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issue 21 AUTUMN term 2008

news

On top of the world

Everest

See page 6 for more…

PLUS
• Sports Ground open
• Team building and trips
• 4-page Junior supplement

2 QEH News SCHOOL MATTERS

From the Pictured:
Headmaster Mr Stephen Holliday with
Mr Martin Morris (left)
It has been another very busy and successful year at the School with some of our long-term plans
coming to fruition. You will read and hear of our extensive new facilities at Failand which opened Junior School
this month, in partnership with Bristol City Football Club. In the wake of this success I hope soon to appointment
have news of how we might extend the partnership in other ways. You will also see some of the many
other activities and achievements at QEH over the past six months. We are delighted to
During the summer project managers have been looking at the feasibility of building a new science announce the appointment
block ready for decisions, before the end of the year, about where best to site it. of Mr Martin Morris as the
We are celebrating excellent examination results again at both GCSE and at A-level where a third new Headmaster of QEH
of boys gained 3 or more straight As and our A-C pass rate was 96 per cent. Junior School.
We were also able to celebrate the First Anniversary of the Junior School with a grand day out to Mr Morris was formerly
Legoland. For a new school, so much of real quality has happened and staff, pupils and parents Headmaster of Kingham Hill
look forward to strengthening this even more in the future. I am confident that the new Headmaster, School in Oxfordshire and,
Mr Martin Morris, will build on the achievements of Miss Alesa Henham in her two years setting prior to his eight years there,
up the School. was Headmaster of Catteral
With some sadness, we saw our last few boarders depart. We celebrated 418-years of boarding at a Hall, the Prep School attached
special reunion, well-attended by a broad cross-section of age groups. Much of the space formerly to Giggleswick School in North
occupied by boarding has been refurbished over the summer to provide excellent new seminar rooms Yorkshire. Mr Morris’
and administrative facilities. We have plans to make best use of the remaining space during the experience of leading a Prep
next couple of years. In the main School building this summer we have converted the small teaching school and a Senior school
rooms into a smart new language suite. equip him well to develop
Later this term the School will be inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. This is a further the good links between
planned visit on a six-yearly cycle and I am sure the Inspectors will enjoy meeting the boys and staff the Senior and Junior Schools
and, I hope, will be able to appreciate what makes QEH such a happy and successful School. at QEH.
(Further information can be found
s w holliday headmaster in the ‘QEH Juniors’ Supplement’
contained within this newsletter).

Warm Welcome

We extend a warm welcome to all our
new QEH entrants.
Pictured: the incoming Year 7s arriving for a
‘QEH Experience’ day at School at the end of
the Summer term, in readiness for September.

SCHOOL MATTERS QEH News 3

Making a bee- Failand launch
line for QEH

One warm afternoon in mid-May a
swarm of about 1000 bees invaded
QEH, settling themselves on a shady
wall on the Upper.

Bristol City Council sent their ‘Bee’ Excellent results! It would be hard to ignore the
Team rapidly to the scene whilst the changes that have taken place at our
two Deputy Heads, Mr Bateson QEH boys are again celebrating Sports Ground at Failand over the last
(Mr ‘B’) and Mr Ryan, made a bee-line excellent results in this year’s few months, in partnership with
to the scene to alert boys to beeware. A-levels and GCSEs. Bristol City Football Club.
The masterful apiarist from BCC At A-level there was a 100 per cent pass On the 23 acres of newly acquired fields
gathered the bees into a bespoke rate and over 83 per cent of the boys we now have 5 new, purpose-built and
cardboard box with the aid of a smoke gained passes at A or B grade – for the verdant football pitches (Bristol City has a
canister, thereby avoiding potential sixth year running. One-third of further 4 pitches). This is in addition to the
problems for boys taking their Biology candidates achieved straight As in all their main 17-acre ground where QEH has 7
AS Levels in the nearby laboratories. subjects. 96 per cent of all results were at A, rugby and 3 cricket pitches. By the main
B or C grade. gate there is now a much-needed and
Train to Gain At AS-level over 90 per cent of the students magnificent new car park for 150 cars and
gained 4 or more passes and 83.4 per cent 6 coaches.
Congratulations go to many of our all of results were at A, B, or C grades. The School is in the early stages of
catering and domestic staff who GCSE students are also celebrating discussions with Bristol City Football Club
achieved their NVQ qualifications excellent results, with over 98 per cent of about how other areas of the site might
under the Government’s Train to the boys gaining passes at A* – C grade. be developed.
Gain scheme this summer.
Mr Holliday said: “The boys have worked
We hardly need reminding of the hard, sitting no fewer than 4,306 papers
excellence of our caterers and cleaners! plus coursework, and deserve their
success. In particular, I am delighted that
almost every student at A-level achieved
his first choice university place.”

4 QEH News EVENTS

All stand up...

Every four years the whole School Left: The Headmaster discussing logistics with
turns out for the School photograph. the photographer
The School Yard is filled with scaffolding Below: Boys lining up patiently for staff to take
and it is a major feat to collect together and their positions
co-ordinate some 800 people including the
630 pupils and staff. This is the first year in
the history of QEH that the Junior School
goes on record with a photograph too.

 A fiery crew of 17 QEH staff and their
partners spent a glorious Sunday in June
battling against 35 other teams in dragon
boats over a course of approximately 250
metres at Baltic Wharf, Bristol Docks.
Impressively, the team’s final run broke
the crucial 60 second barrier!
Thanks go to Mazars and especially to
parent, Mr Tim Ball, for funding the QEH
entry. The event was organised by the
Rotary Club of Bristol Breakfast and is
expected to have raised over £50,000 for a
number of charities including Sight Savers
and St Peter’s Hospice.

ACTIVITIES QEH News 5

TeaRmeBduildMingawiitdh s’ Journalistic Dream

Year 8 Red Maids’ girls joined their Disco & Picnic James Bailey, Year 11, reached the final
counterparts at QEH for a demanding of the prestigious BBC Bristol Young
afternoon of team building, involving Year 7s, 8s and 9s joined Red Maids’ Correspondent of the Year Award - short-
dance and drama. once again for one of the regular listed to the last 20 from hundreds
The mixed teams of students took it charity fundraising discos run jointly of entries.
in turns to learn the steps of Scottish between the brother and sister schools. James says: “I have always dreamed of
Dancing and Salsa, as well being involved The event raised £614 for UNICEF mingling with my heroes, travelling the
in two sessions of improvised drama Ugandan Education Projects. Another world and reporting on all the latest news”.
workshops, to learn what it means to be event was a picnic in the beautiful He would love to report on football in the
part of a team. grounds of RMS where a number of countries that play it the best!
joint activities were organized. Go to James’s popular football website:
Maths Team Challenges www.thefirst90minutes.com
Gabbling to victory
Mathematics students have competed Clubbing …
successfully in four major competitions. Congratulations to Jason Forbes, the
The Bristol Inter Schools Mathematics A Team overall winner of this year’s Gabblers’ with a difference
Competition was convincingly won by the Competition. He spoke on the subject of
Upper Sixth team of James Fletcher, Simon ‘Tall Ships’. There is a good variety of lunchtime
Harris, Daniel Lau, Aneeq Qadir, Mark and after school clubs where boys can
Raymond and Seanpaul Robinson. The Gabblers’ Club encourages students to spend a happy half hour each week.
The regional final of the Senior Team develop their communication and public Here we feature two flourishing
Challenge held at UWE, organised by the speaking skills through ‘After Dinner’ examples as a reminder to boys and
United Kingdom Mathematics Trust, saw Yoon speeches at Bristol hotels, culminating in a parents that that there’s more to life at
Gi Min, Conor Walsh, Simon Harris and Grand Final at which they entertain QEH than the classroom!
Mark Raymond finishing a creditable hundreds of guests (including the Lord
second from 21 teams in the South West. Mayor of Bristol) with their erudite, yet Checking on Chess
The Lower Sixth team of Sam Burnell, amusing, discourses on a variety of
Gregory Giltrow-Tyler, Sam Matthews, seemingly obscure subjects! Some of the 20 or so boys who enjoy Chess Club at
Yoon Gi Min, Louis Ryan and Conor Walsh Friday lunchtimes
won the B team event in The Bristol Inter
Schools Competition. Puzzling it out

Every Tuesday lunchtime some 25
Year 7 and 8 boys stretch their brains
whilst having fun at Puzzle and Games
Club. Sometimes they choose to tackle
a Sudoku or code breaker. Other weeks
they ponder over 3D jigsaws, play
Jenga, Uno and Operation or bring in
their own games or puzzles to share.

The latest notable success was by a team of Chemistry Olympiad The top 5% gain a Gold award, the next
two Year 8 boys, Jack Louden and Chris 12% gain a Silver award and the next 33%
Woodman, and two Year 9s, Joshua Inoue Impressive results were achieved by the gain a Bronze award. This means that the
and Szelong Ng, who won the Regional following in the National Chemistry Olympiad top half of all students entered (about
Final of the UKMT Team Challenge out of 23 run by the Royal Society of Chemistry for sixth 1500) gain one of these awards, so these are
teams. This is the first time we have won formers: very impressive results.
this competition since its start. In The Royal Society of Chemistry 5-Decade
Mark Raymond – Gold; Michael Cole – Exam Challenge Laurence Small and Will
Silver; Donald Benton, David Jones and Stockham both won Merits.
Daniel Lau - Bronze.

6 QEH News TRIPS AND TRAVEL

Everest (continued from Cover)

On 2 July 2008 a party of three staff and 22 trekked to Everest Base Camp. They also There were no major problems with
boys departed for a 21-day expedition to climbed to Kala Patthar, a height of 5600 acclimatisation to the altitude and
Everest Base Camp via Nepal (below). metres (pictured on Cover), everybody agreed that it had been the
experience of a lifetime!
The party flew to Kathmandu where they On their return to Kathmandu the party
spent two days absorbing the culture spent a day white water rafting, and a day
before flying to Lukla at the start of the sightseeing, before their return to Bristol.
14-day trek.

The party camped for two nights at Gorak
Shep (5100 metres) from where they

Lyme Regis remains The ancient ammonites of the Jurassic
Coast did not know what had hit them in
late June when our entire Year 7 marched
purposefully onto the beach in Dorset to
hunt for fossils.
A major landslide earlier in the year
prevented geographers from visiting the
usual hunting site near Lyme Regis but, to
everyone’s relief, the cliffs at nearby
Charmouth gave generously from their
pre-historic collection and many pupils
went away clutching the remains of 120
million year-old sea creatures.

Hispanic passion Science Museum

Last Easter saw 54 passionate Year 9 The whole of Year 8 descended
- 13 Hispanists, and six mature ones on London’s Science Museum
from the staff, throwing themselves where they were able to enjoy a
into Spanish culture for eight days day’s ‘hands on’ experience.
and staying with families in Madrid
and Cordoba.

TRIPS AND TRAVEL QEH News 7

History – Battlefields

Over the May Bank Holiday weekend
a group of 40 boys and five staff
(including the Headmaster and
Deputy Headmaster) visited the
World War I Battlefields around
Ypres and The Somme.
The most moving moment was the laying
of a wreath on the Menin Gate to Old
Elizabethan WRR Palmer.

Called to serve …

Many will know that Mr Murray,
as a member of the Territorial
Army, is on temporary leave
from QEH. He has been
mobilised and is due to serve in
Afghanistan, leaving later this
year after a period of intensive
training. We wish him a
fulfilling time and a safe return.

Italy.... During the summer break 64 Lower Then there was a disco every night with a
School boys and eight staff went to chance to learn the moves to dances like
At Easter 41 boys and five staff set off on the Ardèche and Mediterranean the Cha-Cha Slide or Grease Lightning.
another Classics trip, initially taking in with a thirst for adventure. The group then travelled onwards to the
Pompeii and Herculaneum, then smaller The 22-hour journey by coach and ferry Ardèche site, stopping at the Aquapark
cameo experiences such as Bay of Naples, brought them to Club Mimosa where for exhilarating waterslides and rides.
a mozzarella farm and a very damp accommodation was tents, and Thereafter, for three days, they marvelled
excursion to the picturesque but rather immediate entertainment included at the rapids and negotiated in canoes
brooding isle of Capri. In Rome they playing games on the beach, sailing in down the Ardèche Gorge. Once again
enjoyed two days’ sunny sightseeing, funboats, picos and catamarans, there was lots of evening entertainment
visiting such famous Roman remains as windsurfing and ocean riding. In the in the form of a multi-sports competition,
the Pantheon, Colosseum and Circus evenings there was always an activity swimming games and a spot of culture on
Maximus, and of course St Peter’s. after supper: Beach Olympics, Get Your Own a trip to a local village.
Back (where Mr Ellis and Dr Kyle got a
soaking from the winning team) and a
wander round the resort port of Agde.

Ardèche
Adventure

8 QEH News SPORT

Sports Day

Sports Day in June was a great
success, especially as we were blessed
with excellent weather.
Carr House carried off the House Cup in a
close fought contest with Bird’s, Hartnell’s
and Ramsey’s.
Congratulations to the record breakers:
Adam Taylor in the Senior 200 Metres,
George Hurford in the Intermediate 1500
Metres and Jack Griffin in the U13 Shot.
Thank you to parents who gave support
to the competitors and helped with the
side shows.

Red Cross

Melanie Ball, Area Fundraising Manager for
the Red Cross (pictured below), was presented
with a cheque for £822; money raised by the
boys at their recent Unplugged concert and
Mufti Day.
Boys raised £600 on Mufti Day alone for Red
Cross Week (4-10 May) when they and staff
came dressed in red.
Congratulations, and a big thank you, to all
who took part in this very worthwhile
fundraising activity.

SPORT QEH News 9

Making Above: Staff member practising capsize drill!
waves Left: Competing in the QEH mini-regatta

Sailing in Baltic Wharf is one of a
variety of alternatives to the main School
sports. On games afternoons boys opt
for pursuits which include: Athletics,
Badminton, Basketball, Climbing, Cross
Country, Fitness, Golf, Hiking, Hockey,
Ice Skating, Squash, Swimming, Table
Tennis, Tennis and Weight Training.

Ten Tors and D of E Avon
Schools
Congratulations to all three QEH teams Tennis
for completing the Ten Tors courses in
May. Conditions were very hot which Congratulations go to the six boys
made the going arduous. Both the 45- who qualified for the Avon Schools
and 55-Mile teams were first in their Tennis Tournament:
categories. Under-14: Aly Abdel-Fattah.
Under-16: Alex Matthews, Kieran
Teams were: Redpath, and Wil Paterson who received a
35 Mile Team 45 Mile Team 55 Mile Team Gold medal for qualifying top of his group,
George Bamber Ed Smart Steven Kington and Alex Allen who reached the Semi-Final.
Eddie Obree Stephen John Will Obree Under-19: Josh Middleton (pictured) who
Alex Murden Oliver Saunders Geoff Smart just lost out in a nail-biting Championship
Alfred Reynolds Alex Hooper Martyn Davies tie-breaker and who received a trophy.
Jamie Tibbles David Ford Andrew Moody
Ben McAndrew Ben Webber Adam Mackintosh Duke of
Edinburgh’s

Champers for Zampers Race for Life This year 65 boys started
their Bronze Awards with
Dino Zamparelli, Year 10, continues to Congratulations to the 21 female staff from 35 taking part in Silver and
excel on the race circuit in his Ferrari red QEH who ran the race in May supporting 30 in the Gold Award.
Junior Ginetta. Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work. Completion of the Awards at
every stage takes a huge amount
He is still leading the class in the Ginetta Pictured: The group which represented of commitment, and participants
Championship by 44 points with just four the School gain a great deal of experience
more races left. He is some way ahead of from the process.
Josh Hill (son of former F1 driver Damon
Hill) who lies in third position. The Service element is undertaken within
For details go to: www.dino-zamparelli.com the community, where many boys help with
local charities or youth organisations. The
Skill and Physical Recreation sections can
follow School activities, although they must
be completed in the participant’s own time.

The Expedition is carried out in the late
Spring or Summer terms, after months of
preparation. The expeditions take place in
South Wales, or on Exmoor, or Dartmoor.

10 QEH News MUSIC & DRAMA

Charley’s Aunt

QEH teamed up with The Red
Maids’ School for a Year 9 and 10
Drama students’ production of
Charley’s Aunt, providing a great
opportunity to see brother and
sister schools together in action!
The audience thoroughly enjoyed the
farcical comedy, and the hilarity and
confusion over the delayed arrival of
an aunt which then ensues.
Co-directed by Miss Naomi Morgan
from QEH and Miss Kate McLean
from Red Maids’, the production was
unusual in having two casts, thereby
allowing more students to be involved.

Samba

The School was, once again, treated to the
delights of a Samba workshop where, as
part of their Music studies, Year 9 boys
were able to learn about and participate in
an improvised performance of Brazilian
carnival music. This led them to marching
noisily (but melodiously) throughout the
grounds of QEH. Samba is just one of
many styles of world music they learn
throughout the year.

Metamorphosis

Members of the Upper Sixth and Year repercussions on his life, highlighted in
11 presented Steven Berkoff's this production in stark detail with a black
adaptation of Kafka’s Metamorphosis and white set.
at the QEH Theatre.
Director, Miss Naomi Morgan, said:
Berkoff ’s exciting and physical adaptation “The boys worked very hard to produce
took the audience through the emotions, a physical and visually fantastic show in a
thrills and terrors of Gregor Samsa’s short space of time. It was hard work but it
transformation into a dung beetle and the all paid off!”

DEVELOPMENT NEWS QEH 11

Development Oxford dinner Leaving a legacy
Report
Looking forward to the next academic year We received gifts recently from two Old
As we close another academic year in the we have made plans for the Oxford Dinner, Elizabethans who died in the last year, who
Development Office we thank all the Old to be held in Lincoln College on Friday either stated their intention in their Will or
Elizabethans who, over the year, have 10th October, and if it is anything like last whose widow chose to give the School a gift
supported us through financial donations, year’s it will be an evening to remember. ‘In Memoriam’ and we are very grateful to
attendance at dinners and reunions and The Starters of 1948, 1958 and the Leavers the families of Mr Harold Fussell (1922 –
through generous donations of of 1978 will all be meeting on the day of the 1927) and Mr John Rees (1936 – 1941).
memorabilia. We continue to be surprised Old Boys’ Society Annual Dinner on
by the visitors we have in School, many of Saturday 15th November. We intend to launch a legacy brochure in
whom merely pass by the gates and cannot the autumn explaining how others could
resist a look around the School. If you are from one of these Year groups leave money to the School.
Highlights of this term have been the and would like to come along, please get
return of the 1998 Leavers, led by Ben in touch. Farewell to our
P Jones. Over 20 of them returned and Development Officer
spent the afternoon with current and We also need to move forward to be in a
former staff. position to raise funds to support the Our very best wishes to Mrs Charlotte
planned redevelopment of the Science Rogers-Jones on her promotion to
We hosted another successful dinner at facilities. The Governing Body will soon be Foundation Director at Westonbirt School
the East India Club on Friday 6th June, able to publish their plans and at that stage near Tetbury.
attended by 25 OEs who live and work in we will be looking to those who can, to
the London area including Peter Fowler support the School financially to help fund Development Office: please contact
and Malcolm Harding (both former music this enormous undertaking. And, of [email protected]
teachers), members of the Old Boys’ course, we continue to raise much Telephone 0117 930 3040
Society Committee and younger OEs needed funds to support the boys of
including Marc Whitmore who made an Bristol to benefit from the education that
impassioned speech about the need to raise QEH offers.
further funds for bursaries. The School
shield was seen for the first time hanging end of an era
alongside plaques of the other great
schools in the UK (see picture top right). The ‘Celebration of Boarding 1590 – 2008’
on Saturday 5th July was always going to
be a poignant day for many and we are
pleased to say that over 120 OEs, their
parents, former staff and current staff
returned to wallow in nostalgia. They were
joined by a healthy contingent of the 1983
Leavers. We also received many kind
wishes from those unable to attend.

The Careers department continues to
benefit from input from Old Elizabethans
and Carl Francis-Pester returned to talk
about his career in insurance and politics
(he is a district councillor for North
Somerset), as did Ian Filby who, as a
Director of Boots, was able to give an
insight into the corporate world of retail.

Open Morning and Visiting

OPEN MORNING is on Saturday 11 October starting at 10am with an address from the
Headmaster in the QEH Theatre, followed by group tours of the School.
If you wish to visit the School and meet the Headmaster, or simply receive a prospectus,
please contact the Headmaster’s Secretary, Mrs Davies, on 0117-930 3044, e-mail
[email protected] or fill in the online enquiry form at: www.qehbristol.co.uk

Duncan stainer It is with deep sadness that we have to Friends’ news...
report the sudden and unexpected death
Above: DES with fellow QEH ornithologists of Mr Duncan Stainer, former Head of The Friends of QEH have enjoyed
Classics aged 59, whilst on a walking another successful year providing a
holiday in the Scottish Highlands over wide range of social events to parents
the summer. and pupils.
His Memorial Meeting at the Friends’
Meeting House, Sidcot on Wednesday 20
August was attended by many QEH staff
and boys.
Our thoughts are with his wife Rachel
and his family.
More details will appear in the next issue
of The Elizabethan.

Fair trade These included: a wonderful evening
of Fireworks at Failand along with mulled
Pictured: Year 9 students hawking their wine, hot soup, barbecue and novelty
wares at the regular Fair Trade stall stalls; our annual Quiz Night with a record
number of entrants; Battle of the Bands
Dates for your Diary 2008 including the famous panel of judges; The
Friends’ Ball with its discotheque, candlelit
September 15th Friends’ AGM - Theatre October 24th – HALF TERM supper, wine and entertainment by the
Mon 7:00pm November 3rd SCHOOL INSPECTION WEEK QEH Jazz Band and The Short Film Festival
where we screened a collection of short
September 18th 6ii Parents’ Evening November 3rd- 7th films by current and ex-QEH pupils.
Thurs 5:30pm The weather was perfect for Sports Day
and parents enjoyed watching their sons
September 25th-26th Year 7 PGL trip to Devon November 5th 6i Parents’ Evening competing for their Houses and partici-
Thurs-Fri Wed 5:30pm pating in other fun activities including
Friends’ Fireworks at Failand bouncy castle, coconut shy and juggling.
September 30th Informal Concert – November 8th Energy levels were restored afterwards
Tues 7:30pm Music School Sat 5:30pm School Remembrance Service with a barbecue, strawberries and a cream
tea from the marquee.
October 8th Year 7 Parents’ Social Evening November 14th OLD BOYS’ SOCIETY
Wed 7:30pm Fri 10:45am ANNUAL DINNER In January The Friends of QEH invested
£6000 in fitness equipment and donated
October 9th Unplugged Concert – Theatre November 15th Concert with Red Maids’ – £3000 towards the new garden area. We
Thurs 7:30pm Sat 7:00pm Clifton Cathedral hope these will be valued and used by all
the boys for years to come.
October 11th QEH November 17th Year 10 Parents’ Evening A special thank you goes to the Friends’
Sat 10:00am-12noon OPEN MORNING Mon 7:30pm Committee and all the parents who have
Year 7 Parents’ Evening run and supported the events this year.
October 14th Year 11 6th Form Acquaint Morning November 20th
Tues 9:00am Thurs 5:00pm Carol Service - Bristol Cathedral,
Term Ends
October 17th Prizegiving – School ends 12 noon December 2nd
Fri 10:30am Tues 5:00pm

October 20th Year 11 Parents’ Evening December 12th
Mon 7:30pm (Entry to 6th Form) Fri 2:30pm

www.qehbristol.co.uk