. Over several months, Alumni Officer, Josepha Bertolini, and Development Director, Elinor Wood, have spoken with as many of these trailblazers as possible. Their voices are at the heart of this story, as we hear what it was like to join a boys’ boarding school. So, what led to the decision to admit girls in 1972? We need to go back some years to find the answer. At a Council meeting “to discuss future policy” held in April 1967, the Chair, The Venerable Guy Mayfield, notes the “growing importance of co-education as part and parcel of the comprehensive system.” In June, the Report to the Council from the Headmaster, Christopher Bulteel, relates his visit to the Public School Commission the previous month: “It seems that co-education is in everyone’s minds at present, and the Commission would like to recommend its spread. I was able to state with some confidence that, short of a complete re-adaptation of the premises, any thought of co-education at Ardingly was ruled out.” There is little further evidence of discussion until June 1969: “Council agreed to the proposal that the Headmaster should commission a working party, in the first instance from within the school staff, to study the problem of Day Boys for the Senior School. It was also agreed that they should include within their terms of reference the possibility of Day Girls.” The suggestion of admitting day pupils at all – boys or girls – was contentious. The issue cut to the heart of Ardingly’s character, challenging its identity as a boarding school. In June 1970, “The Headmaster’s memorandum on day pupils brought lively discussion.” Although, interestingly, Bulteel writes, “There is a division of opinion on the wisdom of accepting day boys; but, rather surprisingly, a strong lobby in favour of admitting day girls!” Junior School held “The Great Debate” to discuss “the weighty matter of co-education” at the College. Miss Krailing and Ian Hislop (JS & Mertens 1968-77) argued in favour: “it undoubtedly would save many problems if our eyes were opened to the female of the 110 | 111
species at a much earlier age.” Mr Hayes and Neil Gaiman (JS 1970-74) spoke in opposition: “many of us were accustomed to the trials and tribulations that arise when living under the same roof as females from experiences with sisters during the holidays and regarded life at school without them as a very positive advantage!” Mr Hayes and Neil Gaiman were “not quite able to convince enough of us that the gates of Ardingly should remain closed to young ladies” and Miss Krailing and Ian Hislop won the day, with 46 votes to 36. The closure of a local girls’ school – the Priory School – spelt opportunity for Ardingly; Bulteel reports that “a number of parents would be looking for places for their daughters.” As this girls’ school “had given parents one year and one term’s notice,” Bulteel suggests to Council in June 1971 that “September, 1972, could, therefore, be an appropriate date for the introduction of 6th Form day girls at Ardingly.” By February 1972, however, no applications had been received. “The difficulty is to let it be known in the neighbourhood that we hope to open our doors to the fair sex.” Bulteel hopes an article in the Mid Sussex Times will “do the trick.” “Headmaster of Ardingly, Mr Christopher Bulteel, likes the idea (of admitting girls) and is keen to make a success of it, though they ‘will only be doing it in a small way’ when the scheme begins in September.” The journalist asks what the boys think of the idea: “According to Mr Bulteel, they like it – the prettier girls the better, was the comment.” In May, Bulteel confirms to Council, “I have made arrangements to admit three day girls into the sixth form in September,” and adds, “I do not imagine that our lives will change very much.” The arrangements made were limited; but life at Ardingly would certainly change. So, what led these First Girls to Ardingly? For Sue Hamilton (Mertens 1972-73) it was the opportunity to study archaeology. Nigel Argent picks up this theme in his history of the school: a girl at Ardingly “could be taught subjects that her previous school could not offer. Business studies, archaeology and some languages were examples of this, but it was also better for a girl to be taught in a larger form than be one of two or three taking A level physics, for instance.” For others, Ardingly offered an escape from girls’ boarding schools. Caroline Ballantyne née Gaunt (Lewington 1973-75) cites this motivation. Her father, Gavin Gaunt (JH & F 1938-45) heard Ardingly was taking girls and her mother knew the Jacomb-Hood family. Anna Udagawa née Jacomb-Hood (Rhodes 1973-74) had joined the school in April 1973 and was enjoying herself. Alison Sutton (Lea 1975-77) describes a similar combination: she was thoroughly fed up with life at her girls’ boarding school and had a word-of-mouth recommendation from the Foster family. Victoria Down née Foster (Lea 1975-77) muses that her parents wanted to avoid any rebellion by their daughters – Sara joined Ardingly two years before Victoria, and Katherine came two years after – against their girls’ school by “putting us in a mixed school.” Although the closure of the Priory School did not result in the admissions rush Bulteel anticipated, another school closure – St Agnes & St Michael – did bring girls to Ardingly. Bulteel was a Governor at this East Grinstead convent school and well positioned to encourage the girls to Ardingly. Liz Pocock née Gray (Lewington 1976-78) was one of these girls, along with five girls that entered Fifth Form in September 1976. Writing in June 1973, Bulteel states: “We have never disguised to parents, or to girls, that they are guinea-pigs. We have not gone out of our way to make life easier for them: we have built nothing for them, made them no concessions, given them nothing for themselves alone, except a room upstairs in the Sanatorium which they have not used.” As well as no special treatment, it seems that no particular plan was made for them at all. Looking back, Sue reflects, “I don’t think they knew what to do with us.” Even at the end of the decade, Fiona Tyson née D’Eath (Mertens 1978-80) senses “they hadn’t really got a clue… they hadn’t got their heads round us.” This did bring a degree of freedom, particularly when compared to the strict regimes of girls’ boarding schools. Fiona Davies née Baird-Murray (Mertens 1973- 76) comments: “The biggest difference I noticed was the freedom… because they were so unprepared, we weren’t ever coerced into anything.” Anna agrees: “in those early days we weren’t restricted, we were freer to come and go.” This freedom extended to the dress code: “I [Anna] think I was free to wear whatever I wanted.” In the whole school and house photographs, the girls stand out amongst the lines of jackets. The lack of uniform was not necessarily a benefit; as Victoria recalls, it “made you very conscious about what you wore.” “We got up to all sorts of high jinks because no one had given us any thought!” laughs Fiona Davies. Jane Bull née Liddell (Gibbs 1975-77) agrees: “looking back, we got away with blue murder… they didn’t have the system in place to check up on us or the facilities.” These First Girls share tales of mischief and japes,
including a memorable effort to apple-pie the beds in each of the eight dorms. “We blew it for everyone with those pranks,” muses Fiona, “I don’t think anyone had twigged we were really there until then!” The question of discipline had to be addressed. The traditional punishment – being put on wingers – was deemed unsuitable for the girls. Jane remembers being sent to clean a prefect’s study instead; but it “happened to be a friend of mine so it was good fun.” Liz and others reminisce about being sent to clean windows in the cloisters. These First Girls were allocated to the existing boys’ houses – one or two girls with 40 boys. After lunch, they had to join the boys up in the dormitories for “rest” to hear the notes from the Housemaster. Jane vividly remembers doing this for the first time, “walking the gauntlet of 45 beds to get to the Sixth Form end.” This was also the time you could see your Housemaster, “but I had to go through the bathrooms to get to Mr Harris – even if the bathrooms were in use!” Fiona Tyson remembers perching on the ends of beds and “reading Winnie the Pooh” to the younger boys. According to John Ballantyne (Lewington 1970-75), the dorms changed when the girls arrived; deodorant was purchased, mirrors appeared and the boys tried to be “less scruffy and oikish.” Quoted in a 1976 Mid Sussex Times article on the progress of co-education at Ardingly, Tim Maish (JS & Mertens 1969-76) agreed: “I think their presence here helps with regard to general tidiness, language, and the kind of pictures we put on the walls.” The girls were also integrated into the study structure, joining the House Prefects. Malcolm Evans (Mertens 1969-73) clearly remembers Sue’s arrival. She brought Leonard Cohen into the study – “I had no idea where Leonard ended and Sue started” – along with Jean-Paul Satre, sophisticated teas and “feminine touches that were completely unknown in any of the prefects’ studies before that point.” He recalls she “muddled in with the rest of us really well – the cakes (she baked us) probably helped!” Anna’s baking was also popular and she remembers being “really happy” in her study with the Rhodes Prefects. “Mr Cannings really welcomed me and I was lucky with the boys in my study.” Nigel Kennedy (JS & Rhodes 1969-74) recalls the prospect of a girl joining the study as “terribly interesting, very exciting, slightly dauting” and says Anna fitted in at once: “she was easy going and very tolerant.” Jane also has fond memories of this study culture, drinking tea and eating toast; there was nothing similar at her girls’ school. By October 1973, with eight girls in the school, Bulteel reports to Council: “The girls are pioneers, taking everything as it comes, preparing the ground for later generations.” An insert to the prospectus the 112 | 113
following year declares: “The experiment has proved much more successful than we expected, and the girls have settled in most happily.” However, the same insert pulls no punches when stating the limitations of the scheme: “Ardingly is, and will always remain, a boys’ boarding school… The school simply cannot absorb more than 16 day girls without prejudice to the life and amenity of the boarding boys.” Caroline Ballantyne reflects that the girls “knew we were an experiment – what an unfortunate expression – and felt a certain pressure to get it right, so that the experiment wouldn’t end with us.” Alison felt this same pressure: “there were so few of us, I felt this need to be on my best behaviour at all times, it was actually quite a strain.” When the girls were so few, they could never be under the radar. “We were a tiny minority, oddities,” recalls Fiona Howard née Holland (Warren 1980-82). Caroline chuckles as she describes boys knocking on the door of the study – “for spurious reasons” – just to get a look; “is there really a girl in there?!” Caroline Parkinson née Friend (Rhodes 1976-79), one of the girls in Fifth, remembers boys passing by their study and peering in through the windows: “it was like being in a zoo.” Victoria comments that “some girls did find it tough.” Fiona Howard agrees: “We were teased and bullied.” Liz remembers boys being highly critical, making snide remarks about clothes and appearance. Caroline Parkinson agrees: “the boys were just so critical of the looks of the girls, comparing us to the pin ups they had on their walls.” Jane remembers that boys would write comments about the girls on desks; “if you were very sensitive, it was not so easy.” The ladies loo became a place of sanctuary. Alison explains, “it was a space for the girls and only the girls.” Liz felt the same: “it was the only place we could go where there weren't boys.” Caroline Parkinson describes it as “a real harbour, we did hide in there at times.” Jane remembers escaping there to smoke – “no one would check on you in there” – and it’s a memory shared by Liz. But many of the girls also remember the politeness of the boys. “They were actually really nice. I (Fiona Davies) think they were pretty polite on the whole.” Fiona Tyson agrees: “everybody treated us so nicely... some were so shy they didn't want to talk to us... I don’t know what they said behind our backs of course!” The 1976 Mid Sussex Times article reports: “Boys were usually very polite and opened doors for them.” For the first time, the boys of Ardingly had the opportunity to mix with girls. The article comments: “Romance, at a reasonable level, has been observed by the staff, is treated as natural and is not discouraged.” It continues: “Boys felt the girls’ presence at the school had livened up the atmosphere and made it more natural, but had given rise to a certain amount of jealousy.” Caroline Ballantyne remembers “sneaking off for walks” and “furtive hand holding.” When she married John Ballantyne in 1979, they became the first OAs to marry, followed in 1987 by Jane and Chris Bull. Both marriages started as friendships formed in Ardingly studies. And what about life in the classroom? Anna remembers the teachers being “generally very welcoming.” Victora agrees: the teachers were “really very good.” Although some were old fashioned, “it didn’t bother us too much.” Others single out the younger teachers as being more comfortable with the arrival of girls. Many describe how different the teaching was from their previous schools: more interesting and challenging, encouraging enquiry and two-way intellectual discussion. According to Sue’s letter in the Annals of 1973, “The boys, mostly, appear to be more intellectual and informed than girls in schools I have attended in the past (they actually attempt the Times crossword puzzle), but they are not as hard-working.” Jane comments, “The boys were so much more laid back in comparison… They would write essays watching cricket and didn’t get hysterical about revision.” The girls changed the classes they joined. “I would like to think that we gave different perspectives to the work we were doing,” reflects Anna. Of her Latin lessons, Sue recalls, “it wasn’t predictable how I would answer a question.” Malcolm Evans remembers Sue’s “dedication to her subject which took all of us forward.” It was “always an interesting class with Sue in it.” With so few girls in the school, team games were impossible. Anna remembers playing table tennis and learning to play squash. Caroline Ballantyne found mixed hockey – with only one girl – not much fun but enjoyed tennis and sailing in the summer. She and others also have happy memories of lying on the bank watching the cricket on the Green, keeping score for the boys. For Victoria, having to observe rather than participate was frustrating: “I wanted to play, not keep score!” There was still not much in the way of girls’ sport when Fiona Tyson joined in 1978. She remembers they taught a young Mr Witherington to play netball so that he could then be their netball coach. “We didn’t have kits though – I used my old kit from Roedean!” John Witherington confirms, “It is true that I tried learning the rules of netball and
used to take practices down in the old gym one evening a week. In those days there were very few occasions or places when and where the girls could ‘be themselves’ and practise games without boys spectating. I’m proud to say that I was still ‘coaching' the team when we won our first ever match – away at Lancing.” There were certainly spectators at house swimming – “everyone ogling you in a swimsuit” as Jane puts it. This was an occasion that seems to have united the girls in dread. The whole school took part and every member of the house had to swim a length in relay. Caroline Parkinson recalls “the terror of having to drop your towel and dive in” but also remembers the girls supporting each other: “we had it all planned, there would be someone waiting at the other end, ready with a towel.” House swimming aside, these First Girls relished the richness of Ardingly’s extra-curricular life. “I (Caroline Ballantyne) remember looking at the school list with all the clubs and societies. I was absolutely flabbergasted with all the stuff going on. I remember thinking that I wish I’d been here all my school life.” Anna felt the same: “My girls’ school just didn't have those kinds of options and societies.” Others recall the joy of performing together in concerts, plays and reviews. As Victoria comments, there was an “atmosphere of creativity.” If rehearsals ended late, the girls were allowed to stay over in the San. There was a memorable production of Romeo & Juliet in 1976, with Chris Gunness (JS & Warren 1969-77) and Alison Sutton as the star-crossed lovers. Alison laughs as she remembers the “silly skits” they wrote and performed; “it was all such fun!” The Debating Society broke new ground in 1973 “by inviting guests and more especially female guests. Anna Jacomb-Hood and Charlotte Banbury agreed to oppose the motion: This House Believes that Woman should not Change Her Role in Society. The proposition was led by J. K. Hagar, who made good use of his pose as a male chauvinist. However Miss Jacomb-Hood provided determined opposition tempered with common sense and numerous examples. Miss Banbury ended the debate with a paper which might have passed as a thesis. It was a masterful, logical structure which in any other debating society might have clinched their case. Male chauvinism prevailed when the motion was carried by 22 votes to 18 with 10 abstentions.” Laughing, Anna recalls, “we didn’t take the loss personally!” Fiona Tyson joined the Debating Society later in the decade: “I was so quiet at Roedean… I became much braver at Ardingly.” In The Old Boys: The Decline and Rise of the Public School, David Turner argues that girls “changed the culture of the boys’ schools for ever, particularly the boarding schools: they diluted the rather juvenile nature of life – the cheering when a boy dropped a tray in the lunch queue, and the playing of pranks that could easily pass from jollity into cruelty.” Although it might be easy to overstate this argument, it does seem as if the arrival of girls changed the tone and tenor of life at Ardingly. Alison remembers intervening when someone was being heavy-handed with a smaller boy. Jane recalls chatting with the younger boys in the house, and feels it helped them when the girls arrived. Nigel Kennedy reflects: “I’d like to think it improved our behaviour.” Chris Gunness considers their arrival as nothing less than “transformative… the dynamic changed… it gave us all a new horizon.” The limited number of girls, however, brought its own problems, summed up eloquently in the Annals of 1978: “Although life has in many ways changed for the better since day-girl admittance, the gesture made towards coeducation at Ardingly has created an unnatural environment where the fairer sex are treated rather more as decorations to the school than individuals in themselves… By introducing a limited number of girls to a predominantly male bastion, biased attitudes have unnecessarily and unfairly formed which may be detrimental to boy/ girl relationships in the future. The advantages of the present system are questionable and it only remains to be asked whether a ratio of 1 girl to every 16 boys is beneficial to either party. In conclusion, these varied problems, by no means drastic, are products of the transitional phase that the school is embarking upon. Whatever the future holds it is evident that this somewhat uneasy period will pass by, largely due to the unfailing friendly atmosphere here at Ardingly.” When James Flecker began his tenure as Headmaster in September 1980, there were 390 boys in the Senior School and 21 day girls. Lady Jenny Whitmore joined the teaching staff at the same time and felt that “to all intents and purposes, I’d joined a boys’ school.” James writes, “Mary, my wife, informally took over as a focal figure for the girls and regularly all the girls came to break in the Headmaster’s house on Mondays, to chat amongst themselves, together with the wives of the eight Housemasters.” This feels a long way from the girls seeking refuge in the ladies loo. James came from Marlborough, where Sixth Form girls had been 114 | 115
admitted for the first time in 1968. He felt this situation – a large boys’ school with a few girls – was “unsatisfactory from virtually everybody’s point of view.” He felt that educating boys and girls alongside each other enables both to benefit from the perspective of the other. He believed “girls and boys should take each other for granted” and that this was impossible when the numbers were so unbalanced. Crucially, “we were trying to prepare people, as one always should in schools, for what’s next in their lives” and that educating girls and boys separately therefore “seemed to me to be palpably wrong.” His conviction can be seen in the Council papers. In February 1981, he reports: “On Governors’ Day we discussed the possibility of 13 year old Day Girls coming to Ardingly. Despite some of the bleak forecasts in this report I do not think we need to do this yet for economic reasons although the time may not be far off, which is good as I would rather we took them because we believed it was right in itself.” He reflects, “I had expected a heated debate with much opposition, but as there was none, I suggested to them that if they were prepared to agree full coeducation for September 1983, why not September 1982?, and once again they agreed. It was a very euphoric moment for me.” Careful planning began in earnest for the arrival of the first Shell girls in 1982. When they arrived, Mary Flecker was appointed the first “Mistress in Charge of Girls” and they had a base in the basement of the Headmaster’s House. Danie Ware (Mertens 1982-87) describes Mary as “our housemistress, supervisor, champion and best friend.” The contrast with 1972 is clear. It is tempting to see the trajectory as inevitable; but Bulteel’s “experiment” was just that, it was not a forgone conclusion that Ardingly would become fully co-educational. Today, it’s a fundamental part of the College’s ethos and identity, thanks to the pioneering efforts of those First Girls and the vision of the Fleckers. Let’s end with two of the girls themselves. “When you think about it now, it seems surreal, but I [Jane] just found it great fun!” “I'm so pleased I [Caroline Ballantyne] came here. It broadened my education enormously. Compared to where I was before, I was suddenly allowed to discover the world, see how other people thought. I might not have left with much of an academic record, but I certainly left with a much better understanding of the world and how I might succeed in it.” THE ALUMNI OFFICE
116 | 117 Joanie Lu Fifth Charlotte Back UVI >
Our alumni
SUE HAMILTON Unearthed The school list for Michaelmas Term 1972 has DG written next to three names. One of these ‘Day Girls’ was Sue Hamilton, sealing her place in Ardingly history as one of the College’s First Girls. A family connection – Sue’s father knew the father of Robert Foley (1970) – led her to Ardingly to study A Level Archaeology. Always “interested in old things”, not many schools offered the subject, and it was a “happy coincidence that there was one near where my
home was.” Ardingly’s setting made an instant and indelible impression. “It is a fantastic piece of architecture that frames this amazing landscape. It wasn’t just a backdrop for me. I felt incredibly privileged to be part of that landscape.” Having attended a small village primary school in Somerset, followed by two girls’ boarding schools and a girls’ sixth form college, Sue found Ardingly “quite a culture shock.” It seemed as if little preparation had been made for the arrival of girls: “They hadn’t thought about lavatories… I had to walk miles to find a loo… It seemed something rather basic that they hadn’t worked out.” Sue was not a Prefect but joined the Mertens Prefects’ Study. The novelty of being a day pupil in a boarding school was seized on by the boys: “They seemed terribly keen on the fact that I was a day girl and could get out and make them cakes.” This Sue duly did, although it turned out that her banana cake was far less popular than the chocolate version. A focused teenager, Sue took her studies seriously, and, in Chris Potter, she found an inspirational teacher. The report of his departure in the Annals of 1979 comments that “he covered his classroom in charts, slides, artefacts. He took parties to ‘digs’ all over Europe. He really was one of the key men in the country concerned with the teaching of archaeology in secondary schools; the legacy of expertise and inexhaustible enthusiasm will be held to gratefully by generations of Ardinians.” Sue certainly counts herself in that number. “I was very committed to archaeology and I seemed to change the attitudes in the rest of the class.” If they were recommended something to read, Sue dashed straight to the library. “I remember Chris Potter saying he’d never seen so many boys fight to get to the library before.” Having experienced different educational settings, Sue was in a position to compare and contrast. Her girls’ boarding school seemed primarily concerned with making its charges into pleasant young people, whereas the girls’ sixth form college had a stronger academic focus and was concerned with excellence. Ardingly was different again: “Ardingly strove to be character building. Boys were made confident, even the boys that weren’t academic highfliers were made quite confident.” One incident certainly proved to be character building for Sue. She tended not to get the highest marks outside archaeology and, being of an analytical nature, Sue looked at the general studies
essays that had been highly marked and realised that the aim was to be original and argue strongly. Her next essay she approached differently – “I wrote a very bold answer” – but the result was not what she expected. “I got called up by the Master. He looked at me and said: ‘this is quite different.’ I was just about to say, ‘well, I’ve analysed it and I’m doing the following’ when he said, ‘which boy wrote this for you?’” It was a lesson in gendered assumptions that was never forgotten. “I took it forward with me. I became much chancier about expressing my opinions, so apart from the afront that I couldn’t have done it myself, it wasn’t a bad thing to have happened necessarily.” As Sue stresses, her time at Ardingly was brief, just one academic year, but “it led me on a path, which gets me where I am today.” And where is Sue today? She is Professor of Prehistory and Director of the UCL Institute of Archaeology – from one of Ardingly’s First Girls to the first woman appointed to lead one of the most prestigious archaeology research facilities in the world. Sue came to UCL for her undergraduate studies and stayed for her PhD, which focused on British Iron Age ceramics, and from the time she got her first full-time lectureship at UCL, she hasn’t left: “I’m quite happy to be in such a prestigious place.” The parallel between Sue’s experience as a female minority at a boys’ boarding school and her career in the male-dominated world of archaeology seems clear. “At the point I went into archaeology, it was a very male profession. There were few female directors of sites. It was difficult to see ahead – females who became professors, for instance.” At conferences and meetings, Sue was one of very few women in the room. “I considered being a female in those contexts like a ton of feathers. Each little thing that happens is insignificant but over the years it’s added up to a ton of feathers of difficulties and oppositions,” says Sue, echoing Paula Caplan’s book on the subject, Lifting a Ton of Feathers: A Woman’s Guide to Surviving in the Academic World. There has been a big shift during Sue’s career. “Now, at UCL Institute of Archaeology, about 60-70% of undergraduates and graduates are female.” Sue has been part of this change, mentoring women in the profession and creating new opportunities. “I was part of the inauguration of a Women’s Forum at the Institute of Archaeology and led it for several years. The aim was and continues to be strategic in how females could not only be more represented in the discipline, but also have success and routes to promotion.” Sue also co-authored Archaeology and Women: Ancient and Modern Issues, “which looked at a whole range of things within which archaeology provided opportunities or restrictions to female progress.” As Sue explains, it is not just about having women role models, it is about the work that these women go on to do and the questions they ask of the past: “The more variable the people are in the profession, the wider the range of questions they ask about the past and its relevance to the present.” Partly this is a corrective, putting women back into a narrative from which they have been excluded, but, as Sue makes clear, it is also essential to our collective success: “There’s just so many issues in the world that need a more complete view than the skews that it’s had in the past. So modern archaeology doesn't just relate to the past. It relates to what you do in the present with archaeology that makes a better future 120 | 121
and that’s a multi-gendered and a multi-ability world.” The relevance of archaeology lies not only in its ability to help us understand the present but also in its potential to impact the future. “The time span we live in today is tiny compared to the deep time of the anthropocene – the time humans have been in the world and acted upon it – and it gives you so many more options, so many different social structures, so many types of agricultural systems.” For Sue, archaeology has the power to make people more tolerant, more accepting: “The past is filled with so many alternatives, that’s what thrills me.” From ceramics, Sue moved into the Iron Age as a whole – “I decided for various research reasons that I’d like to excavate a hill fort, but in part because that’s such a male thing to do” – and this led to the realisation that what she was really interested in was landscapes, archaeology on the biggest scale. Her work took her to France and Italy – “I said ‘yes’ to anything interesting” – and
122 | 123 then a colleague suggested they go to Rapa Nui, better known to many of us as Easter Island. With the backing of a major Arts and Humanities Research Council grant, in 2006, the Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project was born, and Sue, with co-director Colin Richards, started to research the archaeological and landscape contexts of Rapa Nui’s celebrated moai. In doing so, they became the first British archaeologists to work on the island since the early twentieth century. The project is ongoing under Sue’s leadership, and, after the pandemic hiatus, she is planning her next trip to Polynesia for early 2023. Rapa Nui is more than 2000 miles from the nearest continent, the coast of Chile, and more than 1000 miles from Pitcairn, its nearest Pacific Island neighbour. Its remoteness has meant that it has often been looked at in isolation. “The nearest place with connections in terms of artefacts is Marquesas. I want to look at Rapa Nui in the context of Polynesia as a whole.” After eight years in an administration-heavy role, Sue is relishing the prospect of getting back out into the field. “I enjoy that (-- administration) too, I enjoy how it all interconnects, how you can guide and create progress, but I am looking forward to going back to writing.” Archaeologists take detailed, daily notes in the field and this work is all encompassing, particularly when working in a remote destination. “I had to wait until the satellite went over Rapa Nui at about 2am to send my administrative emails to Kelly (Executive Assistant to the Director), who kept things running in my absence. Then I’d go to bed for about an hour, get up and have breakfast, and head back into the field.” Rapa Nui is run by women, it is “a world that’s organised on females being the powerful people.” Perhaps this is part of the island’s magic for Sue: “When I go to meetings on the island, it’s mainly females that I’m working with, who are giving me permission or otherwise to do things. It’s a refreshing change to some of my other worlds.” The focus Sue showed in her A Level Archaeology classes has clearly never left her, that “determination to take routes I find interesting.” Neither has that strong sense of self, which enabled her to be herself in that Mertens Prefects’ Study, and which has guided her career ever since. “I’ve always tried to be myself and believe in myself. So, I wasn’t moved by the way other people ran their careers. I decided I could only do it by being myself.” Her message is affirming and inspiring: “I’ve always wanted to emphasise that there are many ways of being good. So be yourself and believe in yourself.” THE ALUMNI DEPARTMENT Steph Hudson UVI >
Our valete
124 | 125 Bronwen Carr-Bates For the past five and a half years the school has been graced with the dramatic presence of one Mrs Bronwen Carr-Bates. Joining us from St Mary’s Ascot, after a stint as a professional Assistant Director, she brought her wealth of theatrical knowledge and performance creativity as well as her cracking sense of humour, drive, and willingness to contribute to the wider school. I also distinctly remember her coming into the school with a T-shirt emblazoned with the word ‘feminist’ and I thought, “Here we go…” Since joining, she has created a phenomenal 13 productions - an amazing feat of creativity and perseverance. If any of you have witnessed the state of the Drama department during one of these you will know how much blood, sweat and tears this must have taken on her part and always done with a smile on her face and as she departs it seems only fair that we review some of these performances. You may notice a few repeating themes and some fearlessness in Bron’s application of more challenging topics. 2018 The Wolves of Willoughby Chase ― Not only a fantastic show, but when the costumes turned up, the under looked like a Victorian jumble sale. Romeo and Juliet ― A steampunk adaptation filled with real-life sword fights and swoon-worthy scenes. 2019 Thoroughly Modern Millie ― Some omissions and clever rewrites, brought this musical into the 21st Century. The Uninvited ― Ardingly college’s debut performance at The Edinburgh Fringe festival. It rained... a lot but the students saw a host of phenomenal theatre alongside their own and had a stellar time. Chicago ― The Senior School’s second venture at the Checker Mead and all we have to say is “They had it coming”. 2020 Wipers Times ― A celebration of 150 years of Ardingly, a collaboration with OA, Ian Hislop, with enough pyros used to wake the dead - literally. A full set of trenches had even been built into the Under... And just when things were going so well Covid struck, cutting off the end of the production whilst knocking out more than a few cast members on what was both the opening and closing night. Not one to be put off, Bron strove on and even managed to squeeze a few performances in and around the confusing and theatre-destroying restrictions. A Midcovid night’s Dream ― A radio version of the famous text with students filming sections in their gardens and live streaming with dodgy backgrounds. The ultimate Teams meeting. Twelfth Night ― Headphones on the audience members to traverse Covid restrictions but with full globe style seating built into the Under and even fake snow. 2021 Pride and Prejudice ― A lovely combination of pouring rain and sweltering heat. A glorious moment in this production was Bronwen sending 2 stewards which a Makenna Bates UVI
huge transporter van down to Horsham to collect an antique 19th century chair for the production, only to discover it was about 30 centimetres tall. Dido and Aeneas ― Another strong collab between Drama and Music, this stunning Baroque Opera was created in 2 weeks with the shortest and most intensive rehearsal process. Not a single member of the Schola chorus had ever step foot on stage in a drama capacity but with Bronwen’s creative vision, the technical team transformed the back of the chapel into an amazing opera house which would have rivalled smaller ones across Europe. The Little Shop of Horrors ― A groundbreaking inclusive performance by one Owen Young, and a leading example of Bronwen’s inclusive nature and her willingness and determination to fight the good fight. 2022 The Addams Family ― a hilarious take on the TV show, beautifully gothic in design with a chorus of “dead ancestors” to accompany some excellent talent from students so young. 9 to 5 ― So... Many... Doors, but a crowning moment reflecting Bronwen’s love of all things girly, but also the power of female determination and strength. 2023 Dracula ― blood, death, and more blood - never one to shy away from the more challenging texts, it was a fabulous finish to Bronwen’s time with us and the tears from the cast, crew and audience were a clear reflection of this and a reminder of how much she will be missed. Bronwen’s dedication to each and every performance, including the examination work, has been achieved whilst being a supportive member of the department, a leader in PSHE, as well as being a loving mother, a caring friend, and we think her husband Matt and the dog get a look in there somewhere. Bronwen, you have been a joy to work with, always ready with a rude joke, a giant hug or some angry cake and the legacy you leave behind in this department will be honoured and revered for years to come. You are a fountain of knowledge; a library of plays and we will miss you tomorrow but will treasure you today. In the words of Billy Shakes: “Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow. Adieu.” THE DRAMA DEPARTMENT
126 | 127 Miles Porter Miles has been the ideal teacher for a school like ours and has thrown himself in to every possible aspect of school life: Academic, Boarding, Sports and extracurricular activities like CCF and DofE. Principally his commitment has been to Chemistry, and he has led his department to great heights in exam results as well as success in competitions like top of the bench. Chemists and Physicists both love explosions. Chemists spend time working out how to synthesise material that will explode and then Physicists then can go and play with it. He led from the front in causing Science block evacuations which is why we never really need drills as it’s quite a regular thing. As a teacher he is knowledgeable, enthusiastic, kind, and caring. His talents and passion for science in general were displayed in his final year as he helped the understaffed Physics department. He is a supremely adaptable and is comfortable teaching the very top and the very bottom range of abilities. His caring side also came to the fore when living in Toynbee when Louise was Housemistress. He was never a tutor in Toynbee, but he was very much the adopted father figure of the House. More importantly he was also an excellent on call spider and mouse catcher. Not only was he looking after Bonnie and Dilys (who were only 4 and 5 at the start) he would run sessions for new boarders on constructing the tallest towers and the strongest bridges from dried spaghetti and glue! Hours of fun and excellent for keeping them busy when they were homesick. When a valve burst in the roof space on Christmas morning at 6am a few years ago, Miles waded through knee deep, rising water to rescue boarders’ possessions that had been stowed away in the corridors for the holiday. Whilst the water spurted at speed through any available outlet vertically and horizontally, Miles made sure everything that could be saved from the flood could be, whilst they waited for the fire brigade Ollie O’Regan UVI
Neville Barker After 22 years of service, Neville Barker has decided to move on to pastures new. Joining the College in 2001, he worked with three different College Heads and five different Bursars (or the equivalent!) and has been instrumental in shaping the way in which the Estates department operates. Neville has led numerous building projects during his time at Ardingly and his work has resulted in major changes to the College landscape – who can imagine the Green without Godwin? As well as Godwin, other notable projects include the development of the new boarding accommodation for Mertens and Hilton. When the dorms moved out of the H block, Neville was involved in their conversion into teaching spaces. Down the hill, Neville managed the redevelopment of the farm buildings into Pre Prep classrooms, which won an award from the Sussex Heritage Trust. Another significant project, which also won a Sussex Heritage Trust award, was the restoration of the Chapel’s glorious East Window. On the other side of the campus, Neville was instrumental in the building of Burgess. The list could go on and on, but we’ll end by mentioning a project that we all benefit from – the transformation of the old squash courts into the café enjoyed by so many of us today. It was Neville’s vision to take this overlooked and underused building and turn it into a café for the community, which became the centrepiece in a revitalised West Quad. We wish Neville all the very best as he brings his skills to new projects and thank him for his stewardship of Ardingly’s buildings for more than 20 years. E WOOD & D WEST We also take this opportunity to wish all the best to the following additional leavers: Liz Hayes Sumair Hussain Keith Wright Tom Green Lewis O’Shea to arrive. Miles truly shone in the extracurricular activities and got fully involved in many aspects. He took over the Dinghy sailing down at the reservoir and has managed to keep it going despite significant and continuous obstacles. From the current U6 their fondest memory is watching Miles, with one leg on the pontoon and one on the boat, slowly drifting apart until the inevitable splosh. He readily volunteered for the CCF and came out on camps in all weathers at all times of year. Storm Angus was a particular favourite as we were on the top of the Ashdown Forest in a tree-smashing gale sleeping in puddles under flimsy tarpaulins. He came on many camps over the years. One of his most memorable was a survival camp with minimal equipment where we had to make shelters and start campfires. He went on two cross channel school sailing trips with the Ocean Youth Trust. The first on the ocean racing vessel John Laing and the second on Prolific, a converted trawler. He developed a love of yacht sailing and went on to complete his RYA Day Skipper course in his own time. He was a key member of the DofE team and was super reliable in tracking, finding and, if necessary, rescuing lost pupils. They once dealt, calmly and efficiently in evacuating a poor girl who had an epileptic fit. It was crucial to have such a capable and reliable supervisor when there are over a hundred pupils scattered over the Sussex countryside. Miles has been great campfire company and he spent many nights swapping stories and discussing every subject possible. A timeless pleasure in modern world. The school will miss him terribly. He is a great friend and colleague and it is a great shame he is leaving as Ardingly is built on the all-round commitment of teachers like him. T SAYERS
Ardingly College Haywards Heath West Sussex RH17 6SQ ardingly.com Registered Charity Number: 1076456 Thanks Editor I Payne Design graemecampbell.design 128 Charlie Webb Fifth Fin Armstrong Fifth >