Prime Minister Harold Wilson once remarked that “a week is a long time in politics.” In a School which is just 5 years shy of being 400 years old, one Quarter of 10 weeks is certainly no time at all. And so it will have seemed to many in this Hall this morning, and most especially to those of you for whom this Quarter marks the close of your time here at Charterhouse, whether as a pupil or a Beak.
But for all its apparent shortness, these weeks have been packed with activity and achievement. The diarist in last week’s Spectator magazine was bemoaning the fact that the summer term at his children’s school had virtually been abolished. Clearly his children are not educated at Charterhouse. For here the Quarter has been, as usual, packed with such a variety of events – sport, music, drama, Carthusian Day, a 50-mile walk, Challenge of Management, as well as numerous expeditions and lectures.
And little if any of this would be possible without the care, commitment and professionalism of Brooke Hall. They, as always, have given unstintingly in the hash room as well as in so many other areas of school life be it as a Housemaster, Tutor or sports coach to name but three. And on behalf of the School, I would thank all of Brooke Hall for their contribution to what has been an outstanding Quarter. My request is for a round of applause for Brooke Hall. . . .
I have much appreciated the leadership and goodwill of the Second Years this Quarter. To a very significant extent, the tone of the School is set by you, and during this Quarter that has been characterised by a tone of positive cooperation and maturity. I am especially grateful to this year’s team of School Monitors, so ably led by the Head of School Oliver Plant and Head Girl Zara Zaheen, and supported by their deputies James Farquharson and Katy Webb. And I would like them to come forward first and foremost to receive Headmaster’s Prizes.
For many today the two words “education” and “examination” seem to be synonymous. Thankfully, not so here. As a School, we must never lose sight of the fact that whilst excellence in examinations is one of our desired aims, it is not our only aim. We are a School, not a machine turning out pupils crammed with “facts” who might fit neatly into a Dickensian novel but not into the modern world. As a School, we must be open to well thought through initiatives but sceptical of novelties; more interested in focus than in fashion.
The quality of work in many departments has been outstanding. The problem-solving skills of three First Year Specialists – Arthur Law, Henry Hu, and Tony Lee – were mentioned in a recent edition of The Mathematical Gazette, the internationally prestigious publication of the Mathematical Association. Anyone who has been into either the John Derry Technical Centre or Studio this Quarter will have been impressed by the exceptional quality of the work on display. Another initiative comes in our links with other schools and this is a work which is being developed especially in the Science Department where Mr Hearn is nurturing our links with other schools in Godalming, Guildford and Portsmouth as well as with The Hill School in the United States.
Life in BTT has been busy and exciting. During the Easter holidays, a company of twelve pupils toured five schools in the United States with their highly entertaining production of The Country Wife. Mr Freeman tells me that the audiences were hugely appreciative. Back on home territory, the Theatre resounded at the start of Quarter to another brilliant Band Show under the direction of Mr Smeeton. The music which featured some splendid performances by the Jazz Band was interspersed by some moments of light relief featuring Jack Freeman (H) and Hugo Mason (L) whose on-stage rapport is going to be sadly missed. Next in the Theatre were the A2 Theatre Studies productions which featured some outstanding performances against sets and lighting which were equally compelling. Finally, the 25-strong Groundlings Theatre Group produced an evening of public speaking and improvisation making a grand total of thirty productions in the BTT this year.
Cricket has enjoyed the mostly kind weather to produce a feast of good things. The 1st XI has already chalked up wins over Westminster, Winchester, Tonbridge, Bradfield and Wellington, and lost an opening day thriller against Harrow by just 2 runs. One important ingredient here has been the captaincy of Harry Schofield (g). With two centuries in the first four matches and three further half-centuries, Harry has provided that important quality of leadership by setting a competitive and positive tone amongst the team he has led. He has also been selected for the ECB Schools U18 squad and the Surrey U19s. So to mark his significant contribution to school sport, I am presenting him with a special Headmaster’s Prize.
The highlight of the Athletics season was a convincing victory over Dulwich College. For the golfers, it was a win over Wellington. And at a time when croquet has struggled to cope with its public persona our Croquet team beat both Eton and Winchester. In swimming we won the majority of our twelve matches with the Under 16 year group being the most impressive. And it was our Under 16 water polo team which won the National Championships in May defeating the favourites, Warwick School, 11-6 in the final. Tennis has had its high points too with good wins for the 1st VI over Tonbridge and St John’s Leatherhead. Worthy of note too was the Under-14 team which ended the season undefeated. I am very happy to report that Rowing has undergone something of a resurrection. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams have put in very impressive performances against strong opposition and I wish all concerned every success for the future.
In music the Quarter got under way with a highly professional and enjoyable Symphony Orchestra concert featuring music by Haydn and Mozart. Five evening concerts followed through the Quarter with notable performances from Gladys Ching and Robert Furness. Two Sundays ago, Charterhouse musicians were playing in front of an audience of around 200 at the new Godalming Bandstand as part of the town’s Music in the Park series. The Jazz Quartet followed this with performances at two garden parties, one for Sutton’s Hospital and the other for Charterhouse-in-Southwark. And I am especially grateful to those who have represented the School both in the local community and further afield.
Last weekend, Under School music scholars spent two days at a country house in Norfolk, returning to perform their work at the Summer Concert. The audience in a packed Llewellyn Room were treated to some splendid performances, rounded off in witty style by the unaccompanied singing of the Chamber Choir.
It would be easy to take for granted the choral singing here at Charterhouse. Week after week, Chapel Choir enriches the worship in Chapel and I am deeply grateful to Mr Blatchly and Mr Shepherd not only for their musical brilliance, but also for the sheer energy and enjoyment with which they infuse all they do.
This day inevitably comes with mixed emotions, the more so for those for whom this day marks the end of their time here at Charterhouse. Amongst the nine members of Brooke Hall leaving at the end of this Quarter, we wish Miss Shephard every success for her appointment to teach English at Christ’s Hospital. Patricia Aguado has spent three very successful years here, initially as an Assistante, but latterly as a full-time Spanish beak. We wish her well, too, for her new appointment back in her home town. Mr Allcock has also been with us for three years and has contributed hugely to School life with his hallmark quiet efficiency. Whether as a Classics beak, a Weekite tutor, a sports team coach or at the Christian Union, Mr Allcock will be much missed as he moves to Wellington College.
But six members of Brooke Hall are retiring after a combined service to Charterhouse of 155 years. In Mr Robinson, the school loses one of its genuine characters following 19 years teaching Economics, latterly as Head of Department. Anyone who has sat through his hashes will know that Mr Robinson has a passion for much more than his subject whether it is electric guitars, classic cars, train or air travel. If he will forgive me using the word, his rather zany humour will be much missed by Beaks and pupils alike. Mrs Mathews retires after 21 years teaching French. Her hallmarks have always been her professionalism and her care for her pupils whether in the hash room or as tutees and we wish her and her husband every happiness for the coming years. Mr Reeves has made it to just shy of 23 years in Brooke Hall contributing hugely, not only to the work of the Technical Centre but also to outward bound activities where his contribution has been very significant indeed. Many Carthusians over the years will have had reason to be grateful for commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and Young Enterprise. Mr Hill retires after 23 years. His official responsibilities have included Physics beak, Gownboy tutor and school sailing. But his colleagues may remember him more for his bringing the annual conference of rocket scientists to Charterhouse. Again, we wish him every happiness for an active and fulfilling retirement. Mr Wheeler has been in Brooke Hall for 34 years. His most significant contributions to the school have been in the areas of service and outward bound activities – Scouts, Pioneers, Remove Expeditions and Charterhouse-in-Southwark have been just a few of his areas of influence. And it was somewhat fitting that Mr Wheeler spent this last week helping to lead our Duke of Edinburgh Award Gold Expedition. Our heartfelt thanks go to him. Finally, after 35 years, Mr Ingram retires from Brooke Hall: Housemaster of Saunderites, Head of Department (twice), Head of Culture and teacher of Economics and Politics – the list shows the breadth of Mr Ingram’s distinguished career. On top of all this he has also played a supporting role in the life both of Chapel and of school music. We wish him and his wife Rosie many happy years back in Devon.
But most who are leaving today do so after a rather shorter period of time. If the history of Charterhouse were a day, then most of today’s Second Year Specialists arrived at 18 minutes to midnight. It is but a brief moment in the history of this our great School. The late American President Ronald Reagan often referred to his country in a biblical phrase – “a shining city set on a hill”. And I’m going to close with a short extract from his Farewell Address to the American nation in January 1989, after 8 years as President.
And how stands the city on this day? More prosperous, more secure and happier than it was when we arrived. But more than that, after all these years, she stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held no matter what the storm. And for us? We’ve done our small part. And as we walk off into the city streets, we can say, We weren’t just marking time. We made a difference. We made the city stronger and we left her in good hands.
And so I trust that as many of us walk off, as it were, into the city streets today, we will look back at our small but shining city on its hill, her glow held no matter what the storm, and that we can know that for our brief time, we made a difference, the city is stronger, and we left her in good hands.
I wish you all a splendid summer, and may God bless you in all that the future holds for you. Thank you very much.