Last week really was full-on for me. Three House Suppers (Osmund, Poore and Ward), an excellent evening event at Havelock House hosted by GOC 3rd Division on Tuesday and then a most convivial drinks reception for alumni at the Est India Club in St James’ Square in the West End. What was lost in domestic routine was made up by meeting and networking, the chance to identify opportunities for the future and to cement links with many sections of the school community. The school works best for the boys if barriers are broken down and people talk – and that is exactly what last week was all about.
The House Suppers really are the senior boys’ events to run, and they invariably do a great job. There is nothing like bringing your 10 year-old son to an evening at his future school where he can meet his mates and then hear from the Year 12 boys with whom he will be working come September. I always feel that a fundamental building block slips into place on those evenings, as both the Year Sixes and their parents see a vision of the future enacted; in six years’ time he will be there, with future plans and aspirations. Connection is established, understanding gained, momentum begun and the incoming Year 7 starts to gel well in advance of induction day, let alone the start of the autumn term. The events are so powerful in that respect – as well as being really enjoyable for the grown-ups too.
Beating the Retreat at Tidworth was memorable – the Parachute Regiment Band and the Pipes and Drums of the Tank Regiment, good weather and plenty of people to talk to. One of the spin-offs is that I will be communicating directly with the Army to ensure that awareness of what BWS has to offer is high, especially for the personnel returning from Germany. Many are resettling in the local area and it would be great to see lots of Army families aspiring to send their sons (and sixth form daughters) to Bishop’s. We already have 50-60 HM Forces personnel children here, and I would very much welcome more interest and applications as time progresses.
Connections are vital beyond BWS too, and that was what Thursday night in London was all about. I drove a minibus up to London, taking with me some current staff and also three long-serving ex-staff (John Cox, Joe Newman and Geoff Layton). Despite the traffic jams around Twickenham we arrived in good form and then were joined at the EIC by Roger Crisp (BWS’ External Relations Director) and around 30 alumni from across a wide age range. Some fascinating stories over a glass of wine and (importantly)some really good re-connections made which will be brilliant for the current cohort of boys and their successors. One of the things that characterises Wordsworthians is a genuine desire to help those who are following in their footsteps. I really look forward to seeing the fruits of last Thursday evening, and I am immensely grateful to Pippa Anders and Emma Baker who came along for the ride and the chat, and to those ex-colleagues who made the evening work so well.
All-in-all a tiring but excellent week. Roger has produced a newsletter for Wordsworthians and others across the BWS community which can be found here http://www.bws-school.org.uk/documents/Foundation/2019-06_Bulletin.pdf
SDS
