RHS Spanish Trip to Valladolid

Tags

education, educational trip, RHS, royal hospital school, sixth form, Spain, spanish trip, the royal hospital school, Valladolid, year 11

During the first week of the Easter holidays, a group of GCSE and A Level pupils travelled to Valladolid. They stayed with Spanish families and had the chance to learn about Spanish culture and way of life. They also completed an intensive 5-day Spanish course, took part in cultural activities and enjoyed a reasonable amount of free time to explore Valladolid and see some Easter processions and celebrations, although rain meant that a number of these were unfortunately cancelled.

RHS students in Segovia

The programme of activities included a visit to the beautiful town of Segovia, a workshop in a Museum of Modern Art, a guided visit to Valladolid and cooking lessons. With the help of a Spanish chef, they cooked a delicious sample of traditional Spanish and Castilian dishes: tortilla de patatas, sopas de ajo, huevos rotos and torrijas. They also visited a Shopping Centre and went to the cinema to see The Croods in Spanish, still managing to get most of the jokes.

Their time with the host families gave them an insight into the lifestyle of Spanish families and also provided the opportunity to do and see things which were not included in the programme. For example, Felicity Slatter and Kathryn Matous spent a couple of hours in a primary school, helping the children with their English and answering their questions in Spanish; William Anstey and Sean Cuddihy had the intense experience of watching a football game between Spain and France surrounded by Spanish fans; Victoria Foreman, Tabitha Palmer and Tapashya Sunuwar are now experts on Castilian gastronomy thanks to the extensive menu of traditional homemade food that their Spanish ‘mother’ prepared for them every day and Jessica Richardson became addicted to chocolate con churros.

Hola!

The Spanish trip was really enjoyable. The food, families and lessons were all Spanish and after a week of having to constantly listen I have found that my Spanish has improved no end. The most enjoyable part of the trip was the family that I stayed with; they were incredibly kind and were the most amazing cooks.

 Parents and pupils can view more pictures of the trip on the school intranet:

https://intranet.royalhospitalschool.org/modern-foreign-languages/spanish/viaje-a-valladolid—semana-santa-2013

Cricket Report Week Two by Don Topley

Tags

County, cricket, Representative, RHS, royal hospital school, suffolk, the royal hospital school

I am delighted to report on three fantastic personal achievements in RHS cricket and some excellent results this week.

Two RHS batsman completed their maiden school centuries this weekend. Oliver Gerard Pearse completed his maiden century for the 2^nd XI in their easy 49 run win over Gresham’s. Our 2^nd XI bowler’s unit then set about the Gresham’s batsmen in workman-like fashion, especially the economical and accurate Ollie Sellers who collected 2 wkts, Calder Trewin Marshall 3 and Freddie Brett 2.

The other centurion was Robert Cowper-Coles who brilliantly smashed 125 not out in the U15B’s amazing high scoring game way at Gresham’s. The Norfolk school made a huge 260 off the allocated 25 overs, before the RHS U15Bs made a creditable 210 for 8 in reply. Many congratulations to Robert Cowper-Coles for making a century. An incredible 470 runs were scored in the day at U15B level.

To collect a seven wicket haul in a schoolboy cricket match these days is quite remarkable as the bowlers are simply not allowed to bowl the amount of overs they once did. On Wednesday, against a strong Felsted Prep team, Ben Arulampalam achieved that feat of 7wkts with his seam bowling. Our Junior 1^st XI bowled Felsted Prep out for 114 but, sadly entered tea at 1 for 2 off 2 overs before Fergus Atkins played a most mature innings. They finished on 104-9 (just 10 runs short) with No 11, Kieran Farrer, playing out the last ball for a very creditable and exciting draw.

At the weekend, the 1^st XI lost heavily to Gresham’s with our batting providing the problems. Continually being devoid of 1^st XI captain, top batsman and leading spinner, Ben Allday, is most challenging for us but he hopes to be back before half term.

The Senior 2nds and 3rds recorded excellent victories in the bitter cold. Seamer, Barney Horsefield, claimed 5 wkts before batsmen, Andy Mitchell and Peter Crockett, saw the 3^rd XI home with fine 40s.

The Under 15As enjoyed a competitive game with Alex Rayment making a solid 57 and Ollie Lovejoy a breezy 30. But our U15s par total of 116-5 was not enough as Gresham’s claimed victory with a three wicket win.

The U14s beat Gresham’s by 12 runs with all-rounders Michael Cowdrey and Charlie Kerr performing well. Their 1^st wicket partnership was excellent and defining, with Cowdrey making 50 runs and Kerr 48. The two boys then set about taking wickets with leg-spinner, Cowdrey, taking 4 and pace bowler, Kerr 3. Whilst Gresham’s U14s mounted a challenge they were always behind the run-rate as we duly won.

The U14Bs lost on their first outing of the season by 17 runs with Alex Finding claiming ‘man of the match’. Gresham’s made 102 but it was left to Finding to resurrect his side’s batting, after an initial collapse, with an excellent 33 not out. Special mention must also be made of Sam Le Roy’s fielding.

Also last week, our U15As defeated Upper School, Bury, in the 1^st Round of the National U15 20/20 Cup with Ollie Lovejoy making an agressive 82 in his team’s total of 157-4.  Bury made 120 in reply in the beautiful warm sunshine. RHS finishing with a 37 run win.

On the adjacent pitch, the talented Colne Community College visited us for the first time and defeated our 2nds by 59 runs.  The visitors, who all play adult club cricket, made 197 whilst RHS 2nds relied on tail enders, George Petrides and Ben Cottrell to gain some respectability with some robust hitting. Colne Community return next week to do battle with the RHS 1^st XI.

Congratulations to the following pupils who have been selected for County or District representative honours in cricket:

Nick Paddon – North Essex District U13

William Kempster – North Essex District U13

Toby Allday – Captain, North Essex District U15

Oliver Lovejoy – North Essex District U15

Josh Frame – Essex U12

Fergus Atkins – Suffolk U12

Cameron Jordan – Suffolk U12

Ben Arulampalam – Suffolk U13

Michael Cowdrey – Cambridgeshire U14

Oliver Lovejoy – Suffolk U15

RHS Sailors take prestigious Hoad Shield

Tags

British Schools Dinghy Racing Association, Centre of Excellence for Sailing, hoad shield, rhs sailing academy, Sailing, sailing academy, sport, success, the royal hospital school

On Saturday 20 April the RHS Team Racing squad (Dan Patten, Luke Bailey, Alex Slatter, Freddie and Oliver Grogono and Freddie Chiddicks) travelled to Bough Beech SC in Kent to take part in the fiercely competitive British Schools Dinghy Racing Association (BSDRA) Hoad Shield. This regatta is second only to the Nationals and attracts the best teams from around the country. This year was no exception with 20 teams including Wellington College, Winchester, Merchant Taylors’ School (MTS), Eton, Kings Canterbury, Sevenoaks and National Champions of the last 3-years, Magdalene College School (MCS).

Each team was scheduled to have 8 races and RHS had a tough draw racing against some top teams; Wellington, Sevenoaks, Norwich, Kings, Eton, Merchant Taylors, Claires Court and MCS. The team easily saw-off challenges from Claires Courts, Wellington and MTS to be faced with the undefeated MCS. From the start RHS dominated this meeting and finished 1^st 2^nd and 3^rd. This was not only the first time MCS had been beaten in the last 3 years, but also the first time over the last 5 that they had been beaten so comprehensively.  After this all that was left was to see off the sizable challenge of Norwich, Eton, Kings and Sevenoaks 1^st teams. This was done with relative ease, finishing as the only undefeated team and winning the event for the first time.

Director of Sailing, Andrew Nutton, said “This British Schools Dinghy Racing Association (BSDRA) competition has been running for 27 years and has only ever been won by 5 schools. On Saturday RHS beat 4 of those 5 schools to win the prestigious Hoad Shield – a superb effort by our team racers in the year that RHS launches its Sailing Academy”

As a result of its watery location and a unique 300 year maritime history, the Royal Hospital School has become a ‘Centre of Excellence for Sailing’ and, more recently, the only Sailing Academy of its type in the country. The School is well-established RYA Training Centre with a fleet of more than 40 dinghies catering for every level of sailing; from beginner boats like RS Teras to team racing Fireflies and Olympic Pathway craft such as the Laser 1 and 29ers, and as a result it has been well-placed and resourced to become a Sailing Academy in the year that it celebrates its Tercentenary.

Andy Nutton explains, “On joining the School, all our 11 year olds take part in a week-long sailing course when they are taken through the basics to RYA Level 2. Some may continue after this introductory course and our more experienced sailors can sail up to four times a week. At the highest level, we offer an Elite Sailing Programme specifically designed to develop talent and possibly Olympic sailors of the future. The Programme includes video analysis, individual fitness training, dietary advice, competition training and mentoring.

We have a full calendar of regular team and fleet fixtures against other schools and, currently, twelve elite sailors are competing to National and International level and 60 pupils sail all year round as their main school sport. As a recognised RYA Training Centre, the highest levels of safety and tuition are maintained and pupils regularly gain dinghy sailing qualifications as well as qualifications in power boating, windsurfing and dinghy sailing instruction. We also have a fleet of keel boats on which children gain their day skipper qualifications and enjoy weekends exploring the Suffolk coastal waterways in the summer months.”

Founders Day 21 April 2013

This gallery contains 5 photos.

Editor of the Benjamin Britten Letters talks at this weeks Academic Music Extra

Tags

Academic Music, Benjamin Britten, Music, Philip Reed, RHS, royal hospital school

Cricket Report Week One by Don Topley

Tags

CRGS, cricket, Culford Prep, RHS, royal hospital school

With all the cricketers back in action for the Summer Term it appears that old adage that ‘catches win matches’ was still evident, as a few of the RHS teams dropped important catches!

The Under 13s had the best result over the first weekend with a splendid 50 run victory over Colchester RGS.  Ben Arulampalam notched up his first half century of his season in helping his team to 99 but it was the team’s wonderful fielding and, in particular, their catching that caught the eye – especially that of Nick Paddon and Charlie Miles. Well done to Captain, Ben Arulampalam, who also claimed 4 wkts with his seamers.

The Senior 2nds and Under 12s lost tight encounters with Colchester by just small margins.  Dropped catches cost the Senior 2nds where Cam Kerr had a good all-round game. He took 3 wkts and top scored with 48 but his side fell just 10 runs short. The U12s lost the toss and batted in difficult conditions but mustered a par score of 110 in their allotted overs, with Cam Jordan top scoring with 31. He was also the best bowler on show in the game as the CRGS tail claimed a victory by two wickets.

Meanwhile the 1^stXI, U15s and U14s all lost heavily to the Essex school.  Only Ben Moore’s resolute innings was of note as the 1^st XI loss a crucial toss and batted on a difficult slow ‘pudding’ of a wicket.  They claimed two quick wickets but the wicket became much easier to bat on as it dried out. Jesse Vogel’s highest ever score of 45 in the Under 15s stood out in their innings and, again, the toss was vital as we could only muster 69 all out. In the Under 14s both bowlers, Charlie Kerr and William Pamenter-Stratta, bowled well and took 3 wkts a piece but it was their dropped catches that cost us dearly. They should have been chasing 100 but CRGS’s score of 142 was too much.

The Juniors also played two midweek fixtures v Culford Prep.  The Junior 1sts performed very well in the winning draw with Josh Frame and Fergus Atkins making notable scores. The Junior 2nds won easily with Will Kempster retiring after making his maiden 50 and Max Orr a more patient 40. Well done to both of them.

Headmaster’s Commendations

Tags

commendations, headmaster, success

Sophie Atkinson	Year 9	Cornwallis
Nekane Romero-Garcia	Year 10	Howe
Charlie Steptoe	Year 10	Collingwood
Sean Cuddihy	Year 11	Collingwood
Zhesu Crystal Jin	Year 11	Howe
Cheng Wai Winnie Lei	Year 11	Howe
Francesca Morelli	Year 11	Howe
Tabitha Palmer	Year 11	Howe
Olivia Peacock	Year 11	Howe
Jessica Edney	Year 12	Cornwallis
Natasha Jones	Year 12	Cornwallis
Kathryn Matous	Year 12	Howe
Eloise Allan	Year 13	Nelson
Rebecca Anstey	Year 13	Nelson
Molly Arthur	Year 13	Nelson
Aislin Barraclough	Year 13	Nelson
Laura Brown	Year 13	Nelson
Wai Yin Christy Chan	Year 13	Nelson
Georgina Harmer	Year 13	Nelson
Emilly Hassall	Year 13	Nelson
Jessica Hazelton	Year 13	Nelson
Andrew Kwok	Year 13	Nelson
Claire Lambert	Year 13	Nelson
Andrew Mitchell	Year 13	Nelson
Georgia Moore	Year 13	Nelson
Jennifer Myatt	Year 13	Nelson
Emily Sweeney	Year 13	Nelson
Carys Todd	Year 13	Nelson

For Achievement in Drama

Simone Rossouw	Year 10	Howe
Rosslyn Trewin-Marshall	Year 10	Howe

For Achievement in Mathematics

Petrus Du Toit	Year 8	Drake
Benjamin Willis	Year 8	Drake
Georgina Harmer	Year 13	Nelson

 

For Achievement in Religious Studies

Liam Crismani	Year 11	Anson
Francesca Morelli	Year 11	Howe

 

 

RHS Sailors take prestigious Hoad Shield

On Saturday 20 April the RHS Team Racing squad (Dan Patten, Luke Bailey, Alex Slatter, Freddie and Oliver Grogono and Freddie Chiddicks) travelled to Bough Beech SC in Kent to take part in the fiercely competitive British Schools Dinghy Racing Association (BSDRA) Hoad Shield. This regatta is second only to the Nationals and attracts the best teams from around the country. This year was no exception with 20 teams including Wellington College, Winchester, Merchant Taylors’ School (MTS), Eton, Kings Canterbury, Sevenoaks and National Champions of the last 3-years, Magdalene College School (MCS).

Each team was scheduled to have 8 races and RHS had a tough draw racing against some top teams; Wellington, Sevenoaks, Norwich, Kings, Eton, Merchant Taylors, Claires Court and MCS. The team easily saw-off challenges from Claires Courts, Wellington and MTS to be faced with the undefeated MCS. From the start RHS dominated this meeting and finished 1^st 2^nd and 3^rd. This was not only the first time MCS had been beaten in the last 3 years, but also the first time over the last 5 that they had been beaten so comprehensively.  After this all that was left was to see off the sizable challenge of Norwich, Eton, Kings and Sevenoaks 1^st teams. This was done with relative ease, finishing as the only undefeated team and winning the event for the first time.

RHS Team Racing win Hoad Shield

Director of Sailing, Andrew Nutton, said “This British Schools Dinghy Racing Association (BSDRA) competition has been running for 27 years and has only ever been won by 5 schools. On Saturday RHS beat 4 of those 5 schools to win the prestigious Hoad Shield – a superb effort by our team racers in the year that RHS launches its Sailing Academy”

As a result of its watery location and a unique 300 year maritime history, the Royal Hospital School has become a ‘Centre of Excellence for Sailing’ and, more recently, the only Sailing Academy of its type in the country. The School is well-established RYA Training Centre with a fleet of more than 40 dinghies catering for every level of sailing; from beginner boats like RS Teras to team racing Fireflies and Olympic Pathway craft such as the Laser 1 and 29ers, and as a result it has been well-placed and resourced to become a Sailing Academy in the year that it celebrates its Tercentenary.

Andy Nutton explains, “On joining the School, all our 11 year olds take part in a week-long sailing course when they are taken through the basics to RYA Level 2. Some may continue after this introductory course and our more experienced sailors can sail up to four times a week. At the highest level, we offer an Elite Sailing Programme specifically designed to develop talent and possibly Olympic sailors of the future. The Programme includes video analysis, individual fitness training, dietary advice, competition training and mentoring.

We have a full calendar of regular team and fleet fixtures against other schools and, currently, twelve elite sailors are competing to National and International level and 60 pupils sail all year round as their main school sport. As a recognised RYA Training Centre, the highest levels of safety and tuition are maintained and pupils regularly gain dinghy sailing qualifications as well as qualifications in power boating, windsurfing and dinghy sailing instruction. We also have a fleet of keel boats on which children gain their day skipper qualifications and enjoy weekends exploring the Suffolk coastal waterways in the summer months.”

The 20th Royal Hospital School Band Concert – Saturday 27th April

Tags

Band, Colchester Miltary Music Spectacular, concert band. marching band, Music, RHS, royal hospital school, the royal hospital school

Royal Hospital School Band

The Royal Hospital School Band will be performing on Saturday 27 April from 7.45pm in the School’s Assembly Hall. This year not only marks the School’s Tercentenary, it is also the 20th Anniversary of this spectacular Band Concert. In celebration they will be playing selections from Les Miserables, the Beatles and Last Night of the Proms style favourites. As well as the School’s impressive marching and concert band, the outstanding Corps of Drums will feature together with a traditional ‘Sunset Ceremony’.

The Band is an important part of the School’s tradition managed by former member of the Royal Marine Band Service, Mr Roger Jones. Last year they toured in South Africa and were the first overseas band to be included in the Durban Military Tattoo. Next year they go on tour to Florida and closer to home they will be taking part in the Colchester Military Music Spectacular in Castle Park on Sunday 22 September.

For tickets book online at www.rhscommunity.co.uk or telephone 01473 326222. £7per adult and U18s free.

Five former RHS Pupils perform in the Mountbatten Festival of Music

Tags

CLIC Sargent, RHS, RMCTF, Royal Albert Hall, royal hospital school, Royal Marines Band, Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund

Five former RHS pupils; Alastair Ham (Saxophone), Ellie Brierley-Nobbs (Solo Singer), Christopher Harris (Drummer), William Thurston (Choir) and Craig Sanders (Choir) performed as part of the annual Mountbatten Festival of Music last week.

The annual Festival featured a Massed Band of the Royal Marines in three concerts over three consecutive nights at the Royal Albert Hall. The audiences were treated to a varied programme including a piece of music composed by former RHS pupil, Christopher Harris. The grand finale included The Battle of the Atlantic Suite, written to mark the 70th anniversary of the WWII battle, with the musicians performing against a huge backdrop of archive footage.

The festival raised thousands of pounds for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund (RMCTF) and the children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent. RMCTF spokeswoman Jo Whitwood said “The festival was a huge success – the audiences were amazed at the versatility of the Royal Marines musicians. They certainly know how to entertain and put on a fantastic show.”

Will Thurston completes his training in three months as a French horn player and Craig Saunders has a year to go to complete his percussion training. Alastair Ham is in the Portsmouth Royal Marines Band which led Baroness Thatcher’s coffin to St Paul’s yesterday.