Incorporating the Headmaster’s Report

Monday 17 September 2012

PRIZEGIV I NG 2012

The PorTsmouTh Grammar sChooL

THE PoRTSMouTH GRaMMaR ScHool2

Front cover image: The new House flags. First unfurled on Leavers’ Day and carried by the House Captains during the ‘March through the Arch’; the designs are based on elements from relevant coats of arms on a background of the House colour. The flag for Grant House features a crossed key and sword which appears in the crest of Portsmouth Anglican Diocese, and reflects Canon Grant’s role as Vicar of Portsmouth. The Latter House flag features choughs, adopted from the arms of Christ Church College, Oxford, but which also appear in the PGS arms because of the college’s role as trustee and continuing part in the governance of the school. The Smith House flag has the familiar lion - embodying courage, strength and nobility - from the founder’s coat of arms dating from 1711. Finally, the Whitcombe House flag has the city’s star and crescent, reflecting the Alderman’s dedication to civic and public service. (Cover photo by Chris Reed)

The Founder’s hymn

Words: by Robert Bridge (1844-1930) based on

the German of Joachim Neander (1650-1680)

Music: by Herbert Howells

all my hope on God is founded;He doth still my trust renew.

Me through change and chance he guideth,Only good and only true.God unknown,He aloneCalls my heart to be his own.

Pride of man and earthly glory,Sword and crown betray his trust;What with care and toil he buildeth,Tower and temple, fall to dust.But God’s power,Hour by hour,Is my temple and my tower.

God’s great goodness aye endureth,Deep his wisdom, passing thought:Splendour, light, and life attend him,Beauty springeth out of naught.Evermore,From his storeNew-born worlds rise and adore.

Daily doth Th’ Almighty GiverBounteous gifts on us bestow;His desire our soul delighteth,Pleasure leads us where we go.Love doth standAt his hand;Joy doth wait on his command.

Still from man to God eternalSacrifice of praise be done,High above all praises praisingFor the gift of Christ his Son.Christ doth callOne and all:

Ye who follow shall not fall.

please stand for the Governors’ Procession and Hymn

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PRIZEGIVING

Monday 17 September 2012

Guest of Honour:

Peter Lodder QC

Programme

Founder’s hymn

Welcome and introduction by the Headmaster

Chairman’s address

Presentation of prizes

Address by the Guest of Honour

Vote of thanks by Senior Prefect

Final prayer and blessing by the Chaplain

At the end of the programme, please remain standing until the Governors’ departing procession has been completed. You are warmly invited to drinks in the nave after the conclusion of Prizegiving.

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headmaster’s Introduction

Governors, Parents, Pupils and Guests,

Welcome to this year’s Prizegiving and a particularly warm welcome to our Guest of Honour, Peter Lodder QC (OP).

I am grateful to the Dean and Chapter for permission to hold this evening’s ceremony in the Cathedral Church of St Thomas. My thanks also to David Doyle for his expertise in overseeing the arrangements for this celebration of the school year, and to John Sadden for all his work with David in compiling this splendid programme.

A number of awards have been made in advance of this evening and are noted in the first part of the programme. We continue to observe the guideline that only in very exceptional circumstances will a pupil win more than two academic prizes.

Many congratulations to all our prizewinners. This evening is an opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary achievements of the last academic year and to celebrate all that makes this school such a special place in which to learn and grow.

James Priory Headmaster

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Peter Lodder QC

Whether the skills honed as an active member of PGS Debating Society help Peter Lodder as one of the country’s leading criminal barristers is not known, but the surviving school records suggest that he was no stranger to winning arguments

in a challenging environment.

Peter joined the Portsmouth Grammar School as a fifteen year old from King’s School, Gloucester. He was noted as being “sensible” and “clearheaded” as well as demonstrating resourcefulness, enthusiasm, intelligence and confidence, qualities which served him well as a Prefect and made him popular with his fellow pupils. His sporting interests included tennis and hockey, and he was a member of the triumphant Grant House team in the 1975 hockey league.

Peter’s grandfathers had been a milkman and a bus driver, and his father joined the Royal Navy as a boy sailor and rose through the ranks to become an officer. Sadly he died before Peter started at university, but no doubt he would have taken pride in the fact that Peter was the first member of his family to go to university and graduate, and the first to enter the legal profession.

He gained his law degree at the University of Birmingham and, to finance his training, worked as a court clerk at the Old Bailey during the week and as a factory worker from 6am to 10pm on Saturdays and Sundays. A turning point came when Peter won the Jules Thorn Senior Law Scholarship, an award made by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple and reported in The Portmuthian in 1983. This award enabled Peter to concentrate on qualifying as a barrister.

Peter has been a Recorder of the Crown Court since 2000, and was appointed a QC in 2001. “Taking silk” has resulted in Peter taking on a wider range of challenging and serious cases. He has an extensive practice in serious and complex fraud and money-laundering cases, and a heavy workload in general crime including murder, drug cases and high-profile road traffic cases.

Peter’s views on high-profile cases and changes in the law are often sought by the media, and he has contributed to many topical programmes, including Unreliable Evidence and The One Show. Last year the Government’s legal aid proposals prompted Peter to write that the cuts “would leave many children, vulnerable people and families without any meaningful access to justice”.

Peter was elected as Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association in 2008-9, Vice-Chairman of the Bar in the following year and Chairman of the Bar in 2011.

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headmaster’s report2011-12 has been a year of bunting and Great Expectations. The bicentenary of Charles Dickens, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and, above all, the extraordinary spectacle of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games – each event has defied the weather and brought people together in a celebration of past and present. For The Portsmouth Grammar School,

too, this has been a year of great expectations fulfilled.

‘Citius, altius, Fortius’Just as Team GB rose to new heights in the medals table, it has been satisfying to see the talent and hard work of pupils and their teachers recognised in this year’s excellent public examination results.

At A Level and IB we enjoyed our best ever results with a record 63% of all subject entries awarded A*/A, or the IB equivalent of 7/6 points at Higher Level. The average points score per candidate at IB rose to 36 points, above the level equivalent to AAB at A Level and the benchmark for entry to the most selective universities.

The parents’ survey completed earlier this year highlighted university guidance as a distinctive strength of the school and we have hosted a series of events charting changes in Higher Education, including an evening with the philosopher and founder of the New College of Humanities, Professor A C Grayling; Professor Jeff Thompson, an expert in international education at the University of Bath; and Professor Debra Humphris, Pro Vice Chancellor (Education) of the University of Southampton. It was pleasing therefore to see the continued success of Year 13 pupils in achieving their chosen university places, and particularly so at IB which is developing a strong track record in first choice success at PGS. Well over 80% of pupils have progressed to Russell Group and 1994 Group universities, including nine pupils this year going on to study at Oxford and Cambridge.

At GCSE, pupils were on record-breaking form again, achieving the school’s highest ever proportion of A*s, with the top grade awarded to nearly 40% of all subject entries. All pupils now sit the International GCSE in Mathematics, English and English Literature, with IGCSEs also being introduced in Modern Languages from next year.

League tables can be fickle things and not all schools choose to submit their results, but it was indicative of PGS’s all-round performance this year, that we were placed inside the top 100 UK schools at GCSE and well inside the top 75 at A level and IB. In a summer of podium ceremonies, this was PGS’s turn to mount the steps after two years’ hard work and dedicated training.

‘Please, sir, I Want some more’Although he left the city long before he had the chance to don a PGS blazer and tie, the school has a played a key role in celebrating the Immortal memory of one of the world’s greatest novelists and social reformers. We occupy the site of the original Theatre Royal visited by Charles Dickens when he was writing Oliver Twist and hatching plans for Nicholas Nickleby’s escape from the horrors of Dotheboys Hall to sunny Portsmouth; and we are joint sponsors with the Dickens Fellowship of the annual Birthday lecture, this year presented by Michael Allen, an authority on Dickens’ childhood.

Dickens’ bicentenary was one of the main inspirations for the 2012 Portsmouth Festivities, which featured a brilliantly inventive staging of the ghost story The Chimes in the David Russell Theatre, and an art exhibition in St Thomas’s Cathedral in which Year 9 pupils created exquisite ceramic boxes containing objects from Dickens’ stories: Oliver’s begging bowl, David Copperfield’s secret sovereigns and Miss Havisham’s crumbling roses. It was exciting to see the Art department’s kilns in action once again, and pupils similarly fired up by such a creative project.

The author’s great great grandson, Ian Dickens, presided over the PGS Extend Evening in which Year 13 pupils presented their independent research projects, with topics ranging from the French-Algerian War to Autism Spectrum Disorders and the artwork of the Paris Metro Stations. Bobby Abernethy was the worthy winner of the Ithaka Prize for his second military fantasy novel, prompting our guest of honour to urge everyone in the audience to have the boldness of his famous forbear and to put their ideas and experiences into print. It was advice which Romy Barton had heeded, winning The Mail on Sunday’s national student essay competition.

Charles Dickens, who began his career as a journalist, would have been similarly proud of the efforts of the Portsmouth Point editorial team this year. In addition to a Dickens-themed issue of the magazine timed to coincide with both the Festivities and the University of Portsmouth’s international conference, a brand new Portsmouth Point blog has been launched offering views and reactions to current affairs and modern culture. It has been highly praised and looks set to provide an intellectual outlet for some time to come.

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Other opportunities for the fizz (or should that be Phiz?) of discussion and debate have included the Model United Nations, which again hosted its popular annual conference, and a number of national competitions in which pupils have made noticeable strides this year. Anna Bazley and Claire Stephens were invited to a briefing by the Dutch Ambassador when they represented the Netherlands in a Mock Council of the European Union, and Tim MacBain and Jerome Luchesa-Smith made excellent progress in the English Speaking Union Mace Debating competition. Georgie Boxall was elected Chairperson of the Portsmouth Youth Parliament. There were laurel wreaths all round at the Classical Reading competition in Winchester this year, with awards including the NM Brewer prize for the Beginners Latin play, performed by Year 7 pupils Hector Bonnin, Jonathan Easton, George Ford, Olivia Watkins and Adam Watt. Such has been the appetite for public speaking that even David Dimbleby was taken aback by the confidence of our pupils when he invited them to become panellists for the pre-show rehearsal of BBC Question Time, broadcast live from the David Russell Theatre in March.

Other memorable visitors to the school this year have included prolific author Anthony Horowitz, literary sleuth Professor John Sutherland, household favourite Miriam Margolyes and sailing world record holder, Dee Caffari, all of whom- along with speakers such as Lord Hattersley, The Big Issue Founder John Bird and cricketer-turned- journalist Ed Smith- have helped us to celebrate Dickens’ two hundredth birthday as well as to look forward to London 2012.

‘Be Curious’Just as Professor Stephen Hawking urged us to continue to question and wonder, at the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games, so The Bristow Clavell Science Centre continues to inspire our teaching and learning, both in school and beyond thanks to an ambitious outreach programme.

The Brunel Science Lecture provided an opportunity for IBM Master Inventor, Professor Andy Stanford-Clark to shed energy-efficient light on life inside ‘the house that tweets’ on the Isle of Wight, whilst Frozen Planet film maker, John Aitchison (OP), spoke to a packed theatre about the intrepid experience of filming at the North and South Poles in a talk marking the 50th anniversary of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

We were honoured to be invited by Professor Lord Winston to join forces with Imperial College and the charity Exscitec to support their first science outreach project outside of London. PGS Sixth Formers worked alongside postgraduate students as Science Ambassadors, encouraging budding scientists from local schools to take part in a research project on energy renewal. Pupils have also been involved in welcoming members of the public to the BBC’s Stargazing Live at the Spinnaker Tower, as well taking part in filming a special edition of Sky at Night in the laboratories of the Science Centre itself. Our Mathematicians have also been in action, with a team of Year 8 and 9 pupils reaching the National Finals for the UK Team Maths Challenge at the Royal Horticultural Halls.

It was fitting that Deputy Head of Physics, Mr Jeremy Thomas, should receive an Education and Business Partnership Amazing Person Award this year for his work promoting science in Portsmouth. As the Mars Rover, Curiosity, touches down for its two year mission, so we look forward to even more exciting STEM projects to come.

‘There Is No Place Like home’The musical production of Wizard of Oz at the Kings Theatre in December was just of one the events this year to remind us of the importance of home as the pastoral House system moved into its second century at PGS. The centenary was marked with an inaugural House Song competition judged by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, whose sound track credits include Shrek and Pirates of the Caribbean. Every single pupil took part, a team effort suitably recognised in the overall prize going to Summers House’s rendition of Lean on Me. Also enjoying the colourful harmonies was the Lord Mayor, Cheryl Buggy, who presented the Lord Mayor’s House Challenge Trophy to Whitcombe and Summers, a new prize based on every single House competition throughout the year, including Sport, Music, Drama, and even the accumulated Effort Grades and Recognitions from pupils’ academic studies. The rainbow of House colours which filled the Cathedral would have provided a fitting finale to Dorothy’s journey home from the Land of Oz, and was only to be matched by the unfurling of four new House flags paraded down the High Street by the House Captains at the March Through the Arch for our Year 13 pupils on Leavers’ Day.

Other events which captured the family atmosphere of the school this year included the revival of the Fireworks and Bonfire Party at Hilsea Playing Fields. Over a thousand people congregated in the November dusk to see the Fawcett Pavilion and 1st XV pitch spectacularly illuminated in a pyrotechnic show said by some to be better even than Disneyland. We plan to make this a regular fixture in the school calendar in future.

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PGS Come Dancing also made a welcome return with nineteen pairs of dancing couples raising £4,500 for our sponsored school in Cambodia, whilst the ice rink in the Quad at Christmas provided another opportunity for festive fun and fundraising.

Our guest of honour at Prizegiving, the entrepreneur and health expert Liz Earle, had encouraged us to consider issues of health and wellbeing as a community, whilst the Master of the Temple, Rev Robin Griffith-Jones, had challenged us on Founder’s Day to consider our state of readiness to help our neighbour. To offer a rather different perspective on the idea of home, therefore, we invited former pupil and Coalition Government adviser Francis Davis (OP) to talk to the Sixth Form about the social issues we face in twenty first century Britain. Pupils spent a morning visiting charitable organisations throughout Portsmouth and returned to share their experiences and to develop ideas for a social enterprise project. The Sixth Form Apprentice day concluded with an enormous beach clean involving 150 Year 12 students.

‘Youth is Full of sport’When Senior Girls’ Athletics Captain Hattie Gould carried the Olympic torch on the Isle of Wight, she was following in a line of outstanding PGS sporting figures who have played their part in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in recent years. Former Olympic sailor Edward Leask (OP) visited us earlier in the year to talk about the Olympic sailing venue at Weymouth which he has been responsible for delivering, and Ross Morrison (OP) has kept in touch with news from the training camp for the GB Wheelchair Rugby Team in which he has been a leading player for more than a decade. No wonder PGS was one of the first to be invited to join the London 2012 Get Set network of schools. With the Olympic flame bursting into life we were certainly not short on sporting inspiration this year, however much the rain sought to disrupted cricketing schedules or our best-laid plans for Sports Day.

The roll-call of achievements across the range of sports and age groups has been impressive, thanks as ever to enthusiastic, dedicated attendance at training sessions and after school clubs. Rounders, for example, is a sport which has grown in popularity with over 70 girls regularly attending after school practices, and this year, for the first time, the U15 team won a national title.

In rugby, all three age groups secured Hampshire county titles at U14, U15 and U16 level, whilst the 1st XV finished as Runners Up in the Plate Competition of the prestigious St Joseph’s, Ipswich tournament. The U14, U16 and U18 boys’ hockey teams all progressed to regional finals. The U14 girls’ hockey team became county champions and the U16s progressed to the national finals where they finished a creditable fifth.

Netball has also enjoyed a terrific season: all three national cup teams reached the regional finals with many of our girls selected for the South of England regional academy, whilst the 1st VII defeated title holders Millfield away to reach the national final of the Independent School’s Netball Cup. Head of Netball, Miss Gardner, was thrilled by the girls’ performances in such a high quality competition.

Our cricketers have had to show remarkable patience in a historically wet summer, but have again enjoyed a successful season at national level. The 1st XI battled their way to the quarter finals of the National Twenty20 competition with a thrilling win against Bradfield. The U15s also bowed out at the quarter final stage in their defence of the Lord’s Taverners’ Trophy, but have booked themselves a place in the National Twenty20 Finals day in September at Arundel.

Thoroughly warmed up from their training camp in Lanzarote, the Junior Girls Athletics team finished a worthy sixth in the National Final of the Track and Field Cup after winning the South West regional finals in style. The Intermediate Girls also performed strongly at regional level. The exciting development in Athletics this year has been the growing assurance of our boys’ team with the U15 boys becoming county track knockout champions.

The Olympic year has inspired team performances in an ever-widening range of sports including skiing, table tennis, squash and judo. We even saw the emergence of a PGS cycling team, though as yet minus Bradley Wiggins’ sideburns, in the form of Harry Hailwood, Callum Cross and Fergus Houghton-Connell who won the British Schools’ Hill Climbing Championships. Other notable individual achievements include Joseph Brown’s javelin throw of 62 metres earning him a place in the England team for a Home Countries International, and Emily Jenkinson claiming her sixth consecutive British Biathlon title. Golfer Jamie Mist played in the final qualifying round of the British Open at St Anne’s; Connor Guille was placed second in the British Junior Small Bore Rifle tournament; Douglas Tandy won the New Forest Triathlon; Sam Williams competed in Italy with the Junior team of the English Schools Ski Association; and brothers Liam and Devlin Stigant represented PGS in national fencing tournaments.

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No fewer than four pupils were selected to sail for Great Britain at the U19 Junior World Championships in Austria: Gemma Bird, Charlotte Fitzgerald, Emma Spruce and World Volvo Youth National Champion and Deputy Senior Prefect, Jess Lavery. Also enjoying success on the water this year were Jamie Diamond, George Ford, Ben Hazeldine, Jemima Lawson and Isabelle Welch.

Learning to respect the referee is a critical skill in competitive sport, and we are delighted that George Kimber-Sweatman has been selected as the youngest member of the inaugural Youth Council for the National Referees’ Association and Football Association, affirming his aspiration to become a Premiership referee.

Next year, PGS Sport travels to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia for what promises to be an extraordinary sporting and cultural experience for our girls and boys, and they will travel with even greater confidence and esprit de corps thanks to the efforts and achievements of 2011-12.

‘o Brave New World’As well as sport, pupils had the opportunity to take part in the Cultural Olympiad this summer thanks to the enterprising efforts of our new Director of Music, Mr Gladstone. Year 7 pupils joined a Massed Community Choir led by a-capella group Voces 8, to provide a musical arrival in Gunwharf for a 30 foot yacht constructed specially for London 2012 from thousands of donated wooden items, each with its own personal story. Other Festivities’ musical highlights experienced by pupils included master classes with former BBC Young Musician of the Year clarinettist Emma Johnson and composer Stephen Montague. It has been particularly exciting this year to see the growing confidence of our string players, with quartets now firmly established in the Middle School and Senior School. Their master class with the Brodsky Quartet was a joy for everyone involved.

The Remembrance Concert had added poignancy this year, held in St John’s, Smith Square on 11.11.11, and combined the PGS Chamber Choir and Parents’ Choir with Suzi Digby’s Choir Voce and the London Mozart Players. As well as commemorating ten years in our partnership with the LMP, this was an opportunity to hear two of the major commissions to emerge from the Remembrance Commission programme, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’ Five Acts of Harry Patch and Stephen Montague’s Requiem, The Trumpets Sounded. It was a highly moving occasion and tremendous to see pupils performing challenging contemporary works with such confidence on a London stage.

Lunchtime, House and Year Group Concerts have ensured a busy musical calendar throughout the year. The Spring Term Gala Concert in St John’s RC Cathedral was a notable highlight and probably one of the best school concerts I have ever attended. Over 150 pupils took part, with the programme including works by Gershwin, Finzi and Vaughan Williams and a truly uplifting performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria to close. Also noteworthy has been Jerome Luchesa-Smith’s achievement of an Organ Scholarship to Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford the first by a PGS pupil for 40 years, and Isabel Howson’s selection as one of only two tuba players in the National Youth Wind Ensemble.

Music and Drama joined forces in the Autumn to stage Wizard of Oz at the Kings Theatre. Over 2,500 people came to see a cast from Years 8 to 13 recreate the classic Judy Garland movie with some clever Brechtian touches devised by director, Mr Sperring. It was a stunning production, transporting us from grey Kansas to emerald Oz in style and showcasing once again our pupils’ rich talents in musical theatre.

The Winter’s Tale on stage at the New Theatre Royal was another dramatic highlight, set entertainingly in the Wild West, whilst the Sixth Form open-air production of Coriolanus in Southsea Castle, produced entirely by the pupils themselves post IB and AS Level examinations, held us enthralled with its combination of physical theatre and political rhetoric.

The Middle School production of Titanic in the David Russell Theatre brilliantly combined dramatic tension with music-hall comedy, luring the audience into imagining themselves on board the fated ship in its centenary year. Teasing entertainment of a different kind was being served at the House Drama Evening, which this year took as its inspiration David Croft’s classic sitcoms. It was a pleasure to enjoy episodes of Dad’s Army, Are You Being Served and Hi-de-Hi performed with such gusto and attention to detail, especially as none of the actors had been alive when the shows were first screened!

Theatrical experiences have also been the hallmark of this year’s Art exhibitions. Visitors were invited to navigate the decks of HMS Warrior 1860 to view the 2012 Summer Art Show curated by Miss Dyer and her team, whilst only the boldest dared to venture into the tunnels of Fort Widley to explore a night-time installation based on Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World by Sixth Form A level and IB students. With the Big Draw installation by Year 7 pupils in the St Thomas’s Cathedral nave as well, Art has, quite literally, been going places this year.

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‘Love is in all things a most wonderful teacher’You do not need to turn far in a Dickens novel to discover the importance- and sadly for characters such as Smike, the rarity- of a teacher who is both knowledgeable in their chosen subject and compassionate in their approach. As an academic team, we seek to inspire our pupils; but we also believe in the need to nurture our pupils’ progress, recognising that we are a pastoral team as well.

The school enjoys a national reputation for the quality of its Initial Teacher Training and this year, in conjunction with Portsmouth University, launched a Masters level course in Educational Leadership and Management to support the continued development of our teaching staff, led by Mr Paul Nials in his capacity as Senior Teacher, Development and Training. It has been excellent to see staff taking advantage of this opportunity to share best practice both in the classroom and beyond.

We were delighted this year to welcome a number of new faces to the teaching staff, including Mr Gladstone as the new Director of Music and Mr Stone as Head of Spanish. Mr Jordan joined us to teach Economics and Business Studies; Miss Cox and Miss Farmer, to teach Games; Miss Crockford, Art; Miss Murray-Bruce (now Mrs Clarke), Classics; Mr Dymock, Design Technology; Dr Stephenson and Mrs Jones, Biology; Mrs Black, History; whilst Mr Price (OP), returned to his alma mater to teach Mathematics. Amongst those joining our outstanding Support Team, we welcomed Mrs Reeve as General Manager of the Portsmouth Festivities and Mr Reed as Photographer-in-Residence.

In a year that was unusually high in maternities- surely a healthy and happy sign for a family school-we bade fond farewells to a number of colleagues, all of whom had made significant contributions towards the happiness and success of the school in their time with us. They included Mrs Akass, Dr Burridge, Ms Copin, Mr Dawson, Mr Dolan, Ms Green, Mrs Hall, Mrs Howlett, Mrs Jepson (OP) and Mr Smith. We wish former Head of Mathematics, Dr McCall, a long and happy retirement, as we do to Mr Harrison, Head of ICT for 26 years and a dedicated Timetabler who believed in building the school timetable around each pupil’s options- an approach that could not be more unlike that of Wackford Squeers or Thomas Gradgrind.

‘and They Flew’That The Portsmouth Grammar School continues to thrive is due in no small measure to the high aspirations our pupils have for themselves and which we share as a school. Our pupils enjoy their learning and are eager to develop their talents and interests in as rounded a way as possible, which I hope this report reveals.

It has been wryly observed throughout this year of Dickensian celebrations that in Hard Times, the instilling of Great Expectations becomes even more important. For making this year one in which those expectations have been met over and over again, I am grateful to my colleagues for their enormous energy and skill, to the governors for their wisdom and guidance, to our parents for their trust and support, and above all to the pupils for their extraordinary enthusiasm and hard work. Though the bunting may now be packed away, we are already looking forward to unrolling it for all that is yet to come in 2013!

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Top: soldiers of the 2nd battalion of the Manchester Regiment returning to barracks

in the summer of 1909

Bottom: George Hope and Elinor Hughes lead out the Founder’s House for the

leavers’ Service in July 2012

‘march Through the arch’ - then and now

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1. scholarships, exhibitions, Grants and Prizes already awarded

Philip Barrett Choral Scholarship

Alice Tilbury

Year 7Foundation Scholarships

Thomas Austin Patrick Kirwan Alice Leonard Nicholas Ng Antonia Phillips

Foundation Exhibitions

Joseph Bradley Liam Buchan Trinity Goacher Max Lancaster

Oliver Nash Katie O’Flaherty Emma Watkins

These awards, made on the Foundation, nominally represent the enduring bequest of the Founder, Willliam Smith MD, Mayor of Portsmouth and Physician to its Garrison. The Grand Jury of Portsmouth had lamented in 1717 that residents were sending their children far afield, and at great cost, for their schooling. The first requirement, they felt, was however a common pound for animals; and so it fell to Smith, on his deathbed fifteen years later, to remedy the educational situation – or at any rate to bequeath the land on the Isle of Wight that would provide the income to allow a school to be started, under the auspices of Smith’s adopted college, Christ Church Oxford. This the college eventually did, in 1750.

Governor Presentation Awards

Thomas Blain Matthew Cheung Charlotte Dean Will Donworth

Ella Garratt Thomas Groves Natasha Palfrey Molly Renton

Thomas Robertson Benjamin Thomas

All Rounder Awards

Oscar Weeks

Year 9Honorary Nock Scholarships

Bennet Ager Madeleine Bacon Holly Baker Ilana Berney

Alexander Butler Katy Courtnell Zita Edwards Saskia Goacher

James Harper Lloyd Morgan Sam Rush Devlin Stigant

Laura Verrechia Lana Watt

Nock Scholarships

Finn Carter Thomson Edgar Gemma Webb

Nock Exhibitions

Megan Baston-Steele William Futcher Harriet Hammans

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Arthur Darby Nock (PGS 1912-1919) won a scholarship to Trinity College Cambridge and was made a Fellow of Clare College aged only 21. Aged only 28, he was elected to the Frothingham Chair of Comparative Religion, the youngest ever election to a Harvard Professorship. Nock was a much loved eccentric, at all times and in all weathers carting with him a rolled umbrella. A noted polymath, he was the author not only of several works on philosophy and religion but also of the Oxford Classical Dictionary.

In 1937, Nock returned to PGS to present the Prizes and his address, though witty and refreshingly spontaneous, was not short on advice. Parents should realise that the quality of education they could obtain for their children at PGS was of equal breadth to that in the top boarding schools yet remarkably inexpensively priced: they should rejoice in the nationally high standing of PGS and in their ‘unique opportunity’. In his will he bequeathed the majority of his estate to PGS, where it remains held in trust.

Governor Presentation Awards

Oliver Gent William Hall Elise Kings Robert Merriam

All Rounder Awards

James Beattie

Music Scholarship

Finn Carter Harriet Hammans Christian Thomas Isaac Waddington

Music Exhibition

Lydia Carter Francesca Clayton William Futcher Jemima Haydon

Sophie Jenkin

The William Smith Chorister Medal Samuel Crosby

The medal is presented in memory of Mark Alexander Ready (PGS 1988–1998) who was a chorister at the Cathedral from 1988-1993. After his time as a chorister, he returned to the Cathedral choir as a tenor whilst in the Sixth Form at PGS. Mark gained friendship and purpose from the choir and he relished the challenge of making beautiful music for the glory of God. The medal is awarded each year to someone who relishes the same challenge every bit as much as Mark.

Year 12Alastair Hornby Exhibitions

Maisha Ahmed Neil Chhabda Rukmini Jagdish Inuri Patabendi

Samantha Summers

Alastair Hornby Scholarships

Henry Cunnison Madaleine Fletcher Thomas Kershaw Rachel Lau

Rory MacLean Sebastian McCue Dhruv Patel Charlie Scutts

Alastair Hornby was Head of Physics for many years, and consolidated the development of the subject at PGS as well as introducing A Level Electronics. A keen sportsman, he was an especially potent member of the Common Room Cricket XI. A loyal and firm citizen, he became a city councillor on retirement in 1984 and received a civic funeral on his death. The awards were first made in 1988, donated by his family after his death.

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Sainsbury ExhibitionRishi Soneji

Sainsbury Scholarships

Phoebe Carter Samuel Collings-Wells Fergus H-Connell Isabel Howson

Tamara Manuel Liam Stigant Gregory Walton-Green

These commemorate Norman Sainsbury (1910-1997), linguist and librarian. Norman Sainsbury won a scholarship to PGS and always felt that the school, and in particular his Housemaster, H S Hawkey, was responsible for his success in later life. He won a Classical scholarship to Cambridge, where he discovered an interest in oriental languages. He went on to a distinguished career as a librarian, first at the School of Oriental and African Studies and subsequently as Keeper of Oriental Books at the Bodleian. During the Second World War, Sainsbury was seconded to the Foreign Office; he never spoke in detail about the nature of his duties, but for a time he was employed at Bletchley Park, where his keen and analytical mind would certainly have been put to good use. Sainsbury also possessed considerable managerial skills, which he used to make major improvements to the organisation of the oriental collections at both SOAS and the Bodleian. Mrs Evelyn Margaret Sainsbury endowed the PGS Sainsbury Scholarships in memory of her husband and left a further legacy to the school on her death in 2001.

Music Scholarship

Clare Bartholomew

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Year 13 Honorary Nock Scholarships

Gemma Bird James Collingwood Daniel Cotterall Luke Granger-Brown

Nora Hadi Seth Jackson Owen Jones George Laver

Jonathan Munro Charlotte Plowman Chloe Sellwood Louisa Stark

PGS Leonardo Poetry Competition

Year 7: Katie Green

Year 8: Imogen Davies

Year 9: Flavia Elphick-Smith

Year 10: Louisa Dassow

PGS Leonardo Poetry Cup

Louisa Dassow

Ron Vearncombe joined PGS as a Maths teacher in 1948. He became Head of Maths in 1954, and remained at the school until his retirement in 1978. He combined academic excellence with modesty, wit, compassion, and common sense allied with a canny eye for the physiognomy of his colleagues and the ephemera of PGS décor. A selection of his paintings still hangs in the Common Room and one was used as the front cover for the Prizegiving programme in 2006 as a commemorative gesture in the year of his death. Not only was Mr Vearncombe an inspirational teacher, but also a dedicated cricket coach, a talented artist and a gifted pianist. He established the Leonardo competition in 1958 to foster creative talent.

Tim McDowall Award

Jacob Poulton Jemima Young

Tim McDowall (PGS 1974-1984) was an exceptionally talented and hard-working pupil. Tim also enjoyed drama, played for both the Rugby 1st XV and Cricket 1st XI, and was a loyal and capable member of the CCF. He went on to graduate in Economics at Trinity College, Cambridge. Tragically, Tim was murdered in South America whilst backpacking on holiday following his graduation. The Olympic Athlete Roger Black, a contemporary of Tim at PGS, memorably gave an impromptu reflection on his friend when Guest of Honour at Prizegiving in 2004. His friends also fund a prize in Tim’s memory.

OP Club Travel Award

Jacob Poulton Michael Robinson Jemima Young

Awarded annually by the Old Portmuthian Club to current pupils and OPs still in full time education to enable them to undertake activity of an educational, medical, social welfare, community development, environmental, scientific or volunteer nature in the UK or overseas.

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The house TrophyTo celebrate the centenary of the House system at PGS, the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth commissioned a new trophy, complete with the Lord Mayor’s Coat of Arms, to mark the close bond between the school and the city of Portsmouth. The trophy, awarded across the calendar year, incorporates all the House competitions, individual academic successes and co-curricular achievements. It is unique in that the trophy is awarded to both Senior and Middle School Houses. The inaugural award was made to Whitcombe and Summers during the spectacular House Song Competition in December 2011

PRIZEGIVING 2012 17

2. Progress Prizes and other Prizes already awarded

Year 7 Progress Prizes Louisa Buckle Loren Dean Megan Dossett

Kirsten Goves Serena Graham Catherine Leung

Emma Priory Thomas Smith

Year 8 Progress Prizes Isabel Boden Lily Cannon Zita Edwards

Annabel Fuller Cicely Podmore Kezia Quarrie-Jones

Samuel Rush Lana Watt

Year 9 Progress Prizes Adam Blunden James Campkin Madeleine DeVere

Elliot Ebert Filippa Furniss Nicholas Graham

Anna McHale Carly Storm

Year 10 Progress Prizes Isabella DeGuisa Holly Govey Alexander Harding

Dillon Hoddle Helen Jones Charlotte Kent

Anastasia Manuel Christopher Nash

The Le Breton Single Wicket Cup Andrew Gorvin

The Le Breton Single Wicket Cup is awarded for outstanding cricketing achievements during the year. Prior to 2009, this trophy had not been awarded for many years, in fact one of the last recipients was Mike Wedderburn (now well known as a presenter on Sky Sports News) back in 1982. Our very own Mr Gary Payne, now retired from teaching in the Junior School, also won the trophy as a sixth former in 1981.

The Ithaka Prize Robert Abernethy

PGS Extend Commended Pupils Fergus Kaye Helen Jones

A Commendation is awarded to those pupils in Years 7 to 11 whose PGS Extend projects are judged outstanding by the marker.

Old Portmuthian Club Sports’ Prizes Rugby Benjamin Wilcockson

Boys’ Hockey Daniel Choppen

Girls’ Hockey Philippa Paxman

Cricket Jamie Rood

Athletics Harriet Gould

Girls’ Tennis Eleanor Ball

Boys’ Tennis Alexander Gerard

Netball Francesca Materna

The OP Club presents the Captain of each sport in which there is an OP fixture, with a salver to mark their contribution to sport at PGS.

The House Trophy Whitcombe and Summers

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Pupils Attaining Outstanding Results in GCSE

The following pupils gained at least 9 A* grades at GCSE – an asterisk indicates those who gained all A*s:

Phoebe Carter Samuel Collings-Wells Henry Cunnison Alexander Dalgleish

Thomas Harper * Fergus Houghton-Connell Isabel Howson Thomas Kershaw

Rachel Lau * Rory MacLean * Tamara Manuel Sebastian McCue

Dhruv Patel Liam Stigant * Perseus Wace Gregory Walton-Green *

Justin Wilkinson

Pupils Attaining Outstanding Results at A Level

The following pupils attained 3 A grades or more – an asterisk indicates those who gained at least 3 A*s:

Robert Abernethy Eleanor Ball Madeleine Barker Elinor Bendell

Emily Bennett Samuel Bourne Jacob Brown Anne Cole

Jack Cranston Megan Cumming James Cunnison Helen Dorricott

Thomas Dry Stephen Dunne Charles Eldrid Jack Finnamore

Oliver Flatman Ailidh Forlan Edward Fry Alexander Gerard *

Lucy Giles Shererd Graham Jake Grimwood Sophie Gunn

Christopher Hall * Graham Harding William Hart * William Haward

Eleanor Hill George Hope Dominic Humphrey Emily Ingram

William Ireland Max Jewell Kieran Keel James Kershaw

Andrew Knighton Oliver Laking Jessica Lavery Benjamin Lockwood

Jerome Luchesa-Smith Nairn MacLean Christopher Mirzaians Oliver G Mitchell

Samuel Morris Thomas Moyse Tonya Neame Amy Nguyen

Benjamin Nuttall Esme O’Hagen Jacob Poulton * Alastair Power

Harriet Prosser Thomas Purcell George Rapley Michael Roderick

Ilanna Rogers * James Smith Claire Stephens * Matthew Stride

Elvin Subramaniam Eleanor Targ Junshi Wace Isabelle Whitaker

Craig Winfield * Kim Younger

Pupils Attaining Outstanding Results at IB

The following pupils attained Level 6 or above in at least 4 subjects – an asterisk indicates those who gained at least 4 Level 7s:

Anna Bazley * Jordanne Came Megan Evans Caitlin McHale *

Amelia Thornton

PRIZEGIVING 2012 19

results Day Joy

From the top: IB, A Level and GCSE pupils celebrating their success

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3. Year Prizes

Year 7 subject PrizesArt Georgia McKirgen Biology Samuel Richardson

Drama Guy Billington English Fenella Johnson

French Ameera Gyening Geography Finley Bacon

German Rosie Lancaster History Matthew Waters

ICT Nicole Hugecova Latin Patrick Caldwell

Mathematics Florence Bishop Music Ameera Gyening

Physical Chemistry Matthew Waters Portsmouth Curriculum Julian Davis

PRS Xavier Harris Spanish Emma Hill-Perales

Technology George Wilcockson

Sports Harry Wratten

Eve Stainton

Year 8 subject PrizesArt Baldev Chahal Biology Madeleine Bacon

Drama Laura Verrecchia English Ashleigh Dekker

French James Harper Geography Madeleine Bacon

German Holly Baker History Baldev Chahal

ICT Joseph Stirrup Latin Sebastian Chapman

Mathematics Lloyd Morgan Music Ashleigh Dekker

Physical Chemistry Joseph Allen PRS Bethany Macfarlane

Spanish Alexander Butler Technology Honor Appleby-Mell

Sports Travis Yung-Hok

Caitlin Hoddle

middle school Prizes

The Vallum Cup Ilana Berney

The Vallum Cup is awarded annually to an outstanding Modern Languages and Classics pupil in the Middle School. It was donated by Mrs Barfield and Mrs Seely in 1991, in memory of their father, Harold Wall, who was a pupil at the school between 1918 and 1925.

Anne Stokes Middle School Recognitions Cup Barton House

Anne Stokes was a relation by marriage to Tony Stokes, Head of the Lower School. This cup was presented in 1959, the year in which her older son, Richard, concluded his career as a PGS pupil and won a place at Queens College, Cambridge. This cup is awarded annually to the Middle School House that has attained the highest number of recognitions.

Middle School Music Cup Christian Thomas

This prize is awarded to a pupil who has contributed to Music throughout the Middle School.

Peter Wren Chess Cup Barton House

This prize was established in memory of Peter Wren, a Middle School pupil killed in a road accident in 1978. Peter particularly enjoyed chess and natural history, and so in addition to this prize a new fresh-water pond was created on Farlington Marshes, known as Peter’s

Pond.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Short Story Prize Thomas Ross

Part of the Portsmouth Curriculum course and taught by the Headmaster, this prize is awarded by him to the best short story based upon a new mystery involving Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson.

PRIZEGIVING 2012 21

Middle School Service Prizes

Joseph Allen Ashleigh Dekker James Dack Georgia Henderson

Oliver Clark Imogen Davies Sebastian Chapman Lily Cannon

Middle School Prize For Best Overall Pupil Alfred Perry-Ward

Year 9 subject PrizesArt Catriona Ellis Biology William Dry

Business Studies Adam Blunden Chemistry William Dry

Drama Harry Dutton English Aisling Hicks

Food and Nutrition Jasvinder Chahal French Jadon Buckeridge

Geography Harry Hollands German Jadon Buckeridge

Greek Reetobrata Chatterjee History Aisling Hicks

ICT Emily Tandy Latin Jack Dry

Mathematics Reetobrata Chatterjee Music Catriona Ellis

Physics Matthew Roberts PRS Charlotte Randall

Spanish Edward Guy Technology Francesca Strongitharm-Cornell

Sports Ben Stainton

Ciara Dossett

Year 10 subject PrizesArt Phoebe Warren Biology Cameron Roberts

Business Studies Jonathan Titley Chemistry Jonathan Titley

Classical Civilisation Christopher Dewilde Drama Sally Hall

English Molly Hannafin Food and Nutrition Molly Hannafin

French Jemima Carter Geography Hugo Andrews

German Christopher Dewilde Greek Phoebe Pexton

History Jemima Carter Latin Oliver Ling

Mathematics Gemma Liu Music Ella Beard

Physics Cameron Roberts PRS Zoe Barnes

Spanish Romana Rai Technology Bethany Brigden

Sports Joseph Brown

Florence Stow

Year 11 subject PrizesArt Inuri Patabendi Biology Isabel Howson

Business Studies Dimitri Selwood Chemistry Adam Filip

Classical Civilisation Natasha Iliffe Drama Benjamin Schofield

English Mun-roop Gill Food and Nutrition Zoe Rundle

French Melissa Smith Geography William Sparkes

German Thomas Kershaw Greek Gregory Walton-Green

History Samuel Collings-Wells Latin Perseus Wace

Mathematics Gregory Walton-Green Music Phoebe Carter

Physics Tristan Orchard PRS Samuel Collings-Wells

Spanish Thomas Harper Technology Daniel Newman

Sports Thomas Kershaw

Henrietta Gould

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Year 9 - 11 extra Prizes

The Tudor Prize For Theatrical Promise Filippa Furniss

Drama was introduced to the PGS curriculum whist John Tudor (PGS 1986-1999) was a pupil at the school. His parents funded this award in order to stimulate dramatic endeavour and reward theatrical talent. John Tudor subsequently became a Gap Year Student at PGS and went on to a career in Arts Administration.

The Simon Gray Prize for Drama Isabella DeGuisa

Simon Gray (PGS 1945-1947), the famous playwright and diarist, attended PGS before going to Westminster. His widow, Victoria Gray, created this prize, first awarded in 2011, in his memory to recognise the pupil who does the best writing, creative or critical work, in Drama in the year.

The Chris Suter Prize for History Priyanka Sethupathi

This prize commemorates Christopher Suter (PGS 2001-2003) a keen historian, who got the top mark at History GCSE, but did not live to see his result. The prize was donated by his mother in 2007.

The Lesley Spofforth Prize for Mathematical Promise Eleanor Burr-Lonnon

Lesley Spofforth, Maths teacher, Examinations Officer and Senior Teacher at PGS (1999-2007) was an outstanding teacher and much-loved colleague. The Spofforth family – husband Mark, son Peter (PGS 2000-2007) and daughter Gemma - have generously donated this prize in Lesley’s memory.

The Marcus Young Computing Prize Adam Blunden

Marcus Young (PGS 1956-1961) went on to become a distinguished financier. He donated the prize in 1982 on his retirement as Chairman of the Governing Body Finance Committee.

The Canon Grant Prize for Philosophy and Religious Studies Dominic Waters

Originally established by Canon Robert Grant, father of Canon EP Grant, the Chairman of Governors and re-founder of PGS. Governors’ Minutes include the following letter from Robert Grant, dated 8 February 1879:

Gentlemen, Having received the rudiments of my education at The Portsmouth Grammar School, I have much pleasure in offering with your permission two annual prizes of the value of £2 and £1 respectively to the Boy in the Upper and Lower School who passes the best examination in Scriptural Knowledge.

The John Roberts Prize for Sculpture Molly Cranston

Established in 2000 by John Roberts (PGS 1943-1948) a ceramics teacher, the prize is awarded to an older pupil involved in more advanced work. The prize may be given for interest, enthusiasm or personal achievement.

The Mike Reynolds Memorial Prize for Sport Katie Paxman

Donated by the parents and friends of Mike Reynolds (PGS 1950-1958) upon his tragic death in a road accident in October 1971. It was to be awarded annually to both a Sixth Form and a Year 10-11 pupil for promoting the good name of the school, by playing a school-taught

sport, outside of PGS.

PRIZEGIVING 2012 23

Glittering Former Prize WinnersPGS Prizegiving has a long and distinguished history, though the school archive does not record when the first formal distribution of prizes took place. Over the years, thousands of pupils have received public recognition for their academic and sporting efforts, and many have gone on to achieve notable success in their careers.

From the red carpet to the catwalk, top model Alice Gibb stepped up to receive the Bryan Gardner Modern Languages Prize for French in 2008, before going on to read History at Cambridge.

One of the earliest recipients was the ripping yarns author Percy F. Westerman. He was presented with his certificate and a gold sovereign by the local Chamber of Commerce. Percy, perhaps inspired by this very tangible reward for hard work, went on to write 174 novels.

The idea of offering cash as prizes did not appear to have caught on, however, and subsequent prize-winners had to be content with receiving a worthy book or a shiny cup. An exception was when future Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden presented a young Mike Barnard with a cricket bat in 1948. Mike went on to hit 9,629 runs for Hampshire and scored 26 goals for Pompey. Mike was, according to his school report, “Good at Games”.

It comes as no surprise that the school’s greatest ever sportsperson, Roger Black, ran off with the school Sports prize in 1982 and in 1984, as well as the Headmaster’s prize for senior prefect. In 1958, sailor Ed Leask, a fellow Olympian, picked up a Form prize from the guest of honour who was, appropriately, an Admiral. Another recipient of the Sports prize, in 1983, was Roger’s schoolfriend and current Sky sports presenter, Mike Wedderburn (pictured).

James Bobin picked up a Form prize in 1984 and the History and Geography prizes in 1989 the latter, perhaps, helping him find his way to Hollywood where, working with a notoriously difficult and anarchic cast, he directed the latest Oscar-winning Muppet movie

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Year 12 subject Prizes

Art Philip Rouse

Business Studies Max Keegan

Sir Peter Carey Classical Civilisation Prize Bryony Driscoll

Sir Peter Carey GCB (PGS 1933-1941) became Senior Prefect in his final year. He went to Oriel College, Oxford and then attended the School of Slavonic Studies at London University. He served in the Second World War alongside Evelyn Waugh with the Partisans in Yugoslavia before joining the Civil Service, where he worked in various departments before becoming Permanent Secretary to the Department of Industry. In 1995 he opened the PGS Sixth Form Centre, and in the same year gave this prize for the most deserving Classicist.

Drama and Theatre Studies James Gulliford

Moores Rowland Economics Prize William Crawford

This prize was first awarded in 1990 to the most promising Economics pupil at PGS and was funded by Moores Rowland International

Electronics Luke Granger-Brown

Godfrey Green Memorial Prize for English Katie Husselby

First awarded in 1964 in memory of Morris Godfrey Green (PGS 1948-1956) who died prematurely in August 1963.

W H Hore Geography Prize Naomi Munns

W H Hore served in the Second World War where his skills as a Geographer were employed in mapping the beaches of Northern France. He taught Geography between 1945 and 1956 and awarded this prize on leaving the school. He subsequently became Headmaster of Bec School, and of RGS Guildford.

Peter Forster Prize for Geography Fieldwork Studies Thomas Farnworth

Peter Forster (PGS 1996-2006) became Senior Prefect in his final year and went on to study English at Oxford. Peter’s family established this annual award for the pupil producing the best A Level Geography coursework.

J D Hopkinson Prize for Geology Elizabeth Lewis

J D Hopkinson taught Geography at PGS between 1949 and 1990. A distinguished coach of many sports as well as being Housemaster of Eastwood House, then Grant House, he also introduced Geology to the curriculum.

Government and Politics Anya Roberts

J S Cox Memorial Prize for History Christian Davison

John Salisbury Cox was a pupil of PGS for only one year, but no alumnus could prove more proud or more loyal. He was a lifelong member of the OP Club, serving as both Treasurer and President, and initiated outreach programmes for disadvantaged young people. The OP Club funded the prize in 1938 to commemorate his devotion to the Club and school and his philanthropy in the city.

Arthur Darby Nock Prize for Latin Lucy Moore

Sir William Crossman Memorial Prize for Mathematics Edward Harding

Major General Sir William Crossman was MP for Portsmouth from 1885 to 1892, firstly as a Liberal and then as a Liberal Unionist. He died in 1901. The prize started as the Crossman Prize for English in 1928. In 1937 it became a Memorial Prize for Mathematics, for reasons no longer known: it is almost certainly a coincidence that the Prizes were given away by the eccentric polymath A D Nock in that year.

Allison Prize for Mathematics and Science James Hammond

Philip Allison (PGS 1933-1940), won a King’s Scholarship in 1937. He then returned to PGS as a member of staff from 1947-1952, teaching both Maths and Science. The prize was donated in 1984 by Mrs Allison in memory of her husband. The most prestigious of the prizes available to a pupil on the Maths and Science side, it is awarded by the Chairman of Science Departments to the outstanding pupil in the year group in either or both of these subjects.

PRIZEGIVING 2012 25

Bryan Gardner Modern Languages Prizes: French James Hicks

German George Kimber-Sweatman

Spanish Fay Davies

Some mystery surrounds this prize. The efforts of Bryan Gardner’s Year 9 biographer seeking a photo of Gardner as Captain of the 2nd XI are to a certain extent symbolic: “I looked all around the school but this was to no prevail”. Bryan Gardner, who left school as Captain of Latter House on 31 July 1943 was the youngest in his year but was nonetheless the best at German (and President of the Gramophone Society). He went to Oxford for a short course, and joined the RNVR whilst there. The cause of his death in Spring 1944, aged only 18, is unknown and he does not have an official memorial, probably because he died whilst training. He is, however, honoured on the PGS War Memorial and the Headmaster, Donald Lindsay, readily acceded to the request of Gardner’s parents that he should be commemorated by a prize for Modern Languages. The prize was first presented by Mr and Mrs Gardner to Dennis Dangerfield at a ceremony in the theatre on Southsea Pier in 1946.

Pall European Prize for Modern Languages Owen Jones

A link between Pall Europe and PGS was established because a former President of Pall Corporation, Jeremy Haward-Surry was an Old Portmuthian; the Pall European prize was first awarded by the Managing Director of Pall Europe, Mr Maurice Hardy, in 1991 for projects linking commerce or industry with a modern language.

Music Jordan Banting

Physical Education Kirsten Hall

PRS Parisa Akhlaghi

Psychology Beth Albuery

Hawkey Memorial Prizes for Science: Biology Prashanth Ramaraj

Chemistry Fay Davies

Physics William Crawford

Henry Symons Hawkey, Science Teacher between 1906-1937, died in 1959. He achieved a 1st class degree in Natural Science and a 1st class degree in English. The Housemaster of Grant House, he was also a PGS football coach and referee. This prize was first awarded in 1960.

Bosworth Wright Memorial Prize for Science George Chapman

Alderman Dr Bosworth Wright became the City Council’s representative on the Governing Body between 1909-1938 and the Chairman of Governors for the last of these years. He was the first President of the OP Club. The Portmuthian remembered him as follows:

He was to this school more than a distinguished and well-beloved citizen. His fine blend of geniality and dignity, his tolerant but shrewd judgements made him at once a respected leader and a warm friend. None of its sons could have served this school better. None can have more endeared himself to all who have been associated in its work.

The Bosworth Wright Prize was first awarded in Autumn 1939 in his memory, presented by Mrs Bosworth Wright. It was originally a cup for inter-house football. It is now awarded by the Chairman of Science Departments to the best scientist in the year.

Brian Read Design and Technology Prize Seth Jackson

First awarded in 1997, and sponsored by Councillor Brian Read, Lord Mayor and Governor.

IB – Theory of Knowledge Emma Kissaine

IB – Community Action Service Sophie Andrews

Sports Prize Benjamin Wilcockson

Kirsten Hall

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other 6th Form Prizes

Ivan Nelson Memorial Prize for Medicine Alexander Gerard

Dr Ivan Nelson was Medical Officer of Health for Gosport 1963-1974 and Area Community Physician for Hampshire Area Health Authority 1974-1979. Dr Nelson would often be seen at Hilsea during autumn and winter terms, administering to the bruises, bumps and sprains of various Rugby XVs. The prize was established in his memory by his sons, Bob and David, to give financial assistance to a pupil from PGS who is going on to study medicine.

Sarah Quail Prize for History Anna Bazley

In the last decade, PGS has won a national reputation for the quality of its partnership projects in History. These have often involved close co-operation with local museums. No one assisted the school more in this regard than Mrs Sarah Quail, mother of Hugh (PGS 1991-2004), Governor (from 1999) and Head of Arts, Libraries, Museums and Records for Portsmouth City Council until 2004. Mrs Quail is a much published authority on local history matters. The prize was first awarded in 2007 and is a competitive essay prize. It seeks to give extension opportunities to any member of the Sixth Form who wishes to research an original History project.

Ayling String Prize Eleanor Targ

First awarded in 1991 the award was to encourage string playing at a time when the Music department was heavily dominated by brass players. Mrs Mary Ayling, Vice Chairman of Governors, was a key figure in the introduction of co-education. Though the family had considerable prowess at cricket (husband Christopher (PGS 1950-1956) was on the Hampshire Committee, and son Jon (PGS 1975-1985) spent several seasons with Hampshire) the family were always keen supporters of school music.

The Parsons Prize for Music Oliver Laking

Originally established as the Parsons Music Prize for cathedral choristers in 1969, this soon became a general music prize and is now awarded to a pupil in recognition of their overall contribution to music during their time at PGS.

The Michael Nott Prize Edward Fry

The prize commemorates the Very Revd Michael Nott, Provost of the Cathedral Church of St Thomas, Chairman of Governors and friend of the school. The Rotunda is named after him, and his portrait hangs there.

Penri-Evans Composition Prize Jordan Banting

Dr David Penri-Evans taught music at PGS from 1987-1992 and was a Lay Clerk at the Cathedral. He did much to encourage composing by pupils and members of the local public, as well as being a skilled conductor. A colleague recalled that when Dr Penri-Evans conducted the Chamber Choir in works by Palestrina in Santa Maria Maggiore, the most favourable acoustic for which the works were written, ‘David could hardly see to conduct and we could hardly see to sing, so moving was the experience’.

Willcocks Singing Prize James Smith

Established by Jonathan Willcocks, PGS Director of Music 1975-1978, and still an important figure in the musical life of Portsmouth as well as a distinguished composer. His composition ‘My Hope is in Thee’ was commissioned by the school for performance by the Chamber Choir and London Mozart Players at the Remembrance Sunday Concert in 2003, and was subsequently recorded.

Sir Malcolm Bates Prize for Chamber Music Senior String Quartet

Sir Malcolm Bates was commended for his all-round ability and varied interests. He excelled at music and languages and passed the School Certificate with credit, before leaving in 1950. His report suggested that he might pursue a career in music, but this was not to be. He was second in command at General Electric Company (GEC) for twelve years and, from 1999 to 2003 he served as Chairman of London Regional Transport. In 1997, he was asked by the Treasury to look into streamlining the Private Finance Initiative and his subsequent reports became cornerstones of PFI development in the UK and internationally. Sir Malcolm was knighted the following year. He died in 2009.

This prize is awarded to the ensemble that has made the most progress and contribution to music at PGS

IB – Extended Essay Joseph Grant

The John Roberts Prize for Sculpture Anna Bazley

The MUN was introduced into PGS in 2007 and has quickly become one of the most well-attended societies in school. This award is given to the pupil who has made a significant contribution to the MUN throughout the year

PRIZEGIVING 2012 27

Ernest Edmonds Memorial Prize for Public Speaking and Debating Thomas Harper

Ernest Edmonds was one of the first year group of pupils to be educated in the new school building of 1879, now the Upper Junior School. He trained as a solicitor. He died on 23rd November 1943 and this prize was first awarded in 1945.

Roger Harris Award Christopher Weekes

Established to recognise the outstanding life-long contribution made to PGS by Roger Harris, as a pupil between 1943 and 1951 and teacher between 1958 and 1993. First awarded in 1996, it is awarded to a pupil who has a particular focus for outdoor activities.

OP Masonic Lodge Prize for Outstanding School Society International Society

First awarded in 1987, and intended to promote co-curricular endeavour.

Mike Reynolds Memorial Prize for Sport Benjamin Wilcockson

Above: tickets and programmes from past Prizegiving evenings

Prizegiving remembered

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4. school Cups and Trophies

Combined Cadet Force Cups: awarded to the best Cadet in the respective armed service

Peters Cup: Navy James Cunnison

Clark Jervoise Cup: RAF Helen Dorricott

Wessex Cup: Army Andrew Knighton

Most Promising Cadet Thomas Woolas

School Charity Cup Sophie Andrews

First presented in 1991, and donated by Old Portmuthians Graeme Jeffery, Robert Clay and Jonathan Vincent, to be awarded to the member of the VI Form who, over the year, has made the greatest contribution, not necessarily financially, but in effort, in the field of charity work or fundraising or organisation of charity events.

The Senior School Chess Cup Grant House

Decided over three hard-fought rounds in the Autumn Term, the Chess Cup is one of the first House competitions of the calendar.

Richard Bishop Cup for Engineering Ilanna Rogers

Richard Bishop was Professor of Engineering and Vice Chancellor at Brunel University. His son John Bishop was a pupil (PGS 1968-1976) and the family initiated this prize in 1990 to recognise PGS’ long tradition in sending pupils to University to read Engineering, and to give recognition to the pupil annually considered by the Chairman of Science to be the most promising of these.

Marconi Cup for Technology Ilanna Rogers

First presented in 1990 and established by Marconi Space Systems Ltd as a competition for the best piece of original work concerning a new industrial product or process.

Sir Lynton White Cup for Work in the Community Georgina Boxall

Donated by Sir Lynton White MBE, TD, DL in 1986. Sir Lynton was a School Governor from 1976-1987. Awarded to the pupil who has promoted the good name of PGS through community ventures.

Tim McDowall Prize Oliver G Mitchell

Craig Winfield

Awarded annually to a Senior School pupil who contributes to school sport and is involved in adventurous activities.

Doyle Cup for Athletics Joyce Lui

Presented by Mr and Mrs M J Doyle, in appreciation of the education that their son, Matthew (PGS 1980-1991) received at the school. First awarded in 1992.

Arnold Cup for Athletics Anastasia Manuel

The Arnold Prize is awarded annually to the most improved athlete in Year 10. The Prize was donated by the Arnold family in

recognition of Stephen and Jeremy Arnold both of whom competed in cross country and track races for the school.

Henry and Lilian Stephenson Hockey Cup Ethan Hoddle

As a young architect working for Seely and Paget, Lilian Stephenson (née Durrell) was appointed to design new science laboratories for PGS in the 1960’s. She made innovative use of plastic piping, indeed the then PGS science laboratories, were the first in the country to use this material at that time. Lilian and her husband, Henry, continue to be friends of the school and have established this prize for a young Hockey player.

Evans Skiing Trophy Anna Reynolds

Donated by S Evans in recognition of Peter and Andrew Hopkinson, and S Evans’ achievement in winning the Public Schools Championship at Davos in 1973. It is awarded following the annual ski trip to the pupil who shows the greatest improvement.

PRIZEGIVING 2012 29

Tremlett Water Sports Cup Isabelle Welch

Donated by Mrs M D Tremlett in 1994 to congratulate a pupil who excels at a water sport.

The Neil Blewett Award Taylor Langford-Smith

This trophy is awarded in recognition of the dedication of a pupil who is a true ambassador for the school and whose achievements have been accomplished in the spirit of the school’s values. This award is a legacy to the memory of Neil Blewett, Surmaster and Senior Teacher, his commitment to the school community and the values and ethics that he imbued upon every aspect of school life. It is the only award in the gift of the Common Room.

The Senior School Recognitions Cup Latter House

This award was created in 2009 and recognises all Senior School pupils’ achievements throughout the academic year.

Sarah Green with the Neil Blewett Trophy which she created in his memory

5. school Prizes

Cathedral Head Chorister William Forrest

Ian Newberry Prize for Progress Matthew Stride

First awarded in 1986 and established by Dr and Mrs R Newberry in memory of their son, Ian (PGS 1975-1985) who died whilst in the Sixth Form. The prize should not be related to academic performance and, as far as possible, should be allocated to a pupil who has not achieved, otherwise, positions of influence in the school, but who has consistently contributed to school activities.

Charlotte Loosemore Memorial Prize Rory Miles

Emma Spruce

First awarded in 2002 and established by parents of Lottie Loosemore (PGS 1996-2001) following her death from a rare virus while in South America on a GAP year visit. It is awarded to pupils for showing character. The first recipients were George Hunter who took his GCSEs whilst undergoing treatment for a brain tumour, and Adam Osborne who achieved three A’s at A level despite having meningitis earlier in the year.

Samuel Hudson Memorial Prize Edward Fry

Jamie Rood

Samuel Hudson (1844-1931) was educated in Portsmouth and qualified as a teacher in 1864. He was appointed as a member of staff at PGS when the school was re-founded in 1879. Hudson was master of the First Form (the equivalent of today’s Year 4) and Clerk to the Governors for forty-seven years. He was also commandant of the Cadet Corps and coached the younger boys in cricket. This prize was established in Samuel Hudson’s memory by his great-granddaughter, Mrs Elizabeth Dunne, who was also the mother of one of the first Sixth Form girls at PGS; it is awarded annually to a pupil who has triumphed over adversity.

Angus Gibson Prize James Holmes

Tamara Manuel

This commemorates Angus Gibson, a Pre-Prep pupil of plucky spirit and boyish love of pranks, who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in 1998 while still in Reception. He died in 1999 and the prize was donated by his parents. It is awarded annually to two Year 11 pupils with energy and character who have made a significant contribution to the life of the school.

Normandy Veterans’ Association Shield Oliver Laking

Amy Nguyen

Established in 1999 by the Normandy Veterans’ Association ‘for all round achievement. Such things as loyalty, care for others, courage, comradeship etc - the qualities that were expected from us during the Normandy campaign.’

Robert Milne Trophy Junshi Wace

Lt Robert Milne (PGS 1938-1942) Number 304035, 151 Ayrshire Field Regiment, was a member of Grant House, Prefect, Platoon Commander in the OTC and played in the school 2nd XI. He died 1 March 1945, aged 21, during the battle to cross the Rhine and is buried at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery.

First awarded in 1999 as a recognition of service to either the school or the wider community of Portsmouth. The recipient should be of suitable character and the award could be made either for a single outstanding deed or for service over an extended period.

PRIZEGIVING 2012 31

Headmaster’s Prize for Deputy Senior Prefect Jake Grimwood

Jessica Lavery

Esme O’Hagen

Michael Roderick

Claire Stephens

Headmaster’s Prize for Senior Prefect Anne Cole

The Headmaster with Senior Prefect, Anne Cole, and the Deputy Senior Prefects