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The Cheltonian

2026 Floreat Cheltonia

Magazine of Cheltenham College and the Cheltonian Society

Contents Welcome from the Head

Cheltonian Society

120

News from The Prep

Announcements 121

Academic 11

Cheltonian Society Events

122

Futures and Careers

Spotlight on Society Member Businesses

124

Co-Curricular 39

Spotlight on OC Sports Clubs

128

Charity 54

Ten Tales from College

132

Community 56

Feature Articles

134

Sport 66

Fundraising 142

Houses 86

Obituaries 145

Speech Day

108

Merchandise 162

Valete 110

Acknowledgements 163

College Council

118

International Schools

119

Welcome from The Head It is a pleasure to be able to introduce this year’s edition of The Cheltonian. I hope that you will enjoy the opportunity to revisit many of the remarkable things that Cheltonians have achieved in the past year in so many different areas of College life. Of course, the majority of these achievements took place under the guidance of Nicola Huggett, who served the College with such distinction. I know that you will join me in wishing her the very best in her time in Dubai. There have been easier times to make the move to the Middle East, but I have no doubt that her calm and considered leadership will ensure that her new school flourishes despite the challenging situation. It is a real honour to have the opportunity to take up the Headship of Cheltenham College this year, and I hope that I can contribute positively to the history of this marvellous school. I have felt the warmth of the welcome these past weeks from colleagues, pupils and parents, and the pride in the College felt by all involved has been evident everywhere.

I hope that these capture the experience of all our pupils and families, and these lines definitely reflect the school that I have seen in these early weeks and the school that I want to build to even greater strength in the years ahead. It is a tough climate for the independent sector at the moment. Because of this, it is even more important that all pupils can experience the very best of what is on offer. I was drawn to College for a number of reasons and these are the areas that I see as crucial to success in the years ahead. First, I have been so impressed by the academic progress that pupils are making. Our academic value added is incredibly strong: this means that, whatever level our pupils start at, they will complete their time doing much better as a result of learning in this environment. Second, the strength of community is really important, especially when boarding is so central to our education. The ethos of ensuring that every pupil feels that sense of belonging, support and welcome within their house and across the college is one that I will continue to champion. Third, the range of opportunities available to our pupils is staggeringly broad. Whether music, drama, cadets, service, academic extension, sport, or wider co-curricular choices, there really should be something for everyone. Finding something about which you can feel passionate will lead to greater motivation, higher effort and better results. This year, almost 93% of our pupils have represented College in sporting fixtures, a figure that shows that we are taking seriously the desire to deliver sport for all, while continuing to provide pathways for elite sportsmen and women.

Undergoing an inspection in the second week of this term was an interesting way to start, but it has provided a great deal of information and was helpful in accelerating my learning about the College. The feedback that we were given was hugely encouraging including the following:

Finally, we need to ensure that we are preparing young people for an ever more complicated world with skills that are relevant for the 21st century and personal qualities that will support their aspirations.

‘Every pupil is known as an individual, and the College values the unique character of each person’

I am sure that you will find examples of all these aspects of College within these pages and hope that you enjoy reading this year’s Cheltonian magazine.

‘Pupils care about their work and they are highly independent’ ‘Teachers provide high quality feedback, in a culture of encouragement’ ‘There is a large range of sporting opportunities that have a positive impact on pupil wellbeing’

Mr Chris Townsend

‘It is an environment that encourages excellence’

...College values the unique character of each person… The Cheltonian 2025-26

News from The Prep It can be a challenging thing at the moment, hearing stories about schools in the independent sector. As Old Cheltonians (and particularly the OJs amongst you) I am delighted to be able to say the news from The Prep is all positive. The school is in very fine health, we are bigger than we have been in a number of generations, with extra classes added to several year groups. Academically we are flying, there is much success on the sports pitches and in the concert halls and theatres and, most importantly, every single child is experiencing an education that challenges them, that stretches them and is enormous fun, providing them all with both a fabulous grounding for College and beyond, but also the most wonderful memories of childhood that one could wish for. Do come and see us and see for yourselves. Mr Tom O’Sullivan,

Head, Cheltenham Prep

The Prep

Pre-Prep We have enjoyed an incredible journey in the Nursery School and Pre-Prep this year, filled with curiosity, creativity, courage and joy. The Autumn Term began with the happy buzz of new routines, new friendships and exciting beginnings, especially for our Reception children as they settled so beautifully into school life. Friendship Family WOW Day reminded us of the importance of kindness, belonging and working together. We enjoyed the magic of stories at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, along with PSHE wellbeing workshops that encouraged children to think about feelings, friendships and looking after themselves. As winter approached, the

festive season sparkled with Christingle, Nativity performances and much-loved pantomime trips. Spring brought energy, colour and plenty of smiles. It was wonderful to welcome parents in to enjoy lunches with their children. Class assemblies gave every child the chance to shine, while the Mud Run brought determination, resilience and a healthy dose of muddy fun! Pancake Day was full of laughter and flipping excitement, and Easter brought joyful egg games, hunts and celebrations across the Pre-Prep. The Summer Term burst with adventure. David Attenborough Day

was a highlight, with animals visiting school inspiring awe, questions and fascination about the natural world. Nursery delighted everyone with their May Pole dancing, while trips brought learning to life: Year 2 visited Sandfield Farm, Year 1 explored The Living Rainforest, Reception enjoyed Slimbridge, and Nursery had a wonderful adventure at Adams Farm. Sports Days were filled with enthusiasm, teamwork and proud moments, before the year ended with the very special Pre-Prep Prize Giving. The memories we have made this year are truly precious. Mrs Rebecca Hughes-Noon, Head of Pre-Prep

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Lower School Lower School continues to be a place where happy, thriving pupils come together to learn, grow, and discover their unique strengths. With the encouragement of supportive parents and dedicated staff, every pupil has been given the confidence to explore new ideas and embrace challenges, through a careful mix of independence and collaboration. There have been countless opportunities to shine, whether through sport, Music,

Middle School Middle School has enjoyed another year of fun and hard work in and out of the classroom. We manage the transition from Year 4 (Lower School) into Year 5 (Middle School) carefully and seek to gently nurture and support them as they take their first steps in the top half of the school. Year 5 focuses on helping them to settle into school life which involves moving round the school to different teachers and classrooms for

The Prep

Drama, Art, or within the classroom, where curiosity has been nurtured and achievements are always celebrated. There is no doubt that coming in to school dressed as a Gladiator, Egyptian God or Greek Goddess brings education to life and ensures the learning stays with them forever. The year is full of fun and engaging topics, from the wonders of Ancient Egypt, the battles of Ancient Greece to the power of Ancient Rome. These experiences spark imagination and deepen understanding, making each day exciting and memorable.

each different subject. Being organised and having the right equipment with them at the right time is important and something their new form takers spend lots of time helping them with! In Year 6, the children act as wonderful role-models for the Year 5 children, whilst also keeping one eye on their next move into Upper School. Our amazing staff support them and also give them the right amount of space to develop and grow in confidence.

Above all, kindness shines through everything. It shapes friendships, builds confidence, and creates a strong sense of belonging for every pupil. By valuing and following the key skills and attributes, Lower School continues to be an amazing place to learn. It is a place where every pupil feels happy, inspired, supported and ready to succeed both now and in the future. Mr Andrew Theedom, Head of Lower School

The year has brought a range of fantastic experiences, ranging from music concerts and drama productions, through to a range of sporting endeavours and social activities such as the Jingle Bells Party and Glow-inthe-dark Dodgeball, through to the wonderful residential trips in activities week (Year 5 to Croft Farm and Year 6 to Trafford Hall in Chester). A jam-packed year had by all! Dr Kit Perona-Wright, Head of Middle School

Upper School The boys and girls in Upper School have enjoyed a busy and productive year. We started off with our Year 7 pupils visiting Cotswold Water Park for a fun afternoon after spending the morning taking part in some getting-to-know-you activities. Year 8 was introduced to the Chadwick programme, working on community and skills. They have learned to cook, to manage finances and have visited retirement homes to meet members of our community. Upper School have also embraced different charity challenges, with cake sales and of course the Mud Run with all Prep pupils, to raise funds for our

school charity, Teenage Cancer Trust. The Spring Term saw many pupils take part in our drama production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, showing off their creative and collaborative skills. In the summer Year 7 and 8 enjoyed different trips and activities. We worked on our independence, survival and map-reading skills with a number of different pastimes and tasks. Year 8 finished their year with the final week of our Post Common Entrance programme, culminating in a Leavers’ Dinner and finally Speech Day to reward and celebrate their time at The Prep. We wish them every happiness and success going forward. Ms Sarah Reid, Head of Upper School

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Cade House What a wonderful year it has been for the 44 full boarders and 71 Flexi and Occasional boarders of Cade House. We are far more than simply a boarding house; it is a warm, welcoming and supportive home where friendships flourish, and lasting memories are made. We began with a memorable trip to Giffords Circus, where boarders thoroughly enjoyed Tweedy the clown at his entertaining best. From splashing around at Cotswold Water Park to enjoying trips including Laser Tag and the cinema, there were countless opportunities for laughter and shared experiences.

The Prep

Life within House has been equally vibrant. Boarders embraced their time together whether showcasing their culinary talents in The Great Boarders’ Bake Off, enjoying energetic Just Dance evenings, or expressing their creativity in the Art and Design Technology Departments. The Autumn Term ended in festive fashion with a trip to the Everyman Theatre pantomime, followed by the much-loved Boarders’ Jingle Ball.

memorable moments, however, were often the simplest: relaxing around the campfire in the Outdoor Classroom, sharing s’mores and enjoying each other’s company.

Boarders grew in confidence and independence while encouraging one another taking part in activities such as the Ninja Warrior Course and a Graffiti workshop. Long summer evenings were spent enjoying tennis, cricket, swimming, trampolining and volleyball together. Some of the most

Heartfelt thanks go to all the staff whose kindness, dedication and unwavering care ensure that Cade House remains a safe, happy and nurturing home for every boarder.

The year concluded with a thrilling trip to Thorpe Park and the muchanticipated Cade House Festival, which perfectly celebrated the strong sense of community that makes Cade House so special.

Mr and Mrs Jonny and Emma Bell, Houseparents

Valete - Our Fond Farewells Ro Armer Ro joined The Prep in April 2021 as a Nursery School apprentice and quickly became a much-loved member of the team. Fresh to the role, she brought a gentle nature, a caring heart and an extraordinary memory that amazed everyone around her. Ro seemed to learn every important detail about the children in her care almost instantly, from surnames to birthdays, making each child and family feel truly known and valued. She is wonderfully creative, with a mind like a sponge and a talent for turning her skills into something special. Her beautiful hairstyling won admiration from both children and parents, while her exceptional make-up artistry shone in EYFS productions and the whole-school performance of Matilda. Ro is also a devoted bookworm, especially drawn to fairy and fantasy stories, which suits her imaginative spirit perfectly. Alongside her creativity, Ro has a strong moral compass, a brilliant sense of humour and endless patience. She encourages children to be fearless, kind and confident, always offering warmth and reassurance. A loyal and supportive friend, Ro enjoys socialising across The Prep staff team and brings people together with ease. She also loves to sing and shares that passion as a member of a choir outside school, though frogs remain her one great fear. She leaves us for a well-deserved promotion in her career and we wish her well. Thank you Ro, for all your love and care of our youngest learners during your time at The Prep. Rebecca Hughes-Noon

Sandra Gilmour Sandra’s contribution to life at The Prep over the past 18 years has been truly exceptional. As Head of Maths, a form teacher and Head of Rome, Sandra has inspired generations of pupils to aim high and achieve their best; she has always shown a genuine investment in the progress and wellbeing of every child in her care. Sandra’s warmth, professionalism and unwavering commitment have remained constant. Her honest, straightforward advice is delivered in what many will agree is now a somewhat softened Scottish accent after so many years in the Cotswolds!

Sandra is approachable, thoughtful and endlessly supportive; she has always found time for everyone. Whether through kind words, thoughtful cards or small gestures of appreciation, she has consistently made colleagues feel valued. The Maths Department has been the envy of the staff, not only for its success but because of the supportive, positive culture Sandra created by always leading from the front. Beyond the classroom, Sandra embraced every aspect of school life with characteristic enthusiasm, from the Year 8 walks around the Cotswolds, the charity tennis tournament, football club, the Mud Run, or the staff versus pupil football matches. She has embraced every challenge. Many will also fondly remember the Burns Night haggis traditions she brought to Rome House though perhaps not everyone will miss those quite so much! Outside of school, Sandra’s energy and determination continued unabated. Walking has long been a passion of hers, and over the years she has completed many of Britain’s most famous trails: the Cotswold Way (on more than one occasion!), walks around her beloved homeland, as well as the not insignificant 630-mile Southwest Coastal Path! We wish both Sandra and Grant every happiness in their new adventure in Lisbon. We are quite certain she will not be short of friends and visitors keen to enjoy both Sandra’s company and the Lisbon sunshine in the years ahead. Sandra leaves The Prep with enormous gratitude, affection and admiration from all who have had the privilege to work alongside her. Phil Williams

Keston Jones Keston joined in September 2018 and, by her own admission, arrived with very little IT experience. Since then, her journey and development have been nothing short of extraordinary. Over the years, she has grown into the true Canva queen, producing stunning displays, imaginative resources and exciting creative opportunities that have enriched children’s learning right across The Prep. A self-confessed ‘pocket rocket’, Keston brings boundless enthusiasm, creativity and drive to all that she does, approaching each new challenge with positivity, determination and her trademark hundredmile-an-hour pace.

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Keston is not only a phenomenal teacher but also an exceptional colleague whose impact on The Prep community reaches far beyond her own classroom. She has supported the staff team in countless ways. As Common Room representative, she has been a dependable, thoughtful and supportive presence. In her roles as Art Coordinator, Maths Coordinator and English Coordinator, she has shared her expertise with enthusiasm. She has also given passionate leadership as College and Prep Sustainability Lead. Beyond school, she brings the same energy to every area of life: always up for a lunchtime walk up the hill, committed to daily exercise, and proudly embracing the challenge of being a HYROX athlete, all while raising her three boys. Alongside her full-time work, family life and many professional responsibilities, Keston worked incredibly hard to achieve her NPQSL, an impressive accomplishment that reflects her ambition, resilience and commitment to growth. Her move into senior leadership is richly deserved, and while we will miss her, we are all so proud of everything she has achieved. Rebecca Hughes-Noon

Elizabeth Nicholson Lizzie has been an exceptional Teaching Assistant at The Prep within the English Department and has made a hugely positive impact on both pupils and staff during her time with us. Working with children across Years 5 to 8, she has consistently demonstrated a caring, patient and supportive approach that has helped our pupils feel confident, valued and encouraged in their learning. One of Lizzie’s greatest strengths has been her ability to provide the perfect balance of support and challenge. She has skilfully scaffolded learning to ensure pupils could achieve success while also encouraging them to think independently, develop resilience and express their creativity. Her calm and encouraging manner has enabled many pupils to grow in confidence and make excellent progress.

Above all, Lizzie has genuinely cared for both the children and staff, and this was evident in the dedication and professionalism she brought to her role every day. She will be greatly missed, and we wish her every success and happiness in the future. Leanda Theedom

Vanessa Yiend Vanessa has been a valued and much-loved member of the College community since 2012, making a significant contribution across many areas of school life. She first joined as resident staff in Chandos, where she provided exceptional care and support for the girls in her House. Her warm, approachable nature and genuine commitment to the wellbeing of every pupil ensured that the girls always felt supported, encouraged and cared for. Alongside her pastoral role, Vanessa also shared her enthusiasm for languages through teaching Spanish. In 2018, after having her son Elliott, Vanessa joined The Prep, initially working as a teaching assistant before becoming a Year 1 teacher. She brought energy, creativity and kindness to the classroom, inspiring the younger pupils and helping them develop confidence and independence. Her willingness to contribute beyond the classroom was appreciated through her yoga and Latin dance sessions, which pupils thoroughly enjoyed. More recently, Vanessa worked as a teaching assistant within The Prep English Department, supporting pupils from Years 5 to 8 with patience, encouragement and dedication. Throughout her time at College, Vanessa has demonstrated professionalism, compassion and versatility. She leaves with the gratitude and best wishes of colleagues, pupils and parents alike as she begins the next chapter after having her daughter, Gracie. Leanda Theedom

Lizzie has also been an invaluable member of the wider team. She is hardworking, highly organised, dependable and always willing to support colleagues wherever needed. Her positive attitude and sense of humour have made her a pleasure to work with, contributing greatly to the warm and collaborative atmosphere within the Department.

The Prep

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ACADEMIC Lower College Society Members of LCS worked really hard in a variety of challenges embracing some of College’s five Cs, in particular Curiosity and Creativity. Given the mandate to create a display around the topic of steam power after the 200th anniversary of the first successful transportation of human passengers by a locomotive, members embraced everything from theoretical physics to political philosophy. The somewhat drab surroundings of the Lower Gym were transformed by display boards vying for the attention of our judge, Dr Mary Plint, displaying work on topics such as the phenomenon of Railway Madness (Max, James, Archie, Basil) and some projects taking a more abstract view of the benefits and harms of steam power on human psychology (Katinka, Sophie, Bea). Congratulations to Kitty, Annabel and Delilah on their phenomenal steam engine which they made and which actually worked on the night! The overall winners were Henry and Angus with their display on ‘From Steam to Socialism: How Steam Power Forged Marx’s Theory of Class Struggle’. The Spring Term was devoted to debating pressing political, economic, environmental, and social issues. Motions included

Upper College Society Upper College Society, the College’s student-led academic society, had a vintage year. Collaborating closely each week to deliver an engaging and challenging programme of events, the year began with an evening of academic papers. Preparing students for the demands of university, each paper examined topics from an interdisciplinary standpoint before being rigorously questioned from the floor. The calendar also included two parliamentary debates in Chapel. Pioneered by Adam and Emily, these featured electric exchanges on House of Lords reform, the UK’s withdrawal from the European Court of Human Rights, driving licence reform, and the abolition of trial by jury. It was particularly impressive to see students defend their arguments resiliently under the pressure of hostile questioning.

‘Is America’s use of force in Venezuela acceptable as a means of enacting political change?’ and ‘This House believes that banning under-16s from social media infringes on digital identity and social development, and that education and stronger regulation are better solutions.’ In the summer we explored future academic pathways and went to the University of Oxford University to visit the Natural History Museum and the Ashmolean. Mrs Kate Coates way forward. Another highlight was the popular University Challenge, a fun and engaging evening led by Ellen and Lily, which tested students’ general knowledge. Most impressive, however, was the leaders’ sense of responsibility. They organised elections for new leaders, which were hotly contested, involving the review of applications, shortlisting, and formal panel interviews. They also designed and established the first Upper College Society tie. It has been a pleasure working with Lily, Ellen, Paddy, Charlotte, Wangari, Sophia and Michael. Dr Adrian Samuel

The programme also included a Model United Nations evening addressing the challenges facing Iran. Different Houses, representing different countries, debated, collaborated, and compromised in order to find a shared The Cheltonian 2025-26

Extended Project Qualification Creativity and Curiosity were at the

training dentists in the ways of the

and the fragility of UN peace-keeping);

forefront of EPQ topics this year.

NHS and a wonderfully surrealist

Jurisprudence (the merits of England’s

Artefacts ranged from a gutter cleaning

arthouse tribute set amongst the

Jury system, the competing aims of

robot (complete with gutter-cam!) to

sheep on Leckhampton Hill – could

punishment and rehabilitation and the

a fully blown 3D architectural design.

not have been more different (though,

flaws inherent in CCTV) and Politics

Apps were also popular: a barcode

if watched back-to-back, Dadaism

(the debate over ‘nudge units’ and the

scanner to test cruelty-free products

lends itself quite well to the business

shadow cast by Cambridge Analytica).

and an investment tracking tool

of modern health care). Students

Amongst the more esoteric choices

explored ways consumers could be

submitted highly-topical dissertations

were a cultural study of the Georgian

better informed. In film production,

on International Relations (the

Supra; Theresa May’s role as a Stoic;

two releases – a video aimed at

relevance of the Geneva Conventions

toxic masculinity in Love Island and the role of beehive fences in curbing man vs elephant confrontations in Kenya. All were a joy to read! Mr Dominic Nelder

Foundation Project Qualification Just as, “What’s for supper?” is a cry alltoo familiar to any parent, so teachers are often confronted with, “what are we learning today?” All too often the answer produces laments of, “why can’t I do what I want?” With the FPQ, pupils get to choose their main course of study, serve up their own research and present it all on a platter at the end of the year. Projects are inspired by their own tastes, and the range of topics is always striking. Current pupils have been working on projects that explore whether ponies should roam

Academic

free on Dartmoor; how endurance events impact Type 1 diabetes; the colonisation of Namibia; the Battle of the River Plate and forensic pathology. Artefact candidates are putting the finishing touches to a business plan to import Vietnamese Black Bean Soup (“that’s what’s for supper, dear”); a model RC ramp; a film of the Quintin hill rail disaster; a videogame console and a dramatised extra scene to the

controversial series, Adolescence. The awards for last year’s FPQs go to Eleanor for her study of human genetic modification and to Reuben for his highly entertaining plasticine stopmotion film of the Pleistocene era. Mr Dominic Nelder

STEM Faculty Dr James Copeland-Jordan At College we equip pupils to meet the challenges of engineering and the sciences in an ever-evolving society. We foster a culture rooted in deep scientific curiosity, where rigorous theoretical understanding is continually strengthened through authentic, industry-informed engagement. Across Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), our provision extends well beyond examination requirements. We champion crossdisciplinary thinking, challenge accepted norms and encourage pupils to strive for excellence in all they do. Through initiatives such as Dissection Club, the Mars Rover Challenge, the Elective

Biology Mr Alexander Ballentyne This year we have seen success in a number of competitions including the British Biology Olympiad and Homerton College’s Cambridge Biology challenge. We are always delighted to see so many pupils engaging so thoughtfully with the school’s super-curricular programme. We would like to give particular praise to Fernanda who has contributed as a named author on a paper researching the use of immunoassays in low-cost Alzheimer’s diagnoses. Dissection club continues to grow in both popularity and spectacle. Highlights have

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Programme and a broad programme of external lectures, students develop the ability to translate knowledge into meaningful action. These opportunities prepare them not only for further study, but for the demands of modern employment. A central pillar of this approach is our dynamic partnership with Babcock International. This sectorleading collaboration sets Cheltenham College apart, offering students a truly unique opportunity to engage with professional engineers and gain insight into critical UK defence infrastructure. To date, the partnership has enabled over 1,000 student engagements through an expanding programme of immersive experiences. Students benefit from direct exposure to

cutting-edge engineering practice, accessing advanced facilities, specialist equipment and industry expertise. At Babcock’s Staverton site, pupils explore the full lifecycle of helicopters, from structural design to complex maintenance procedures, while placement opportunities allow participation in real‑world engineering tasks. Professional flight simulators further enhance learning within a realistic aviation environment, complemented by visits to Ashchurch, where students encounter large-scale land systems—including memorable Challenger tank testing demonstrations. We are committed to inspiring every pupil. From visits to the Walls Ice Cream Factory to explore modern manufacturing, to exclusive experiences at Pangolin Editions, our students encounter STEM in action at the highest level. Inspiration has a name: STEM at Cheltenham College.

included whole organisms like starfish, octopuses and a rattlesnake.

medical schools from which to choose.

The Upper College field day was another highlight, offering students the opportunity to engage in woodland conservation and deepen their understanding of the science behind rewilding and active land management. We are immensely proud of our departing Upper Sixth biologists, with roughly three-quarters progressing to study Biosciences or closely related degrees. Warmest congratulations to Katie who was offered a place to study Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge as well as Ellen, Lily and Maryam who have their pick of top

We bid farewell to Mrs Jenny O’Bryan as she takes up her new post at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School and Miss Lottie Robinson who departs to play professional netball in Australia. We wish them both the best of luck as they pursue these exciting opportunities. The Biology Department is delighted to announce two new additions. Mrs Amy Lang will be joining full time having served as Westal Housemistress for nine years. Mr Dan Cupit will be joining us from King’s Bruton where he held the position of Deputy Head, Academic. We are lucky to have two such experienced high-quality teachers in the Department this coming year.

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Chemistry Dr Christina Oldham We have been busy with countless experiments and demos to illustrate the underlying theory being taught in the classrooms but we have also enthused and inspired pupils through a variety of supra-curricular activities. These include; ‘Our Life Scientific’, a selection of talks exploring both staff pathways through their scientific careers and pupils’ experiences beyond the classroom; The annual Chemistry Spectacular, where Dr James CopelandJordan led a fascinating display of fire, explosions, and experiments, and a Lower Sixth trip for an Aspirin Synthesis Workshop at Bath University.

Computer Science Mr Matthew Tipton The Computer Science Department at College strives to deliver a dynamic, forward-thinking curriculum. In the Third Form, pupils are introduced to programming through Swift on the iPad and Turtle graphics in Python, building confidence, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills in an engaging and visually accessible way. Alongside this, they develop a clear understanding of how computers work, including binary representation and logic gates.

Academic

Pupils challenged their understanding through national competitions. In the Chemistry Olympiad designed for Upper Sixth students, 10 received a Bronze or Silver Certificate, meaning they were in the top 32% and 25% of competitors respectively. Special mention goes to Katie, Yolanda, Charles, Hendrie and Jeffery who achieved Gold, placing them in the top 8.2% of Sixth Form chemists nationally. For the first time our Fifth Form entered the Junior Olympiad challenge. 51 gained certificates, whilst Ella, Thomas, William, Lochlan, Annie, Tommy, Ned and Harry gained Gold. It is sad to see the Upper Sixth go, but I look forward to seeing the impact they will make utilising their Chemistry

At GCSE, pupils make excellent progress in both theory and practical programming. Outcomes reflect a strong balance of computational thinking, algorithm design, and coding proficiency, with pupils demonstrating increasing independence and technical skill. The BTEC AAQ IT qualification enables the development of real-world digital skills, with students designing and building fully functional websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, producing creative and robust solutions alongside the development of understanding of IT across a range of real-life situations.

A Level to gain places in competitive courses such as Medicine, Veterinary, Biomedical Sciences, and Engineering. Special mention goes to students who have received offers to read Chemistry degrees including Charles at the University of Oxford, Tereza in The Netherlands, Kimi at Imperial College London. Katie has an offer to read Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge. Finally, we say a fond farewell to Mrs Alexandra Smith who is moving to Pate’s Grammar School. She has been a dedicated teacher in her time here at College and has inspired pupils to always achieve their best. We wish her all the best for the future.

Students following the OCR CTEC in IT show strong understanding of key industry concepts, applying theoretical knowledge effectively to practical scenarios throughout the preparation for their examinations. At A Level, OCR NEA projects are innovative and highly detailed, showcasing sophisticated design, thorough documentation, and advanced programming techniques, reflecting ambition, depth of understanding, and excellent preparation for future pathways in computing.

Design and Technology Mr Henry Franks

alongside an automatic material-sifting machine built to separate large and small substrates, delivering practical, tangible engineering solutions to everyday problems.

In a year where technological revolution has dominated global headlines, our Design & Technology pupils have proven exceptionally well-placed to thrive in this new age. By embracing cutting-edge tools and driving innovation, they have developed a broad range of imaginative, problem-solving products. This year, our Electives groups in the Fourth Form and Lower Sixth treated our own grounds and catering teams as real-world clients, tackling specific briefs pitched directly by the staff. Notably, the Engineering elective designed and manufactured a bespoke duck pontoon for The Prep lake,

Down in the workshops, we have expanded our fleet of 3D printers. This has allowed more pupils than ever to rapidly test, iterate, and print multiple versions of their designs, with each evolution more refined than the last, culminating in highly sophisticated final outcomes. Furthermore, our expanded range of CAM (ComputerAided Manufacturing) machinery has enabled pupils to accelerate their prototyping, seamlessly adopting new advancements at both the software and hardware levels. Beyond the classroom, Lower Sixth students experienced real-world manufacturing firsthand. In a brilliant study of contrast, they visited

both the MINI plant in Oxford and the Morgan Motor Company on the very same day. Witnessing high-tech, large-scale automation, where robotic arms assemble over 1,000 cars daily at MINI, juxtaposed against Morgan’s limited-run, hand-built, ash-framed sports cars gave students a fascinating insight into different production scales. To top off a remarkable year of trips, pupils were also granted exclusive tours of Babcock’s helicopter facilities, which featured a live demonstration on casting custom composite materials for rotor blades, offering an inspiring glimpse into the world of highperformance engineering. Studying D&T has truly never been so exciting. Finally we wish to say an enormous thank you and farewell to our Technician Mr Jacob Fisher who has supported the Department so ably for so many years.

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Bilkisu

Cecil

Alexander

Lorien

Daniel

Ned Edward

Oscar Dylan

Lawson Lorena

Jack P

Ptolemy

Thee

Star

Academic

Herbert

Samita

Textiles Mrs Sarah Tradgett The Textiles Department has enjoyed another highly successful year, with a strong focus on fostering creativity, independence and innovation across all year groups. Pupils have embraced the opportunities presented by the newly established Art & Design Textiles courses at Fourth Form GCSE and Lower Sixth A Level, demonstrating exceptional enthusiasm and ambition in their work. These courses have enabled pupils to explore an increasingly diverse range of processes and outcomes, including fashion design, mixedmedia textiles and large scale threedimensional sculptural hangings. To enrich their understanding of contemporary and historical textile

practice, pupils have benefitted from a range of inspirational visits, including trips to The Wilson in Cheltenham, the Saatchi Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. These experiences have provided valuable contextual research and have encouraged pupils to make informed connections between artists, designers and their own creative practice. Within Design & Technology Textiles Fifth Form GCSE and Upper Sixth A Level, pupils have once again produced outstanding coursework, combining traditional textile techniques with cuttingedge technologies. Innovative use of the laser cutter for fabric etching, computer-aided embroidery and 3D-printed components has enabled pupils to develop highly original and sophisticated outcomes.

The Department has also celebrated success beyond the classroom. Zara proudly presented her work at The Stitch Festival in Islington, London, as part of the international Junk Kouture competition. In addition, Fourth Form Electives pupils submitted an entry to the competition this year, showcasing their creativity and commitment to sustainable design. Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth students have further strengthened links with the local community through their involvement in the Cheltenham Education Partnership and Lives of Colour initiative, culminating in a successful public exhibition at Francis Close Hall Chapel.

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Annabel

Allegra Florence

Delilah

Fehintola

Poppy

Delilah Balla Bea

Frankie Bea

Tallulah Jess

Aysha

Lucas

Ella

Academic

Helena

Zara

Mathematics Dr Brendan Enright The Department continues to enjoy success in national Mathematical competitions. Every year we enter the UKMT challenges, these papers are designed to test not only mathematical skills and knowledge but also ingenuity. At the senior level, 40 pupils received certificates for creditable performance, six pupils gained Gold Certificates for being placed in the top 6% nationally. Top place in Lower Sixth was achieved by Enoch, with an outstanding score of 125/125 and Stepan came top in

Physics Mr Matthew Cole The highlights of the year for the Physics Department have included multiple successes both inside and outside the classroom. Once again more than 100 pupils have sat the British Physics Olympiad annual competitions and this year, for the first time, several pupils also sat the International Physics Brawl

the Upper Sixth. At the Intermediate level 75 pupils achieved recognition with the award of certificates, with 19 Gold Awards. Particular credit and congratulations must go to Zara, Gavin and Ella, who were placed first in their year groups with scores which put them in the top one quarter of a % nationally. Furthermore 12 of these pupils were also invited to compete in the follow up rounds in which they did very well indeed. The College Mathematics Society, now in its 18th year, is going extremely well. The highlight of the pupil presentations this year was a talk by William on

where they completed degree level questions against a variety of school, university and professional teams. Gold Certificates in the British Physics Olympiads were awarded to Thomas, Ella, William and Paddy. Pupils have also had the opportunity to enjoy engineering outside of lessons, each one developing their problemsolving and teamwork skills. A team of pupils designed, built and tested a Mars Rover as part of a Cheltenham

Integration. I would like to thank Sunny for his leadership of the Society over the last year. Finally, a thank you to all pupils who attended or gave presentations. The Department says goodbye to Ms Holly Hyams who has taught with energy and skill for the last two years at College. Also, we are very sorry to lose Mr Simon Conner as a teacher, but are comforted by the fact that he will only be over the road as he takes up his new post as Head of Maths at The Prep.

Education Partnership competition. Pupils have also taken part in the Fourth Form and Lower Sixth engineering electives where they have built rockets, competed in LEGO challenges, built a duck house for The Prep’s lake as well as much more over the course of the year. We are sorry to say goodbye to Mrs Sioned Llewelyn. She has been a fantastic teacher, and she has made a huge difference to so many pupils.

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Languages and Culture Faculty Classics, Drama, EAL, History of Art and Modern Foreign Languages Mr Tom Lambert This year the Faculty expanded, adding the Drama, History of Art, and EAL Departments to the original line-up of Classics and MFL. We now offer 10 subjects at public exam level – including six languages – and support pupils with a further nine languages, including Chinese, Russian and Italian. It has been great to see a return for Japanese, as well as the ‘College first’ of a pupil

Classics Miss Elizabeth Rawkins Following another excellent set of public examination results last year we waved OC Ngoni Mudange (W, 2025) off to King’s College, Cambridge and welcomed Fliss back from her second summer course at Bryanston School. Classics has continued to thrive at College, with Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation taught on timetable at every public examination point. Nine Fourth

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taking Tamil. Wherever possible, the Faculty offers all subjects at both GCSE and in the Sixth Form; those fluent in their native languages are usually recommended to sit qualifications in their Fourth Form or Lower Sixth. The Faculty has something to offer everyone, and it is a rare pupil who doesn’t consider study of any of our diverse subjects. In the summer we launched the Apollo Competition for

Form pupils are currently working towards GCSE Greek, with seven having opted for GCSE Greek this coming academic year, and 31 for GCSE Latin. Beyond the classroom, Classics Society meetings, theatre trips, and the GCA lecture programme have been regular features of the supra-curriculum, with a large scale Roman ‘cena’ and mosaicmaking session being a particular highlight of the year. Additional successes include the Third Form Classical Civilisation debate;

ambitious Third Form pupils on the theme of Echo and Narcissus: as part of their prize, winning entries will be published in the new Faculty Magazine. We hope to remain a school where an overwhelming majority of pupils study at least one linguistic qualification at GCSE, where a substantial number take several Faculty subjects from, and where an ambitious and interested core build their curriculum around their love of languages and culture.

46 pupils achieving Pass, Merit or Distinction in their EMACT Greek certificate; seven pupils placing in the top three at the Gloucestershire Classical Reading competition; the return of Sanskrit club; a record 44 pupils embarking on the Partnership Latin course; and Kitty and Fliss achieving offers from multiple highranking universities, including the University of Oxford.

Drama Mrs Sian McBride It has been a tremendously busy year again in Drama with the usual trips, performances and the everyday task of preparing our GCSE and A Level pupils for public exams. A particular highlight was watching our Upper Sixth perform extracts from a number of contemporary naturalistic plays such

as Polly Stenham’s That Face influenced by the work of influential director Katie Mitchell. The Lower Sixth also produced highly innovative devising pieces with theatre company The Paper Birds exploring the difficulties facing young people leaving the foster care system. As always, we had a full programme of trips and highlights including Blood Brothers and the new Inspector Morse:

House of Ghosts, after which our pupils were invited to an exclusive Q&A where they had the opportunity to meet the cast including Television actor Tom Chambers. The year culminated in the Drama Department day outing where we visited London taking in a West End show and watching the street performers in Covent Garden.

David, and both cities, in their own unique way, left the students and staff suitably awestruck. Further trips extended to the Imperial War Museum and Tate Britain in London for the Lower Sixth, and The National Gallery and Wallace Collection in London for the Upper Sixth, taking in a timely Caravaggio exhibition at the latter in the process. We were lucky enough to take two trips to ‘Exhibition on the Screen’ at The Everyman Cinema, Cheltenham this year, for the Caravaggio biopic (Upper Sixth) and the Frida Kahlo hagiography (Lower

Sixth). With a sojourn to London during Futures’ Week to Bonhams in Knightsbridge and The Courtauld on The Strand, I feel strongly that History of Art students have been blessed with the first-hand experience at every turn!

History of Art Mr Nick Nelson We began the year with a real spring in our step, celebrating our best results in the subject for a number of years, and having secured coveted places at Christ Church in Oxford and, diversely, Prague. We were sorry to have to bid farewell to such a fulsome cohort of 19 students, which, combined with a then Lower Sixth contingent, comprised a total of 30 students overall. Notably, last year just 830 students in the country sat History of Art A Level, thus College was keenly represented in this discipline on a national level.

With enticing offers from the universities of Edinburgh, Exeter, Bristol, and the like, we are delighted as a Department that students are naturally looking to extend their brief beyond the confines of the A Level classroom to pursue, what is undoubtedly, a culturally enriching and most cerebral subject.

October Half Term saw Mr Dan Evans and Mr Nick Nelson take 16 students on a cultural odyssey to Florence and Rome in order to study seminal artworks from the Renaissance and Baroque periods respectively, and in their natural setting. All students acquitted themselves admirably, and we collectively enjoyed a hale mix of cultural infusion and gastronomic delights. There is no substitute for soaking in the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at close-quarters or standing alongside Michelangelo’s colossal The Cheltonian 2025-26

Modern Foreign Languages Mrs Annabele Million and Mr Keri Price In October, Mme Wandrille Bates and Miss Helen Davies took Fourth Form French pupils to the South of France for a week’s immersion in Antibes. Pupils had interactive lessons every morning, enjoyed cultural visits in the afternoons and stayed in French host families. In Antibes, they loved the fun fair, visiting the old town, watching the yachts by the harbour, playing pétanque and eating tapenade or ice creams. They were lucky to visit the Fragonard Parfumerie in Grasse, see the red carpet at the Cannes festival centre and spend a lot of time on the beach in sunny Nice. Their French language skills were challenged when they created a French rap or had to complete surveys and question people in the streets, but also when they entered an escape

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room and watched an animation about Marcel Pagnol at the cinema. Some of the family hosts cried when it was time to say goodbye, which is a testament to the excellent behaviour and manners from the group. They all made lots of progress and many happy memories. MFL Society events have included a Lupin, Crêpe and Kahoot! Night for Third Form, Cheese and Wine tasting for Upper College, which included excellent presentations from Isa on Hergé, the Belgian author and creator of Tintin, and Hannah and Ava on their trip to Québec. Adam organised an Upper College debating evening with OC Imogen Cutts (Q, 2021) joining in having completed her French and German studies at the University of Durham. This served as a warm-up to our annual inter-school MFL debating competition with teams from 10 schools debating a range of topics in French, German and Spanish. Finally, we held our Pétanque in the Park soirée for Lower Sixth language students to enjoy the French game of boules and learn more about French heritage through presentations from students.

Additional competitions included the Stephen Spender Translation Prize, for which Hannah received a special commendation for her translation of Bertrand Degott’s untitled poem into French and accompanying short story. We also entered the Poesíæ poetry recitation competition, with pupils from all year groups who took part to recite French, German and Spanish poetry from memory. Finally, Olivia was awarded the Anthea Bell Level 3 South West area prize for her translation of a passage from Marguerite Audoux’s novel Marie Claire from French into English. MFL ties this year have been awarded to several of our Lower Sixth students; Emma, Hattie, George and Elizabeth. Over the summer, George attended an intensive Spanish course in Ronda. Congratulations to our departing Upper Sixth linguists, with a special mention to Hannah who will be studying History and French at university.

Art Mrs Sarah Enright “Creativity takes courage.” Henri Matisse This year has been an exciting and inspiring one for the Art Department, filled with creativity, exploration, and achievement across all year groups. Our pupils have enjoyed a range of enriching art trips, including visits to Oxford and Bristol museums and art galleries. Historical and contemporary influences have encouraged pupils to observe closely, think critically, and develop their own creative responses. A Level students also had the opportunity to visit the Courtauld Gallery and Bonhams Auction House

in London, gaining inspiration from world-renowned masterpieces while strengthening their analytical and observational skills. Our College Art Galleries in February displayed the creativity of College’s teaching and support staff. It was fantastic to see some hidden skills, from photography to dress making, sharing an appreciation of making art and craft. The Third Form enjoyed seeing their classwork in an art exhibition in the Spring Term. This was followed by a stunning Speech Day display, showcasing highly personal and imaginative outcomes, from our exam year groups. Pupils also took part in a series of exciting workshops designed to encourage experimentation and

creative confidence. The Prep 24-hour experience enjoyed experimenting with Gelli printmaking. Miss Betsy Bradley, our technician, and an artist in her own right, also hosted a day of expressive art painting. Many congratulations to each one of this year’s Upper Sixth students in particular for their endeavour, progress made and celebrated artistic talents. The Art Department staff wish them the very best in their future. Sarah and Zara are seeking to pursuing their artistic education at University of the Arts London whilst Tilda hopes for a possible career in interior design. We look forward to another exciting year of creativity and artistic success ahead.

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Tilda

Henry

Tallulah

Sophia

Zara

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Tilly

Wylder

Jack

Rosie

Poppy

Cecil

Bella

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George

Lorien

Elke

Ella

Rosie

George

Noah

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Isla

Poppy Helena

Sarah

Miranda

Olivia

Sam

Scarlet

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blend of sports commercialism, operational Business and Economics memorable insights, and economic theory that left a lasting impact on our Ms Paulina De La Fuente

pupils’ understanding of industry dynamics.

This year we launched our Economics and Current Affairs, and our Business Societies. These offer younger pupils the opportunity to learn about the business world and economic environment to broaden their understanding of the world around them and beyond their life at College.

We continued our focus on building a robust portfolio of real-life case studies to help students elevate and contextualise their A Level exam responses. To assist with this, we took the Upper Sixth for an immersive tour of the Morgan Motor Company in Malvern to examine niche manufacturing and premium branding. This gave students first-hand experience of customisation and labour-intensive production. There was also a trip to the MINI plant in Oxford which included a comprehensive tour of the factory.

The Business and Economics Department embarked on an exciting new venture during the October half-term break, taking our CTEC students to the historic Kingsholm Stadium, home of Gloucester Rugby. This trip provided Lower and Upper Sixth students a firsthand look at the complex operations of a professional sports franchise, offering a diverse array of realworld business insights. The stadium visit served as a live case study for sports entertainment and stadium economics. Pupils explored the commercial side of the Club, learning how the venue maximizes match-day and non-match-day revenue through corporate hospitality, ticketing strategies, and major events. The tour also shed light on the club’s unique economic ecosystem, showing how a modern sports business navigates brand partnerships, community engagement, and local economic impact. Overall, our time at Kingsholm was a

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The Mini MBA program has continued to go from strength to strength. Our entrepreneurial students conceptualised a brilliant variety of products this year, including a revision app, a high-end children’s toy, and jewellery. The finalists pitched their business plans at the headquarters of Spirax Sarco and EcoCaps, a solution for single-use hand sanitiser bottles, created by Mills, Jack and Alex, won. A big thank you to all our guest speakers, some our parents, who have visited the College this year to share invaluable industry insights. We look forward to welcoming our partner schools next academic year to partake and collaborate in this enriching experience.

English Dr Luke Davidson We welcomed Ms Freya Colclough as the new Head of Department and are excited about the way she hopes to help the Department excel. We said a sad farewell to Mr Andrew Elliott, who in his stint as Second-in-Department has brought unflagging enthusiasm, professionalism and dedication to his pupils. We shall miss him very much. Pupils continued to impress in English, participating in the Hannam Clarke Prize, a competition that celebrates effective poetry recitation. Guy won with

Geography Mr Fraser Dobney Geography continues to engage College pupils with the contemporary issues of the day. The subject continues to be a hugely popular option within College and the Department has enjoyed another very successful year. Our popular half termly Bingen Society student presentation evenings continue to impress. Two presentations that have stuck with me was one given by Emily C who spoke about plastic pollution affecting marine wildlife and the talk

‘Ode to Golf’ with James and Amelia runners-up. Ms Colclough also took a group of aspiring English Literature and Communication graduates to Cardiff to visit the BBC and the head of faculty at the University of Cardiff. The Department’s own society (‘Lit Soc’) enjoyed an excellent year under the presidency of Isa, who designed a new, and highly desirable, tie for Society devotees. Congratulations to Isa, Fliss, Jemima, Charlotte, Elizabeth, and Saskia for earning their ties. Society sessions included ‘Children’s Stories before Children’s Literature’ and ‘Is Bad Literature Really that Bad?’ (It turns out: it is!). The Department keeps building

its expertise. Dr Luke Davidson enjoyed three days with the Royal Shakespeare Company to investigate how theatre techniques can enliven the teaching of language that can seem remote from our pupils. The Department enjoyed sharing its own expertise outside College under the auspices of the Cheltenham Education Partnership. Mr Paul Hayes organised a wonderful poetry slam, while Dr Davidson explored a range of Shakespeare’s great speeches with students from All Saints’ Academy and Balcarras Schol alongside Dr Adam Dunning, our former Senior Chaplain and Shakespeare enthusiast from the TPE Department.

given by Henry on the Geography of energy and power through the analysis of the 1973 oil embargo.

how globalisation has influenced Bristol’s past and how it will influence its future.

One of the great benefits of being a geography teacher is being able to take our pupils out on field trips and this year was no different with pupils exploring spectacular landforms on the North Somerset Coast, investigating the impact of fluvial processes in the Forest of Dean, assessing the effectiveness of the regeneration projects taking place in Birmingham, understanding how Cheltenham’s function has changed over time and finally an investigation into

We wish Maddie, Greta, Caspar, Emily C, Lauren, Emily G and Allegra the very best of luck with their plans to take up offers to read Geography at a variety of Russel Group universities and we hope they come back to visit us in the future. As always, my thanks go to Mr Will Bates, Mr Owen Williams, Mrs Michelle Lucas Halliwell, Mrs Sue Anderson, Mrs Caroline Kirby and Mrs Sarah Hayden for everything that they have done for the Department this year to ensure that it continues to thrive.

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History Miss Jo Doidge-Harrison We congratulate Ben K on receiving an Oxford offer: watching him earnestly quiz Mr James Hayden on the finer points of Tudor Ireland was one of the great joys of the late Summer Term. Engagement starts in Third Form, where Zara impressed, reading Alice Winn’s ‘In Memoriam’ in record speed. Under Sophia’s leadership, the Morley Society has been equally rewarding, from Marcus on ‘The Gurkhas’, to Sean and George

Music Mr Shaun Pirttijarvi Academic Music continues to thrive, with pupils showing excellent engagement, curiosity, and musical progress across all year groups. Innovative teaching approaches, alongside the effective use of music technology and digital resources, have helped to create lessons that are both intellectually stimulating and highly enjoyable. Pupils have responded enthusiastically to opportunities for practical music-making, composition, listening, and collaborative work, contributing to a vibrant and purposeful classroom atmosphere.

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on ‘Waterloo’ and ‘The Dangers of Dehumanising Nazis’, to Frankie’s ‘Five Women You Won’t Hear About on International Women’s Day’. Hugo and Ronan identified ‘History’s Worst Day of The Week’ (I think their data suggested a Tuesday, though memory is obscured by laughter), whilst Ronan also wrote for Oriel Oxford’s Nettleford prize, using ‘Zulu’ to explore how conventions of genre shape narratives about colonialism and its legacies. We wish him and Charlotte the best of luck in preparing for the University of Oxford. Mr James Bass has joyfully joined Mr Jonny Bass back in the History fold, much to the confusion of anyone emailing or looking for either of them, and as we enter a second year of an exciting new unit on ‘China since 1900’, we are very grateful for all that Jonny, Mr Dominic Nelder and Mrs Sarah Dawson have creatively done ahead of us, to scale The Great Wall.

The Upper Sixth have been an energetic year group and hugely involved across the Music Department. Ceci has been a dedicated Leader of the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Sophia has been a superb Head Chorister of the College Choirs, Curtis has promoted all things musical in his role as Co-Curricular Prefect, and the Jackson Society has gone from strength to strength under Otto’s remarkably assured leadership. After a fantastic set of results last year, we are proud that OC Hayden Tong (Q, 2025) is now flourishing as a violinist at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London, and OC William Treasure (BH, 2025) is studying Music and Maths at the University of Leeds.

Politics Mrs Alexandra Eldred The academic year began on a high note with the return of Sophia from the prestigious John Locke Institute Summer School in Oxford. Sophia also secured an offer to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University. We celebrated the achievements of Adam and Henry who were both shortlisted for the John Locke Institute Essay Prize. Henry entered his exploration of democracy as a Fourth Form pupil in a competition primarily aimed at Sixth Form students.

Psychology Ms Lissa Rogers The Psychology Department has enjoyed another exceptionally busy and rewarding year, filled with academic achievement, enrichment opportunities, and memorable moments both inside and outside the classroom. From fascinating BTEC research projects on offender profiling to engaging discussions on topics including schizophrenia in A Level lessons, our students have approached every challenge with enthusiasm, curiosity, and resilience.

Adam, who wrote on the law, won the Upper Sixth Politics prize despite being in Lower Sixth when he wrote it. Ollie won this year’s Lower Sixth prize. Morley Society has enjoyed another busy and engaging year. Sophia was elected President, and the Society continued its tradition of fostering intellectual curiosity, lively debate and confident public speaking. Pupils from across the year groups contributed a range of presentations on contemporary and historical political themes. Highlights included Camero’s imaginative consideration of

The greatest strength of the Department continues to be our students. Miss Lara Beere, Miss Shelley Carr and I would like to pay tribute to them all. Their willingness to think critically, debate thoughtfully, and support one another has created a vibrant and inspiring atmosphere throughout the year. We have loved learning from and alongside them. Whether preparing for examinations, presenting independent research, or contributing to classroom discussions, they have consistently demonstrated maturity, determination, and compassion. It makes teaching

the fictitious meal deals favoured by Britain’s six most recent Prime Ministers, and Ollie and Benjy’s analysis of the ways in which social media shapes voter behaviour. Sophia delivered a presentation entitled ‘Silent Preferences, Persistent Values: Why Identity Politics Endures’, while Ronan led a discussion on media bias and its influence on political discourse. We finished off the year with a visit to the Welsh Senedd during Futures Week and the Department is planning a visit to Westminster in the coming year.

Psychology both a privilege and a pleasure. As another academic year draws to a close, we would like to congratulate our students on everything they have achieved. Many will continue to study Psychology at university, which is the ultimate compliment. We wish every student success and happiness for theatre company The Paper Birds the future and hope the curiosity and understanding developed through Psychology remain with them for years to come.

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Sports Science Mrs Sally Dudley Sports Science continues to thrive at College, with strong enrolment into the Fourth Form and Lower Sixth for the forthcoming academic year. The Upper Sixth CTEC cohort is progressing well and remains on course for excellent results. Lower Sixth students have demonstrated exceptional leadership through the Level 2 Community Sports Leadership qualification. Working with the Wednesday elective group, pupils delivered engaging and well-structured coaching sessions at Naunton Park Primary School. For their assessment, they planned and led an athletics afternoon for pupils from The Prep, clearly demonstrating organisation, confidence and positive role modelling.

During Futures Week, Lower Sixth students visited Cardiff Metropolitan University to explore Sports Science at degree level. The visit included practical physiological testing, giving pupils valuable insight into university study and applied practice. Across Lower College, lessons successfully combine theory with practical application. Fourth Form pupils have developed badminton and tennis skills alongside their sport commitments, while studying the science of human movement and training methods used to improve performance. Testing has been used as an informative tool to support progress. The Department remains committed to maximising pupil outcomes and continues to go from strength to strength through high expectations, inclusive teaching and meaningful opportunities beyond the classroom.

Theology, Philosophy and Ethics Dr Matthew Harris It has been another busy year in TPE. Pupils from all yeargroups have enjoyed TPE Society, with a good number presenting. We have had talks on immortality (Avi and Freddie), the ethics of war (Abbey), ancient metaphysics (Esme), political philosophy (Sophia), free will (Sebby and Reuben), Zhuangzi’s Butterly (Astrid and Alexander), humans and animals (Rachel and Preem), moral luck (Charlotte), the

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ethics of immigration (Perlie, Kitty and Charlotte), and religion and religions (Finn and Reuben). Rachel won the TPE Fourth Form Essay Competition for an essay on capital punishment. Charlotte was shortlisted for the prestigious Erasmus Essay Prize. Esme is hoping to take up an offer to read Philosophy and Theology at university.

Speech Day Prizes Lower Sixth

Co-Curricular

Upper Sixth

Adams Prize Katie

Adams Prize Lorien

Gasson Cup Maddie

Sport

Duleepsinhji Cup (boys) Oscar

Duleepsinhji Cup (girls) Maddie

CCF prizes

The Army Leadership Prize Scarlet

Stidworthy Cup Max

Sloan Cup Matilda

Academic Excellence

The Millennium Trophy Ben

All-Round Contribution

The Cadbury Cup Lily

The John Bowes Cup Craig

The Galahad Cup Fliss The Cheltonian 2025-26

Careers and Higher Education Mrs Rebecca Evans This year’s Higher Education and Careers events began with the Department’s biennial ‘Pathways and Possibilities’ Fair. Open to all parents and pupils, as well as pupils from All Saints’ Academy, we welcomed over 40 universities and employers and 250 parents and pupils to the event, along with a carousel of speakers covering topics as varied as work experience, competitive university applications and making career choices. Two of our 2025 Upper Sixth leavers secured apprenticeships at Airbus and Forvis Mazars early in 2026 whilst on their gap years, supported by the Department, and over 165 UK university applications were submitted to UCAS. Our pupils collectively received more than 30 offers from each of Durham, Bristol, Manchester and Newcastle and over 60 offers from Exeter! 61 international university applications, superbly supported by Mrs Sarah Dawson and Mr Luke Eddon, were made to Australia, Ireland, Hong Kong, the USA, China,

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and European countries with offers ranging from Washington University, The University of Melbourne, IE Madrid, Virij University in the Netherlands, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Hong Kong University. Two of our Upper Sixth students secured field hockey scholarships to the University of Massachusetts and Quinnipiac University, USA respectively. More than 200 Lower and Upper College pupils attended career talks, career carousels and networking events covering industries as broad as law, event management, finance and the creative industries. Our Lower Sixth aspiring law applicants took part in a Moot competition through the Cheltenham Education Partnership (CEP) during which they pitched their advocacy skills against their peers at local schools and won; and Mr John Jones and Dr Christina Oldham (our Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary leads) hosted a wonderfully informative MDV Conference, welcoming more than 120 students from nine CEP schools. Talks from surgeons, GPs, paramedics and universities coupled with suturing workshops ensured that pupils finished the day with a true understanding of

their intended vocations. With four successful Medicine and Dentistry applications for the Upper Sixth, Mr Jones’ preparation programme began in January for our Lower Sixth pupils with a record number in attendance. The introduction of Dr Oldham’s Veterinary elective on Wednesday afternoons for the Lower Sixth has seen pupils visiting clinics, studs and farms, whilst studying real-life case studies together with learning dissection and suturing techniques in the lab. Career guidance meetings form a large part of the careers programme for Fifth Form and Lower Sixth pupils, with over 300 taking place in the Autumn and Spring Terms, and more than 100 parents joined online information sessions about Sixth Form choices, UCAS applications and the support College offers. Mrs Kate Coates’ Oxbridge preparation programme supported 18 Upper Sixth applications to Oxford and Cambridge in the Autumn Term resulting in five well-deserved offers, and our Lower College Society pupils were treated to a visit to Oxford and its colleges in June to inspire and broaden younger pupils’ horizons.

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Spotlight on Early Careers College and the Cheltonian Society are pleased to keep up to date with recent leavers and celebrate their early career successes. Whether embarking on university work placements, securing graduate jobs or taking a more direct path from Sixth Form into employment, we gladly support all our Old Cheltonians in exploring, discovering and pursuing their career aspirations and following whichever pathway suits them best. Mrs Rebecca Evans

Immy Cutts (Q, 2021) I have a degree in Modern Languages and Cultures from Durham University and, from August, will be starting a Commercial Management Trainee graduate scheme at the world’s largest brewing company, AB InBev. The application process was strenuous and intense. As my previous experience all leant towards my original career dream of civil service and diplomacy, I had to pitch myself, rather than my past jobs and internships. It is undeniable that College developed in me the skills that helped me stand out. From confidence to logical thinking and articulately backing up my points, I thought back to House Singing, debates, presentations and sports fixtures, as just a few examples.

Charles Hellens (L, 2021) After graduating in 2025, I took up a policy research role with the Centre for Geopolitics, based in Cambridge, writing primarily on the future of the transatlantic relationship. From September 2026, I will be teaching History & Politics at St Edward’s School, Oxford. My main highlight since leaving College has been my time at Lincoln College, Oxford where I read History. It was an immense privilege to learn alongside the world’s leading scholars, and to enjoy all that Oxford had to offer. I’m grateful for the chance to pass on my knowledge to the next generation.

Guy Beazley (NH, 2020) Following university at the Royal Agricultural University, I decided to explore the property industry. After speaking with several Old Cheltonians based in London who are already involved in property, I joined the Savills Graduate Programme in 2024. I am currently a Graduate Surveyor in the Large Complex Estates team, working at Battersea Power Station. Alongside this, I am working towards my APC (Assessment of Professional Competence), with the aim of qualifying as a RICS Chartered Surveyor in autumn 2026. I have always had entrepreneurial ambitions, influenced by talks during my time at College, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds.

Darcey Norman (Q, 2021) I’m now Head of Weddings at Sudeley Castle & Gardens, where I lead the planning and delivery of weddings at one of the country’s most historic venues. My journey began there as a teenage volunteer working as a room steward during the summer holidays. Watching weddings unfold sparked my interest in the industry, and I soon began shadowing the wedding coordinators whenever possible. While at Cheltenham College, I continued gaining experience before returning to Sudeley after Sixth Form. I was offered a full-time role as Wedding Coordinator and have since progressed to Head of Weddings.

Mickey Stranack (S, 2023) I am currently at the University of York but on a year in industry at retailer TJX Europe. I work in the Global Continuous Improvement team, on projects that look to make processes more efficient. The conversations I had with Dr Copeland-Jordan as my form tutor in Upper Sixth helped me the most – not necessarily telling me what I had to do but helping me realise how many opportunities there are and that it’s on me to take them and achieve them. Securing a year in industry is certainly up there but another big highlight is being part of the University of York hockey club, as a player as well as Social Secretary, Sponsorship Coordinator and, next year, Treasurer. 36

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Izzy Greenwood (W, 2021) I’m a Commercial Insurance Graduate at Lockton (the world’s largest independent insurance brokerage), currently working in the Entertainment Practice. Drawn to the City for its dynamic and people-focused culture, the Graduate Scheme felt like a natural starting point. After studying Criminology at the University of Bristol, which I loved, the Cheltonian Society networking events in London opened my eyes to the range of careers available and helped me think more clearly about what I wanted to do. Since then, graduating and moving to London has been a defining and exciting step! I also loved catching up with some OCs at our five-year reunion in Chelsea!

Charlie Payne (S, 2023) I joined Crowe (a leading audit, tax and consulting firm) after leaving College and am on an apprenticeship to gain AAT and ACCA qualifications which are specific to accounting. I currently work as an accountant in the Global Business Solutions department, supporting clients across different sectors and countries with financial reporting, compliance, and day-to-day accounting processes. College played a major role in developing the knowledge and competencies I need to succeed in today’s job market. It also gave me the opportunity to explore different career paths and confirmed my desire to learn and progress while working in a professional environment.

Gaurav Mediratta (L, 2020) I am currently working as an Associate in Private Equity Consulting at Bain & Company. Studying Engineering Science at Oxford University helped me realise how much I enjoy problem solving and analytical thinking. A particular highlight was the opportunity to work alongside leading professors in machine learning and electronics. One of the biggest advantages of an engineering degree is the breadth of opportunities it opens up, especially as I was unsure what path I wanted to take after College. The mathematical and structured problem-solving skills I developed during my degree were fundamental in helping me secure my current role.

Jess Pulford (A, 2022) Since leaving College, I have wrapped up my Maths Undergraduate at Oxford and am approaching the end of my Masters in Finance at HEC Paris. This summer I will be back in London for an internship in asset management. College was great for helping me figure out my path. For me, academics was always my thing and I was encouraged to push myself and explore my studies through societies, external competitions and Oxbridge support. Although I was initially nervous about competing with the Oxford calibre (with hindsight this was unfounded), Dr Enright, Mrs Evans, Mrs Leach and everyone at College encouraged me to believe in myself and it turned out to be a blast!

Aidan Portch (H, 2023) I am currently studying towards an Integrated MEng degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Birmingham, with an industrial placement at MOOG Aircraft Group UK next academic year. College had a large influence on what I am studying by increasing my enjoyment for Sciences and Maths, giving advice on my future studies and suggesting possible directions I could take. A particular highlight I enjoyed after College was my scholarship-funded trip to Wuhan, China, to study AI and robotics for a month. I am looking forward to my industrial placement and the prospect of working in a realworld engineering environment. The Cheltonian 2025-26

CO-CURRICULAR

Co-Curricular

Introduction This year, our pupils have once again embraced the extraordinary breadth of co-curricular opportunities available to them, demonstrating enthusiasm, commitment and a willingness to challenge themselves beyond the classroom. From the camaraderie and determination shown on the sports fields, to the imagination and confidence displayed in musical and dramatic performances, cocurricular life continues to play a vital role in shaping the character of every Cheltonian.

Across all activities, the values of the 5 Cs - Curiosity, Creativity, Character, Community, and Continuous Excellence - are brought vividly to life. Pupils have explored new interests with curiosity, expressed themselves with creativity and developed resilience and leadership through moments of challenge and achievement. Whether undertaking expeditions through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, leading within the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), contributing to service initiatives, or supporting one another in rehearsals and competitions, pupils have strengthened the sense

of community that lies at the heart of school life. We are immensely proud of the energy and ambition our pupils bring to every opportunity. Equally, I thank the staff whose dedication, encouragement and expertise make such a rich and varied programme possible. I hope this edition of The Cheltonian captures the spirit, achievement and shared experiences that have defined co-curricular life at College this year. Mr Stephen McQuitty, Deputy Head (Co-Curricular)

The Wilson Diploma At College we encourage pupils to fulfil their ‘Cheltenham Potential’ by developing and encouraging them towards the virtues of Character, Creativity, Curiosity, Community and Continuous Excellence. Through the Wilson Diploma, we seek to recognise those most ‘Cheltonian’ of pupils. The Fourth Form have made some unbelievable contributions. It is important to acknowledge both those that have excelled throughout and those that have shown the most growth over the entire two years. This year’s Platinum and Gold Award Winners, listed below, have all demonstrated the Cheltonian Spirit, some from day one but, importantly, some have found their way later in the cycle. Mr Matthew Preston

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2026 Platinum Award Winners

Abbey, Annie, Eleanor, Florence, Lochlan, Reuben

2026 Gold Award Winners Sophie B, Belle, Sophie C, Preem, Isla, Rachel, Olivia, Amalfi, Emily, Emilie, George, Audrey, Alexander, Maho, Sam, Cecily

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The Cheltonian 2025-26

Monday Activities Every Monday after lessons, Third to Fifth Form pupils enjoy a range of activities facilitated by many members of staff. These include art, crafting, horse riding, sport, filmmaking, baking, drama, School of Rock, book club and board games.

Electives

by College staff, giving students the opportunity to extend

Available topics on offer have included Life Drawing, Practical Music, Global Debates, Mini MBA, Sports Leadership, Veterinary Science, Microsoft Competencies, Engineering and English as a Foreign Language. Students enjoy the opportunity to explore new ideas, engaging with visiting speakers and visiting relevant off-site locations. Some of our Elective programmes also result in a formal qualification.

their learning outside of the confines of their A Level courses.

Mr Luke Eddon

On Wednesday afternoons, all Lower Sixth students either take part in College’s extensive Community Action Programme or choose one of our in-house Elective courses. Community Action participants engage with opportunities at local schools, hospitals and charities while Electives are run

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CCF The year has once again proven to be a hugely enjoyable and fulfilling chapter for the College Cadet Force. Cadet numbers remain strong, with pupils continuing to be drawn to the opportunities for leadership, adventure and personal growth that the Contingent offers. Whether building confidence on the parade square or tackling challenges in the field, our cadets have embraced every opportunity to learn, contribute and develop themselves. The vertical platoon structure has continued to flourish, allowing younger recruits to benefit from the experience and guidance of cadets in the three years above them. The four inter-platoon competitions in drill, turnout, tug-of-war and endurance race were keenly contested, fostering both camaraderie and a healthy competitive spirit throughout the Contingent. New Fourth Form cadets undertook a series of rotations focusing on first aid, leadership, drill, fieldcraft and military knowledge - core skills that provide a strong foundation for future development.

Spring Term’s field training day, based on site, added to the cadets’ experiences and knowledge, with a highlight being the arrival of an Apache Longbow Attack Helicopter and the chance for cadets to hear from pilots from the Army Air Corps. A particularly exciting development this year has been the acquisition of 14 new laser-tag weapons. These have enabled cadets to practise fire and movement exercises safely and effectively on our own grounds, greatly enhancing the realism and accessibility of section-level training. The addition of this equipment has been met with great enthusiasm from cadets across all year groups and has added a new dimension to Wednesday afternoon activities. Further strengthening the Contingent’s training provision, six members of staff have now qualified to run air-rifle shooting ranges. This has enabled the safe and regular operation of shooting practices on Wednesday afternoons, giving cadets increased opportunity to develop marksmanship skills and range discipline under close supervision. These sessions have proven extremely popular and have helped prepare cadets for competitive shooting events.

One of the highlights of the year was entering a CCF team into the Gloucestershire Cadet Shooting Competition for the first time. Competing against experienced teams from across the county, our cadets performed superbly and were delighted to emerge as overall winners of the event - an outstanding achievement and a testament to their hard work, discipline and commitment throughout the year. The Sword of Honour Parade and Dinner Night was, as ever, a fitting conclusion to a successful year. It was a pleasure to welcome the families of our Upper Sixth cadets and celebrate the lasting contribution of those completing their cadet service. The College Cadet Force continues to thrive, offering pupils invaluable opportunities for leadership, teamwork and adventure, and remaining a muchvalued part of school life. Captain Steve McQuitty, Contingent Commander

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Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Phew! It seems the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) section has experienced the full effects of an El Niño year plus climate change as we endured one of our wettest, coldest and windiest Gold practice expeditions in March; our hottest Silver in the fierce heat of late June in the Peak District; and Bronze in the Forest of Dean. The second wave of Bronze was postponed such were the temperatures, but it will be resurrected at some point in the coming term. However, as can be expected, our young people rose to the challenges out in front of them and we had successful, if eventful, trips that will stick in the memory. And whilst the expeditions are the ‘big ticket’ items for DofE the other sections amply

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show that College engages in physical recreation, skill acquisition and volunteering in the community with commitment and conviction.

itself, a skill which helps to demonstrate they are ‘employment ready’ and completion of the whole Award really is something to sing about.

In the past academic year College pupils contributed 2,470 hours of community volunteering in their DofE; the scheme places a social value on these activities which amounts to a little over £18 000, which makes a very significant addition to College’s community work. Acquiring some of these contributions to College and our local environment is commonplace, but our DofE pupils stand out as having all of these attributes coupled with the discipline and administrative skills to compile their record of achievement on the online eDofE system. The latter, is in

Among all of our DofE pupils special mention must go to Amelie, Ariadne, Josie, Olivia and Rose who achieved the hattrick of completing all three levels and our thanks to Mrs Alex Smith, who only joined the DofE staff team this year, but who gave unstinting service every week and heroic efforts in the heat of summer, but who leaves us for pastures new in September. And to all our DofE leavers – good luck in your future travels! Mr John Jones

Exchanges The exchange programme at College is thriving with firmly established partnerships in Groton School, USA, The Grange School, Chile, as well as Rhenish High School for girls and Paul Roos for boys, both in South Africa. In coming months, three students from the Lower Sixth will become fully immersed in life at The Grange in Santiago. They will stay with host families of exchange students and become fully involved in all facets of a thriving school environment, with an enriching programme of lessons, sport and extra-curricular activities. The school was founded in 1928 by OC John Jackson (H, 1917). A further four Lower Sixth students will travel to South Africa to enjoy a hale mix of top-level sport and academic classes at Rhenish and Paul Roos. Two Fourth Form pupils will travel to Groton School in the US for a period of four months on exchange; benefitting from a busy boarding school environment overseas. Groton was founded in 1884 by OC Reverend Endicott Peabody (NH, 1876). We look forward to welcoming to College, reciprocally, pupils from these great schools.

Reports from this past year’s visits

Groton School, Massachusetts, USA

Eme and Charlie write: We did a range of activities including visiting a winery and sightseeing in the city but most time was spent with our new friends in everyday school life.

Isla writes: We have only been at Groton for a week, but we have done so much and had such an amazing time. On our first night, we attended something like a social that was an 80s rave. Abbey writes: This week has been incredible as it has allowed us to delve deeper into Grotonian culture and immerse ourselves in all the wonderful opportunities this school has to enjoy.

The Grange School, Santiago, Chile

At the weekends we explored local areas with our host families and got the opportunity to ski in the Andes, which was a real highlight. It was an unforgettable experience that has encouraged us to explore the world further.

Rhenish High School, Stellenbosch, South Africa Matilda M and Rose write: During our exchange we attended school, played hockey, and experienced South African culture. Alongside the impressive hockey coaching and high-quality training, we explored many famous places around Cape Town. Highlights included seeing penguins at Boulders Beach and visiting Cape Point and Muizenberg Beach. We also hiked up Lion’s Head and enjoyed a bike tour in Babylonstoren.

Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch, South Africa Jack Sa and Jack Sh write: We immersed ourselves into South African culture and school life by taking part in as many activities as we could, such as attending different sports matches and sister school events. On the rugby side, we found it really cool travelling far and wide for different fixtures including an 18-hour bus ride to Bloemfontein to play in front of thousands of people and join in as the students sang school songs with their bands.

Mr Nick Nelson

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Lower Sixth Travel Awards Each year, the Trustees of The Cheltonian Endowment Trust (CET) provide financial contributions (called Travel Awards) to Cheltonians in the Lower Sixth for journeys or activities in their Summer holidays. Travel Awards are made to Cheltonians who show in their written applications, and at interview, that their journeys or activities will contribute directly to their education and will enhance their potential to achieve further academic success. This year, the Travel Award supported 16 students, who carried out a broad range of activities from far-flung places, including filming a documentary on the lasting socioeconomic impacts of the volcanic eruption in Montserrat, to attending the John Locke Institute Summer School in Oxford, the Global Summer camp at Imperial University, attending the Vogue Fashion School in New York and attending language enhancing courses in both Montpellier, France and Canada’s Quebec to name but a few. Who knows what Cheltonians will get up to this coming year. Mr James Coull

Conservation in Kenya Lauren writes: Thanks to the Travel Award scheme, I was able to embark on a 15-day trip to the Soysambu Conservancy in Nakuru, Kenya. I wanted to experience first-hand a variety of African wildlife as well as immerse myself in an entirely unfamiliar culture, with new customs and people, in turn expanding my understanding on a country that has always been of great interest to me. Moreover, wildlife has always been a passion of mine and a field I’m keen to pursue in the future, therefore seeing a range of incredible species in the wild and so up close was a lifelong dream fulfilled for me.

Throughout the course, I was heavily involved in a variety of conservation and community-based volunteering activities including de-snaring, tree planting, giraffe data collection, carnivores, monkeys, and birds of prey, building both ecostoves and school classrooms and looking after the children at the school for a few days. These activities made it even easier to learn more about Kenya as a country as I was frequently able to communicate with locals, spending extended amounts of time in local villages and homes, throughout the course of my community work.

Marine Biology in Bali

William writes: This year, I was lucky enough to be granted the opportunity to travel to Bali to pursue my two greatest passions, marine conservation and biology. From leaving my home to arriving in my accommodation in the Northeast of Bali in Tulamben, the trip took me about 31 hours after travelling via Hong Kong and landing in Bali’s Denpasar. My main driving force for picking this volunteering course is because I have always been passionate about the oceans and becoming a marine biologist since I was seven years old. This passion has led me to want to pursue the subject at university and I wanted to have an insight into the marine field to boost any future applications that I might have. Furthermore, I wanted to use my summer to do something for the environment so that I know I can be a part of something bigger than myself. I loved being immersed in the culture of rural Bali, seeing the incredible views of Mount Agung, eating authentic Balinese food and chatting with the incredibly friendly locals.

2025-26 Award Recipients Adam and Thomas – Montserrat, William – Bali, Addison – Berlin, Germany, Sophia – Oxford, Aoife – Guildford, Surrey Hannah and Ava – Quebec, Canada, Katie – Imperial College, London, Otto – Boston, Isa – Montpellier, France, Sam – London, Lauren – Kenya, Frankie and Lilli – New York and Elot and Jiren – Singapore. Applications are open to all Lower Sixth students and awards are made following an interview process with a panel of three CET trustees Additionally, the principal activity of the CET is to provide hardship bursaries to students who are in danger of having to leave College suddenly, through no fault of their own. For more information about CET and its activities please contact society@cheltenhamcollege.org to be put in touch. 44

Co-Curricular

Co-Curricular Drama Mrs Sian McBride and Ms Grace Vaughan

Lower College Murder Mystery Festival The Lower College Murder Mystery Festival saw more than 60 pupils from Third, Fourth and Fifth Forms involved across three very different productions: an original psychological thriller film, Complicit, Dennis Kelly’s DNA, and an Agatha Christie radio play. As the Department’s first real venture into filmmaking, the project felt particularly exciting, with pupils embracing everything from acting and directing to filming and editing. Across all three pieces, the cast threw themselves brilliantly into the dark atmosphere, tension and twisted humour of the genre.

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LAMDA Showcases Our two showcases this year celebrated the huge range of performance work taking place across the Department, giving pupils the opportunity to share monologues, duologues and musical theatre pieces developed for examinations and performances to achieve a London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art qualification. Across both evenings, audiences were treated to performances full of confidence, creativity and individuality from pupils across multiple year groups. The most recent showcase also featured a workshop performance of Liferaft by Mr Fin Kennedy from our Drama Club, offering an exciting glimpse into the energy and potential of this growing group of performers.

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The Scholars’ Play - The Unexpected Guest The Scholars’ Play was Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest, performed at the Cheltenham Playhouse. Christie’s classic thriller, full of twists, suspicion and sharp dialogue, gave the cast plenty to get their teeth into and kept audiences guessing throughout. Working in a professional theatre continues to be an incredibly valuable experience for our pupils, both on stage and behind the scenes. Our Drama Scholars are a brilliantly talented and committed group led superbly by Aoife and Henry and supported throughout by Lily, Maisy, George, Seb, Henry, Josh, Ted and Daisy, who brought huge energy, focus and maturity to the process. The production was supported by an excellent student technical team led by Wangari, with Evie and James taking on sound and lighting roles for their first College production.

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Upper College - The Seagull This year’s ambitious Upper College play was Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, directed by Graduate Assistant Director Miles Rosbrook. Chekhov’s famous exploration of love, art, ambition and disappointment is a notoriously challenging play to stage, balancing sharp humour with emotional intensity and complicated relationships. The cast approached it with remarkable maturity and sensitivity, delivering some truly outstanding performances across the company. It was another demanding and emotionally rich piece of theatre, which students rose to brilliantly, earning sold-out audiences in Big C across the run.

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The Shakespeare Trail This year’s Summer Showcase became The Shakespeare Trail, a new venture that transformed the College campus into a promenade performance space. Featuring pupils from Third and Fourth Forms and Lower Sixth, the event brought scenes from 10 different Shakespeare plays to life across locations around the school. Audiences travelled between performances throughout the evening, encountering everything from the witches of Macbeth by the lake to the chaos of Twelfth Night in Queen’s Garden, and the failed wedding of Much Ado About Nothing in Chapel. Along the route, audiences were also able to explore photographs and memories from past Shakespeare productions at College and The Prep, celebrating the long history of Shakespeare performance across the College community. The Trail captured a wonderful sense of creativity, energy and collaboration, while giving pupils the chance to tackle Shakespeare in a bold, playful and imaginative way.

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Co-Curricular Music This has been another vibrant and ambitious year for co‑curricular music, with pupils across all year groups embracing performance opportunities, developing their musicianship, and contributing to a rich and varied programme of events. From competitions and concerts to workshops and festivals, the breadth of activity has reflected both the depth of talent within the school and the enthusiasm of our young musicians. What follows is a summary of highlights from each term.

Autumn Term This began with a strong focus on performance and competition, setting a high standard for the year ahead. The Piano Competition was, as ever, a highlight, with impressive performances across all categories. Congratulations go to Nyambura (Intermediate), James (Advanced Lower College), and Curtis (Advanced Upper College) for their outstanding playing. The inaugural Instrumental

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Competition was similarly competitive, with Finn – Trombone (Beginner), Gianna – Violin (Intermediate), and Michael – Saxophone (Advanced) emerging as worthy winners. The new Third Form Class Music Competition ‘Battle of the Forms’ also provided a platform for younger pupils to perform as a group with confidence and musicality, following extensive preparation in their class music lessons. A particular privilege this term was the Steinway Masterclass, which offered selected pianists, both internal and from neighbouring schools, the opportunity to refine their technique and interpretation under the expert guidance of Martin Roscoe, Steinway Artist. Choral music also featured prominently this term, with a moving performance of Fauré’s Requiem in Chapel, demonstrating the strength and

sensitivity of our College Choir. The term concluded with the College Concert, which celebrated ensemble work across the school and a series of Carol Services that brought the community together in festive reflection through music.

Spring Term The Spring Term continued the momentum with a focus on vocal and theatrical performance. The Musical Theatre Workshop with visiting West End performer Jodie Nolan was a resounding success, allowing pupils to explore characterisation and vocal technique, culminating in an engaging and polished showcase performance in the evening. The Lower College and Upper College Singing Competitions once again highlighted the diversity of vocal talent within the school. In the Lower College category, Henry (Classical) and Annie (Musical Theatre and Pop) delivered memorable,

winning performances, while in the Upper College category, Sophia (Classical), Daisy (Musical Theatre), and Maisy (Pop) were worthy winners in their respective classes. The Upper College Cabaret Evening offered a more informal and creative platform, with pupils curating and performing their own programmes in an intimate setting. The ever-popular Battle of the Bands brought energy and originality to the stage, with pupil groups showcasing their musical collaboration and individuality. A particular highlight was RockHeart’s inimitable rendition of ‘Gangnam Style’. The term concluded with another successful College Concert, Light In Darkness, featuring a wideranging programme that reflected both classical and contemporary influences, with a standout performance from Music Exhibitioner Stepan performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor, with the College Symphony Orchestra.

Summer Term The Summer Term was a celebration of ensemble music and performance in a variety of styles and settings. The brand‑new Jazz Café provided a relaxed and enjoyable setting for pupils to perform jazz and popular styles, featuring the school’s Big Band and Swing Band, with standout performances from both groups and

soloists. Building on this, the Big Band represented College at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, performing with confidence and flair on the Free Stage and attracting a huge crowd. Chamber music also flourished with the Chamber Ensembles Concert offering a platform for smaller groups to demonstrate their precision, communication and musical independence. These performances highlighted the dedication and collaborative spirit of our musicians. The year culminated in the College Festival of Music, a flagship event that brought together the whole school. This festival not only celebrated the achievements of the past year but also reflected the continued growth and ambition of the Department. Overall, this has been a year of exceptional musical activity, marked by commitment, creativity, and high standards of performance. We look forward to building on this success in the coming year, under the new leadership of Mr Alex Fox as Director of Music from September 2026. While it is impossible to capture every moment in a single report, this year has once again demonstrated the vitality and inclusivity of music at College. Mr Shaun Pirttijarvi, Director of Music

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CHARITY Bellamy Cup Winners The Bellamy Cup was established to recognise the House which has engaged most successfully with charitable endeavours. This year saw Houses keen to raise awareness for their charities as well as raising funds. Many adopted additional charities which had particular meaning for pupils within their House community. Ashmead and College Lawn highlighted the work of CoppaFeel and the importance of girls and boys checking their breasts regularly. Queen’s and Leconfield supported Teenage Cancer Trust, and Hazelwell focussed on Child Bereavement UK. Two inter-House events raised funds to be split across the various charities. A Race Night saw over £6,000 raised by Ashmead, Christowe and Queen’s,

Charity

whilst Leconfield, Chandos and Southwood organised a Casino Night, raising over £3,000 for their charities. Hazelwell undertook a ‘127km Challenge’, which saw the boys cover a collective 127km every day for a month through running, rowing and cycling. The distance represented the 127 children in the UK who lose a parent every single day. The Christowe boys organised a 24-hour run and everyone in Newick ran 17.34km. Each House raised £4,000. Leconfield and Westal organised a sponsored ‘Walk with Wilson’, covering over 1,334km - the distance OC Edward Wilson (Day Boy, 1891) travelled on foot as part of his celebrated expedition to the South Pole. College Lawn girls all took part in a six-hour Zumbathon led by Matron Becky and Ashmead took to Leckhampton Hill for a 10km sunset walk. Southwood supported Cheltenham Food Bank by collecting a staggering amount of Christmas food and essentials to donate through their ’Twelve Days of Chri-S’wood’ initiative. This year, the Bellamy Cup goes to Christowe, who showed outstanding commitment to getting the whole House involved. They chose Lupus

UK as their charity, in support of a Boyceite who is affected by the condition. The main fundraising event was a 24-hour run, with at least three runners on the move at all times, day and night. Every single boy took part and Charlie C managed to complete a full marathon during the event too! Housemaster Dan Paynter said: “The physical demands of the event were matched by the strength of the collective spirit, as boys stepped up not only to complete their own runs but to encourage others to keep going. Beyond the funds raised, the run became a visible and symbolic expression of our House values, resilience, brotherhood, and empathy, while also significantly increasing awareness of our chosen charities through its scale, visibility, and sustained nature.” In addition to raising over £11,000 across all House events, the team raised awareness through talks, pupil presentations, a House social media campaign, and wearing specially designed running vests with the charity logo! Mrs Emma Hindle

Whole School Charity This year’s cohort of Prefects were very keen to choose a charity which had direct links to the military. This was in part to celebrate the military history within College, to recognise Military families in our community, and to honour Remembrance Day – on which our Whole School fundraising event took place.

cargo nets and mud pits! Suffice to say, it was a cold, wet and extremely muddy afternoon, but everyone from the Head Mrs Huggett and members of the Senior Leadership Team to resident staff, all year groups and a few of our younger community got stuck in!

The Pupil Leadership Team chose Scotty’s Little Soldiers, an organisation which provides support for bereaved military children who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the armed forces. The hope was to raise £15,000 to help this vital work.

The annual College vs Sir Thomas Rich’s rugby match again saw a large crowd attend, including 500 College pupils, staff and Prep boarders with an overall attendance of around 2,000 people. The match was extremely competitive throughout, with Sir Thomas Rich’s kicking a penalty with the final act of the match to win 26-25.

The day began with the traditional Remembrance Service in Chapel and was followed by a ‘Tough Mudder’ run on Reeves Field. Pupils appealed to family and friends for sponsorship, donned the specially designed t-shirts and set off around the fields, navigating obstacles,

The netball match, held in the Spring Term, was watched by another large crowd of around 800 spectators, and streamed live to those unable to watch the match in person. The College VII played extremely well, winning the match 34-11, with both sides praised for their efforts and endeavour.

Donations from Chapel services at Christmas, Speech Day and the Leavers’ Service took the total for Scotty’s to more than £22,000. In response to this, Sarah Bunn of Scotty’s Little Soldiers said: “We are incredibly grateful to College for choosing us as Charity of the Year and for the wholehearted support shown throughout. As a school with deep and proud military links, you understand the values of service, sacrifice and community – values that sit at the very heart of Scotty’s. Your commitment has helped us stand alongside bereaved military children and young people, reminding them that they are not alone and that their parents’ service will always be honoured. The impact of your support will be felt far beyond this year, helping our Members build confidence, connection and hope for the future.” Mrs Emma Hindle

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COMMUNITY Sustainability Sustainability has remained a central focus this year, with a strong sense of shared responsibility across the school community. In particular, pupil-led initiatives have driven tangible progress and brought sustainability to life in creative and impactful ways. This year has seen the successful expansion of a recycling infrastructure across all Houses. With Chandos and College Lawn completed in the Autumn Term, pupils are adopting a more mindful approach to waste. The results have been striking, with both Houses increasing recycling rates by more than 50% when you compare the 2024/25 Spring Term with 2025/26. Looking ahead, we aim to build on this success by introducing inter-House recycling competitions to further engage and motivate the school community. Pupil leadership has once again been at the heart of our progress.

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Sustainability Prefect, Florence, has led the introduction of the Portion Size Campaign in the Dining Hall, giving pupils the option to choose from three portion sizes to help reduce food waste. This simple yet impactful initiative is encouraging greater awareness around consumption, and we look forward to seeing its long-term impact. In addition, a group of Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award pupils undertook a sustainability awareness project, culminating in an inter-House competition during the Spring Term. Each House was challenged to develop innovative and practical solutions, with College Lawn taking the top prize. Their initiative saw cling film and foil replaced with reusable options such as Tupperware and beeswax wraps. Behind the scenes, sustainability continues to shape operational decision-making. Our Building Management System plays a key role in optimising heating efficiency, with ongoing refinements now

incorporating weather-responsive adjustments to minimise unnecessary energy use. Following the renewal of our energy contract, we have also taken the opportunity to review and streamline our wider energy systems. Work is currently underway with specialist partners to enhance our monitoring capabilities through an online visualisation platform, supporting both improved efficiency and increased pupil engagement. As we reflect on the year’s achievements, we are encouraged by the momentum and enthusiasm shown across the school. Sustainability is increasingly embedded in both everyday actions and long-term thinking. With many exciting initiatives still to come, we are proud of the progress made and look forward to continuing our journey towards a more sustainable future. Miss Olivia Spencer-Caseldine, Sustainability Lead and Administrator

Chapel At the end of the Easter Term, and after nearly 15 years in post, I hung up my cassock as Dean of Chapel and Senior Chaplain. It has been an enormous privilege to be the custodian of this remarkable, beautiful, awe-inspiring House of God. These years have taught me the truth that Chapel is absolutely the heart of College life. It is where we gather as a community, where we sing so majestically with one voice, where we sit transfixed as the mighty organ thunders, where we celebrate the turning of the year and where we acknowledge those supreme moments of joy and loss. From the coming year, the privilege of leading each day with the invitation ‘the Lord be with you’ will be given to the new Senior Chaplain, the Reverend Jonny Scott, who joins us from Charterhouse School. In him will rest the spiritual and moral leadership of College.

Father Jonny will take charge of a Chapel that is in fine fettle, both spiritually and materially. And the really marvellous thing which happened in the life of Chapel this year was that, from February, we were allowed to worship again as a whole community. A sensible way of managing fire regulations, which had capped the worshipping limit at 500, was negotiated and once again we could all get a sense of being a united College. All of this was achieved without need of constructing another exit. A particular highlight of the year was a special service giving thanks for all that departing Head Mrs Nicola Huggett has given to College during the past eight years. This year, we have welcomed the following guest preachers: Major Richard Penny, former Housemaster of Boyne House, who preached at Remembrance, The Archdeacon of

Cheltenham, the Venerable Katrina Scott, who preached at Speech Day and the Reverend John Horan, who preached at our Easter service. In May, we welcomed the Bishop of Gloucester to preside at our annual Confirmation service. Bishop Rachel confirmed 19 candidates into the Anglican church. I am sure that some aspects of Chapel life will change but one innovation that has long now become a College institution is the pupil Chapel talk. This year, we heard very polished talks from many pupils including ‘What it means to be a Cheltonian’ from Charlie, and ‘Character’ from College’s Anti-Racism Team: Ruqayyah, Astrid, Zac, Wangari, Courtney and Avi. The A-R Team was the worthy winner of this year’s Jackson-Matthews Chapel Prize for best Address. Both of these Chapel talks appear on the following pages. Dr Adam Dunning

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Charlie, Head Boy, on What Does it Mean to be a Cheltonian? dedication, and the courage to follow your own path. However, the most important thing to remember is that being a Cheltonian isn’t the same for everyone. There isn’t a single definition, or a checklist you have to tick off. For some it will be about academic success, for others it will be found on the sports pitch, in the theatre, in music, in service, or in friendship. In truth, being a Cheltonian is what you make of it, it is the opportunities you choose to grasp, and the person you decide to become. One of my grandfather’s favourite expressions was ‘All things are relative’ as in whether you think that you are clever, wealthy, sporty, privileged or lucky totally depends on whom you’re comparing yourself with. Given this, all our experiences will resonate differently within us and how others view us. I wouldn’t claim many of those accolades, but I do know that I am very lucky to be a Cheltonian! College isn’t just a place of learning or sporting excellence but is a nurturing community within which many of us here have grown up and where the rest of you will spend the next five years maturing and being shaped into the very best versions of yourself. Whoever you are and wherever you believe your interests lie there is a place for you here and you will be appreciated for who you are and what you bring to College. We have people here from all over the world, from countless different backgrounds, people who get 4 A*s at A Level, play rugby for England, netball for Hucclecote, play piano at the highest level and much more. But more important than what you achieve is who you are. What really matters is that you try your best and push yourself to improve, because each one of us is on our own unique journey, and our value is not found in comparing ourselves to others, but in becoming a better version 58

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of ourselves. Becoming a Cheltonian also means stepping into a community rich in history and tradition. For more than 180 years, pupils just like you have walked the same paths, sat in the same pews, and worn the same badge. But the badge is not just part of a uniform, it is a symbol of all the generations that have come before us, who built not only their own legacies but also the legacy of the College through their actions. When we wear it, we carry their legacy with us. And that should fill us with pride, pride in knowing that we belong to something bigger than ourselves, and pride in the responsibility of continuing that legacy and passing it on to those who will follow us. For instance, take Ollie Thorley, whom many of you will know as both an England and Gloucester rugby player but also an Old Cheltonian. Ollie (BH, 2015) inspires us not only through his sporting success, but through the person he was during his time here. He embodied the Cheltonian spirit: working hard in the classroom, achieving top grades at A Level, while also giving his all to his rugby. And although he was set on becoming a doctor, he had the courage to pursue his dream of professional rugby, in which he succeeded. His story shows us that being a Cheltonian is not just about talent, but about

So, coming back to the question: what does it mean to be a Cheltonian? To me, it means more than simply wearing the uniform, attending lessons, or playing matches. It means being part of something larger than yourself, a community that values effort as much as achievement, character as much as talent, and kindness as much as ambition. It means taking full advantage of all the opportunities offered to you, supporting others and appreciating their achievements. It is to walk out of this College at the end of your time here not only with good grades, but with friendships, memories, and values that will stay with you for life. Because of all this, we should feel proud to be Cheltonians. Proud to be part of a community that encourages us to become the very best versions of ourselves. Proud of the friendships we’ve built, the lessons we’ve learned, and proud of every achievement, no matter how big or small. Now finally, to the new pupils in front of me: you may not feel it yet, but you are already Cheltonians. And one day, when you look back, you’ll realise that being a Cheltonian is not just something you were for five years, it’s something you’ll always be. Thank you.

The Anti-Racism Team on Character Courtney I am Courtney, Chapel Keeper and Anti-Racism Prefect. Today we, as the A-R Team will reflect on Character through the lens of Anti-Racism.

Ruqayyah Strength of moral character is about choosing what is right even if there is nothing to gain. It means speaking out when something is wrong, even if it would be easier to stay quiet. When we see bullying, racism, ableism, homophobia, or any other type of phobia, our response matters. Antiracism takes real courage because it may mean correcting a friend, challenging a joke, or disagreeing with others. That can feel uncomfortable. We might feel nervous or worried about what people will think. But strong character is about choosing what is right over what is easy. It is about acting with virtue, even when no one else does. Courage rooted in virtue helps protect the dignity of others. When we speak up, we help create a fair and respectful community. True strength is not about being loud. It is about being brave enough to do the right thing.

Zac Character is built and shown through consistency, not built in the moments that people see but behind that in silent choices that we make every day. Integrity means that our values don’t shift based on who we are with or what is convenient at any one time. If we claim to believe in fairness and equality, then those principles are what we must stand by in everyday life no matter what the situation is. Anti-racism is not selective it cannot be shown

in one place and not in another. It is everywhere, in every conversation and decision. Treating all people equally means showing respect and empathy without any expectation. Our actions must align without stated values as that is what builds character. When we speak about integrity it is exactly that.

Wangari Character is the part of us that shows up when no one is watching, in the group chats, in the corridor and in private conversations. It is in how you react when someone makes a ‘funny’ stereotype joke, repeats an assumption about someone’s background, or casually says something hurtful. Silence isn’t neutral, it’s a choice, and sometimes it protects prejudice instead of people. Being anti-racist starts inside us, in those moments we think nobody sees. It’s about noticing our own thoughts, questioning the jokes we laugh at, and speaking up when we would usually stay quiet. From now on, we challenge every one of you to pay attention to the unseen moments, those seconds that feel small but shape who we are. College can only be truly inclusive if we all take responsibility for what we allow in private as much as in public.

Astrid Being part of an antiracist community means recognising that we will not get everything right all the time. However, this is not an excuse for any forms of discrimination, we should take accountability for every word and every action that comes from us. Taking responsibility for mistakes is about integrity instead of shame. All of us carry unconscious biases. We all come from different backgrounds, with different upbringing, and exposure to different media and personal

experiences shaping us in ways that we might not even notice. But strong character means allowing room for learning, and the courage to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves and it takes maturity to admit when we are wrong to change our behaviour. We should strive for a school community built on respect and equality; we must be willing to learn, unlearn, and hold ourselves accountable.

Avi College talks a lot about excellence, opportunity to grow, leadership. But excellence isn’t just academic or your personal goals. It’s something you create a habit of over time, character. And character isn’t something you choose to do occasionally, it’s revealed in small choices every day, what jokes we laugh at, who we choose to be friends with, where we sit in a classroom, even. Antiracism isn’t a chore, it’s routine. It’s the question of ‘is it wrong of me to stereotype this person’? Whether we choose to challenge an out-of-line comment. Whether we’re brave enough to notice when something feels wrong and choose to do something about it. So maybe the real question isn’t, ‘Am I racist? Maybe it’s: ‘if prejudice can exist without intention through our small jokes and “meaningless” banter, how certain are we that none of it exists in us?’

Courtney As we have heard, character is not a single action but a pattern of choices. It is shaped in conversations, in silence, in courage, and in humility. At College excellence is not only academic or sporting but moral. If we truly value this community, anti-racism must be part of our character, not occasionally, but consistently. The question is whether our actions reflect the character we claim to uphold.

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Archives “He gave his life for the men” Christopher Champain Tanner was the son of Reverend Maurice Tanner, who taught at College for 30 years. After the family returned from a brief relocation, enrolling Christopher, known as Kit, at College as a pupil was the obvious choice. He joined Christowe as a boarder in September 1921 aged 13. His career at College had a shaky start: ‘careless, lacks effort. Absent minded.’; ‘Not so bright as benevolent’;‘Does his best, nothing great’ all appear on his reports. At one point the Headmaster noted rugby appeared to be the only thing he applied himself to. Despairing of Kit’s progression into the Sixth Form but recognising his aptitude for leadership

Supported Schools Gogar Primary, Kenya In October, a group of College pupils partnered once again with the Vanessa Grant Trust and spent five days volunteering at Gogar Primary School, near Rongai in rural Kenya. This further strengthened a relationship that has flourished for more than 20 years. Continuing the work begun in 2023, the group contributed to the redesign and repair of classrooms, as well as

Community

he made an exception of promoting him to Prefect in the Fifth Form, about the same time Kit began playing in the 1st XV. A few terms later, he became College Prefect (the equivalent of today’s Head Boy or Girl). When Kit left College for Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1927, Headmaster Hardy wrote ‘I recall no Senior Prefect who has won more affection from Masters and boys alike… how he contrived always to be in Quad during lessons I can’t guess!’ After a successful career at Cambridge, during which he played rugby for both the University and England (five Caps), Kit was ordained as a priest in 1935 and married in 1937. In 1940, he joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve as a chaplain, this is how in 1941 he came to be on the

HMS Fiji when she was sunk during the Battle of Crete. According to an eyewitness: ‘Whilst we were in the water the Padre, Kit Tanner, was cheering us up and urging us to keep going and tending to the wounded. ‘The destroyer Kandahar came to pick us up but had to leave because she was under attack. After about four hours it returned to pick us up. They put scrambling nets over the side so that we could climb up. Many of the men were exhausted and some were wounded and did not have the strength to climb the nets. ‘Kit Tanner repeatedly jumped overboard to help these people climb aboard. He saved about 30 men. The effort became too great for him. He came aboard and collapsed and died. He gave his life for the men.’ Miss Hannah Dale

the redecoration of the School Hall and helping with the construction of new footpaths.

Learning and Innovation Centre to which the 2023 pupils fundraised towards, coupled with donations from College.

Fundraising efforts also enabled the purchase of valuable classroom resources for Gogar teachers and pupils, and saw donations of sports kit, trainers, school clothes, and female health products.

They also had time to visit other parts of Kenya. In the coming year, we will raise funds towards the provision of plates and cups for all pupils and teaching staff, the development of new toilet facilities, the construction of netball, football and rugby goal posts and the provision of sheltered areas for pupils and teachers. If you would like to donate, please contact the trip leader, Miss Rebecca Norval at r.norval@cheltenhamcollege.org.

College pupils really enjoyed the experience of teaching the pupils of Gogar Primary in a range of lessons: sport, English, Music, Drama, Sciences and Geography. Pupils also had the opportunity to visit the Edward Wilson

Miss Rebecca Norval

Cheltenham Education Partnership College continues its close ties and sharing of expertise with all the secondary schools in Cheltenham through the Cheltenham Education Partnership (CEP). This year saw the continuation of the 7UP programme in Maths and English, ‘Brush up your Shakespeare’, a course open to Y11-13 pupils, and the two-year Latin programme run by the Classics team brought a new cohort of almost 40 pupils to College. Christmas and Easter Science Spectacular events were offered to Partnership schools, and both were sold out to rave reviews! A Level Textiles students took part

in the Young Designers project, in collaboration with Lives of Colour. Students’ ambitious garments were inspired by African flowers, incorporating sustainable materials. Other events included the Young Poets’ competition with College’s Daisy coming third in the Poetry Slam with her poem ‘A Pigeon’s Tapestry’. Other highlights included a Christianity Dinner, Exploring the Big Questions and the CEP Great Debate, which involved six schools. College’s motion was ‘This house believes that AI scamming will increase as people can’t tell who is AI or who is real.’

College staff continue to give their time. Mr John Jones hosted a conference for 120 Partnership pupils interested in a career in Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary disciplines. College Senior Chaplain Dr Adam Dunning resigned from his role as founding chairman of the CEP, and hands the baton to Harriet BaynhamWilliams at All Saints’ Academy. Head of STEM Dr James Copeland-Jordan joins the Board of Trustees, taking the place of Mrs Kay Ratcliffe, Head of HR. Mrs Emma Hindle is Clerk to Trustees. Mrs Emma Hindle

Community Action Programme The programme is as popular as ever with pupils very keen to volunteer within our community and this year’s enthusiastic cohort has made our Community Action Programme rewarding for the pupils and everyone they support. Some pupils use it to fulfil their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award requirements while those keen to pursue a career in medicine enjoy and appreciate exposure in the local hospital, care

homes, schools for children with additional needs and supporting Riding for the Disabled.

placement this year. Since a number are politics students it meant there were some lively debates with residents.

Two pupils were really keen to work with young children and luckily a nursery school close to College was able to help. The girls absolutely loved their Wednesday afternoons, and they even volunteered during holidays!

We continue to build great relationships with local schools, both primary and secondary. Our volunteers support staff and pupils in classrooms, and those more sport-minded have been helping coaches train children in after-school sports clubs.

An unusually large number of boys chose care homes as their preferred

Ms Emma Hindle

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Community

Internationalism The year began with a bang in hosting the international induction across Newick House for the boys and Chandos for the girls respectively. We were ably supported by induction helpers in the form of current pupils from the Fifth and Sixth Form, in providing our new starters with a comprehensive programme of induction. Key foci extended to orientation, health care support, e-safety and road safety, and essential English as an Additional Language (EAL) support. The weather was kind to us, and pupils were able to enjoy outdoor activities, a treasure hunt and an iMovie project set around our beautiful campus. Our new international Prefects, Otto and Tereza, ensured the programme for the year was colourful and engaging, starting with our customary Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated on 6th October 2025. We celebrated this day of significance germane to Chinese communities worldwide and in various East/ Southeast Asian countries, with music, activities, food and drink, in the confines of a colourfully decorated cricket pavilion!

The Lunar New Year in late January 2026 afforded us a chance to enjoy a themed banquet of magnificent proportions, along with engaging conversations and suitable music. As ever, however, the highlight of the year was inevitably our International Dinner celebrated in the Dining Hall in early March. Pupils wore a wonderful array of outfits, from national dress to black tie, in celebrating our wide-reaching and culturally diverse international community at College. Alongside speeches and various thank yous, the highlight was the Mad Hatter Photo Booth, which enabled pupils to dress up in whacky outfits to capture this vibrant evening with keepsake imagery. My thanks extend to our international Prefects, induction helpers, international committee, and of course Miss Helen Davies and Mrs Saskia Nishimura in the hugely supportive EAL Department. Mr Nick Nelson

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Chatfeild-Roberts Library It has been a brilliant year. New Librarian Ms Donna Saxby and Library Assistant Mrs Catherine Smith took on the challenge of managing our beautiful space and relished getting to know pupils and staff. They were supported by our brilliant evening assistants Ms Maribel Cluer and Ms Helen Rigby (who replaced Mrs Laurette Thomas).

collection, including Graphic NonFiction, AI, Sport and Design.

The focus was on content, making both fiction and non-fiction more up to date, relevant and accessible for everyone. Simplified fiction genres and non-fiction focused into subjects make it easier to find a great book for study or personal interest. The long table was repurposed as a ‘BookFlix’ display with regularly updated themes such as ‘Just Dropped’ and ‘Your New Box Set’. The rearrangement of the fiction enabled us to create a ‘Home Library’ of MotherTongue books, a collection that will grow in the coming years.

The Reading Diploma remains a firm favourite with many pupils and staff achieving their Gold this year. We continue to support both Foundation Project Qualification (FPQ) and Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) pupils with classes on research and referencing, one-to-one help, and tailored subject lists for Departments.

The National Year of Reading’s theme ‘Go All In’ provided a focus for highlighting different parts of the

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Two reading spaces have been created, one making the most of the light from the beautiful high window, the second a cosy space in the fiction area. A new wooden chess board, Mahjong and Go sets have their own table and are proving popular, as is the jigsaw table.

Displays have been wide ranging, inclusive and engaging – including Black History Month, ClassicalCivilisation-inspired fiction, Chinese New Year, and a display in collaboration with College Archivist Miss Hannah Dale, combining International Women’s Day and School Archives Day.

We hosted the Third Form Bake Off with fantastic bakes from every House. Judges marked on taste, appearance and the spring theme. Worthy winners were Christowe with an impressive and tasty bake! We celebrated World Book Day and the Library was full of Third Formers enjoying delicious biscuits and we all discussed what we love to read. Teachers decorated their doors with their favourite reads and Ms Saxby decorated herself as Miss Haversham. A challenging ‘Whose #Shelfie’ competition had staff and pupils trying to work out the answers. Year 8 came from The Prep for their first experience of the senior Library. Teachers and pupils were invited to read for six minutes of every lesson during the day, which equates to nearly 50 minutes in total. We hope everyone loves the space and resources as much as we do – thanks to everyone for their wonderful support. Ms Donna Saxby

Pride and Allies We continued last year’s great efforts in the Inclusion projects, keeping up the Zen Zone for pupils who need a moment in College’s busy week and using the Pride and Allies online newsletter to spread current news and advice. New this year was an initiative of visiting each House’s Third Form to introduce the resources on offer at College for those who need support on a range of Inclusion issues. We also had a learning lunch to help teachers handle matters of Inclusion in the classroom. We advised from personal experience how to successfully support Inclusion pupils with the goal being to help teachers in moments of high tension in lessons.

We also had a pupil-led Peer Mentor training session to advise on panic attacks, autistic meltdowns and shutdowns in an effort to help Peer Mentors support other pupils suffering these feelings. This came as a direct result of an Inclusion meeting where pupils gave feedback on what they wanted to improve in school. Furthermore, we’ve had observance of many significant events in the Inclusion calendar, with the Eid celebrations, International Dinner and PRIDE events, showing a great respect for all aspects of Inclusion in school. Fliss

Anti-Racism Team The A-R Team is now three years old and thriving! We began with an external talk by Aisha Thomas, an educational consultant and anti-racism advocate. She trained more than 40 pupils and 20 teachers on what it means to be anti-racist, providing real insight on how to build an inclusive community.

The key focus was on intersectionality so that Peer Mentors, Pride and Allies, the Zen Zone and the A-R Team all support the same message that all forms of prejudice are wrong. We had regular meetings, training and learning lunches, to create an open space for dialogue between all who value Inclusion. Overall, the wide commitment amongst the student body has been greatly inspiring. It was fitting to end the term with a powerful Chapel talk on Character, which won the JacksonMatthews Chapel Prize for best Address. It is published in preceding pages. Courtney

Following this, members of the Team delivered year group assemblies, to educate all years on how to tackle racism but also to work towards our goal where an A-R Team is no longer necessary at College because ‘we all get it right’. A few reps also went to The Prep focusing on racial literacy and appropriate responses to microaggression, so that these values continue to take root and grow across both schools. A few pupils also went to an inter school partnership event to meet Borough Council professionals who wanted to hear from young people about race and representation in Cheltenham. The Cheltonian 2025-26

SPORT Introduction Mr Tim Watts, Director of Sport Sport has once again been at the heart of life at College, bringing together pupils, staff, parents, and Old Cheltonians in a year defined by commitment, resilience, and achievement. Across every season and on pitches, courts, tracks, rivers, and stages both at home and away, College teams and individuals have represented the school with pride and determination. This year has seen notable successes across a wide range of sports, from outstanding team performances and hard-

Sport

fought victories to individual accomplishments at regional and national level. Equally important, however, has been the enthusiasm and spirit shown by pupils of all ages and abilities, whether competing in major fixtures, embracing new opportunities, or supporting one another from the sidelines. Sport at College continues to play a vital role in developing character, leadership, teamwork, and perseverance. The dedication of coaches, teachers, support staff, and families has ensured that pupils have been able to thrive and enjoy memorable experiences throughout the year. This edition of The Cheltonian celebrates those achievements and reflects on another exceptional year of sport at College.

Talented Athlete Programme Mr Matt Depledge It was another successful year for the Talented Athlete Programme (TAP), with individuals developing the skills needed to juggle a busy academic schedule alongside the physical and technical skills needed to progress within their chosen sport. All deserve praise for their application and effort this year.

Special mentions go to: William who made a try scoring debut for Scotland U18 Rugby Union team Oscar who represented Gloucestershire County Cricket Club (CCC) 2nd XI Jack, Harry, William and Zach who represented Gloucester Rugby U18s in the academy league Henry who represented Gloucestershire CCC Academy U18s

Herbie who represented Worcestershire CCC U18s Isabella who competed in the 2* short format at the Thoresby Park International (Equestrian) Theo and Edward who represented Gloucester Rugby U16s Cal who represented Gloucestershire CCC U16s

Athletics and Sports Day Mr Olly Morgan The athletics season has been hugely successful with an increased number of pupils participating across various year groups in both training and competitions.

Sports Day Winners

Meetings at both Marlborough College and Bromsgrove School have been highlights and the individual success of having six athletes making it through to the county championships, has been wonderful to see.

Junior Girls Winners: Queen’s

Sports Day was a fantastic ‘whole school’ occasion and was fiercely competitive as all 11 Houses competed for the junior and senior cups. With the sun shining and almost every pupil at the Prince of Wales, it was an electric atmosphere! Huge well done to Emily G who broke both 100m and 200m records, Monty and Zara who beat the shotput records, and Emily F who broke the 800m record.

Junior Boys Winners: Hazelwell Senior Boys Winners: Southwood Senior Girls Winners: Ashmead Junior Boys Athlete: Henry Junior Girls Athlete: Emily F Senior Boys Athlete: Troy Senior Girls Athlete: Emily G

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Cricket The season proved to be another memorable and successful campaign for boys’ cricket, with 15 teams representing College across 99 fixtures. Collectively, our teams recorded 55 victories, one draw and 43 defeats, achieving an impressive overall win rate of 55.6%. Across all age groups, players have embraced the opportunity to develop their skills while competing with great enthusiasm and commitment. The 1st XI reached the last 32 of the National U18 T20 Cup before bowing out to a strong Bromsgrove School side. Alongside this impressive cup run, the team secured memorable wins against King’s School Worcester, Abingdon School, St Edward’s School, Oxford, Free Foresters CC and Gloucestershire Gipsies CC. With the bat, Herbie and Henry led the way, finishing as College’s leading run scorers with 756 and 747 runs respectively. Six centuries were recorded during the season,

Sport

highlighting the quality of batting throughout the summer. Henry scored three outstanding hundreds, including an unbeaten 123 against Free Foresters CC and 136 against Clifton College. Archie struck 116 against Abingdon School, Oscar compiled a superb unbeaten 139 against St Edward’s School, Oxford, whilst Herbie completed his excellent season with 100 against Free Foresters CC. Max was the standout performer with the ball, claiming 22 wickets to finish as the 1st XI’s leading wicket taker. In doing so, he brought his outstanding career tally to 75 wickets for the 1st XI, a testament to his consistency and commitment over several seasons. Special mention must be made of the 1st XI captain, Oscar. His final season was cruelly cut short with a shoulder injury sustained whilst playing for Gloucestershire 2nd XI. Despite this he has supported his teammates from the boundary in every fixture, showing incredible resilience and maturity. He has been an outstanding ambassador for cricket at College scoring 450 runs

and taking 57 wickets for the XI over the last five seasons. Across the age groups there were many encouraging performances. The 2nd XI, Junior Colts B and Yearlings B teams each recorded five victories from seven matches. The Yearlings A won 50% of their games and enjoyed a very enjoyable end of season Festival with Hurstpierpoint, Sherborne Boys and Stowe School. Highlights included 112 and 95 not out for Wilfred and Barnaby in the final game. The continued progress across all age groups reflects the strength of the cricket programme and the dedication of players, coaches and support staff. Congratulations to everyone involved on another successful season, and we look forward to building on these achievements next summer. Full Colours: Oscar (Re-Award), Max D (Re-Award), Herbie, Hector, Monty, Archie, Henry Half Colours: Freddie, Caspar, Johnnie Mr Matt Coley

The Girls’ 1st XI enjoyed a season that was far more competitive than the final record of three wins and five losses suggests. Three of the defeats were narrow contests that could easily have gone the other way, highlighting the progress and quality shown throughout the term. The team produced some outstanding cricket, recording excellent victories against Stowe School, The King’s School, Gloucester and Malvern College. Captain Maddie W led from the front with the bat, finishing the season in remarkable style with an unbeaten 108 against Marlborough College. In doing so, she became officially the first girl to earn a place on the Pavilion Honours Board. The U15A girls have had a great season, winning nine out of their seven

matches. This included comprehensive wins over Stowe, Clifton College, and Marlborough, who are some of the toughest opponents on the circuit. The team has been ably led by Captain Florence and Vice-Captain Sophie C, who have both been superb with bat and ball and led the team by example. This is a very talented side who have played superbly together as a team and have really enjoyed their cricket. They have been a pleasure to coach, and I look forward to seeing how many of them do for the 1st XI next season. The U14 girls have had a fantastic season, with a great mix of wins and losses, and every player should be proud of the progress they have made. Throughout the year, the team has shown great commitment, enthusiasm and resilience, always supporting each other and

playing with a positive attitude. There were some outstanding individual performances, with Helena leading the way with some excellent bowling, Martha producing some superb batting performances, and Fran consistently impressing with her outstanding fielding. A special mention goes to Helena, Martha, Lottie, Seren, Bea and Elsbeth, who all stepped up to represent the U15s this season. They embraced the challenge and gained valuable experience playing against older opposition. Full Colours: Maddie W, Hannah Half Colours: Amelia, Lucy, Tilly Mr Tim Watts

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Badminton Mr Sol Griffiths and Dr Luke Davidson College badminton has enjoyed another highly successful year, supported by a busy and competitive fixture calendar across the season. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams represented College with great commitment and excellent sportsmanship throughout.

Basketball Mr Michael Higgins The boys’ team, captained by Curtis, finished the season with a balanced record of two wins and two losses. The squad showed resilience and determination throughout the campaign, competing strongly in every fixture. A major highlight of the year came during House Pots where Leconfield produced a flawless run, winning all five of their games to finish undefeated champions. Jerry was outstanding throughout the

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The girls’ team, captained superbly by Ellen, achieved an impressive overall win percentage of 53%. The boys’ team, led by Jeffrey, also performed strongly and finished the season with a highly respectable 50% win percentage. These results reflect the hard work, resilience and enthusiasm shown by players across all age groups. A special mention must go to Club Captain Fourth, whose leadership and dedication have helped cultivate a

competition and deservedly earned the title of Tournament MVP for his exceptional performances and leadership on court. The boys’ squad featured: Curtis (Captain), Ricky, William, Henry, Thomas B-D, Jerry, Thomas H-C, Lev, Austin and Lucas. The girls’ team also enjoyed a memorable season under the leadership of captain Penny. Their first ever fixtures against Dean Close School provided a challenging start, but despite the defeat, the team delivered an excellent performance and

positive and inclusive culture within College badminton. His contribution both on and off court has been invaluable in creating an environment where players have been able to develop, compete and enjoy the sport together. A fantastic year for Badminton - hopefully we can push on in 2026/27 season. Full Colours: Fourth, Jeffrey, Ellen

demonstrated tremendous potential for the future. In House Pots Westal dominated the tournament, going unbeaten throughout and showcasing excellent teamwork and skill. Kisu was named Tournament MVP after a series of impressive displays that inspired her side to victory. Representing the girls’ team this season were Penny, Fernanda, Pearlie, Boon, Kisu, Audrey, Courtney, Bibi and Juli. Full Colours: Jerry, Penny, Ricky, William, Fernanda Half Colours: Thomas B-D, Thomas H-C, Kisu, Austin, Lucas, Perlie

Equestrian Mrs Jenny O’Bryan Equestrian Sport has gone from strength to strength this year with over 40 riders on our roll and our training sessions have paid dividends. It was a really busy year but smoothed by the excellent support of Ms Emily Roberts who joined us in the Equestrian Department and has quickly proved herself calm and invaluable. Our regular training at Rectory Farm every Monday evening has expanded to three instructors now, as we are so lucky to have Mr Nick Gauntlett, Ms Jo Lees and Ms Jenna Jewett as our regular instructors there. Such regular quality instruction is rare at Schools. The year started with many qualifications for the National Championships in October at Addington. Our foray to Bedfordshire

proved a success with the College team of Tamara, Fenella, Hattie and Red achieving excellent placings, as well as providing wonderful cakes for the organisers. We achieved fourth in National Schools Dressage and fifth in National Schools Show Jumping at 1m. We hosted our own Eventer Challenge at the end of March at Rectory Farm. Despite the bitter cold our pupils had a really successful day with teams and individuals qualifying for the Championships and individually won the 1m Eventer Challenge class. We then headed to Hickstead over the May Bank Holiday weekend and my was it hot! We achieved two creditable sixth places over a very tricky course in the 105cm Inter-County and Elite Show Jumping teams. The squad of Fenella, Phia, Amalfi, Tinks, Isabella, Charlotte, Elizabeth and Mathilda cared for their horses so well ably guided by Dr Christina Oldham who’s equine vet

knowledge was absolutely invaluable keeping all cool! Phia rode well to become Reserve National Champion in the Arena Eventing, quite a feat in a huge class. In British Eventing Fenella has been flying. She was selected into the final 10 riders for the British Team for the European Eventing Youth Championships that were held at the end of the summer in Sweden. Thank you to all the parents for your continued support which enables our pupils to achieve so well. This is my final report as Head of Equestrian as I am heading to pastures new, but I hope that Equestrianism continues to thrive at College. I have loved watching generations further their knowledge and enjoy their horses. Full Colours: Fenella, India, Tamara Half Colours: Mathilda

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Fitness Mrs Rebecca Faulkner Girls’ Fitness has had an exciting change this year with the arrival of Ms Paulina De La Fuente our very own qualified yoga instructor. The girls are thoroughly enjoying their sessions and feeling the physical and mental benefits of physical activity. After feedback from the girls we have made the Thursday and Saturday sessions more varied with a strength and conditioning session in the performance gym and a vigorous Zumba or Bodypump session in the health suite.

popular and many of the girls go on to enjoy and develop their involvement with gym classes and competitions. This opportunity encourages the girls to prioritise their health and be reminded of all the positive benefits of physical activity within the busy academic week and especially when the exam period arises and the stress levels increase!

There has been some fantastic investment in the gym this term and the new ski machines and cross trainers have already had plenty of use. These sessions are as always very

Golf Mr Simon Conner Golf continues to go from strength to strength with record numbers playing. Overall, the team won five, drew one and lost two.

Eight boys attended the OC Golf Day at Denham Golf Club. Charlie won the Nett competition over 18 holes in the morning. In the nine hole afternoon foursomes, Charlie came second with his partner, OC Angus Baillie (L, 1994) and the competition was won by Freddie T and Mr Conner.

House Pots competed for the ‘Barry Wild Cup’ on Cleeve Hill Golf Course. The main scratch competition saw 1st, 2nd and 3rd separated by three stableford points. Christowe came third, Southwood second, and Leconfield won.

In the Summer Term 10 boys played in the Cheltonian Society Golf Day at Cleeve Hill Golf Club with 50 OCs, past and present parents and staff. The Prospect Cup, for the best Stableford score was awarded to Benjamin.

Raif captained College superbly and led successfully at the South West England Schools Championships at Burnham. In strong winds, the boys qualified for the Plate Semi-Final against Sherborne School which they won. In the Plate final against Marlborough College, it was a tight fought match but we narrowly lost.

Doug went to the Gloucestershire Schools Golf Competition and qualified for the next round of the South West Schools Golf Competition.

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Full Colours: Raif Half-colours: Freddie H, Freddie T and Samay

Football Mr Stuart Greer This season the senior boys’ and girls’ teams worked really hard and had lots of great games of football. For the girls, highlights were wins against Marlborough College, reaching the quarter-finals of the Bradfield 7s tournament and two Saturdays where College hosted girls’ teams from other schools in festivals of football. In House Pots, Ashmead retained their crown despite a good effort from Chandos.

The boys had a difficult season but held their heads high and played with positivity and class throughout the season. The 1st XI finished with a fantastic 2-2 draw with Bristol Grammar, a result that showed their true heart. The 2nd XI and 3rd XI enjoyed some successes, especially the 3rd XI and their award winner manager Mr James Bass. In House Pots, the glory went to Southwood for the first time when they managed to edge past a strong Hazelwell team.

Full Colours: Emily G Half Colours: Harry H, Emily C, Johnnie, Sam C, Courtney, Isla, Alya, Jerry and Allegra Players’ Player of the Year: Jerry, Emily G Managers’ Player of the Year: Charlotte, Johnnie Debut Season Award: Violeta, Harry H

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Hockey Mr Gwyn Williams This has been a tremendous term for girls’ hockey, and the Club finds itself in a very strong position within the hockey world. The girls have been magnificent in their commitment, energy and enthusiasm for the sport. A total of 121 fixtures were played with 66% victories or draws, and 365 goals scored which averages out at three goals per game. Within the fixture blocks a special day was had against Bristol Grammar School, where College won all nine matches. In the Bradfield College fixture, the teams came away with 11 wins from 14 matches and against Bromsgrove School it was nine wins and a draw from 12 games. The Yearlings teams against Clifton College came away with three wins and an aggregate score of 19 goals and 0 conceded. Within the House competitions Queen’s continued to dominate as they won

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both the senior and junior House Pots. A special mention must go to the 1st XI under the captaincy of Maddie. They have performed as a squad so well both on and off the pitch. The indoor team reached the West Finals, and in the National Cup they reached the 4th round. Within the regular fixture card, the XI came away with an unbeaten season winning nine from nine scoring 40 goals in the process and keeping seven clean sheets. This is an incredible achievement for a special group who have maintained a high level of consistency in energy and levels of play throughout a long term, gaining wins over Bromsgrove School, Rugby School, Marlborough College, Bradfield College, Clifton College, St Edward’s School, Oxford, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Bristol Grammar and Kingswood School. Special mentions go to Maddie, Tilda and Matilda, who have done so much for College hockey over their time here, playing four seasons in the 1st XI. I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank all the girls and staff for their

efforts this term and for making girls hockey here a truly special club. Full Colours: Izzy, Jemima, Evie, Liv, Rose, Eme Half Colours: Katie, Sophie, Farrah, Isla, Poppy Player of the Year: Evie Players’ Players: Rose, Jemima Coaches’ Players: Liv, Eme Boys’ hockey continues to grow and it has certainly pushed the boundaries in terms of performance across the whole Club. Of the 83 fixtures played 64% were either a win or a draw for College teams and within this 51% were wins, with all teams combining to score 200 goals in the process. Senior House Pots was won by Southwood and junior Pots by Leconfield. Cheltonians continue to represent the local clubs in National tournaments; we have representation in the County squads and 12 boys

and girls in England Hockey’s Talent Academy Centres. There was also the bonus of a tour to Spain when 19 boys travelled to Barcelona for a six-day trip playing four matches around Barcelona including a match at the Olympic park. They returned home undefeated. The 1st XI was led by Max D who was in his fourth year in the XI - a fantastic achievement. The team secured wins over Bristol Grammar, Kingswood, Bromsgrove, Radley College, Taunton School and a draw with Rugby. Special mention goes to Theo who scored 14 goals in 10 games including a superb hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Radley. The character shown by this squad was phenomenal especially with two losses coming in the final play of the game, yet the boys continued to bring the positive energy, play some high-quality hockey and enjoy their moments together as a group. The block fixtures brought some memorable performances throughout the teams. Against Bromsgrove, there

were nine wins and one draw from 11 games. The six games with Bristol Grammar were all won by College including a 9-3 win for the XI that included six different goalscorers. The final fixture of the term was against Tier 1 school Taunton. Of the nine fixtures played, College returned six wins and a draw. The Club has some real strength within its teams and the future looks very promising. Of the 30 fixtures played at Yearlings level, 63% were a win or draw and 58% was the corresponding figure for the Junior Colts. Yearlings’ A look a very good prospect after returning eight wins and a draw in their 10 games and scoring a phenomenal 54 goals in the process. Full Colours: Max D (Re-Award), Oscar, Lawrence, Herbie Half Colours: Monty, Max H, Charlie, Theo Player of the Year: Theo Players’ Player: Lawrence Club Players of the Year: Herbie, Max H

National Finals The U14 girls made it through to the National Plate Finals, held at Lee Valley Hockey Stadium. This was a superb achievement as this competition spanned across two terms. The girls showed great character in combining their sporting commitments and being able to go out and perform on the hockey pitch. To get to the finals the girls beat St Mary’s Calne, Canford School, King’s College, Taunton and then Kirkham Grammar School in the semi-finals. This was a classic cup match with both teams striving for a place in the finals which the girls deserved to take. Unfortunately, they were unable to replicate some of their previous performances and although they were locked at 1-1 for a period of the game against Alleyn’s School they finished as runners up. This was a great experience for the squad and bodes well for the future of hockey at College.

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Netball Mrs Kate Mears This year has been an exciting and successful one for netball at College, with a total of 17 teams representing across junior and senior levels. The depth of talent and enthusiasm throughout the programme has been evident from the outset, setting a strong foundation for a highly competitive and rewarding season. We began the year with an excellent pre-season camp for our senior squads. This provided a valuable opportunity for players to build fitness, strengthen connections, and gain early match experience through a series of friendly fixtures.

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A key focus this year has been strengthening our fixtures list to better reflect the quality at the top end and the growing depth across all squads. As a result, teams have been consistently challenged, facing strong opposition and benefiting from competitive match play. This has not only supported individual player development but has also enhanced team cohesion and resilience across all age groups. There have been many stand out performances this season, with several teams enjoying exceptional success. A particular mention must go to our U15C squad, who have achieved an incredible record, winning all of their games this season. Their campaign has been marked by determination, teamwork

and composure under pressure, with a number of matches going down to the wire. Their ability to perform in tight situations has been especially impressive and is a testament to their hard work and commitment. Our senior 2nd VII have also had a remarkable season, remaining undefeated throughout. They demonstrated consistency and resilience across all fixtures, culminating in a thrilling final game that ended in a draw. This result perfectly reflected their season as a whole - competitive, hard fought, and full of character. The senior 1st VII have likewise enjoyed an outstanding season, taking on some of the strongest teams in the region and nationally and competing

at the highest level. One of the most meaningful highlights of the season was the return of the annual charity match against Malvern College in our own sports centre. The previous two meetings had been incredibly close – College winning by just four goals last year and only two the year before, so we anticipated another tightly contested encounter. College delivered an excellent performance, winning the match comfortably, but the true success of the occasion went far beyond the result. It brought the whole community together and successfully raised money for our charity Scotty’s Little Soldiers in support of children who have lost a parent serving in the armed forces. This

remarkable achievement is a powerful reminder that sport can have an impact far beyond competition - something far greater than any score line. Alongside our fixtures, the annual House Pots battle was once again a highlight of the calendar. The event brought together players from across College in a spirited and competitive environment, showcasing both talent and House pride. Congratulations go to Chandos, who claimed victory in both the junior and senior competitions - an impressive achievement and a reflection of their strength across all age groups.

participation, competitive fixtures, and notable successes across multiple teams, the programme continues to thrive. We look forward to building on this momentum in the seasons to come. Full Colours: Tilly (Re-Award), Eme, Tilda, Matilda M, Connie Half Colours: Katie, Izzy Players’ Player: Katie Most Improved Player: Connie Coaches’ Player: Tilly

Overall, this season has been one of growth, achievement, and enjoyment for netball at College. With strong

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Polo Mrs Sarah Hayden This year has been a standout one for the polo team, marked by our entry into the inaugural British Schools Championship against Eton College, Stowe School, Radley College and Harrow School. Fielding two teams in the arena, we created memories that will last a lifetime, none more memorable than the moment players and parents glanced up at the scoreboard to see a daunting 10-goal handicap to overcome against Eton (Hector’s expression said it all), only for the team to rise to the challenge and win. Our intermediate side showed real grit, fighting back from both a handicap and goal deficit to seal a win in the final, where Elizabeth, Val and Raffy proved a formidable combination and scored some incredible goals. Our A team battled hard but couldn’t quite close the handicap gap in the final, finishing an impressive second place, though arguably a little hard done by.

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Meanwhile, back at Longdole Polo Club, new additions Alexa and Perdie made an immediate impact, securing a win against Cardiff University. It has been a strong season on grass, with more matches played than ever before. A triangular against Stowe and Radley saw a clean sweep for a newly formed team of Perdie, Alexa, Phia and Raffy, while the A team of Myer, Elizabeth, Wilf and Hari claimed a win against Radley and narrowly missed out against Stowe. At the Copenhagen Cup at Guards Polo Club, a convincing win over Millfield and a half-goal loss to Eton saw us enter the Shield, where we beat Stowe to bring home silverware. The season ended with a return to Windsor Polo Club, where we secured a draw at intermediate level and narrowly lost to Eton in the A match. There has been individual success too: Myer travelled to Wellington, USA, and won the USPA Women’s WOW Challenge Final, while Valentine was selected for the U16 Victor Futurum Series. Above all, it is the strength of the

team, supporting one another in this exciting and addictive sport, that stands out. It has to be said that this team is the result of unbelievable support and commitment of parents. Rain (lots of it), sun, horse challenges, transport challenges, coaching (we have the best coaches) and general humour have been present at all matches. A huge thank you goes to Longdole for their coaching, facilities, and tireless support in driving the resurgence of polo at the College. Finally, a very special mention to Hector, who leaves us this year. A cornerstone of the team, his sportsmanship, horsemanship and calm consistency under pressure have set the standard for others to follow. We wish him the very best as he continues his polo at university and Cirencester Polo Club, and look forward to welcoming him back, albeit on the opposing side, at a Society Day in the future. Full Colours: Wilf

Rackets Mr Mark Briers The Club has had yet another busy and successful season, with 40 boys and 30 girls representing College in up to three fixtures per week. Saturday fixtures have become more frequent, with some fixtures also involving real tennis sessions where possible. The rackets captains were Caspar and Poppy, who both provided strong leadership and motivation for their players. The National Schools’ Championships in December saw Ethan reach the last 16 and George B reach the quarter-finals of the Jim Dear Cup. Oscar and William both reached the quarter-finals of the Renny Cup. Notably, William defeated the number one seed and then lost to the eventual tournament winner. Colts I Emma M-G and Olivia D and Colts II Beatrice and Sophie C both reached the quarter-finals of the Alex Brodie Cup.

The girls’ 2nd Pair Ellie and Tilly, and the girls’ 4th Pair Maddie and Emma K both reached the quarter-finals of the Robin Geffen Cup. The girls’ 1st Pair Poppy Sophia M reached the final but unfortunately lost to Wellington College who were the stronger pair on the day. The National Schools’ Championships in March saw the boys’ 2nd Pair Caspar and Benjamin, Colts I Doug and Oliver, and Junior Colts I Ethan and George B all reach the quarter-finals of their respective tournaments. Olivia D reached the quarter-finals of the Beryl Danby Cup. Lulu reached the semifinals of the RPA Cup. Sophia M reached the semi-final of the Judy Angus Cup and Poppy reached the final, losing to Wellington in a brilliant match. Tilly won the RPA Cup, beating her friend and rival from Marlborough College, congratulations to Tilly. There was an outstanding performance from the girls as a team, who led College to win the Peter Mallinson Cup for best girls’ school.

On a domestic front, the Dick Bridgeman College boys’ singles was won by William, who defeated Caspar in the final. The Lily Owen girls’ singles was won by Sophia M, who defeated Poppy in the final. The Lower College boys’ singles was won by Ethan, beating George B in the final. The India Deakin Cup (lower college girls’ singles) was won by Sophie C, who beat her sister Lottie in the final. Christowe won the boys’ House Pots doubles and Queen’s won the girls’ House Pots doubles. Special thanks to Mr Matt Coley, Mr Mark Briers and Mr Tim Armstrong for their hard work and support. Congratulations to Mr Briers for his 57th trophy in his 32nd year as Head Rackets Professional at College. Full Colours: Oscar, William, Poppy, Sophia, Ellie, Tilly

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Rugby Mr Olly Morgan The season got off to a fantastic start with fixtures against Kingswood School, The King’s School, Worcester, Monmouth School and Blundell’s School that provided an excellent test of skill and determination to which our players rose superbly. The Yearlings enjoyed tremendous success, in particular, the U14As who gelled together producing some brilliant rugby. The team achieved remarkable defensive statistics, conceding just 89 points all season— placing them among only three teams in the country to do so. The U14Bs also represented College with distinction. Our U15Cs and U14Cs touch teams combined for a small festival at Radley College. For many it was their first time representing College, and they did so with enthusiasm, teamwork, and a wonderful attitude. The U15s enjoyed a solid start to the season and bounced back superbly

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after a tough St Joseph’s National Rugby Festival with a well-deserved victory over Sherborne Boys. This momentum continued for both A and B teams against Sir Thomas Rich’s. Impressively the U16As and Bs were unbeaten during the first half of the season. A last play score against Monmouth for both teams, was a particular highlight as well as beating Sherborne, Sir Thomas Rich’s and Marlborough College in the second half of the season. The St Joseph’s Festival, one of the premier festivals in the UK, proved to be a highlight. Both our U15s and U18s represented the school with distinction, the latter making the quarter-finals. The Club faced one of their fiercest challenges on the circuit: Millfield School. Millfield provided a stern test across the block, but it was the 1st XV who delivered the headline result - recording their largest ever victory over Millfield 35-7. That momentum carried onto Sherborne where the seniors produced outstanding displays for a clean sweep. The schedule then moved to

the eagerly anticipated fixture against Sir Thomas Rich’s. With over 2,000 spectators in attendance, the occasion was brilliant. Although College was edged out by a last penalty kick, the quality of rugby and the significant funds raised for charity made it a memorable night. Following this the 1st XV retained the Parry Coombe Cup against Marlborough for the sixth consecutive year and also the Acton Cup against Rugby School for the first time since 2017, earning the plaudits as one of the top sides in the country. Immense credit goes to all players and coaches. It was a long, demanding, and ultimately highly fulfilling campaign and another season with close to 60% wins is fantastic. Full Colours: Harry D, Troy, Jack Sa, Jack Sh, Daniel, Rufus Half Colours: Bear, Zach, Harry H, George, Jack Players’ Player: Harry D Coaches’ Player: Daniel Clubmen of the Year: Archie, Charlie

Sevens The scale of Rosslyn Park each year gets bigger. With 600 schools, 16,000 players and over 2,000 matches, it really is the pinnacle of school rugby. The U14s entered the tournament on the back of some brilliant rugby having reached the final of the West of England Sevens. They played some wonderful rugby, earning plaudits throughout the day and winning all three group games comfortably. The knockout match against Radley was one of the performances of the tournament winning in emphatic style 28-5 and progressing to the second day. Reaching the latter stages of the cup highlights the quality of schools around and beating Wellington, Marlborough and Royal Grammar School Guildford typified this, placing them in the quarterfinals where they faced St Paul’s School, winning 19-0. The semi-final was a step too far, but the boys can hold their head high playing nine games across two days and reaching the final four of a national tournament that hosts 242 schools! The U16s had also reached the final of the West of England Sevens. The

opening day saw them show some brilliant sevens in both attack and defence winning the group comfortably. The knockout game against Welsh side Ysgol Calon Cymru, was a tough battle but the boys reached day two winning 17-5. The second day presented a stiff challenge with Scottish favourites Glenalmond College in their way. In what was a physical encounter, College showed plenty of heart and came through brilliantly securing a memorable win. Confidence grew and the team reached the quarter-finals for the first time in over 10 years. The quarter-final with Brighton College was arguably the game of the tournament. However, Brighton came back and won with a score very late on. Whilst it was tough loss, 260 schools started the competition, and this team reached the final eight – an incredible achievement.

College and Barnard Castle setting up a mammoth game against favourites Millfield. In an epic battle, the game had the intensity of a test match with College winning 17-12 and progressing through to the final 12. Whilst the boys started brilliantly against Warwick winning 17-12, the remaining two games were very tough. College was the only school in the tournament who had all three teams in the cup knockout stages and across the season all three teams had played a remarkable 57 matches with only seven losses!

The U18s had a stellar season, winning the Cardiff Floodlit Sevens, Oakham Sevens and Solihull Sevens and entered Rosslyn Park for the first time. With 60 of the best rugby-playing schools in the UK, it was stepping into the unknown. The team started well beating ACE City of Oxford, Denstone

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Rowing Miss Catriona Norval It was another highly successful year for rowing marked by rising participation, competitive progress, and a strengthened sporting culture across all three terms. Pupils embraced the demands of the sport, developing discipline, responsibility, resilience, and teamwork that rowing uniquely demands. The season opened with head racing, in which crews race over longer distances against the clock. Six single scullers represented College at the Monmouth Head Race over a 2,250-metre course. A standout performance came from Delilah who secured an excellent fourth place in the J16 Singles. Rowing House Pots combined fierce competition with a vibrant atmosphere as races were streamed live to spectators. College Lawn dominated the girls’ categories, winning all three age groups, while Leconfield achieved a clean sweep in the boys’ events. The Summer Term proved particularly successful, with 45 pupils competing across five public regattas. Engagement

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in the sport continued to grow, demonstrated at Hereford Regatta where 12 College boats raced. Georgia won the J18 Women’s Single. At Worcester Regatta, Sam claimed victory in the J18 Open Single, while Joshua and Navid secured the J18 Open Double. The National Schools’ Regatta at Dorney Lake, the former Olympic venue for London 2012, was a highlight. College entered eight boats across the three-day event, with three crews competing in Championship events against the strongest schools in the country. The J16 Coxed Quad of Henry, Sebastian, Will, Ralph and Ronan delivered a determined performance to finish third in the C Final. The J15 Girls’ Coxed Quad of Isla, Robyn, Eleanor, Sophia, and Clementine placed 28th out of 58 crews, finishing ahead of very strong and established school programmes. The season was further enhanced by the introduction of the Marlow Town Regatta and Festival on the River Thames. The J14 Quad of James, Archie (race debut), Miles, Bertram, and Basil

won their division in a composed and impressive performance. In the Singles, Henry placed second in the J16, while Reuben secured third in the J15. Rowing continued to develop strongly in The Prep, where 32 Year 7 and 8 pupils participated. For many, this marked their introduction to the sport, and they responded with enthusiasm and commitment. We look forward to seeing many of them undertake their regatta debuts for College this coming year. A summer highlight was the Boathouse BBQ, which brought together pupils, staff, families, and OCs in celebration of the rowing community. The event reflected the strength of tradition within the programme and provided an opportunity to connect across generations. It was especially meaningful to welcome Mr Malcolm Mennie, Head of Rowing during the 1970s. Caterpillar Alumni ties and blazers reflected the heritage and pride associated with rowing at College. Summer Term Co-Captains: Georgia and Max Half Colours: Max, Joshua, Navid, Delilah

Shooting – Clays Mr Chris Reid This season was destined to be one of consolidation under the new leadership of Oscar and Freddie. The first outing at the Millfield Challenge saw the A Team come fourth in the Sporting as well as the Flush. The B Team came fifth in the Sporting, and joint winner in the Flush. Up next was Harrow’s Fido May challenge where the A Team pushed up to third. At the renamed Cheltenham Smeaton Farquhar Challenge the A Team was runner up in the Sporting and Flush and runner up in the overall challenge; Harry was runner up for the High Gun. The culmination of the season saw the team competing at the British Schools Championships at Eaton Hall Shooting

Ground where they placed fourth with Harry finishing as joint runner up in the High Gun. Former Club captain OC Charlie Worrall (NH, 2024) took time to give the team some encouraging words before they started their round. Charlie was there to take part in the British Shooting Olympic potential programme in preparation for the Junior World Cup in Cairo where he represented Great Britain finishing second overall and first in the international category. He was selected to go to the Junior World Championships in Germany over the summer. In May 2016 College became a British Shooting Partnership School meaning the Club could directly nominate a shooter onto the British

Shooting Olympic Pathway. Charlie was nominated. Meanwhile OC Ed Cleverley (H, 2025) represented Great Britain at the European FITASC Championship in Italy. They won Gold, narrowly beating the French by one clay. Edward also won The British Masters FITASC as a Junior and was selected for Team GB in the World FITASC championships in Portugal over the summer. Director of Sport Tim Watts writes: We wish to say an enormous thank you to Mr Chris Reid, who is leaving after 27 years as the valiant coach of the Clays Club. Full Colours: Oscar, Freddie, Cameron, Harry Half Colours: Noah, Ed, Evie, Jeffrey

Squash Miss Noel Lee The squash community has grown in numbers and strength this last year. Our girls’ 1st team has won the Cheltenham Ladies’ College Girls’ Schools tournament for the second year in a row and our boys’ 1st team had a strong performance in National Schools unfortunately being seeded against the top two seeds to start. Throughout the year we had multiple fixtures for all teams and an 80%

success rate in these fixtures was an incredible achievement ensuring that all the players’ hard work paid off. In individual success Penelope, Arav, Lawson and Charles represented Gloucestershire. Squash has had a large increase in participants allowing it to be a physical and social outlet for pupils. Our Player of the Year is a hard choice to make and so will be awarded to two players.

Lawson and Charles have shown great commitment and improvement over their squash journey, showcasing their hard work, representing their county and inspiring others to play. Full Colours: Arav, Lawson, Charles, Penelope Half Colours: Ella, Dylan

The Cheltonian 2025-26

Swimming Mrs Zoe La Valette-Cooper The pool has once again yielded success this academic year. In College, Southwood and Queen’s won the junior and senior swimming House Pots. In our external fixtures programme, the District Relay event at Cheltenham Ladies’ College saw success, with our senior girls winning their freestyle event and coming second in the medley, and the senior boys winning both their freestyle and medley events. In the National Schools ESSA competition, we decided to enter the new mixed relays and to concentrate on the older senior age group. This was a great addition which saw us achieve 7th place in the freestyle final and 6th place in the medley final. Other highlights this year include wins over Marlborough College and Sherborne Boys and wins in the U18 girls’ A-medley relay final and U18 girls’ A-freestyle final. The boys won both U18 and U15 B-final events in the medley and came second in both U18 and U15 B-final events in the boys’ competition at the Bromsgrove Invitational gala. Lastly, we retained the Webb Relay title, which is the third consecutive year that the boys’ quartet have won this prestigious trophy.

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We thank our outgoing captains from this year Boon and Tarick who have marshalled the teams and been excellent role models for our younger swimmers. Full Colours: Otto, Evie

Tennis Mr Tim Lang It was another long and wet winter out on the tennis courts where our pupils and coaches were all in need of some slightly more pleasant weather before the tennis season commenced in the summer. Even so, our steadfast and wholehearted tennis players trained with real gusto and a determination. The winter programme always allows and provides the opportunity for our committed players to practice their trade and gain valued progression before the summer fixtures. It was so good to see them finally get the conditions to play the style of tennis they so deserved in the Summer Term. The Senior Girls applied real effort and energy to their training and showed a focus and drive that is so necessary for

the senior squad players. I have been pleased with the strong commitment and drive they have demonstrated, and they can be pleased and proud of their contribution to College tennis for so many years now. The Senior Boys can be very proud of the time spent on the tennis courts this term. They have really grafted since September and they have proved they are talented and able tennis players. It is necessary to praise Mr Chris Warner for his energy, pulse and drive to nurture the programme on the courts, and for his relentless efforts come rain or shine throughout the winter to support our tennis players. College Tennis simply wouldn’t be the same without him. Full Colours: Poppy (Re-Award), Arabella (Re-Award), Rose (Re-Award), Lucia Half Colours: William, Sophia, Lulu, Olivia, Max

The Cheltonian 2025-26

Ashmead

in Olympiads. Ada has been very successful in the senior Maths Challenge, where she received a Gold Award, as well as Silver in both the British Physics Olympiad and the junior Chemistry Challenge! Olivia also received Silver in the junior Chemistry Challenge. Sarah got involved in the Mars Rover Challenge, making use of her gift for science and thinking outside of the box. Perhaps her Gold Reading Diploma was completed during a respite from her other academic endeavours! Many girls received Academic Half Colours including Katie, Elyssa, Natalie, Elizabeth, Maryam, Indigo, Elodie, Chloe, Eleanor and Ada. Joie and Charlotte received Academic Full Colours.

Sport House Events This year has been full of highlights for Ashmead, welcoming our new Third and Fourth Form and Lower Sixth, as well as Ms De La Fuente, our new Resident Tutor. Ms De La Fuente has brought life into Ashmead. She fills the kitchen with delicious nachos on Wednesday evenings, and fills the Common Room with her wonderful dogs, Alma and Hugo. Their company brings plenty of smiles and giggles. Our first big Ashmead event of the year was House Singing in November. Despite commendable enthusiasm with our singing of Sia’s ‘Cheap Thrills’, we are gutted to report Ashmead did not win this year either. There’s always next year…! Of course, our annual Ashfield Dinner with Leconfield at Christmas was a fun-filled one; good to see the Matrons hit the dance floor once again, as is now tradition. On closed weekends (where no-one goes home) we have enjoyed barbeques in our sunny garden, as well as our Family Olympiad and quiz. We had trips to escape rooms, bowling, Aerial JumpFit, karting, high ropes and much, much, much more. As usual, Mrs Leach and our Resident Tutors, Miss Seager and Ms De La Fuente, have put great effort into organising so many fun things for us.

Charity We are extremely proud to have supported CoppaFeel again this year as our House charity; their work towards raising awareness about the signs of breast cancer is as important as ever. To raise money for this brilliant cause, Ashmead girls and staff organised a diverse range of events. We began with our 10k Moonwalk in February when we went up Leckhampton Hill, eventually completing the walk in under half of the expected time! Our Night at the Races (together with Westal, Christowe and Queen’s) was truly nail-biting, enjoyed by parents and students alike. Our very own Ashmead apple juice has had brilliant sales this year, keeping the fridges of Ashmead families well stocked! On a smaller scale, we’ve sold donuts and roses within House to raise money for our whole school charity, Scotty’s Little Soldiers.

Academic Aside from Ashmead girls’ ongoing good effort in lessons and exams, it’s been fantastic to see so many girls getting involved

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This year has been hugely successful in terms of sporting achievements. Ashmead competed in rowing, hockey, netball, football, rackets and swimming House Pots this year with some great results, including winning football and coming second in netball. However, Ashmead girls shone at the athletics track winning Senior Sports Day for the fourth year! Following this joyous success, Katie had a fantastic performance in the Charity netball match against Malvern College helping College secure the win! Farrah and Katie received their hockey Half Colours while Jemima received hockey Full Colours. Ashmead girls continued to have a strong presence on the rackets court and representing College at The Queen’s Club London. Beyond school time, we have had many girls, such as Beatrix, Red, Isabella, Katinka and Isabelle compete in equestrian jumping competitions, representing College and qualifying for multiple different championships including Hickstead! As well as riding, Annabel has also represented College outside of school in a London swimming gala.

Drama and Music The Ashmead Fourth Form are proving to be especially strong on the drama and music front, with Sophie, Olivia, Cecily and Annabelle involved in the play DNA. Following on from this, Sophie and Annabelle also competed in a singing competition showing off her fabulous talent. Joie also participated in the Battle of the Bands, as well as the Cabaret. Annabelle, Sophie, Eleanor and Charlotte have continued their involvement in College Choir this year, singing at many and varied services such as Evensong and Advent.

Farewells and Thank Yous We’d like to thank our Head of House, Ellie and our Ashmead Prefect Team. It is their effort and creativity that has ensured the smooth running of house events this year – we will be sad to see them go! Tutor Dr Dunning’s peaceful presence and witty remarks are sorely missed after his departure to Cornwall in April. We hope Fifth Form Tutor Mr Kontarines is enjoying his new career, and that his dad jokes are as popular there as they were with us! Ms De La Fuente moved out of Ashmead but we are grateful she is staying on with us as an Upper College Tutor. A big Thank You goes to all our House staff who keep everything running so smoothly for our benefit.

Speech Day Prizes Lower College

Attainment: Sarah, Eleanor, Sophie B Endeavour: Ada Wilson Diploma (Platinum Award): Eleanor

Upper College Endeavour: Elizabeth, Jemima Rea English Literature: Charlotte C Bingen Human Geography: Abi History of Art: Indigo Psychology: Elodie Tanner Biology: Maryam

Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes Spanish: Emily G Theatre Studies: Natalie House Editors: Charlotte and Isabella The Cheltonian 2025-26

Boyne House Academic We continue to work hard at Boyne and we are particularly proud of Michael who received Academic Full Colours and Otto, William and Bear who were awarded Academic Half Colours.

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House Events This year has been very successful for Boyne, with many wonderful achievements from academic and sporting, to drama, music and charity. The year started with our annual walk up Leckhampton Hill. Clans (the House is split into five Clans) make their way from the bottom up, and the older boys are tasked with learning new things about the younger Third Form boys. Once reaching the top, they are rewarded with some sweets and then tested on the information they have learned. Traditionally, one Clan also faces the hefty burden of carrying a huge log up the hill, decided by a tug of war that takes place in the House garden. The next major event was the annual House NFL competition. Started only a few years ago, it showcases everything Boyne is about. Competitiveness and enjoyment go hand in hand with teams (selected by four Upper Sixth) going against each other in a round-robin type tournament. A nail-biting final is drawn from the two best teams. This year, under Oscar’s leadership, the Bengals took home the victory in a rather one-sided game, with notable plays including Otto’s diving touchdown to secure the triumphant win.

Charity Boyne prides itself on its charity events and participation. Our chosen charity was the James Hopkins Trust, an amazing charity supporting life-limited and life-threatened young children. This year, on a Sunday, the House as a whole had to run, cycle and row a combined distance of 1,500km. Smashing this goal meant a huge effort from everyone, most notably the people who contributed an astounding 52km each. Four members of Upper Sixth completed this outstanding goal by 10 o’clock in the morning. As a reward for doing so well, Boyne devoured a whole-House So Peri Restaurant takeaway, a House favourite. These remarkable efforts managed to raise an amazing £3,000, and we hope to continue this wonderful challenge in coming years.

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This sporting year has been a great success for Boyne, with teams competing in rugby, hockey, cricket, rowing, and football. A special shout out goes to our Third Form rugby team who brought home the House Pots victory this year. We also had a very strong rugby representation in House, with 1st XV appearances for Jack, Bear, Phil and Rufus. Jack and Phil both play for Gloucester Rugby and William has played for Scotland U18. Similarly, we have a great cricket representation, with Bear, Oscar and Hector all playing for the 1st XI. The boys have represented House and College taking part in a huge number of successful matches and tournaments.

Drama and Music Boyne have had a great year for music, in all its forms. Music is very popular across House and in all year groups. Michael and Otto (who received his Music Full Colours) performed brilliantly at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival and similarly Michael stood up and took leadership alongside Otto and Bosco in our House Singing. We sang ‘Beautiful Girls’ by Sean Kingston and ‘One Thing’ by One Direction after a late change in song choice and ideas. Once again, Boyne feels well and truly robbed. Despite our unique and creative blend of the two songs, and Phil and Oscar’s beautiful performance in front of everyone, we didn’t even get a podium finish. We go again this coming year under Michael’s leadership, and hopefully an even better choice of songs. Finally, Boyne was proud to hold the annual Boynefest, with some great DJ action from Henry. The silent disco was enjoyed by all Upper College, and we hope this coming year will be just as good.

Farewells and Thank Yous Speaking for the House as a whole, I know we can all agree Mr Preston has made a huge impact on Boyne as our Resident Tutor. He is greatly admired and respected by everyone inHouse and he will be sorely missed now that he has decided to move out. We wish him the absolute best of luck.

Speech Day Prizes: Lower College Attainment: Lucas Endeavour: Ethan

Upper College Marcan Prize for Music: Otto Applied Psychology BTEC: Harry R Sports Science: Phil

Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes English: Henry H House Editor: Avery The Cheltonian 2025-26

Chandos

received Academic Half Colours. We also wish the Fifth Form and Upper Sixth the very best of luck on results day. We are confident that their hard work will be reflected in their success, as dedication remains at the heart of the Chandos ethos.

Sport

House Events Chandos began the year with a roar of excitement as we launched straight into House Singing, one of the most anticipated events in the calendar. The whole House threw themselves into rehearsals, marching enthusiastically through our chosen song ‘Salute’ under Lucia’s spirited leadership, creating an atmosphere that was both energetic and unified. The festive season brought a change of pace with our annual Christmas Dinner at The Queens Hotel providing an evening of laughter and celebration. From the ever-popular House roasts to a series of imaginative (and occasionally chaotic) Christmas skits, it was a highlight for many.

Drama and Music

It is not only the larger events that define life in Chandos, however. Smaller moments, from relaxed evenings in House to barbecues with Mr Henoq, play an equally important role in building the strong sense of community that has been so evident throughout the year. We concluded the Spring Term with one of the most anticipated events in the Upper College calendar: the Reeling Ball. After months of evening practices, many led by some of our Upper Sixth girls, the Sixth Form enjoyed a memorable evening of dancing, laughter and celebration, marking a fitting end to a busy and successful term.

Chandos is home to many talented actresses and musicians. The Scholars’ Play was a notable event, with several girls involved both on and off the stage. Special thanks go to Evie who played a key role in behind-the-scenes coordination and helped make the production of The Unexpected Guest such a success. The Battle of the Bands was another highlight for Chandos. The band ‘Fish n Chips’, made up of several Chandos girls, delivered an energetic performance that captivated the audience with both their music and stage presence. Lastly, a special mention goes to Daisy who won the Pop Music Singing Competition and participated in the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, as well as her dedication to school productions along with other girls in House.

Charity

Farewells and Thank Yous

This year Chandos embraced a wide range of charity events to support Winston’s Wish, showing real enthusiasm for supporting good causes. The whole school Tough Mudder was a standout moment, with the Chandos Upper Sixth keeping spirits high by selling hot chocolate to cheer on participants. The Casino Night with Southwood and Leconfield was another highlight. It was an evening of high stakes, dressing up and plenty of excitement, and quickly became a firm favourite amongst the girls. Chandos girls also took part in the Swimathon. This gave everyone the chance to raise money for charity while working together and enjoying the challenge.

Academic On behalf of the whole House, we would like to congratulate Perlie, Annie, Sophia M and Astrid who were awarded Academic Full Colours, plus all the girls, too many to mention, who 90

Over the course of the year, many Chandos girls took part in a wide range of sporting activities, showing both commitment and enthusiasm. When Lily and Connie played in the Charity Netball Match, the House showed its unwavering support. Girls created posters to bring along to the game, with a prize awarded for the best design. House Pots provided another opportunity to showcase sporting talent. From hockey to rowing and our strong win in netball, these events remain a favourite and are key ways in which the Chandos spirit is brought to life. We also have many girls who participate in a wide range of sports both inside and outside of school, all of whom we are very proud of. Special mentions go to Emma for her outstanding dedication to racquets and cricket, all of the girls who have achieved success in equestrian competitions, and Lucia, to whom we wish the best of luck in her half marathon, where she is raising money for breast cancer awareness and research.

Houses

Unfortunately, we have some difficult goodbyes this year. We wish the Upper Sixth the very best in their future endeavours, so too some of the Fifth Form who are leaving. We bid a very sad farewell to two of the most beloved members of Chandos: Assistant Housemistress Mrs Edgington and Resident Tutor Mrs Howard. After many years of caring for and supporting hundreds of girls in the Cottages, it is impossible to imagine Chandos without them, and they will be deeply missed by us all. So many girls will always remain grateful for their kindness, humour, compassion, and unwavering support throughout the years. We wish them every happiness in their future endeavours. We also wish Miss Robinson, Resident Tutor, the very best for the future. After four years in Chandos, we hope she has an incredible time playing netball in Australia. She will be greatly missed by all the girls, having supported and guided us as we have grown over the years.

Speech Day Prizes Lower College

Attainment: Gianna, Emilie, Perlie, Annie Endeavour: Chloe, Bella B Elmslie Drama: Bella B

Upper College Endeavour: Rosie Jackson-Matthews Chapel Prize: Ruqayyah, Astrid Davenport Theatre Performance: Daisy Textiles: Francesca Theology, Philosophy and Ethics: Astrid Borchardt Mathematics: Sophia M

Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes Classical Civilisation: Isa Textiles: Zara House Editor: Trinnie The Cheltonian 2025-26

Christowe

House Events Christowe has had many joyful and engaging events over this academic year. One of the highlights was House Singing, where we worked hard to rehearse and perform the song ‘Steal my girl’ by One Direction, with confidence and pride. Although we did not come back victorious, it was a thoroughly enjoyable event and increased the House camaraderie. We have partaken in clan events within House where boys from each year group are put together. These activities can range from Easter egg hunts in the kitchen to football tournaments in the yard. On top of this, the Christmas Dinner, joint with Queen’s at the Cheltenham Racecourse was a huge success, even though there were some questionable dance moves. On Sundays, we have loved going paint balling, go-karting and even more. This makes the House a place where we all feel at home.

Charity Christowe has had the most successful year in a long time when it comes to charity. We have done physically demanding events such as the 24-hour run, where pupils took shifts to stay constantly running, even through the night (in Mr Paynter’s terminology, ‘the graveyard shift’). A special mention goes to Charlie who ran a marathon across the day. This was a massive achievement, and it was wholesomely ended with a whole House finish. We have also done social events such as the Charity Race night with Ashmead, Queen’s, and Westal which was a massive hit and an excellent opportunity for parents to get involved in raising money for Lupus UK and InCourage. Finally, the Upper Sixth raised £3,000 while growing their ‘moustaches’ for Movember which brought light to a great cause for men’s mental health. Praise goes to Ben who cycled 524Km across the month and raised £1,242. In total we raised approximately £11,000. We were so proud to win the Bellamy Cup awarded to the House which has engaged most successfully with charitable endeavours.

Sport On the sports front, we have had a number of pupils participating in a variety of sports at all different standards. House Pots events have been a perfect balance of amusement and competitiveness, with Christowe being successful across the board. To start off the year, our Deputy 92

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Head of House, Jack, was named captain of the 1st XV rugby team and received his Full Colours. Along with Charlie they had a season full of hard-fought victories, and they helped to put the team up there as one of the best in the country. A huge number of boys represented the House in external rugby fixtures. In the junior rugby House Pots the boys went on an unbeaten run to win the tournament for Christowe for the first time in a while. A notable representation was at Rosslyn Park National 7s where seven Boyceites participated at the highest level. In the Spring Term, Head of House, Max captained the 1st XI hockey team, leading a whopping five other Christowe members. A shout out to Lawrence and Herbie who received hockey Full Colours as well as Charlie receiving Half Colours. Within the same term, an additional four boys were part of the 1st XI football team, with Harry receiving Half Colours. In the final term, the cricket 1st XI, also captained by Max, was strongly represented by Christowe. And to round it off, Caspar captained rackets and led the school through a successful Queen’s tournament.

Academic Bruno was awarded an Academic Scholarship alongside Otto who was awarded an Academic Exhibition. Academic Full Colours were awarded to Charlie and Sunny. The Fifth Form and Upper Sixth worked very hard for their public examinations and are hopeful for excellent results. Upper Sixth received several excellent university offers. A special mention goes to Ben receiving an offer to study History at Oxford. We also had excellent results in the Mathematical challenges from Yuta, Wylder and Hugo.

Drama, Music, Challenges A huge well done goes to Stepan for being awarded Music Full Colours for his outstanding performances across his time at College. He was also a member of the Symphony Orchestra alongside Hugo and Tiger. Our Third Form won the Melville Cup for the Third Form Challenge. Christowe is in good hands for years to come.

Farewells and Thank Yous To begin with, we would like to thank the Upper Sixth for leading the House this year by setting an example to us all and showing all Boyceites respect and kindness. We would also like to thank our amazing Matrons, Jenni and Claire who go above and beyond to make life easy for us all. Our amazing House Tutors, Mr Edwards and Mr Naish have made the House a fun yet productive environment for everyone in the community. Our House Master, Mr Paynter has run the House extremely well with his ability to work hard for all of the boys in House and he has inspired us to be the best we can possibly be. Finally, we are very sad to see Tutor Ms O’Bryan leaving us after an amazing 16 years at College, where she has had a huge, and massively positive impact on all of her tutees. She has left a strong impression on everybody in House and has shown such dedication and support to staff and Boycietes alike. Thank You Ms O’Bryan. You will be sorely missed. We wish you the very best.

Speech Day Prizes Lower College

Endeavour: Bruno, Yuta

Upper College

Endeavour: Charlie, Max S Jackson-Matthews Chapel Prize: Avi Hannam Clark Orchestra Prize: Stepan Tanner Biology: Sunny Abbott Mathematics for Science: Bob

Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes History: Ben Mathematics: Elot

Cup Winners!

We are proud to say that as a House Christowe won The Bellamy Cup for Charitable Endeavour. House Editors: Lawrence and Huw The Cheltonian 2025-26

College Lawn

secured an offer from the University of Cambridge.

Sport This year we have participated in multiple House Pots, conquering in rowing for both our senior and junior squads. We also came first in the junior netball House Pots, drawing with Chandos and came first in the senior Bs Pots. Sophie took part in round two of the National Indoor Hockey Championship, Penny came first in the Cheltenham Ladies’ annual squash tournament, and Polly played in the Charity netball match this year against Malvern.

Drama and Music House Events We began our year with pottery painting in year groups as well as bowling. This was a great opportunity for the girls to settle back into their friendships within House and gave the Third Form time to chat after a busy first week. We visited an indoor trampoline park, which was an incredibly fun day for the Third and Fourth Form and Lower Sixth. We had a great time playing games around the park and had pizza and slushies which really rounded off the day. For the first time ever, College Lawn hosted its inaugural formal House Dinner. This was an incredibly exciting night, which welcomed parents and girls alike. We had speeches and performances from the girls, with a disco, which was the highlight of the evening. We also launched Chill At The Lawn in the Summer Term. This was a popular destination for the younger years, allowing them to get away from the louder socials and have a more laid-back evening. Our courtyard was transformed into a social centre. Saffron was also awarded the Sustainability Award for making College more sustainable by introducing simple but efficient ideas into House.

Charity This year our charity events have been a huge success, supporting Open Door and CoppaFeel. Katie organised an incredible House baking competition, where the College Lawn families spent a Sunday afternoon baking away, making delicious treats, which were then sold to College in a bake sale in Quad. In the Summer Term, our traditional second-hand clothing sale came back with a bang, with visitors from all Houses visiting throughout the afternoon. This was accompanied by a popular ice cream sale. We all participated in the Tough Mudder organised by the College Prefects, and although it was freezing cold, everybody embraced it and the day was a success.

Academic College Lawn has had an incredibly successful year with many academic accomplishments by pupils across every year group. This year Penelope, Saffron, Delilah, Ella, Elaine, Zlata, Shensi and Yolanda all achieved their Academic Half Colours while Sophie E and Kitty were awarded their Academic Full Colours. Flo, Shensi and Saffron all created podcasts and applied to Oxbridge. Katie 94

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Throughout this year College Lawn has had overwhelming success in both Drama and Music. Hattie played in the Cheltenham Jazz festival and was awarded her Grade 8 violin and grade 5 piano. Tensie came first in the Upper College Cabaret and appeared in The Seagull. Ceci, who received Music Full Colours, was lead violinist in the College Orchestra while Annie came first in the College Music Competition.

Farewells and Thank Yous Sadly, it is time to say goodbye to our incredible Upper Sixth. Their dedication and House spirit inspired us all daily and although they move onto the next stage in their lives, we hope they go on to achieve their dreams and more. We thank them for the guidance and the fun they have brought to life at College Lawn and we look forward to welcoming them back as Wintleites. It is also time to say goodbye to our fantastic Assistant Housemaster, Mr Pirttijarvi, who is going to continue his journey as Director of Music at Brighton College Bangkok Vibhavadi. We hope he has an amazing experience, and his presence will be greatly missed around the House, of which he has been a part since 2019, when he moved from Hazelwell. It is also time to say goodbye to our fabulous Resident Tutor, Mrs McBride, who has been part of the College Lawn community since 2018, and will be also greatly missed, as she continues to teach Drama in College and tutor in College Lawn. We also have to say farewell to one of our brilliant Matrons, Lucy. Office chats were always comforting, and although it is sad to see her go, we wish her well in future endeavours. A heartfelt thank you goes to our lovely Housemistress Mrs Kirby. She brings so much warmth and vibrance into daily life at House, and her guidance, support and care have been invaluable. Our House would not function smoothly without our amazing Matron, Becky, whose compassion and kindness are appreciated by us all. We also extend our thanks to those who gave us help throughout the year, and supported Matron Becky and Mrs Kirby in House. This includes Mrs Cutts, Matrons Hanneke and Vicky and Frau Pemberton, as well as our superb team of visiting Tutors and Resident Tutor Mr McBride, who is so sadly leaving us as well, and Mr Kirby.

Speech Day Prizes Lower College Attainment: Kitty Elmslie Theatre Performance: Tensie Wilson Diploma (Platinum Award): Annie FPQ Award: Isla Upper College Endeavour: Penelope, Yolanda Marcan Prize for Music: Ceci Business: Sophie E Chemistry: Shensi Saville Classics: Flo Anthony James Art: Sarah Business – Cambridge Technical: Maya

Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes Science: Katie House Editors: Penny, Sophie and Polly The Cheltonian 2025-26

Hazelwell

work receiving Academic Half Colours. Angus won Gold in the Mathematics Olympiad placing him among the top 8% of Maths students across the country.

Sport

House Events This year we have enjoyed a variety of House events including trips to paintballing, go-karting, padel and the annual Christmas Dinner to name just a few. All trips were thoroughly enjoyed by the Greenites once again demonstrating the welcoming and vibrant Hazelwell atmosphere. A highlight of the year was the annual House Singing competition. This year, we sang ‘Grenade’ by Bruno Mars in accordance with the year’s theme. Despite falling short at the final hurdle (after some dodgy judging!) everybody gave it their all.

Charity This year Hazelwell’s chosen charity was Child Bereavement UK. Our goal was to run 127Km per day for 27 days to represent the 127 children that lose a parent every day in the UK. We smashed our goal running a total of 3,600Km. To round off the challenge, a bunch of keen students ran the Gloucester 10K to promote our cause. In total, we raised more than £3,600 demonstrating how much this cause meant to the boys.

Leadership Hazelwell has always been at the forefront of leadership in College. This has been displayed by our College Prefects Head of House Harry and Thomas who is Prefect of Visits and Marketing showing new pupils and parents around the House and College. In Lower Sixth Sam, Zac and George have all been promoted to Corporal in CCF taking on the responsibility of teaching new cadets basic fieldcraft and leadership skills. They have been part of College CCF since the Fourth Form. A number of Hazelwell pupils have also given outstanding Chapel talks on different topics such as National Air Ambulance Week and Anti-Racism while our Housemaster Mr Hayes spoke about Icarus and taking risks.

Academic The boys have enjoyed a plethora of academic achievements. Fingal founded the student-led society, the Medici Society, having multiple meetings with a range of fascinating talks from students. Many Greenites were recognised for their hard

Houses

Hazelwell has excelled across all sporting fronts. Zach, George and Jack have all represented College in the 1st XV and the 1st VII winning the Floodlit 7s at Cardiff and the Solihull 7s. George also represented College in a number of swimming galas and achieved immense success as part of the winning team to win the Cheltenham District Swimming Shield, the Webb Relay. In House Pots we came agonisingly close to Gold in football losing out in penalties to Southwood. The Lower College hockey final was also lost in a nail-biting match where we clinched second place. Sadly, we missed again in basketball coming second. However, it’s not all been doom and gloom with a fantastic victory in Lower College winning Sports Day after a great team effort. Max and Noah in the Fifth Form played up in the 1st XI for hockey. Fourth Formers Ewan and Jack were key players in the rugby U15As. Harry and Ludovic have both represented 1st Team tennis and Harry played 1st XI football gaining his Half Colours after some electric performances. Congratulations go to Arav for gaining his squash Full Colours and becoming an excellent captain of the team. Sam and Josh also captained their respective football teams throughout the year. Zach moved from Gloucester Rugby where he was playing academy league to Bath where he finished the rest of the season with them, playing in stadiums such as Bath’s The Rec and Leicester’s Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Drama and Music In Lower Sixth Sebastian, Oliver and Fingal all achieved Drama Full Colours acting in multiple plays. Sebastian won a leading role the Scholars’ Play Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest putting on a fantastic performance. Myles and Jack also acted in Lower College performances both achieving their Drama Half Colours.

Farewells and Thank Yous We’d like to thank our incredible Matrons Sally and Julie for their commitment to the House, however messy we may be, whether that is always making sure the kitchen is fully stocked with food for break or helping us if we are unwell. Your support is the backbone of Hazelwell. Secondly, we would like to thank Tutor Mrs Swetland for her service to House and although she is not leaving the school she will be dearly missed in Hazelwell. Lastly, we would like to wish all of Upper Sixth leaving us this year good luck with all their future endeavours. We are sure you will go on do great things.

Speech Day Prizes Lower College

Endeavour: Lochlan, Harry Wilson Diploma (Platinum Award): Lochlan

Upper College Endeavour: Sam H Jackson-Matthews Chapel Prize: Zac Davenport Theatre Performance: Sebastian Business CTech: Sebastian Design and Technology: Benjamin Politics: Ollie Sports Science CTech: George House Editors: Jayden and Sam The Cheltonian 2025-26

Leconfield

House Events As is tradition, Leconfield kicked off this year with a game of paintball helping to introduce the new Third Form to the House community and get a sense of its culture. We also jumped on the Traitors trend and launched the first Leconfield House Traitors (with our very own Claudia, played by Mr Robinson). Over Christmas there was a myriad of seasonal events from ice skating to the annual Ashfield Dinner. Continuing traditions, Leconfield took to the hills to play a round of Hunted which was an excellent opportunity for the Lower Sixth, Fourth and Third Forms to connect. Monty gave a powerful Chapel talk on men’s mental health, Henry gave an address on perseverance and spirit, whilst Tommy delivered a positive message on the dangers of complacency. All values that we wholeheartedly endorse in Leconfield.

Charity We grafted hard to raise money for SolePurposeUK who promote healthy sports recreation and youth development. Our main charity event was a 1,334km (16km each) walk, the same length as OC Edward Wilson’s (Day Boy, 1891) expedition to the South Pole. The Sixth Form also enjoyed the return of the Casino night (though it should be noted that Leconfield does not encourage gambling). Lev did 3,000 press ups in November raising £1,100 for Teenage Cancer Trust. Overall, Leconfield has raised £3,000 for SolePurposeUK and the British Heart Foundation.

Academic It has been a strong year with many pupils achieving exhibitions and scholarships to start the year. Henry, Ronan and Adam attained Academic Full Colours, and many others were awarded Half Colours. Ronan also won a Law Moot (a form of debate) as a part of a College team, debating against other local schools including Pate’s Grammar School and Dean Close School. Third Form also worked hard with Marcus and Davis taking part in a Classics debate with Davis on the winning team.

Drama and Music Members of the Drama Department from Leconfield had a cracking year. In January Josh and George performed in 98

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the Scholars’ Play – Agatha Christie’s An Unexpected Guest – alongside Resident Tutor Mr Rosbrook (who played a dead body). George once again took to the stage in March to perform in Chekhov’s The Seagull aided by Ralph behind the scenes and Mr Rosbrook directing. Leconfield’s musical achievements were equally storied with four Porcherites performing at the Cheltenham Jazz festival with the Big Band (including Curtis who had two solos in front of some 450 attendees). We were proud to see Henry win the Classical category at in the Lower College Singing Competition and George perform at the Cabaret evening. In House Singing Leconfield performed with great gusto and despite losing (disputed) overall, we still won the Participation Award for our heart wrenching rendition of Hozier’s ‘Take me to Church’ (a videoclip of one of our rehearsals garnered some 25,000 views on Instagram!). We were proud to see Jaden performing Coldplay classics in the Battle of the Bands this year as well as a winning return for Curtis and his band Rock Heart. Meanwhile Curtis received a coveted Co-Curricular Blazer for Music.

Sport We’ve had an extremely successful sporting year, collecting a variety of silverware, winning House Pots in golf, rowing, junior hockey and basketball. Leconfield reached the final of the senior rugby House Pots, narrowly losing to Newick in a drop kick shootout after a closely fought match. Four Porcherites competed at the annual Charity Rugby Match against Sir Thomas Rich’s: Harry, Jack, Justin and Max. Many Leconfield boys (from Third Form all the way to Upper Sixth) played at the Sevens tournament at Rosslyn Park and we look forward to watching the budding sporting careers of many of the talented athletes that inhabit Leconfield.

Farewells and Thank Yous Our thanks go to all of the House staff, the Matrons Mrs Groves and Mrs Booth who have kept the House in check awarding Matron’s Hero daily to the residents of clean dorms, the Houseman Mark, and Housekeepers, Agnes, Emilia and Adrienne, who have cleaned a fair few messes and fixed a mix of broken windows and doors. This year we are sadly saying goodbye to the current Upper Sixth including our current Head of House Adam who has given constant effort to ensure that all Porcherites feel welcome and safe. We say farewell to Mr Rosbrook who left after a year of sterling service as a Resident Tutor and Drama teacher. Mrs McCallum has left her role as Tutor and English teacher for Perth, and we wish her and her family all the best as she begins her new teaching role in the land down under. Mr Robinson has filled the shoes Mrs O’Malley left behind taking over the job of Assistant Housemaster and managing to balance the competing tasks of looking after the House and the boys that live within it. Finally, Leconfield extends its deepest thanks to our longsuffering Houseparents Mr and Mrs Evans. We look forward to facing all challenges the coming year may throw at us alongside our wonderful House staff.

Speech Day Prizes Lower College Attainment: Henry Endeavour: Sam E

Upper College Marcan Prize for Music: Jerry, Curtis Davenport Theatre Performance: George, Joshua IT BTec: Sam A Ronald Guthrie Bedford History: Ronan Spanish: George EPQ (Artefact): Anirudh Applied Psychology: Monty Sports Science - Cambridge Technical: Jack

Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes Economics: Jerry Music: Curtis Politics: Adam House Editors: Ronan and Max The Cheltonian 2025-26

Newick House

House Events Newick House has mixed cherished tradition with exciting new events for the whole House. As always, the first weekend of the year the entire House got together for the paintball trip which was loved by all. Housemaster Mr Naylor made the bold decision this year to break ancient Newick tradition and held the annual House Christmas Dinner at the Tivoli as opposed to in-House. We are glad to report, however, that this gamble paid off massively. The evening was a great success enjoyed by all year groups complemented by humorous and meaningful speeches from the big three, Caspar, Will and Archie.

Charity Newick chose Maggie’s cancer support as their House charity due to its local roots and House connections. The Upper Sixth ran a ‘Newickeroo’ pizza delivery evening where pizzas were ordered and delivered all around College and cooked in the Newick pizza oven. The true charity highlight, however, was the morning after where the whole House took part in a 17.5 KM sponsored run up and down Leckhampton Hill to symbolise the 17,500 people who had lost their lives to cancer in Gloucestershire the previous year. The efforts from all the boys were monumental but a special mention should go to Tom, Otto, Cecil, Caspar and Johnnie who, with Mr Naylor, extended their run to a half marathon.

Academic For another year we have worked hard at our studies alongside one another, especially the Upper Sixth and Fifth Form who took A Levels and GCSEs. The Newick House Upper College Society University Challenge team, Oscar, Henry and Hendrie, receive extra mention for their victorious performance, beating out all other Houses in the quiz. Caspar, Paddy and Hendrie were awarded Academic Full Colours.

Sport Newick has had numerous sporting achievements. Firstly, to kick off House Pots in the Autumn Term the boys in blue and black won senior rugby House Pots. In senior rowing we managed to fight and get a respectable third place. It was a 100

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decent year for Lower College, but sadly no wins although they managed to get on the podium for rugby and hockey. In Spring Term Aarav and Henry were able to take the House to second place in rackets House Pots. This year our House was home to two exchange students from South Africa. Ty and Nathan were amazing additions to the 1st XV and represented Newick in every game they played. We were proud that Dan represented the rugby 1st XV, alongside Tolly and Johnnie, for St Joseph’s and in the charity match at Kingsholm, with Archie’s loyal support from the touchline while rehabbing his knee. Johnnie also captained the football XI, as well as playing for the cricket 1st XI.

Drama and Music Sadly, we were unable to capture the win in House Singing this year. Our song ‘Love Me Again’ by John Newman was sung with immense power by the Newick boys and led by Hendrie. We managed top three. Hendrie and his band were able to win Battle of the Bands with their main song of ‘Gangnam style’. Several of our boys have represented the jazz side of life with Caspar, Hendrie and Freddie performing at the Cheltenham Jazz festival. We have seen the House express themselves in the drama studio with Arthur performing in multiple showcases.

Farewells and Thank Yous The end of another year signals the end for our current Upper Sixth in Newick House. They will be sorely missed as their five years of dedication, passion and good humour for the House has left an unmissable mark. The entire year group have remodelled what it means to be a boy in Newick, but our Head of House Caspar deserves special recognition for the commitment he has shown purposefully organising House events seeing them to their completion. Our deputies, Archie and Will have worked tirelessly alongside Caspar to keep the House in check and ticking over. None of this, however, would be possible without the extreme patience of Mr Naylor, who in his second year as Housemaster, has firmly found his feet and has taken up his leadership caring for and attending to each and every one of the boys. Resident Tutors, Mr Ballantyne and Mr Armstrong, who understood the ethos from his start in September, should also be greatly thanked for bringing their watchful eyes and entertaining conversation well into the evenings when many would want to be in bed. Finally, the greatest debt of gratitude of the House is owed to our two Matrons Mrs West and Mrs Boon. They are constantly running around House, cooking and providing plenty of food for the ever-hungry boys alongside the million other things they manage to juggle and stay on top of, completing it all to the highest standard while supporting all of the boys all of the time.

Speech Day Prizes Lower College

Attainment: Harry, Rocky, Tom

Upper College Endeavour: Freddie, Dan Marcan Prize for Music: Hendrie Abbott Mathematics: Enoch Physics: Paddy Computer Science: Lewys IT - Cambridge Technical: Will

Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes Business: Caspar

Shield Winners!

We are proud to say that our Upper College won The Marsden Shield for boys’ House academic achievement. House Editors: Paddy and Jack The Cheltonian 2025-26

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The Queen’s House

House Events Queen’s has worked together continuously to succeed in a multitude of aspects of school life, working hard, having fun, while managing individual commitments. We started with a fantastic ‘Call My Wine Bluff’ evening filled with tricky trivia questions and surprisingly complex music rounds that required intense teamwork and knowledge retrieval from both the girls and their parents. We also love our Halloween party, in-House lunches, werewolf games and family competitions. Christmas brought on the most excitement due to many obvious factors, but for Queen’s, a key moment was the black-tie House Dinner hosted at the Cheltenham Racecourse with Christowe. The night was made special not only by the individuals who attended, but also by the outstanding DJ. As a post mock exam treat, the Upper Sixth took part in a challenge with their own version of the TV show ‘Traitors’ derived and crafted by Mme Bates. We finished the year with a memorable Speech Day and our beloved Grandparents’ Cream Tea, which are true highlights in the House calendars.

Charity We have contributed towards a number of charities. We stayed loyal to the Secret Garden Hub which supports those living with Alzheimer’s, dementia or recovering from strokes and other head injuries. We thoroughly enjoy our monthly visits to the care centre and have proudly raised a large sum of money for them through our joint charity Race Night with Christowe, Westal and Ashmead. We decided to raise money for Leukaemia and Teenage Cancer Trust in memory of Milly’s brother during our annual Performance evening when all the girls take to the stage for a talent show in front of parents. This night was equally emotional and fun, beautifully hosted by Sophia G and Aoife, with year group dances, singing solos and audience challenges which got everyone on their feet and having a good time. We held our annual Tennis and Rounders Tournament, for Sue Ryder hospice which provides end of life care and grief support services. Our congratulations go to Sophia McC and her mum, who went home with the tennis tournament trophy. Meanwhile Lucy’s mum ran the London marathon (26.2 miles) then added an extra leg (100 miles) to run back from London to Cheltenham - what a legend! 102

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Academic The Queen’s girls continue to work extremely hard in the world of academics. Ten Queen’s girls received their Academic Half Colours this year, on top of Full Colours proudly received by Aoife, Tilly, Emma and Isabella. The wide range of societies offered by College have been well attended by many with Abbey, Sophie and Emily presenting at Lower College Society, Lily presiding the UC society, Hannah notably presenting at Upper College Society, Morley Society and MFL Society, as well as Maddie and Allegra jointly presenting at Bingen Society. Additionally, Isabella has created the Economics and Global Affairs Society. However, academic participation does not end here as many of the Queen’s girls have spoken in Chapel about important values: Maddie on co-curricular pastimes, Florence on courage, Hannah on teamwork, Darcey on community and finally Sophia on determination.

Sport The girls have performed incredibly in all their sporting commitments. We won both the junior and senior hockey House Pots. Our impressive streak continued with winning swimming House Pots with Evie H, Evie W and Millie all breaking swimming records! It was amazing to see 12 girls representing the top two senior netball teams including our head of House Tilly captaining the 1st VII. We held our place in other sports such as coming third in House Pots football. Darcey, Lottie and Charlotte L had great riding successes throughout the term and Tilly brought home the Rackets Professionals’ Association (RPA) Cup after winning the singles racket tournament in London. We also won the junior and senior tennis House Pots and we then took home the Junior Girls’ Trophy at Sports Day. We’re on fire!

Drama and Music In the Scholars’ Play, The Unexpected Guest, we enjoyed the thrilling whodunnit involving Aoife, Lily and Eliza. Next came the performance of a contemporary version of the Chekov play, The Seagull. This Russian drama was captivating to watch our very own Emma and Eliza in lead roles. Younger years have also worked hard in the Drama Department with many taking part in The Shakespeare Trail which involved outdoor performances around College. In the Music Department Erin, Katie and Abbey enjoyed performing in the Choir and we are incredibly proud of Sophia who has got a place at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and will be heading there this coming year! After winning last year, we were delighted to place second in House Singing with our fun rendition of ‘Dear Future Husband’.

Farewells and Thank Yous We wish all the best to Ms Davies who goes on maternity leave. We are sad to say goodbye to the amazing Mrs Smith and Mrs Saunders, but we wish them both the absolute best in their next chapters. We wish all the Upper Sixth the best of luck on their future journeys and to the Fifth Form whom we cannot wait to see in their Sixth Form uniform next year.

Speech Day Prizes Lower College

Endeavour: Abbey, Olivia L-O, Olivia D, Olivia M Wilson Diploma (Platinum Award): Abbey

Upper College

Endeavour: Livvie Davenport Drama Award: Aoife Dagley Morris Prize (Chapel Music): Sophia G Davenport Theatre Performance: Eliza Art: Sophia M Ronald Guthrie Bedford Economics: Isabella Hornsby French: Emma K Theatre Studies: Emma C Sports Science: Tilly

Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes

Design and Technology: Lorien French: Hannah Psychology: Josie

Shield Winners!

We are proud to say that our Upper College also won The Lladarin Shield for girls’ House academic achievement House Editors: Eliza and Isabella The Cheltonian 2025-26

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Southwood

House Events Southwood has enjoyed another exciting and successful year, with a myriad of events taking place. The year kicked off with the Band of Brothers quiz and games night, an exhilarating night of pizza, frozen t-shirts and scholarship. This was followed by the marquee event that is House Singing, where Southwood’s rendition of ‘Shut Up and Dance’ was certainly an experience. Then, to round out the Autumn Term, the whole House travelled to the Longhorn Steakhouse, where all year groups came together to celebrate a great term with delicious food and delightful speeches. Southwood’s Band of Brothers Football League, played under floodlights and a proper pitch in the garden, was also well attended and hotly disputed.

Charity Leading up to Christmas, the House completed the Twelve Days of Chri-S’wood where many boys made meaningful donations of non-perishable goods, which were received at the Cheltenham Food Bank. Southwood, alongside Chandos and Leconfield, later turned Big C into a mini-Monte Carlo, to host the Charity Casino Night. Professional-style blackjack, roulette and Texas hold’em made for a glamorous night of high-stakes fun. It raised great funds for a great cause, the Cheltenham Food Bank, thanks to the generosity of parents and family and their prize donations and contributions. It was a wonderful night, one to remember.

Academic Southwood enjoyed an academically successful year with members of both Lower and Upper College frequently presenting in Upper College Society, Morley Society and Bingen Society among others. Various Upper College boys gave engaging speeches regarding driving test reforms and the removal of the jury from small court cases during the Parliamentary Debate held in Chapel. Southwood Upper Sixth received exciting offers at prestigious institutions including the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics, Exeter and Brunel, to name just a few. Various academic awards have been won by Southwood boys, including a record number of Academic Half Colours by Lower College, Academic Full Colours being awarded to Mills, and a Head’s Distinction to Sebby. 104

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Sport It has been an incredibly eventful year for the House on the sporting front, with the boys receiving some wonderful recognition for their consistency and commitment to various sports. It began with a second-place finish in golf House Pots which took place at Cleeve Hill Golf Club. In swimming, the boys continue to dominate the field and managed to clinch the win in both the junior and senior categories for another resounding House Pots triumph. Victory was also Southwood’s in football House Pots where the boys secured a nail-biting win. First team representation across all core sports continues to be strong. Harry, Rhodri and Troy were core players for the 1st XV rugby, and boys contributed strongly to an overall fruitful season for College particularly during the Sevens season, where the U16s and U18s had successful runs. In hockey Archie and Theo continued their unwavering commitment to the 1st XI, with Theo also being awarded hockey Half Colours. They are joined in the team by Ted. Finally, Archie continues his faithful service as wicketkeeper for the 1st XI cricket. Rackets has also been a strong point with Ben, Will, Ollie, Doug and George playing at the prestigious National Schools Rackets Championship held at The Queen’s Club in London. We were delighted to bring home the Senior Boys’ Trophy at Sports Day.

Drama, Music, DofE, Miscellany The House has been greatly involved this year in the worlds of drama and music. Notable contributors from Upper College are Ted and Henry who have both been stalwarts of College Drama participating in both the Scholars’ Play, The Unexpected Guest, as well as The Seagull, this year’s Upper College play. The band Amped also came second in Battle of the Bands, with Ollie and Henry putting on an engaging show. Various members of the House have also been involved in Big Band and had the pleasure of playing at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Southwood was also represented in the LAMDA showcase. Congratulations go to all the Southwood boys who have collected Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards for DofE this year - an immense effort and an important part of Southwood’s ‘get stuck in’ culture. This year has also seen a record number of Peer Mentors in House - nine in total - and underlines just how much value we, as a House, put upon supporting each other.

Farewell and Thank Yous Along with the joy of all the achievements Southwood boys have to be proud of this year, at the end of the Autumn Term we had to say goodbye to our two amazing Matrons, Cathie and Jules. They have both been standout figures in Southwood throughout countless boys’ school careers. We wish them the very best on their upcoming adventures. Our thanks, as ever, go to our Housemaster Mr Orchard, Tutor Mr Williams and the whole team for continuing to lead Southwood so tactfully, as well as the outgoing Upper Sixth and Head of House, Gabe for their continued commitment to the House.

Speech Day Prizes Lower College

Attainment: James, Sebby, Reuben, Max H Endeavour: Henry, Sebastian, Jack Wilson Diploma (Platinum Award): Reuben Elmslie Theatre Performance: Jayke Elmslie Drama: Oliver

Upper College

Endeavour: Ted Davenport Theatre Performance: Henry Physical Geography (John Morse): Henry Ian Marsden Chemistry: Charles History of Art: Raif Lionel Wells Physics: Ollie Macroeconomics Prize: Craig

Shield Winners!

We are proud to say that our Lower College also won The Hart Shield for boys’ House academic achievement House Editors: Cameron and Mills The Cheltonian 2025-26

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Westal

House Events The year began with us welcoming the new pupils to Westal. In Westal we focus on our community and had our annual Huddle Olympics. The aim is to bring the House together and then continue during the year with Tuesday challenges. We took home the House Singing cup with our interpretation of ‘Roar’ by Katie Perry conducted by Matilda M. We had great fun dancing in grass skirts and animal headbands to recreate the jungle. The Lower College Social Westival was a huge hit with face painting and churros! Our Christmas Dinner at Brasserie Blanc was a time for the whole House to dress up and get together and reflect on our friendships. We got to exchange secret Santa presents which once again were bought from charity shops only.

Charity Across the course of the year, Westal has diverged into a range of charity activities. A key highlight being our Wilson Walk, combining the House of Westal together to embark on a journey of 19.34km, stopping and appreciating the OC Edward Wilson’s (Day Boy, 1891) monuments. We walked alongside Leconfield, with determination advancing up and across Leckhampton Hill. Moreover, Westal girls have been involved in numerous charity events over the year, some being the entertaining whole school Tough Mudder and the Night at the Races. We are so proud of these charitable efforts.

Academic As always, the year has been full of amazing academic achievements from the girls. Fliss and Lottie received their Academic Full Colours while Kimi, Annabel, Darcy, Nyambura, Claudia, Matilda M, Hermione, Wangari, Moiya, Joely, Ava and Sophie C were all awarded Half Colours. Well done to the girls who competed in the Chemistry Olympiad. We also congratulate the girls who received subject ties during the year.

Sport Throughout the year, Westal has been recognised strongly for their sport commitments, through House activities and on the 106

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pitches. In netball, we would like to congratulate Eme, Tilda and Matilda M for receiving Full Colours. Enormous shouts go to them and Moiya for representing Westal in the annual Charity Netball Match against Malvern. Poppy received her Full Colours for rackets and tennis, and Half Colours for hockey, while Emily and Courtney were presented with their football Half Colours. Congratulations go too to Lucia and Florence for participating in The Queen’s Club rackets tournament, and praise goes to Poppy for playing in the U18 Queen’s rackets finals for both singles and doubles. Maddie made outstanding efforts again playing for Women’s Gloucestershire County Cricket. Lastly, we would like to applaud Westal’s combined efforts in hockey, netball, swimming and football House Pots, combining those from all year groups. We are very proud of you all!

Drama, Music and DofE Westal girls have taken part in various drama performances this year. The Upper College play The Seagull had multiple girls involved. The Scholar’s Play The Unexpected Guest was performed at the Cheltenham Playhouse, where Maisy performed beautifully. Maisy’s commitment to the Drama Department over her career at College has led to her earning a coveted Drama Blazer. Additionally, Wangari and Claudia have been awarded their Half Colours. Well done to Florence who completed her LAMDA grade 6 and to Amelia who performed in the LAMDA showcase. The musicians in Westal have been busy this year with rehearsal, performances and competitions. This year we had 10 girls in Choir who sing beautifully in Chapel on Sundays while Emily was awarded her Music Full Colours. We are proud of the girls who competed in the College Singing Competition this year with Maisy winning the pop category. Well done to the girls who have taken part in music exams and congratulations to Wangari, Nyambura and Maisy who passed grade 7 singing with a Distinction. The well-earned achievement of Gold DofE was awarded to Courtney, Scarlet, Eme and Emily. Five girls completed Silver and four girls their Bronze Award. Well done!

Farewells and Thank Yous Unfortunately, as the school year comes to an end, it’s time to say goodbye to our wonderful Upper Sixth and we would like to bid a fond farewell to our dedicated Houseparents Mr and Mrs Lang, and their wonderful sons Oscar and Leo. We wish them the best in their future plans. Thank you for all your efforts over the past amazing eight years, creating a welcoming Westal family. Additionally, we would like to applaud our amazing Head of House Matilda M for her many achievements this year, supported constantly by her deputies Scarlet and Esme. Further, we would like to congratulate Maisy in her role as Head Girl of College, acting as a wonderful representative for Westal. We would also like to applaud Miss Norval and Mr Avery’s combined efforts of enthusiasm towards the House and would like to commemorate Mrs Mathews and Mrs Wright’s thoughtful care as our wonderful Matrons.

Speech Day Prizes Lower College

Attainment: Zara Endeavour: Kiera, Amelia Wilson Diploma (Platinum Award): Florence Elmslie Theatre Performance: Claudia Hannam Clark Orchestra: Claudia

Upper College:

Jackson-Matthews Chapel Prize: Wangari, Courtney Marcan Prize for Music: Emily, Maisy Music: Wangari EPQ: Ava Ronald Marsden Classics: Fliss Allen Divinity: Esme Sir Frederick Page Fellowship of Engineering: Kisu

Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes Geography: Emily

Shield Winners!

We are proud to say that our Lower College also won The Robertson Shield for girls’ House academic achievement House Editors: Ava and Charlotte The Cheltonian 2025-26

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Valete – Our Fond Farewells Nicola Huggett 22nd Head of Cheltenham College

qualities do not arise by accident; they reflect a culture that has been consistently reinforced. Of course, the years of Nicky’s leadership have not been without their challenges. Most notably, her tenure encompassed the Covid pandemic - an extraordinary period for schools everywhere. When the first lockdown was announced in March 2020, there was genuine uncertainty about how, when, and even whether schools like Cheltenham might return to anything resembling normal operation. During that potentially existential threat, Nicky’s leadership was calm, determined and tireless. Online learning was established quickly, communication across the College community remained strong, and the school emerged from that period with its cohesion and sense of purpose very much intact.

One of my first meetings with Nicky Huggett took place in Exeter part-way through the selection process on a warm Saturday lunchtime in July 2018. I arrived early - as is my habit - and, not being on driving duties, ordered a bottle of chilled rosé while I waited. When Nicky arrived, I offered her a glass. She politely declined. Eventually I poured two anyway. Mine was duly drunk. Nicky took a single sip and left the rest untouched. I can safely say it remains the only time in my life that I have failed to finish a bottle of rosé. What mattered far more than the fate of the wine, however, was the conversation that followed. Over the next couple of hours, it became clear that we might well have found Cheltenham’s next Head. The formal process continued, of course, and following final interviews with the full Council we were delighted to appoint Nicky as the 22nd Head of Cheltenham College. With the clarity that hindsight brings, it is evident that Council made an excellent choice. Almost eight years on, we should not underestimate how much has been achieved during Nicky’s time at the helm. Cheltenham today is a confident and thriving school, with strong pupil numbers, excellent academic outcomes and a widened range of co-curricular opportunities. The balance between boys and girls has moved steadily towards parity, underlining College’s identity as a fully coeducational community. Pastoral care - always central to Cheltenham’s ethos - has remained a major priority. Nicky has taken particular care to ensure that the House system continues to provide the close support and sense of belonging pupils need to flourish. Visitors frequently comment on the confidence, good manners and general demeanour of Cheltonians. Those 110

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Those who have worked most closely with Nicky will know the remarkable energy and commitment she brings to the role. I once came across a slightly tongue-in-cheek American classification of people ranging from A1 down to C3. The A1 individual is the one at the station before dawn, fully engaged and driven throughout the day. The C3 arrives somewhat later and proceeds at an altogether gentler pace. Nicky, I can report, is emphatically an A1. The role of Head demands extraordinary stamina, and she has approached it not only with boundless energy, but with determination, diligence and an unwavering commitment to the young people entrusted to our care. Equally important has been her ability to build and support a strong team around her. Nicky has always recognised the talents of colleagues across College and has been generous in empowering others to lead. The result has been a cohesive staff body working together with clarity and a shared sense of purpose. When I became President of Council, someone offered me a simple piece of advice: “the single most important task for a governing body is appointing the right Head”. Looking back over the past eight years, this governing body - the College Council - was fortunate indeed when it found Nicky Huggett. As Nicky and Spencer now embark on an exciting new chapter in Dubai, the Cheltenham community offers its warmest thanks for all that she has brought to College. Pupils and their families, staff and this governing body will miss her greatly, but we do so with deep gratitude for her leadership and with confidence that the foundations she has so ably strengthened will serve Cheltenham well for many years to come. Godspeed, Nicky - and thank you. Bill Straker-Nesbit

Anna Cutts Anna arrived at College as a Drama and English teacher more than two decades ago. She has always had a flair for the dramatic and has helped ensure that drama maintains an incredibly important role in the co-curricular offer at College. She has long been a promoter of encouraging drama for all, and some of her fondest memories are helping direct various House plays during her time as Ashmead Housemistress. During her time in Ashmead, she fiercely promoted the interests of her girls and was instrumental in forging the pathway to create the genuinely co-educational school that we have today. While running the House, her leadership credentials were very evident and she became one of the first Senior Housemistresses with responsibility across all Houses, introducing many important initiatives that still have an impact today. After 10 very happy and successful years running Ashmead, she was released from her sentence for good behaviour and moved to become Assistant Head and then Deputy Head Pastoral in quick succession. In this whole school role Anna consistently demonstrated her high-level of emotional intelligence and deep commitment to ensuring the highest standards of pastoral care across the school. Throughout her time, she has demonstrated amazing resilience and acted as an incredibly calm and reassuring presence for the pastoral staff working under her direction. In the most recent years, she has taken on the more operational and strategic role of Senior Deputy Head. Outgoing Head Nicky Huggett is extremely appreciative for the support Anna gave her during her tenure. Nicky writes: ‘Anna has been a fantastic leader, colleague and friend over the last eight years. The connecting door between our offices has been a huge source of support for me as, together, we have faced the many interesting challenges that inevitably come with running a large and successful boarding school. Anna’s energy, resilience and dynamism are matched by her fantastic sense of humour, comic timing and positivity. Anna is fantastically calm in a crisis, and she has the ability to establish whether she is being told the truth at 20 paces! College and I will miss Anna very much when she starts this well-deserved new chapter to her life.’ Our new Head Chris Townsend is incredibly grateful for Anna’s helping his smooth arrival and in supporting the ISI inspection in only his second week of the job. As Anna embarks on a new and exciting chapter of her life, we hope she will be no stranger to College. When

she does return, we are sure she will do so with a far more relaxed demeanour, no longer worrying so much about the behaviour of pupils and whether she will once again have to frogmarch sixth formers wearing Pacman outfits to her office with the whole school amusingly looking on. Nicky Huggett and James Hayden

Adam Dunning Adam joined College as Senior Chaplain in 2011, and he has made a difference to generations of Cheltonians over the last 15 years. He has a great sense of occasion and brings gravitas and humanity to every Chapel service he conducts. He has brought Christianity to life for us all with his brilliant sermons, and I have always been amazed that in eight years, I have never heard the same one twice. However, Adam’s role at College has been far more wide-ranging too. He is a gifted teacher and tutor. As Director of Partnerships, he almost single-handedly drove forward the Cheltenham Education Partnership project. Now, as Chair of Trustees of the newly formed charity that benefits thousands of young people across the twelve schools in Cheltenham, he has much to be proud of. He has challenged us to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for good causes and enabled Cheltonians to volunteer, far and wide. Yet alongside these big projects, he is also always there to put an arm around the shoulder of a troubled individual, to be a listening ear and a pastoral support to staff and pupils through good times and bad. The Reverend John Horan, a great friend of College, former President of Council (2007 to 2017) pays his own personal tribute to Adam. “Ministering in the Chapel setting to professional adults and young people some of whom have some faith and others none, in a multiethnic community, comprising many nationalities, races, ages, backgrounds, skills and abilities, is not straight forward and requires thought, prayer, sensitivity and an understanding of human nature. Adam has an innate ability to communicate with and be listened to even by the most sceptical. His approach is clearly one of thought and genuine concern and interest. In the same way he has met the demands of offering pastoral care across the whole College community, and it has been a privilege to work alongside him and count him as a friend.” It has been a genuine pleasure to know and work alongside Adam, and the whole College community, past and present, wishes Adam and Heather every happiness as they move fulltime to their beloved Cornwall. Adam has been appointed to the prestigious roles of Rector of the Benefice of Falmouth and Strategic Rural Dean for the Carnmarth South Deanery. College and The Prep will miss him very much. Nicky Huggett The Cheltonian 2025-26

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Noleen Farmer We have been fortunate to have had a second chance to work alongside Noleen, as she returned to College to work within the Art Department before rejoining the Design & Technology Department, while also contributing to Design & Technology in The Prep. A highly valued and dedicated member of staff, she has always brought warmth, enthusiasm, and professionalism to every aspect of College life. Throughout her time at College, Noleen has consistently fostered an excellent work ethic within her classes, encouraging pupils to strive for their very best and to take genuine pride in their achievements. Her calm encouragement, patience, and high expectations have inspired pupils to develop impressive levels of skill, creativity, accuracy, and attention to detail in all aspects of their work. Alongside her teaching commitments, Noleen was also a dedicated Tutor in Ashmead, where she offered constant care, encouragement and support to the pupils in her charge. Her kindness, dedication, and approachable nature made her a trusted and respected presence within the House community. Noleen’s commitment to her pupils and colleagues alike has made a lasting impact across the Departments in which she has worked, and her contribution to the creative and pastoral life of College has been greatly appreciated by all who have had the pleasure of working alongside her. We hope she will relish the further opportunities she will get to spend with her adored dog Prim, on country walks and adventures. Sarah Tradgett

Elena Garcia-Martin Elena arrived at College in 2012 with a blaze of energy and enthusiasm that quickly defined the willing, can-do approach we have all come to rely upon. As Senior Chemistry Technician, she managed a constant stream of both routine and innovative practical work, all while tolerating the intrepid adventures of our Chemistry teachers attempting demonstrations rarely performed, anywhere, let alone in schools. When I first met Elena in 2016, I was bowled over by her kindness, generosity, and unwavering support, especially, as a new teacher finding their feet in a new school. Technicians are the unspoken heroes of a science department; without them, we would quite simply be on our knees. Elena is truly one in a million. Elena leaves a profound and lasting legacy. In 2016, we began the Chemistry Spectacular project, and since then have 112

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delivered over 75 lectures both at College and in schools across the UK reaching nearly 10,000 pupils. Her willingness to embrace bold ideas and her determination to see them through made all the difference. So many of those moments that inspired pupils so deeply were only possible because of her technical expertise and her passion for bringing Chemistry vividly to life. Her contribution has been extraordinary: from the daily running of the Chemistry prep room to the orchestration of ambitious demonstrations, from A Level preparation to guiding the Department through its refurbishment. She also built a rare and meaningful connection with pupils that enriched both their learning and their experience of school. College’s loss is undoubtedly Alleyn’s School’s gain, and we can only hope that the London scene proves as vibrant, stimulating, and rewarding as College’s Chemistry Department. Elena will be deeply missed, fondly remembered, and impossible to replace. Good luck, Elena, and viaje seguro – we hope to see you at The Royal Institution soon! James Copeland-Jordan and John Jones

Jed Greenhouse At the end of Spring Term we said “au revoir” to our Director of Rowing Jed Greenhouse. Jed spent the early part of his rowing career racing for clubs at Hereford and Worcester, where he started to establish his reputation as a very competitive racer. The knowledge and contacts he developed during this time served him well over the years and there are few people in the rowing world he does not know. If you ever walk around with him at a big rowing event it can take a long time to get anywhere, as every other person wants to stop and chat or just say “hello”. In 2015 Jed joined College from Wycliffe College. As well as coaching, Jed’s main role was as boatman, responsible for the maintenance and repair of our fleet of boats. Since then, we have enjoyed one of the best organised and looked after boathouses anywhere in the country. He has overseen the rebuilding of the Boat Club and slowly increased the number of rowers setting us on an upward trajectory. One of his legacy projects is the development of rowing at The Prep giving pupils the chance to learn the enjoyment of rowing before starting competitive rowing at College. Thankfully we are not losing Jed completely. He will remain a part of the College Boat Club by joining our team of part time coaches. We wish him all the best for the future. Mark Trotman

Stuart Hannah

Spencer Huggett

Stuart joined us eight years ago as a muchvalued member of the Student Support Team, bringing years of experience as an NHS Specialist Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist. His particular interest in the mental health, and search for identity, of our male pupils led to some very successful initiatives. The introduction of reflective groups in the Houses was challenging and thought provoking for the boys and staff alike. He also worked with House staff and our assistant Chaplain, Dr Kerry Samuel, to provide the same reflective space for Matrons. Stuart received a rigorous and orthodox psychotherapeutic training but was always ready to examine new approaches and open to current psychological thinking. He has a quiet thoughtful style which offered a safe space to examine many difficult situations when listening to College pupils whether on a walk or playing table tennis, and he has a great ability to perceive and understand the feelings of The Prep children through LEGO and paper plane making. Stuart was always calm, reassuring and steady in a crisis, with the ability to provide chocolate at just the right time; he will be hugely missed. His listening ear and wisdom have helped many young people and provided thoughtful support to staff puzzling over the difficulties of the pupil’s lives as well as those of the adults. We wish him well back in the NHS in a challenging CAMHS clinic (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) where his skills and team participation will be warmly received. Rachel Melville-Thomas

Spencer Huggett arrived at College in 2018 alongside his wife, Nicky Huggett, and quickly became a familiar and much-valued part of College life. Whether supporting from the sidelines at matches or attending countless events across the community, Spencer’s warmth, enthusiasm and presence were always appreciated. In early 2023, he took on the role of College Photographer, a position he held with exceptional talent until April 2026. Over more than three years, Spencer captured the spirit of College through thousands of remarkable images, from our youngest pupils in Nursery to alumni at Cheltonian Society events. His photographs featured in The Prep School Yearbook, The Cheltonian, across social media, on the website and on walls throughout College and The Prep - no event was too small for Spencer! His work leaves a lasting legacy, and we miss both his creativity and his cheerful “yoohoo” echoing around campus. Tessa Gingell

Holly Hyams Holly joined College in September 2024 to cover a colleague’s long-term absence. She quickly established herself as a highly popular member of the Maths Team. Her natural energy and unbounded enthusiasm resulted in benefiting numerous Cheltonians through her dedicated teaching. Known as the ‘calculator queen’ of the Department, she was rarely seen without her beloved CG50 graphing calculator. She cared deeply for all the

pupils in her charge and will be missed by staff and pupils alike. Beyond academic responsibilities, Holly shared her passion for yoga with the pupils. In her spare time, she regularly competed in rigorous Ironman races and played competitive rugby. Small in stature but big-hearted, Holly leaves a lasting impression as a positive, kind, and considerate educator who truly gave her all. We wish her the very best of luck for the next chapter in her life. Brendan Enright

Jordan Kontarines Jordan arrived at College in September 2023. His imposing physical stature and quirky humour made a colossal impression on both staff and pupils. A talented sportsman in his own right, Jordan led the Sports Science Department with both skill and herculean energy. A cross between Ajax and David Brent, Jordan could be often seen striding around the campus dropping his latest Dad jokes on anyone who would listen, he certainly had the Midas touch when it came to comedy. He has a love of the absurd and would share this with anyone. At his first College staff social function, Nikki, Jordan’s wife came up to me towards the end and enquired - “Has he been weird?”; I had to tell the truth, “Yes!”. Jordan was a popular Tutor in Ashmead, famously game for appearing in many of the girls’ TikToks. Jordan leaves us for a job in Financial Services; the Common Room will be a duller place for his absence. We wish Jordan, Nikki and their two lovely daughters, Sienna and Isabella, all the best for their next odyssey. Brendan Enright

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Peter Lelliott

Gareth McBride

Peter is a real artist, someone honest and vulnerable, concerned with being true to his experiences instead of using them to enhance his status. One of my greatest pleasures was talking with Peter in the Dining Hall. Outrageous, cynical, but always caring, he encouraged others to be honest with him, and I found him to be a trustworthy friend.

Gareth has been a resident in College Lawn, alongside Sian McBride for eight years. Before this he lived in Ashmead with his family and was a duty Tutor in Christowe. Gareth has been integral to supporting House activities and our boarding community. He is well respected by the girls and will be remembered for his Irish wit, wearer of shorts, even in minus temperatures and for his awesome beard! Gareth has been enormously supportive of the Drama Department over the years, and his backstage support has not gone unnoticed by pupils and staff. We wish Gareth well with his continued work as a Humanities teacher at a school in Somerset.

Peter was born in Kenya in 1961. He studied at the Royal College of Art, London, securing an MA, before completing his postgraduate fellowship at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam. He focused on figurative painting and sculpture and exhibited widely, including at the prestigious De Praktijk gallery in Amsterdam. We were lucky to have Peter join College in 2007; he went on to be our Artist-in-Residence, inspiring pupils to learn the multi-layered and subtle artistic techniques that he employs. Always keen to learn, he completed an MA in animation with the UWE Bristol while at College. But what I remember most about Peter is the care he took with each pupil’s progress. I can remember one of my own tutees, who was a lovely person but lacked focus. Peter doggedly supported her, giving her the encouragement, scaffolding and one-to-one support necessary for her eventual success. I know that Peter played a significant role in the Art Department’s exceptional results. We wish him well! Adrian Samuel

Sioned Llewellyn Sioned joined the Physics Department at College in September 2024. Despite being in the early stages of her teaching career, she has consistently delivered well planned and engaging lessons to her classes. The pupils in her classroom have often commented how much they enjoy having Sioned as their teacher as they recognise the amount of time and effort that has gone into planning each part of every lesson. Within the Department, she has helped out with the Third Form curriculum and she has run the Lower College support clinic. In the wider school, Sioned has shown great care for the pupils in both her tutor group and in Westal House. She has also coached a school netball team and helped out with cross country and tennis. With her impressive subject knowledge and outstanding teaching, she will be greatly missed, and we wish her the best of luck with her future endeavours. Matthew Cole

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Caroline Kirby

Natalie McCallum With an exciting new chapter ahead for her and her family in Perth, Australia, the English Department is very sorry to say goodbye to Natalie McCallum. Since joining in 2022, Nat has contributed to College life in countless ways, from leading Monday baking activities to supervising Duke of Edinburgh’s Award on Wednesdays. Central to her work, however, has been her tireless dedication to the English Department. Her pupils consistently speak of her “warm character” and “bubbly” personality, but what truly defines Nat’s teaching is her commitment to inclusivity. Every pupil, regardless of ability, feels respected, encouraged, and seen. In her classroom, all questions are welcomed and every voice matters. As a colleague, I have been spoiled by Nat’s professionalism, organisation, and determination to achieve the very best for her pupils. In Leconfield Nat has brought energy, care, and genuine joy. Living by the mantra “every boy, every night,” she has been a truly dedicated Tutor, and her tutees have been fortunate to have her guidance and support. Nat, you will be deeply missed not only as a colleague, but as a wonderful friend. We wish you and your family every happiness for your new adventure, and hope that Australia – and your new school – know just how lucky they are to have you. Mary Henocq

Jo Millar

Jenny O’Bryan

When Jo came to College it was a great day. Appointed as Head of Art in 2016, she was tasked to strengthen 3D in the subject and she immediately had a huge impact on the proficiency of both A Level and GCSE, broadening the subject and making it more accessible to alternative styles of learning and making.

It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to Jenny after 16 years of dedicated service to College. A phenomenal teacher, Jenny has always gone above and beyond for her pupils, generously giving her time before and after school, during lunchtimes and around sporting commitments to support those preparing for GCSE and A Level exams. She is often the first to arrive and the last to leave in the evening. Her warmth, encouragement and unwavering commitment to pupil success have left a lasting impression on countless young people who have been lucky enough to have been taught by her.

Her educational philosophy meant she immediately gained pupils’ trust with her charming and personalised focus, always supporting each student with her rare and enviable knack of intuitively knowing how to get the best creative progress from each. She allowed pupils’ individuality to shine unapologetically, and with celebration. What I remember and admired so much was how she provided every student with bespoke conditions, enabling them to flourish, to engage with their learning. Jo’s warmth is clearly reflected back from pupils who appreciated her willingness to empower their voice and personal confidence. Pupils gained places in their chosen degrees thanks to the self-possession and selfawareness Jo nurtured. Her care for pupils continues beyond the classroom and her enjoyment when hearing from them as they continue their creative journeys is genuine knowing their continued growth could be great. She led the Department for 10 years of very nearly 100% A*-B at A Level in two subjects: Fine Art and Sculpture. I wish her well on her own creative path. Peter Lelliot

Jenny is an inspiring Biology teacher working hard to bring complex concepts to life with her inventive models and creative approach to practical work. It has been a privilege to witness her classroom practice over recent years, and many new members of staff have been taken under her wing and developed as classroom practitioners. Jenny’s commitment to developing the whole person has been in evidence throughout her time at College. She oversaw the opening of Westal and the building that stands today is testament to the hours that she put in to honing the design and ensuring that the House was a flagship of modern boarding. As Housemistress for five years, her tenure was marked by her high standards, her care and her humour. When she left Westal in 2018, she became Head of Lower College and subsequently ran Pupil Voice; in all of her roles she has always placed pupil wellbeing at the centre of her work. Jenny’s leadership has also seen Equestrian grow and she has

championed our Equestrian offer here at College, spending many a weekend driving back and forth to events to support our young riders. Pupils now compete successfully at prestigious events including Badminton, Hickstead and Royal Windsor. Jenny will be greatly missed by pupils and colleagues alike. Her kindness, relentless energy, no-nonsense approach and belief in the potential of every young Cheltonian, has made her a very special member of staff. We thank her sincerely for her many years of service. We wish her every happiness in Monmouth. Anna Cutts and Alexander Ballentyne

Shaun Pirttijarvi Since joining College in 2017 as Head of Academic Music, Shaun has made an exceptional contribution to the life of College, first in that role and, since 2023, as Director of Music. Over the past nine years, he has shaped a Department that is ambitious, inclusive and thriving, with more pupils involved in music-making than ever before and across an increasingly broad range of musical styles and opportunities. A consummate musician, Shaun has inspired colleagues and pupils alike through his work as a conductor, accompanist and performer. Whether directing choirs and orchestras, accompanying recitals, leading major productions or contributing to the wider musical life of College, he has consistently combined the highest standards of musicianship with warmth, humour and generosity. His memorable direction of Grease and his work during the Covid years, including the streaming of Chapel music and performances, reflected both his professionalism and remarkable organisational skill. The Cheltonian 2025-26

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Central to Shaun’s leadership has been his unwavering belief in teamwork and in placing the needs of pupils first. Colleagues speak with genuine gratitude of his support, encouragement and kindness, as well as his ability to create a welcoming and nurturing environment in which pupils of all abilities could flourish. Beyond the Music Department, Shaun has also been a valued Tutor and Assistant Housemaster in College Lawn, where his calm, fair and good-humoured approach has been greatly appreciated. Shaun leaves behind a lasting legacy of excellence, dedication and community spirit, and he will be greatly missed by colleagues and pupils alike. Stephen McQuitty

Chris Reid Chris joined us as a History and Politics teacher at the close of last century, and his love for the Crusades still accounts for the odd exceptionally weighty tome on Department shelves. He later became Head of Department, merging History and Politics, and then moved on to Head of PSHE. As Contingent Commander of the CCF, Chris initially came to us from the Honourable Artillery Company, before acting as a proud Major in The Rifles, channelling ‘Sharpe’ (they share a certain raffish charm), and enjoying many years as Master in Charge of Clays. He became Housemaster of Leconfield in 2008, leaving the House in 2017, during which time the 12-foot sub became a legendary feature of boys’ nights in. Chris next returned to teaching History and Politics, where his knowledge of the Edexcel Politics exam specification, through examining, was profound. Students found great security in this. He in addition invented novel ways to police phone use and pioneered, to sincere pupil affection, the singular art of the unofficial double period coffee break. He moved to College Office in 2022. His tenancy here, and serious role as Director of Compliance, has seen much pacing about The Quad whilst welded to a mobile phone, managing the simultaneous matrix that is the Dining Hall queue, the staff duty rota, Tier 4 visas, airport transfers, the whole College photograph, the Hadley Bar stocktake… and Speech Day Rodent Watch. Much like The Adj, Steve Clarke, before him, Chris has thrived for decades as the vital cog at the very centre of the well-oiled College machine. Chris’s love for the finer detail (arms always comfortably crossed: “Ah, I think you’ll find…”), and his regular worship at the altar of protocol, has meant that on his watch every one of us has been kept safe, on time, and legal. It has been done with heart too: certain vital DVDs (including those Blackadder episodes not yet cancelled) would never have made some Battlefields trips, were it not for Chris, who was up at the crack 116

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of dawn handing over passports from the safe and waving us all off, whilst also holding aloft the last staff bag left otherwise unnoticed in Southwood car park, just as the coach driver enthusiastically gunned the engine. Days later Chris would count us back in again, in the manner of Colonel Hal Moore: no man or woman (or perhaps more importantly, child) was left behind, Chris standing resolute in the October dark after typical late-night delays, thanks either to Calais waves, striking gilets jaunes and/or Operation Stack. And so, we finally wave him off ourselves… yet in the full expectation of seeing a familiar silhouette, possibly with bacon sandwich happily in hand, marshalling a pack of shoe-munching labradors on the touchlines, for many a College season yet to come. Jo Doidge-Harrison

Lottie Robinson It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to Lottie after four wonderful years at College. Joining initially in August as a Sports Coach, Lottie immediately proved herself to be a perfect fit for College life through her energy, commitment and wholehearted involvement in the community. From Sports Professional and Resident Tutor in Chandos to completing her PGCE and joining the Biology Department, Lottie’s journey at College has been an impressive one. From the earliest days of her teacher training, it was clear that Lottie possessed a natural gift for the classroom. Her calm, confident and engaging manner has earned enormous respect from pupils, while her radiant positivity and infectious enthusiasm have made her one of the most popular teachers in College among staff and pupils alike. Alongside her work in Biology and her exceptional pastoral contribution in Chandos, Lottie has somehow balanced the demands of elite sport, vicecaptaining Team Bath’s Next Gen Super League side whilst continuing to give her all to College. Lottie will be sorely missed by pupils and colleagues, and we thank her sincerely for all she has contributed to the College community. We wish her all the best on her new adventure in Australia. Alexander Ballentyne

Anna Saunders Anna joined College in April 2025 as a maternity cover teacher and has made a rich and stalwart contribution to the Classics Department during her four terms with us. A highly experienced and versatile practitioner, Anna has calmly and artfully turned her hand to teaching classes ranging from Third Form Classical

Civilisation to A Level Greek. Anna has also been a key player in the Department’s supra-curricular offering, organising multiple theatre trips; supporting students with Classics Society presentations and Gloucestershire Classical Reading Competition entries; taking a lead with Oxbridge-preparation sessions; and chaperoning pupils to Gloucestershire Classical Association lectures – to name but a few of her contributions. During her time here, Anna has also been a valued Queen’s House Tutor and Floreat teacher, and has run Monday afternoon baking, and debating activities. Anna has made a significant impact during her brief time at College, and the generosity with which she has given of her time and expertise to pupils and colleagues alike is testament to both her selfless nature and her sincere

commitment to education. Anna’s wisdom, wit and good nature will be sorely missed, and we wish her all the very best as she assumes her new role at Bromsgrove School. Elizabeth Rawkins

Alexandra Smith Alex joined College seven years ago from King Edward VI Grammer School and in that time has helped countless pupils achieve their potential. She is meticulous in her planning and has continually ensured that the delivery of her lessons is first class. Her passion for Chemistry is

tangible, and she will leave a lasting impression on everyone she has taught. She has been a compassionate Tutor in Queen’s, always supporting her tutees with both pastoral and academic issues. Beyond the classroom, Alex has been a core member of the Choir since arriving at College, and her contribution to the aesthetic and creative life of College has been immense. A committed and enthusiastic supporter of College music throughout her time here, she has brought warmth, energy, and musicianship to countless rehearsals, services, concerts, and special occasions. Alex has shown unwavering support of the choral life of College and generously shared her time and talents. We say a fond farewell and wish her well as she moves to Pate’s Grammer School for her next chapter. Christina Oldham

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Council of Cheltenham College 283 Meetings Later… A Secretary Signs Off John Champion, the Secretary to Council retired at the end of March after 18 years at College. Here he shares some reflections with The Cheltonian.

For those who aren’t familiar with it, what does the Secretary to Council actually do? In simple terms, the role is to ensure that the College is properly governed in accordance with its statutory framework—principally the Cheltenham College Act of 1894—and that Council and its committees function effectively. In practice, that means everything from organising meetings and advising on charity law to liaising with regulators and ensuring compliance in an increasingly complex environment. At times, it feels like a combination of administrator, legal adviser and air-traffic controller.

You’ve worked closely with a few senior figures—what stands out? Over the years I’ve had the privilege of working with two Presidents of Council and, across College and The Prep, eight Heads. Each has brought their own perspective and style, but what has been constant is a deep commitment to College and to the young people it serves. It has been fascinating to see how the institution has evolved through those different chapters.

What has kept you here for 18 years? I’m repeating myself now —but it’s the people, without question. Cheltenham College is a community in the truest sense, and it has been a privilege to work alongside colleagues—both staff and Council members—who care so deeply about its success. There is also something quietly satisfying about contributing, even indirectly, to an environment in which young people can thrive.

And finally—what will you miss most? Undoubtedly the relationships and the sense of being part of something that genuinely matters. Cheltenham College has grown and developed a great deal over the past 18 years, but its core purpose—and its spirit—remain reassuringly constant. It has been a privilege to play a small part in its story—and 283 meetings later, I wouldn’t change a bit of it.

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Cheltenham International Schools Cheltenham International Schools Cheltenham Muscat, Oman, is going from strength to strength. With over 750 pupils and growing, the school has firmly established itself as a leader in the region. Under the leadership of Headmaster Richard Snape, the school has set new benchmarks for academic excellence, with recent successes such as the University Scholars Programme, in which senior pupils produced real research papers and demonstrated academic skills well beyond their years. Dr Mary Plint, Deputy Head, Learning and Wellbeing and Dr Kit Perona-Wright, Assistant Head of Cheltenham Prep School recently visited Cheltenham Muscat. During this visit, they were able to see how well the Cheltenham Values and ethos are being transferred to our sister school through both the teaching and the physical environment, where artwork and displays reflecting the 5Cs and our values are woven throughout the school. To find out more, visit www.cheltenhammuscat.com. Cheltenham Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia opens this year, offering exceptional education for pupils aged 11 to 18. The school is to be owned by Edumaax, a well-established Malaysian company led by OC Tunku Dato’ Yaacob Khyra (H, 1979). With a long-standing legacy of successfully operating high-quality schools and colleges across Malaysia, Edumaax is the perfect partner for Cheltenham College’s expansion into Southeast Asia. As the school becomes operational, we look forward to combined events with Cheltenham Kuala Lumpur pupils, Cheltenham College pupils and Cheltonian Society members.

Cheltenham Lombardy, Italy is strategically sited 5 km from the bustling historical Northern Italian city of Varese, in the small town of Induno Olona between Lake Varese and Lake Lugano. Safe and secure, set within its extensive grounds, it is housed in a large mansion built in the eighteenth century. Due to additional building requirements, Cheltenham Lombardy has temporarily paused admissions enquiries. As a result, the school is unable to progress applications for this coming year (commencing August 2026).

New Horizons We continue to explore exciting opportunities in new regions around the world, seeking partnerships with organisations of the highest quality that align with our values. Our goal is to bring Cheltenham’s standards of academic excellence, culture, and ethos to pupils in diverse global communities, fostering connections that enrich both our institution and the communities with which we engage. Mr Alan Etherton, Head of Overseas Education

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CHELTONIAN SOCIETY The Cheltonian Society connects the Cheltenham College and Cheltenham Prep worldwide community through social events, reunions, professional networking, mentoring opportunities, sharing news and an online network. Membership of the Society is free, automatic and lifelong for Old Cheltonians (who attended for at least one year), current and former parents, and current and former staff.

Welcome from the President of the Cheltonian Society It is an honour to welcome you to the Cheltonian Society section of The Cheltonian 202526, and to have been recently inaugurated as President of the Society. I am immensely grateful to my predecessor, David Stewart (H, 1978, current Council member and past parent), for his stewardship in recent years. I am struck by how strong the Cheltonian bond is, whether through lifelong friendships, mentorship, or simply shared memories, and how it translates into a willingness to support College and each other. Thank you to all the Society members who have given their time, expertise or donations and contributed to the Cheltonian community. The Society team work hard to create opportunities for Society members to connect, engage in professional networking, support current pupils and continue strengthening the wider Cheltenham College community. I urge all Cheltonians to visit the Society website

(www.cheltoniansociety.org), and update your online profile, enjoy the digital archive, or sign up to be a mentor. Please also follow the Society’s private LinkedIn group (group/755697) and join one of the many upcoming events. In autumn 2026, I hope to see many of you at the inaugural ‘President’s Drinks’ in London, to which you are all warmly invited. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me or the Society team with any ideas or requests at society@cheltenhamcollege.org. Finally, I would like to thank everyone for making the Cheltonian Society what it is, and the Committee for their invaluable contribution. Best wishes

Anthony Holt (Xt, 1994, current Council member and President of the Cheltonian Society)

Cheltonian Society Committee The work of the Cheltonian Society is supported by members of the Committee.

Current members of the Cheltonian Society Committee are:

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Anthony Holt, President (Xt, 1994, current Council member)

Darawati Hussain (past parent)

Ben Burch (BH, 1997)

Paul Mourton (S, 1996, current parent, Chair of CET)

Lucy Caines (W, 2010)

Alayne Parsley (Prep staff, past parent)

Heidi Callon Hine (current parent)

George Smith (BH, 2010, past staff)

Abi Coley (Prep staff, current parent)

Tim Swainson (Xt, 2001)

Georgina Gardner (Q, 2015)

Andrew Thomson (Xt, 1992, current parent)

Stuart Greer (College staff)

Charles Wyn-Davies (BH, 2008)

Rich Hine (H, 2011)

Ivan Yuen (H, 1986)

Cheltonian Society

Society Events this Autumn Visit our website for details of all upcoming events: cheltoniansociety.org/events

Prem Rugby: The Big Preview at Dunkertons Park, Cheltenham Wednesday 9 September, 6.30-8.30pm

In aid of The 4ED Foundation supporting MND. Get the low-down on the season ahead with a panel of pro players, MC’d by one of rugby’s most respected voices, broadcaster and journalist Alastair Eykyn.

10-Year OC Reunion at Cheltenham College Saturday 10 October, 11am-3pm

The Class of 2016 are invited to take a trip down memory lane with a Chapel service, House tours, lunch in Dining Hall and time to catch up with old friends.

President’s Drinks at the Royal Thames Yacht Club, London Thursday 15 October, 6-8pm

Drinks reception hosted by Anthony Holt, President of the Cheltonian Society, and guest of honour Chris Townsend, College’s new Head, with a College update.

Announcements Our fond wishes to all Society members who have recently got married or had a baby. Please send us your news by completing the form on our website: cheltoniansociety.org/pages/marriages-births

Weddings Sherlock Ng (L, 2000) married Elisa Ho on 28 June 2025 at Fanling St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hong Kong.

Georgie Scott (Ch, 1999) married Gavin Townsend on 28 April 2025 at St Mary’s Church, Adderbury, Oxfordshire.

Lee Watkins (NH, 2010) married Michelle McKenzie on 2 March 2025 at Ataahua, Pyes Pa, New Zealand. They now live with their two sons in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Births Alice Aris (née Perry, A, 2007) and her husband Edward are delighted to announce the birth of their daughter, Amelia Rose Aris, born on 16 March at St George’s Hospital, sister to Grace. Emma White (née Beresford, Q, 2011) and Thomas White (Xt, 2011) are delighted to announce the arrival of their daughter, Cecilia Alice White, born on 22 December 2025, sister to Lyla.

Richard Lawrence (Xt, 2001) and his wife Kate are delighted to announce the birth of their daughter, Tabitha, on 18 July 2025, sister to Tilly and Aurelia. Thomas Wand (NH, 2012) and his wife Tamara Wand have welcomed a girl, Arabella Wand, born on 29 June 2025. Lee Watkins (NH, 2010) and Michelle McKenzie welcomed their beautiful baby boy, Harlen Riley Watkins, on 4 December 2023. The Cheltonian 2025-26

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Cheltonian Society Events 2025-26 Thank you to all Society members who have joined us for any of our events over the last year. Visit our website for photo galleries and details of all upcoming events: cheltoniansociety.org/events

Professional networking events Entrepreneurs’ Forum, 2 October 2025 Law Forum, 19 March 2026

“Such a stimulating and interesting event. The speakers brought a wealth of experience and guidance.”

OC reunions

5-Year Drinks for Class of 2021, 5 February 2026 10-Year Reunion for Class of 2014, 11 October 2025 50+ Year Reunion for Leavers 1976 and earlier, 16 May 2026 “What a wonderful opportunity to revisit our roots, remember our formative years, and mingle with so many friends and comrades, with whom we had so much in common.”

Society social events

Wreath Making, 27 November 2025 Christmas Carol Service, 7 December 2025 Gold Cup Race Breakfast 2026, 13 March 2026 Cheltonian Golf Day, 25 April 2026 Rowing BBQ at the Boat House, 9 May 2026 Polo Day, 21 June 2026 Society Event at Cheltenham Cricket Festival, 9 August 2026

International events

Hong Kong Drinks, 17 October 2025 Kenya Drinks, 26 October 2025 Malaysia Drinks, 9 July 2026 Singapore Drinks, 10 July 2026 “It was inspiring to see the strength of our global Cheltonian network … I was reminded how special our worldwide community is.” The Cheltonian 2025-26

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Spotlight on Society Member Businesses Tribe Vintage

Freddie Jones (Xt, 2022) founded Tribe Vintage, a rapidly growing vintage clothing retailer. Initially selling through online marketplace Depop before opening two physical stores during his gap year, in 2023 Freddie partnered with Julian Dunkerton (current parent) to launch vintage clothing collections within seven (to date) UK Superdry stores. At the heart of the business remains a mission to promote circular fashion, reduce textile waste and encourage people to make second-hand clothing their first choice. tribevintage.com | Instagram:@tribe_vintage

amie

amie was launched in 2020 by Will Sandbach (NH, 2007) and Abbie Roden. What began as a simple lockdown-born concept has evolved into a modern wine brand with a clear purpose: to make great wine more approachable, enjoyable and relevant to everyday moments. amie offers a range of seven wines, exports to several countries, and has raised over £50,000 for its charity partner, charity: water. Will and Abbie also run amie wine studio and Weezie’s thin-crust pizza in Eccleston Yards, Belgravia. drinkamie.com | Instagram:@drinkamie

Cotswold Career Concierge Suzie Burley (past parent) is a leading Career Architect and Strategist who founded Cotswold Career Concierge, a finalist for the 2026 King’s Trust Volunteer Mentor of the Year Award. Suzie’s proven methodologies have transformed the outcomes of thousands, whether they are starting out or starting over. Cotswold Career Concierge specialises in the hidden job market, career change, rebuilding after burnout, portfolio careers, and entry level career consultation. cotswoldcareerconcierge.co.uk Instagram:@thecotswoldcareerconcierge

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Sarah Robson Travel

Sarah Robson (current parent) is an Independent Travel Advisor based in Cheltenham. Sarah Robson Travel specialises in luxury escapes, tailor-made journeys and unforgettable river cruises. With expert personal service from start to finish, Sarah creates holidays that are thoughtfully designed around you, with the reassurance, insider knowledge and care that make every trip feel truly special. theholidayvillage.com/expert/sarah-robson Instagram:@sarahrobsontravel

Resistance Pilatchi

Ex-army physiotherapy officer Sean Searight (L, 1981) designed and founded Resistance Pilatchi, rooted in rehabilitation and inspired by the strength of Pilates and the calmness of Tai Chi. Sean designed and patented a resistance band that enables users to move dynamically without having to grip the band. Pilatchi brings agility, core strength and balance in a calm, meditative flow. Sean encourages physiotherapists and yoga and Pilates instructors to train as Pilatchi instructors. Visit the website for training opportunities. resistancepilatchi.com | Instagram:@resistancepilatchi

Mastermind Translations Ltd

Katarzyna E Slobodzian-Taylor (current parent) is the Founder and Director of Mastermind Translations Ltd, a language service provider specialising exclusively in life sciences. The company supports pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device organisations with regulatory-grade translation services. The team has deep sector knowledge and takes a specialist, compliance-led approach to its complex multilingual projects. mastermindtranslations.co.uk

Visit the Cheltonian Society Business Directory to see these and more, or to add your own business listing: cheltoniansociety.org/business-directory

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Nelson Travel

Ben Nelson (NH, 2007) is the founder of Nelson Travel, a boutique tour operator crafting bespoke, awe-inspiring itineraries in Africa and beyond. Partnering with Malawibased social enterprise Root to Fruit, Nelson Travel offsets the carbon footprint of trips, helps combat deforestation in Malawi and directly benefits local communities. Nelson Travel has been nominated for the Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 for Best Tour Operator. nelson.travel | Instagram:@nelson.travel

Hawkins & Brimble

Born in London. Worn by gentlemen. Stephen Shortt (Xt, 1990) founded Hawkins & Brimble, inspired by the superior grooming standards forged behind the oak panelled doors of Mayfair’s exclusive 17th century members’ clubs. From the finest natural ingredients to its iconic signature scent, every detail of Hawkins & Brimble’s top-to-toe range has been carefully crafted under the watchful gaze of a master barber to ensure only the very best will do. hawkinsandbrimble.co.uk | Instagram:@hawkinsandbrimble

WildPress

Through WildPress, James Whayman (NH, 2005) helps small businesses turn their website into a real growth tool, not just an online brochure. He supports clients end to end: website audits, new builds, performance and SEO improvements, ongoing maintenance, and technical guidance whenever they need it. They deal with him directly, get plain-English advice, and end up with a website built to last. wildpress.co | james@wildpress.co

Northstar Chalets

Jack Taylor (H, 2006) is the co-founder of Northstar Chalets in Morzine, France. Established in 2017, Northstar specialises in luxury ski and summer holidays, combining exceptional food, stylish chalets and personalised service with expert local knowledge of the Portes du Soleil. The company has grown through a strong focus on hospitality, creating memorable alpine experiences for guests from across the UK and across Europe. northstarchalets.com | Instagram:@northstarchalets

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Dryhill Wine

Dryhill, founded by Nigel Rowley (Wilson, 1976) and his wife Lesley-Anne, is located on ancient limestone terraces once occupied by the Romans, just a few minutes’ drive from Cheltenham College. As well as producing awardwinning, elegant sparkling wine using traditional method fermentation, Dryhill offers tours of the beautiful vineyard and relaxed wine tastings with a spectacular view. dryhillwine.co.uk | Instagram:@dryhillwines

Miranda Hackett Flowers

Miranda Hackett (current parent), owner of Miranda Hackett Flowers, creates thoughtfully curated flower designs for luxury weddings across the South West. Focusing on refined elegance and sustainable sourcing, using seasonally available materials and Britishgrown flowers, her style is described by a Cotswold events agency as, ‘very pretty, refined and artful.’ With over 15 years of experience, you can expect exceptional service, attention to fine details and a close working relationship. Photo: Sophia Veres Photography. mirandahackettflowers.co.uk Instagram:@mirandahackettflowers

Chilli Promotional Products

Jody Fletcher (née Patrick, Ch, 1996) founded Chilli Promotional Products Ltd, an award-winning branded merchandise and corporate gift specialist. Chilli Promotions works with organisations of all sizes with a focus on exceptional personalised customer service to help brands create memorable, high-quality promotional products and gifts. The Cheltonian Society team have first-hand experience of their excellent customer service as Chilli Promotions supply a range of the Society merchandise. chillipromotions.co.uk Instagram:@chillipromotionalproducts

Tom I’Anson Wines

Tom I’Anson (BH, 1996) is the founder of Tom I’Anson Wines Ltd, an independent wine merchant just outside Cheltenham. Established in 2013, the company has grown organically and now has a number of pubs, restaurants and off trade venues in its customer base. Supplying to the on- and off-trade, as well as to online and private customers, Tom specialises in supplying the perfect wine for the buyer’s need at the right price point. Tom also runs a tailored wine club and holds private and public tastings. tomiansonwines.co.uk | Instagram:@tomiansonwines The Cheltonian 2025-26

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Spotlight on OC Sports Clubs Read the full reports and keep up to date with news from all the Society Clubs at cheltoniansociety.org/clubs

OC Football Club win the Arthurian League Division Five Old Cheltonians kicked off their fifth Arthurian League season in September 2025 with a challenging opener against Worth. Drawing on their experience at this level, the OCs secured a 4-2 victory and set the tone for a strong campaign. An excellent start followed, with seven wins, two draws and three defeats across the autumn. Highlights included a productive September that saw the Pinks win 4 from 4 and competitive fixtures against Brentwood, Cranleigh and Worth testing the squad throughout. A very brief cup run ended at the first hurdle against Bradfield, but league form remained strong and the OCs sat top of the table at Christmas. The turn of the year marked the decisive phase of the season, with five fixtures remaining and promotion still within reach. A dramatic and ultimately painful defeat to Brentwood proved a low point, as the OCs surrendered a 3-2 lead in the final five minutes to lose 4-3. However, an inspired secondhalf comeback against Cranleigh secured a vital 3-2 victory and kept promotion hopes alive.

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Smart performances in the final two fixtures, against Shrewsbury and Stowe, yielded maximum points, with 10 goals scored and just two conceded. In the end, events elsewhere shaped the final standings. With Brentwood and King’s Canterbury unable to complete their seasons, their results were expunged. This adjustment saw the Old Cheltonians rise up the table, securing promotion and, remarkably, their first league title. The team now looks forward to an exciting 2026/27 campaign in Division 4, with a new kit courtesy of J.A.N. Fine Art & Spacepoint and an influx of promising young players. If you’re interested in joining please do reach out. Games are in London, most weekends from September through until May. Players’ Player of the Season: Dan Ward (NH, 2018) Top Goalscorer: Jono Jamieson-Black (H, 2017) Captain’s Award: Rowan Roff-Stanion (H, 2014)

OC Sailing Club win the 2025 Arrow Trophy Regatta Old Cheltonians took on the Arrow Trophy Regatta for the 10th year and brought home the trophy!

Storm Amy was due to arrive on the Friday night. Once docked in Shepards Marina, Cowes, with the storm upon them and knowing that racing on Saturday had been officially cancelled, the crew headed off for supper. Come Sunday, the breeze was still healthy but just less than 20 knots so racing was going ahead (20 knots is the wind limit for racing). The first race saw the OCS scream into the start line from upwind and with space available from the other boats. They held their position and finished second. In the second race, by the second lap the class had broken into two fleets, one left and one right, with the OCs alone in the middle. An extremely well-timed tack brought them onto the layline for the windward mark, well ahead of the other boats. They rocketed down the leeward leg to finish first. Anxious to maintain the winning streak, the OCs embarked on the final race. Cockpit drills on tacking and gybing were excellent and the foredeck crew performed faultlessly. Andrew Kenyon did a fabulous job of trimming the main as David Miller played the boat in the slightly shifty breeze. Rounding the windward mark for the last time, and well ahead of the second and third boats, the OCs cruised to victory in first, winning the Arrow Trophy. Crew: Andrew Gossage (H, 1981), Andrew Kenyon (BH, 1979), Paul Koch (H, 1984), Henry Garthwaite (BH, 1986), Phil Allen (Xt, 1991), Fred Scheerer (H, 2001), David Miller (L, 2005), Charles Bond (S, 2015), Jack Forrester (BH, 2015) and Eoin Hughes (S, 2015). The Cheltonian 2025-26

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Old Cheltonian Golfing Society exceed expectations at the 2026 Halford Hewitt Cheltenham reached the last 16 of the 2026 Halford Hewitt golf tournament. Led by Charlie Elliot (H, 1989), the team had excellent wins against Bedford and Shrewsbury before losing to the eventual winners, Rossall. Most of the team had years of Halford Hewitt experience but there was young blood with Robbie Slatter (Xt, 2023) making his debut and Theo Nelson (S, 2024) playing his second Hewitt. Matches were played at Deal which was in superb condition and the weather was excellent throughout. Bedford and Shrewsbury proved to be testing challenges, both resulting in overall 3-2 wins. The challenge in the third round against Rossall was at a different level. Rossall fielded a young team that was a match for any in the history of the Halford Hewitt, and went on to be deserving winners beating Winchester in the final. 130

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The OC Golfing Society has a remarkable recent record in the Hewitt. The Anderson Scale rates the performance of all 64 schools over the last 5 and 10 years – Cheltenham is ranked 13th over the last ten years, but 6th over the last five, indicating a remarkable consistency to perform well and win crucial matches in the true spirit of the Hewitt. OC team: Peter Richards (Xt, 1988), Will Yates (S, 1989, Hon. Sec.), Andrew Morris (S, 2000), Robbie Slatter (Xt, 2023), James Ashbridge (BH, 1998), Charlie Elliott (H, 1989, Captain), Theo Nelson (S, 2024), James Tucker (NH, 1985), Pete Foster (Xt, 1992), Ed Kennedy (S, 2007), Dan Shiner (L, 2009).

The 24th Gold Rackets weekend is an outstanding success This year saw another fantastic Gold Rackets weekend, with the usual great spirit and sportsmanship. Sixty matches were completed, with virtually every school and club represented.

In the final of the ladies’ tournament, Fionnoula DowlingMembrado (Ch, 2021) and Laura Neil defeated Mimi Davis (W, 2021) and Eve Shenkman two games to one. The men’s draw was as competitive as ever. In the final, Max Kwintner (S, 2024) and Archie Campbell beat Robbie Slatter (Xt, 2023) and Tom Bomford two games to one, in front of a packed balcony. The mixed doubles final saw Jack Mitchell (NH, 2018) and Laura Neil defeat Reggie Williams and Eve Shenkman. With exciting matches, and a wonderful drinks reception and dinner, this was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend played in tremendous spirit – everything the Gold Rackets stands for.

OC Over 50s Cricket Club reach Cricketer Cup quarter finals

In 2026, the Old Cheltonian Over 50s Cricket team entered the inaugural Over 50s Cricketer Cup competition, thoroughly enjoying playing with such spritely and athletic teammates and reminiscing over post-match beers. Special mentions go to Captain Daniel Fulton (L, 1990), Mike Cawdron (Wilson,

1993) with a century against Old Georgians, and Dom Hewson (S, 1993) who scored half centuries against both Old Georgians and Old Tonbridgians. The OC team reached the quarter finals this year and look forward to competing next year, alongside some friendly matches.

All teams are keen to have new members. If you’re interested in joining one of these teams, or another Club on offer including cricket, women’s and men’s hockey, rackets, rifle shooting, rowing and squash, please get in touch! society@cheltenhamcollege.org The Cheltonian 2025-26

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From Jeeves to the Jaws of a Tiger: Ten Tales from College Hannah Dale, Archives Manager

A glimpse into the remarkable and lesser-known stories of Cheltenham College.

The first two Houseparents of Boyne House were women

Boyne House is the oldest school boarding house of the Victorian era in the UK. It was opened in 1841 by Miss Cunningham, followed by Mrs Mary Lamotte in 1847.

Boyne House around 1905.

PG Wodehouse named Jeeves after a cricketer who played on the College ground

Percy Jeeves (1888-1916) was a first-class county cricketer who played for Warwickshire against Gloucestershire at the College ground in 1913. His skill so impressed the author PG Wodehouse that he named his fictional valet Jeeves, of the Jeeves and Wooster books, after him. Sadly, Percy Jeeves was a casualty of the Great War, falling at Somme in July 1916.

The first Cheltonian magazine was published in 1866

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College’s Chapel was privately dedicated on Tuesday 13 October 1896 by Dr Charles Ellicott, Bishop of Gloucester. The public celebration and opening took place on 16 December, presided over by OC Lord Plunket (Baxter, 1846), Archbishop of Canterbury. Rather dramatically, just a few hours later in the early hours of 17 December, the Hereford earthquake was felt in Cheltenham, damaging the roof and wall joins of the new Chapel – evidence of which can still be seen today.

May 1866 saw the publication of a new, monthly magazine, The Cheltonian, with two objectives: ‘first, to publish a Magazine which shall contain sound and sensible papers on various subjects, in which it may fairly be presumed the School generally takes an interest; secondly, to shew that Cheltenham College is fully as competent as any of her rivals to produce a paper of her own.’ Read this and many other editions of The Cheltonian on the Digital Archive. Visit cheltoniansociety.org/pages/digital-archive for details.

An earthquake caused a crack in Chapel still visible today

At least ten OCs have been eaten by big cats

Of all Britain’s public schools, Cheltenham College has had the most former pupils eaten by tigers. Many College pupils were prepared for the Indian Civil Service exams, giving them opportunities to travel and work in India and so putting them in the path of tigers. Between 1841 and 1926, at least eight pupils were eaten by tigers, one was slain by a lion, and one died from panther-inflicted injuries.

An OC played in the first ever international football match Arnold Kirke Smith (Bayly, 1867) played in the English Football Association team against Scotland in 1872, recognised by FIFA as the first ever international football match. He also played twice for the Scottish Football Association against England in 1871, before the matches were officially recognised as international football fixtures.

The only person ever to hold a Victoria Cross and an Olympic medal is an OC

Philip Neame VC (H, 1906) was awarded the Victoria Cross in December 1914 for, ‘conspicuous bravery on the 19th December, near Neuve Chapelle, when, notwithstanding the very heavy rifle fire and bomb-throwing by the enemy, he succeeded in holding them back and rescuing all the wounded men whom it was possible to move.’ He survived the First World War and went on to win the Olympic gold medal for shooting in Paris in 1924.

The ducks on The Prep Lake were once spared from extermination

During the Second World War, while College was at Shrewsbury and Prep was at Stowell, the Bursar, Rollo Pelly received an urgent summons back to Cheltenham by the War Office. Having commandeered our buildings, the War Office was responsible for feeding the ducks on the lake. Keen to cut the expense (7 shillings and 6 pence – about £15 in today’s money), the Treasury demanded that the ducks were destroyed. Our Bursar replied, ‘Good. If you do destroy them, you won’t be here long as the ducks eat the weeds and if they do not do so the pond will overflow and flood the buildings.’ The War Office decided to relabel the account for duck feed and the ducks were saved.

Two College pupils camped at Robert Baden-Powell’s test for Scouting for Boys In August 1907, Robert Baden-Powell organised a camp for 20 boys to test the patrol method in his forthcoming book, Scouting for Boys. Two of these boys were from Cheltenham College: Brian Evans-Lombe (BH, 1912) and his younger brother John Michael (BH, 1912). At the experimental camp, Brian was Patrol Leader of Bull Patrol and John was a member of the Wolves.

A mole that inspired OC poet Frederick W H Myers is immortalised in Chapel

A dead mole by the side of the road inspired poet, classicist and thinker Frederick W H Myers (Day Boy, 1859) to explore the space between life and death in his writing, poetry and theorising. His memorial in College Chapel includes the mole that prompted this chain of thought. The intricately carved memorial was designed by Myers’ friend Prothero and executed by HH Martyn & Co.

College’s own Scout Troop was first established in the summer of 1914.

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Circus Runaway Jeremy James (NH, 1984)

Jeremy performing his ring juggling routine. Jeremy at College

‘Run away and join the circus’ – I did. I went to College, finished Oxford, went to France, and became one the world’s best ring jugglers. From Oxford I went to London. Tiring of London, I went to Paris and fell upon a crowd of people juggling. I got the bug and spent innumerable hours and hours and hours chucking bits of plastic in the air until they no longer fell. I got good. Very good. Was offered six months wage for two weeks juggling at a motor show and didn’t hesitate – ‘I shall be an artist!’ And I was. Slowly at first, until I was recommended to Archaos (a French radical contemporary circus) and off I was on tour, shaven and naked because, well, just because. 134

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This life is hard. Once you are on the road, every day you have to build up the set, rehearse, do the show, take down and pack up, sleep in the bus, and repeat the next day. All this non-stop for three months. At the end – I slept. Being very good at what I did, I was chosen to take part in the ‘Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain,’ probably the most important circus festival in the world. I bombed. No contacts, no jobs, no prize, nothing apart from a mega-down. But then, the jobs kept coming in. I ran away with my glorious wife and a traditional circus, with wild animals and alcoholic ring hands. If you want to make your own hooch, animal manure is great for keeping it warm while distilling. We would watch the wild animal numbers with hands on the emergency light

Jeremy recently

button and fire extinguishers at hand – just in case. We fell out with the owners when they paid the clown but not us. And so we left. But still the jobs kept coming in. Touring circuses, off to cabarets and shows all over the world: 36 hours to Dubai and back to do a five-minute show; Berlin was fun, in a grotty cabaret with a great public; Istanbul, surrounded by transvestites and the gilded rich; Vegas was just shiny Vegas. At the end I had a unique juggling number, 5m 35cm every time, with the same lights every time, the same music every time, the same cues every time. It was no longer enough. It was like having a normal job. And so… I stopped. I still don’t have a normal job, but that’s another story.

Cheltonians Charging for Charity Tor Allan (Xt, 2025), Rex Knight (BH, 2025) and Jim White (L, 2025) preparation is key and we spent months working on the car, resulting in Car 20 being one of the few teams to have no major mechanical issues on the day.

Rex (left), Jim (middle) and Tor (right)

The Rhino Charge is an annual off-roading event that has taken place in the Kenyan bush every year since 1989. It is considered the world’s most difficult one day off-roading event to finish. The main aim of the Rhino Charge is to raise money for Rhino Ark, a charity that supports wildlife conservation efforts across Kenya. This year the charge raised 365 million KSH (£2.1 million) for conservation. Our team, Car 20, raised 2.75 million KSH (£15,800), the 13th highest amount out of 65 teams. This amount has secured our place for Rhino Charge 2027, and we hope to continue competing for the foreseeable future. Teams compete to complete a series of 13 checkpoints over 10 hours in the shortest distance, while crossing thick bush, boulder fields, rivers, hills, cliffs, and gullies. This year only 14 out of 65 managed to complete all 13 checkpoints. We completed 11, in a distance of 42km. Car 20 competes in the Unmodified Class (making crossing the terrain even more difficult – Modified and Super Modified cars have a distinct advantage). Although the car is ‘unmodified,’

Each team consists of a driver, a navigator, and runners. Tor was our driver and mechanic, and Jim and Rex were both runners, alongside three Kenyan runners. The job of a runner is to go ahead of the car and find a route through the bush, meaning they end up covering a considerable amount of the distance on foot. Rex says he was surprised at the capabilities of both the car and the team and that it was harder and longer than he ever thought it would be. For his first time in Africa, Jim was thrown into the deep end – he was proud to have been a part of this epic challenge. Every charge has a section called the Gauntlet, consisting of three checkpoints that are separated by the most difficult terrain on the course. It’s important that teams try to complete this in as straight a line as possible. Car 20 had the second shortest line through the Gauntlet which was a huge achievement. Next year, our aims are to complete all 13 checkpoints, podium in the Unmodified Class, and above all raise even more money for Rhino Ark. We would be so grateful for any donations and sponsorship from individuals or companies (whose branding will be shown on the car, social media and team T-shirts). 100% of all money given goes directly to Rhino Ark. Instagram: car20_rhinocharge Email: car20.rhinocharge@gmail.com

Our team, Car 20, raised 2.75 million KSH (£15,800), the 13th highest amount out of 65 teams.

The Car 20 team navigate the tough terrain in the 2026 Rhino Charge.

The Car 20 team.

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Every Frank and Bubby toy is individually crafted in collaboration with a women’s collective based in Ukraine.

Classical Toys

Alina with her family in their hometown Juneau, Alaska.

Alina Natynski (née Slipchuk, A, 2005) During my time at College, I initially set my sights on a career in classics and archaeology. In Sixth Form, I studied Classical Alina at College Alina recently Civilisation under the guidance of Charles Wright, whose compelling interpretations of The Iliad and The Odyssey left a lasting impression on me. Inspired by his teaching, I devoted two consecutive summers to studying Greek pottery at the ancient site of Tauric Chersonesos and indulging in romantic visions of the profession. Although I did not ultimately pursue a career in archaeology, perhaps for the best, my time at College instilled in me the importance of following one’s instincts, even when the path is not straightforward. My subsequent work across international relations, education and business has taught me to apply that same curiosity and to recognise that seemingly separate experiences can, in time, connect in unexpected ways. Since 2021, I have been the proud owner of a handmade toy business, Frank and Bubby. In collaboration with a women’s collective based in Ukraine, we create heirloom-quality plush toys intended to be cherished and enjoyed by children of all ages. Our products are stocked by a number of retailers across the United States, and we hope to continue expanding in the coming years. Being able to support a small community of Ukrainians during this economically unstable period has been a genuine 136

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privilege. Through our collaboration with women in Sumy, Frank and Bubby have assisted in sustaining jobs in the region. We also provided toy donations to children at Volyn Regional Psychiatric Hospital in Lutsk, providing a measure of comfort to children whose lives have been significantly disrupted by war. Taken together, my experiences have shown me that a life need not follow a single, predetermined course in order to be meaningful. The intellectual curiosity first awakened during my time at College has not been abandoned, but rather carried forward, informing the way I approach new creative pursuits. In this sense, the lessons of College persist not in the particular career I once imagined, but as a set of habits: curiosity and a willingness to follow where one’s interests lead. frankandbubby.com

What a Firkin Way to Earn a Livin’! David Bruce OBE (BH, 1966)

David at College

David recently

‘If you don’t stop fooling around and start working hard, you’ll end up like poor old Bruce languishing in a brewery!’

Luckily, my pioneering venture was a huge success from day one and proved wrong all the prophets of doom, especially two who had written across my business plan, ‘If it’s that good an idea why hasn’t someone else thought of it?’ and, ‘This project has absolutely no chance of succeeding and I suggest you abandon it immediately!’

These immortal words from a nameless master rang around College for a few years after I left, having failed Maths O-level no less than five times!

Having sold Bruce’s Brewery and its 12 Firkin pubs for £6.6m, just before my 40th birthday, I embarked on starting and investing in craft breweries from Paris to Seattle via New York, Boston and Denver.

Obviously, university was out of the question for an academic failure, so I needed to learn a trade in order to earn a living. I was accepted to be a management trainee by both Shell and Courage and only chose the latter as I thought pubs and breweries would be more fun than oil refineries and petrol stations.

I also created the Bruce Trust in 1988 which has so far provided holidays on the Kennet & Avon Canal for over 35,000 disabled people, on four purpose-built boats. I was delighted in June 2021 to be awarded an OBE for my services to charity.

At 21, I became the Brewer at Theakston Brewery in Yorkshire where I had hoped to become a shareholder. The Chairman, however, said, ‘No, you’re not a Theakston and only Theakstons can own shares in our family brewery.’ My immediate response was, ‘Ok, I’ll resign now and go and start my own brewery!’ This proved to be the incentive I needed to become an entrepreneur and subsequently start and invest in dozens of breweries and pub companies across the globe. I spotted my first entrepreneurial opportunity when I ran past a closed down, dilapidated pub in London. In a moment of divine inspiration, I realised it was big enough to install a small brewery in the cellar but had to borrow £25,000 at 19% as we had no money of our own! In July 1979, we started Bruce’s Brewery at the Goose & Firkin, London’s first brewery located in a pub for over a century.

David’s book, The Firkin Saga, is a finalist in the International Business Book Awards 2026.

Subsequently, I have co-founded 12 new pub companies, two of which were listed on the London Stock Exchange, before being sold for £93m and £162m respectively. Never wishing to retire from my fun and interesting life as an entrepreneur, I am currently actively involved during my 79th year in a chain of farm shops, a vineyard and an English whisky distillery, so I continue to Carpe Diem and hope to Usque ad mortem bibendum (Latin O Level I did pass!). I do hope that anyone who may be as academically challenged as I was during eight years at the Junior School and at College, will feel encouraged that one can carve out one’s own career without a university degree or having to be an employee/wage slave on someone else’s payroll. Long live entrepreneurism and being one’s own boss!

David brewing at his first brewery in London.

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Coming Full Circle on Healthcare Transformation James Maskell (L, 1999)

James at College

James recently

I can still remember sitting in the Matron’s office at Cheltenham Junior School around 1990, looking up and noticing a small Post-it Note. It read, ‘Do not administer James Maskell antibiotics before calling his mother.’ At the time, it felt both curious and slightly unsettling... why was there a note about me, and why was I the only one? But more than anything, it planted a question that stayed with me: what did my mother (with no medical training) understand about health then that others would take decades to grasp? That early moment sparked a curiosity that followed me through College and beyond. I left Leconfield in 1999 not with a fixed plan, but with a growing sense that there was something important to explore about how we understand illness. I initially joined HSBC’s investment banking programme, but after a year, I made the decision to leave and follow that curiosity to the United States, drawn by a sense that innovation in healthcare was happening there in ways that it simply wasn’t in the UK at the time. I also knew I wanted to work on my own ideas.

What began as exploration became a career. Over the past two decades, I have focused on understanding the root causes of chronic disease and whether it can be reversed. This has led to the founding of several initiatives: The Functional Forum, a live web show connecting practitioners interested in reversing chronic illness; Knew Health, an alternative approach to health insurance built around prevention and participation; and most recently TruNeura, a software platform designed to help clinicians implement precision medicine protocols for reversing Alzheimer’s and dementia. I’ve also written three books on the topic and have lived in New York, Los Angeles and now in Northern California near Lake Tahoe. Throughout this journey, one idea has remained central: that chronic disease is not inevitable, and that healthcare systems must evolve to support prevention, personalisation, and community-based care. While much of this work has taken place in the United States, there has always been a sense of unfinished business closer to home. The NHS, after all, was the system that served my family growing up, and it remains one of the most powerful expressions of collective care in the world. My hope has long been that the innovations emerging elsewhere could

James (front row, second from left) in the Colts A team in 1997.

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Front cover of James’ second book, The Community Cure.

one day be brought back to support its evolution. Earlier this year, that hope came full circle. I had the opportunity to speak at the Bevan Commission, the leading think tank for innovation in the Welsh NHS, named after its founder. I began by reflecting that I had grown up just a stone’s throw from Wales, travelling there for ‘Monmouth away’ matches, and now found myself returning with ideas shaped by twenty years abroad. In many ways, it felt like completing a circle: from a handwritten note on a wall to contributing, in some small way, to the future of healthcare systems that shaped my earliest years. jamesmaskell.com

James speaking at the Integrative and Personalized Medicine Conference in London 2023.

Smashing the Glass Ceiling Stephanie Darbin (née Donohue, Ch, 1990)

I have seen a huge amount of change both at College and in the workplace. I have also seen that core principles can remain the same. Steph at College

Steph recently

During my time at College girls were present in Upper College only and totalled 24. Chandos was the only girls House, but we did have girls ‘living out’ in the private side of the boys’ Houses. I lived in Leconfield during Lower Sixth. Hockey was a passion and I still play today; I was thrilled to be the Girls’ 1st XI Captain.

Alongside honing my critical thinking and problem-solving capability, my College years grounded how strongly I believe in being part of a team – to embrace our differences and treat others with kindness. We are at our most successful when we recognise the collective contribution we make. My two children have been educated at Cheltenham College. One has left

and is studying at Leeds University, whilst the other is in Lower Sixth. I have seen a huge amount of change both at College and in the workplace. I have also seen that core principles can remain the same. I still believe in treating others fairly and giving individuals the chance to shine, but also that launching a new initiative brilliantly requires group effort and collaboration. College instilled it in me and I put it to good use daily.

Upon graduating from Nottingham University, I moved to London to study at The College of Law, Store St, but realised law was not to be for me. After trying a couple of different roles, I began work in the Head Office of Carphone Warehouse as a trainer, when they were rolling out a new IT system. In a world before Teams and cloud technology, a new system roll-out involved staff members coming into Head Office to be trained up, or trainers visiting regional locations. I undertook both and discovered a new world. Changing the experience employees have in the workplace or how clients engage with a service or product became my career. I am now the Head of Transformation for Hargreaves Lansdown (the UK’s largest retail wealth manager). We have just embarked on a five-year transformation plan which I am excited to be a part of.

1988 hockey team (Steph is back row, far right).

Thriving in a male-dominated world has continued to be a theme throughout my career. I sponsor other women through my role within Hargreaves Lansdown as part of Women in Tech, have been part of careers evenings at College to talk to pupils about opportunities, and speak at events about being a working mother in technology delivery. Steph (left) and her sister Aisling Stranack (née Donohue, Ch, 1992) at Speech Day, 1990.

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Charity Starts at Home Ceri Parker-Carruthers (née Blower, Q, 2009)

…we make the law work, through love, care and kindness, for the children who are at the centre of these proceedings. Ceri at College

Ceri recently

Charity starts at home. Now this is a phrase we all know, though I had to turn to Google for its origin. Was it from one of the Punch cartoons Dr Jones showed us in History? Or perhaps from the Bible, as I remember Father Reynard using the phrase? Well, according to the powers of the internet, the full phrase comes from Thomas Browne in 1642. For me, Cheltenham College is the ‘home’ that instilled in me the ethos of helping people, whether through raising money for charities or helping younger students through CCF roles. Fast forward to my new home, Dad’s House, a charity where, as a lawyer, I am the Family Law Clinic Manager – a pro bono (for the public good) practitioner. Dad’s House provides support for dads, and mums, through legal services, a food bank, peer-led emotional support, and community services including lunch clubs, yoga, and football. My role helps parents receive free legal advice after separation or divorce. We help parents navigate child arrangements through our holistic approach, providing expert legal advice,

mediation advice, emotional support and kind and practical suggestions, whilst always ensuring the children remain the priority. This all happens around one table twice a week in a small shop front in Fulham, London. A far cry from a shiny city law firm. At Dad’s House we provide, on average, more than £1.3 million worth of legal advice each year, for free. This includes some very complex cases, such as returning children from the Philippines or working across jurisdictions on complex child arrangements. Our small shop front clinic has made law; we will soon have a judgment published on the subject of alienating behaviors, or parental alienation as it more widely known. Our integrated approach – providing emotional support, alternative dispute resolution advice and expert legal advice all under one roof – is award-winning. You would have to be extremely wealthy to receive this service at a law firm. Just having access to a lawyer has become a luxury – between October and December 2025, 47% of private Children’s Act cases did not have legal representation on either side. That’s 6,597 people in just three months

Ceri (second from left) with Legal Director Simon Bruce, Simon’s dog and clinic dog Clover, barrister Grace Garrett-Sadler, solicitor Victoria Teymourian-Yates, law student Sumaya Muse, psychotherapist Jo Petschek, and mediator Jemma Jupp.

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appearing before the court without legal representation, and likely without any legal advice. This puts immense strain on our justice system. If you ask me why I do this work and why any pro bono work is so important, I turn to the Baroness Hale, DBE, the first female President of the Supreme Court, famous for her spider broaches (whose hand I am lucky enough to have shaken – of course far more exciting for me than it was her). When asked in 2025 on Woman’s Hour whether she thought the justice system is currently fit for purpose, Baroness Hale responded, ‘Well it’s capable of being fit for purpose… but the justice system has been starved of the resources that it needs in order to do the job that people need it to do.’ Baroness Hale is one of the architects of the Children Act 1989, which is the legislation that guides our clinic. Making the law ‘do the job that people need it to do’ is central to how we help parents every week in our clinics for free. Most importantly, though, we make the law work, through love, care and kindness, for the children who are at the centre of these proceedings. dadshouse.org.uk

Ceri (second from right) with Simon and William McGranaghan MBE, CEO and Founder of Dad’s House, accepting the Pro Bono Week Parliamentary award in the House of Lords.

An Unplanned Career Sam Harmsworth-Sparling (S, 1996) In 1996, with dreams of becoming a volcanologist, I left Cheltenham College to study Geography at King’s College Sam at College London. However, the pyroclastic flow of life had other plans for me. After graduating in 1999, I got a job at London’s first internet café, Cyberia, but left to follow my heart, and a girl, to South America. Brazilian culture was a heady mix of passion and – for an English lad – freedom. I lived in Rio de Janeiro, then Sao Paulo. I was part of a team that staged a groundbreaking digital arts and music festival called

Midia Tatica. It was an exciting time, ending in heartbreak.

backgrounds to experience opera and ballet for the first time.

In 2002 I returned to London without the girl. The memory of the festival made me keen to work on musical events and perhaps compose my own. Thanks to my music scholarship to College and a mum who was a patron of Glyndebourne, I secured a job at the Royal Opera House. Every day was filled with music and theatre. My colleagues and friends were musicians, singers and ballet dancers. I loved it. I worked there for fifteen years, ending up as the Head of Audience Engagement. I ran the flagship Student Standby scheme, Schools’ Matinees performances (which Cheltenham College attended regularly) and Family Performances enabling people from lower income

In 2010 the Royal Opera House hired a digital team to build the website and make content. One of that team was an intriguing woman who’d previously worked at Shakespeare’s Globe. She confided in me that she was trying to write a children’s book about beetles. I’ve always loved reading. I asked if I could see it. After much persuasion, she let me look at two chapters. I thought it was brilliant and I wanted to help. In 2016 that book was published. Beetle Boy was translated into 40 languages and was an international bestseller. It was the first of many books by M. G. Leonard. If you’re reading this as a parent, some of your children will have read them. If you have the Adventures on Trains series, The Twitchers quartet or the Time Keys series on your shelves then you know her work. I left the world of music for a world of words. I became M. G. Leonard’s manager. Inspiring children to read and experiencing their joy and enthusiasm for storytelling is the most rewarding job I have ever done. And yes, Reader, I married her.

M. G. Leonard and Sam on the river Nile near the Valley of the Kings, researching ancient Egypt for Hunt for the Golden Scarab.

A collection of M. G. Leonard’s most popular middle grade titles. M. G. Leonard’s most recent book is The Adventures of Portly the Otter – Untold Tales from Wind in the Willows, published by Farshore Books. She will be appearing at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on Saturday 17 October with her latest Time Keys book, Attack of the Sea Dogs.

Sam mountain biking on Leckhampton Hill, an image used for an article on his chosen sport in The Cheltonian 1995.

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THANK YOU Thank you to all our donors for your support in 2025-26.

College Military Colours Cheltenham College holds the rare privilege of its own consecrated Royal Colours. This honour is shared by a select few non-military schools, awarded in recognition of the sacrifice made by Old Cheltonians in two World Wars. The College’s Combined Cadet Force (CCF) connection dates back to 1862. Thanks to the exceptional generosity of Andrew Blowers (L, 1979), the College Colours are to be updated for King Charles III, reflecting our enduring commitment to service, tradition and remembrance. The formal presentation of the new Colours will take place later this year. The Princess Royal last presented Cheltenham College’s Royal Colours in 2000.

Cricket

Cricket has been at the heart of life at Cheltenham College since its founding in 1841. The College Ground is globally renowned as the home of the Cheltenham Cricket Festival, the longest-running cricket festival in the world on an out-ground.

New cricket nets In Spring Term 2026, we opened our brand-new cricket nets on College Lawn. This wonderful investment in our pupils’ cricket was made possible through a generous legacy donation from David Sewell (Day Boy, 1959). Cricket is so important to College life as it is much more than just a sport – it builds community, teaches our pupils discipline and respect, and it opens up opportunities at university and beyond.

Chris Coley cricket scholarship Chris Coley (Thirlestaine, 1963) began his career as a teacher before becoming Marketing Manager for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. He went on to establish his corporate hospitality business, spanning two major Cheltenham sporting festivals: the National Hunt Festival and Cheltenham College Cricket Festival. Thanks to his passion for cricket and College, he has chosen to support a cricket scholarship for Henry who joined in September 2025 and is a cricketer of considerable promise. Henry’s scholarship supports both his development as a player and gives him access to a life changing education at Cheltenham College. Each and every bursary and scholarship recipient makes us a more inclusive and aspirational place. It is critical that we continue to open our doors and support pupils that show potential, and we are so grateful to Chris for this opportunity

Chapel refurbishment

Chapel is so important for our pupils. It is a place of reflection, community and shared tradition. However, due to changes to fire regulations after the Manchester Arena bombing, the capacity of Chapel has been severely restricted in recent years. Thanks to a generous donation by the Cooper family, we have been able to make some alterations to the building which have allowed us to reopen Chapel to the whole school. We are thrilled to be able to welcome the entire College community into Chapel again, and the hymn singing can be heard from Sandford Road once more!

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Legacies

Nigel Rowley’s (Wilson, 1976) legacy will change the life of a future Cheltenham College pupil, funding their education in full. Legacies like this are among the most powerful acts of generosity our Cheltonian community can make, and they sustain College long into the future. They fund bursaries, buildings, and opportunities that no single annual gift could achieve alone, ensuring that Cheltenham College remains a place of ambitiously high standards and accessible to the best and brightest pupils. ‘Cheltenham College gave me opportunities I might never otherwise have had. I was the first in my family to go to university, and the care and encouragement I found here set me on my way. Cricket and the teachers here shaped me profoundly. Leaving a legacy feels like the natural way to pass that on. Even one per cent of your estate can make a transformative difference to a young person’s life at College. I know we are all busy, but I encourage you to pick up the phone. You’ll carry a good feeling knowing you’ve done something lasting for young people who come after you.’

If you would like to leave a gift in your will to Cheltenham College, we would be honoured to speak with you in confidence. Every legacy, of any size, makes a lasting difference. Please visit: cheltoniansociety.org/pages/legacies Or reach out to Hannah Redman, Development Director at h.redman@cheltenhamcollege.org or 01242 709245

Two remarkable Cheltonians

Our two bursary endowment funds honour men of different eras, but whose connection to Cheltenham College endures: Guy Dodd (H, 1959) and Edward Wilson (Day Boy, 1891). The funds form a combined endowment of over £1 million, invested to generate annual income supporting one full and one partial bursary whilst continuing to grow in value. The inaugural Dodd and Wilson bursaries have already been awarded, with recipients joining the Lower Sixth in September 2025. We are hugely grateful to all those whose generosity has made these funds possible.

Looking ahead

Guy Dodd (H, 1959, College staff 1966-82, Leconfield Housemaster 1977-82, College Council 1999-2005)

The Fortitude Window by James Hogan, Cheltenham College Chapel

To give or to find out more, please contact the Development Office or visit: cheltoniansociety.org/pages/bursaries

Our ambition is to grow the funds further, supporting additional places and ensuring that the values of Guy Dodd and Edward Wilson shape future Cheltonians. We warmly invite you to make a contribution if you are able to. Whether you knew Guy personally, have been moved by Edward Wilson’s story, or simply believe in the transformative power of a College education, your contribution will make a tangible difference. The Cheltonian 2025-26

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Ways to Give Get in touch For more information, please contact in confidence: Hannah Redman, Development Director h.redman@cheltenhamcollege.org 01242 709 245 cheltoniansociety.org/supportus

Bank transfer or cheque BACS: Cheltenham College Charitable Trust Sort Code: 30-91-87 Account No: 00177048 Swift Code: LOYDGB 2L IBAN: GB72 LOYD 3091 8700 1770 48 BIC: LOYDGB 21054 Ref: Surname, Initial, DONATION Make your cheque payable to ‘Cheltenham College Charitable Trust’ and post to: Development Office, Cheltenham College, Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7LD

Regular giving Rather than making a single gift, many of our donors choose to give on a monthly or annual basis by direct debit. This is a more convenient arrangementfor them and it means a great deal to our school, allowing us to plan for the future on the basis of a regular income. Make a regular donation by visiting: cheltoniansociety.org/pages/1841-society

Donate online To make a donation online please visit: cheltoniansociety.org/fundraising/donation

Leave a legacy • Did you know that our School has a charitable foundation? • Did you know that 1 in 10 of our bursaries is funded by a legacy gift? • Did you know that you can leave our school even 1% so that those closest to you inherit 99%? You can of course leave more if you want to. • Did you know that by leaving a gift in your Will, you could reduce your inheritance tax on your estate?

UK Gift Aid UK taxpayers can increase donations by 25p for every £1 donated by ticking the Gift Aid box on the gift form. Cheltenham College will increase the value of your gift by reclaiming tax from HMRC, at no cost to you. Gift Aid is extremely valuable to Cheltenham College – please ensure you tick the relevant box on our donation forms, or fill out this brief form to make any past and future donations eligible for Gift Aid: cheltoniansociety.org/fundraising/gift-aid

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Share giving

International giving

Donating shares is one of the most tax-effective ways to give to charity. Giving HMRC qualifying shares to charity means you get Income Tax relief on the value of the shares as well as exemption from Capital Gains Tax. Please contact development@cheltenhamcollege.org for more details.

For gifts from the United States, please visit the British Schools & Universities Foundation: bsuf.org

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To give tax effectively from outside of the UK, or for donations of stock, property or matched employer giving, please contact development@cheltenhamcollege.org for details.

OBITUARIES Nigel Archdale (Junior School Head 1992-2008) Nigel Archdale died peacefully at home on 2 November 2025, after a long-term illness. Nigel joined The Junior as Head in 1992, at a time when the school was entering a period of transformation. Over his 16 years of leadership, he guided the school with warmth, integrity, and vision. He oversaw its transition from a boys’ prep to a fully coeducational school. His commitment to education, his pupils, and his staff was evident in every aspect of school life. Reflecting on their

time together at The Prep School, Deborah Anderes (current Prep staff) recalls, ‘Nigel was instrumental in guiding me through my early years in the teaching profession. He was always a calm hand on the tiller and was always there to wave school parties off on trips, even at two in the morning, and even took on the role of Dumbledore in a boarders’ Harry Potter feast!’ Nigel will be remembered as a kind, thoughtful Headmaster who led with confidence, care, and a deep sense of community. In March 2026, many members of the College community gathered in the Chapel to remember Nigel at a memorial service.

Stephen Charles Oxlade (College staff 1983-1991) Stephen Oxlade (Chemistry teacher and master in charge of Rowing) passed away peacefully on 16 June 2026, aged 81, following a short illness. The following is an abridged version of Stephen’s farewell in The Cheltonian 1991, written by Barry Wild (Head of Science 1982-2010): Stephen Oxlade came to Cheltenham from Monkton Combe in 1983 to teach chemistry and to be master in charge of rowing. In both areas he proved himself to be a teacher with great patience and concern for his pupils. During his time the Boat Club has expanded considerably; girls’ rowing was introduced; many more boys now row; there are more coaches and the fleet of boats has improved in both quality and quantity. Much of this was due to Stephen’s quiet, behind-the-scenes efforts. Cheltenham College is a much more respected name in rowing circles than it was in 1983, and SCO can take credit for that. In the laboratory he showed the same qualities of patience. He introduced geology as a Lower Sixth general studies course and it was always a popular option. Always very sociable and keen to be involved, he was a loyal tutor in Leconfield, he ran the Common Room bar, played cricket for the Common Room XI and was a keen supporter of walking trips in the Lake District. He was very warmly regarded by both pupils and staff.

The following has been provided by Stephen’s family: A devoted husband to De, a much-loved father to Simon (Wilson, 1992) and Edward (Wilson, 1991), and a proud grandfather to Lara, Stephen’s family was at the centre of his life. He will be remembered for his kindness, quiet humour, and the deep care he showed to those closest to him. Stephen gave many years to teaching, inspiring countless students as a Chemistry teacher and rowing coach at Shiplake College, Pangbourne College, Monkton Combe School, Cheltenham College, and Bryanston School. He had a natural gift for encouraging others – whether in the classroom or on the water – and took great pride in seeing young people grow in confidence and skill. Away from work, Stephen felt most at home in the outdoors. He embraced adventure wholeheartedly, whether walking in the Lake District, exploring the Scottish islands, or making his way along the southern coastal path. He relished time spent on rowing tours, by the water with a fishing rod, or camping under open skies. These were the moments that brought him real joy, especially when shared with family and friends. Those who knew Stephen will remember his steady presence, his generosity of spirit, and his love of nature and simple pleasures. He had a way of bringing calm and perspective, and his quiet enthusiasm for life’s pursuits left a lasting impression on many. Stephen will be greatly missed, fondly remembered, and always loved. The Cheltonian 2025-26

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Michael Bliss Vaughan Roberts (Head of Biology, 1980-1982) Michael Roberts, preeminent author of Biology textbooks for schools, died on 12 September 2025, after a long illness. The following is taken from Michael’s farewell in The Cheltonian 1982, written by Peter John Mawby (Head of Science, 1979-1983): ‘It is with regret that we say goodbye to Michael Roberts ... His wide knowledge and experience of teaching and lecturing have been much appreciated by his pupils; above all they have been encouraged to think, discuss and argue rather than to accept ideas without question. His colleagues have been grateful for his wise counsel and support … Boys, parents and staff frequently comment on the relaxed atmosphere of the Department, yet the consistent examination results bear testimony to the quality of work which is done there. This difficult balance between enjoyment and labour epitomises Michael Roberts. We shall miss him.’ The following has been written by Neil Ingram and Chris Rouan (past College staff). An extended version can be found at: www. neilingram.co.uk/mbvr/ Michael was born in Shropshire and educated at Epsom College and Cambridge University, gaining a first-class honours degree in Natural Sciences at Queen’s College followed by a PhD in 1960. For his PhD, Michael chose to work on the neurobiology of the earthworm, under Professor C F A Pantin, FRS. He became a demonstrator in the Zoology department, and this allowed him to develop the calm, clear exposition that became the foundation of his teaching and his future writing. In September 1959, Michael was appointed to Marlborough College, in succession to Sir Francis Knowles, FRS. This was a remarkable achievement for a 24-year-old taking up his first teaching post. The College records that he was a ‘brilliant teacher’ with a ‘pleasant teaching style underpinned by meticulous preparation.’ In 1962, Michael became a Fullbright Scholar in the University of California, Santa Barbara. Here he became acquainted with the reforms that were developing through the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS). Michael brought these ideas back to Marlborough and became immersed in curriculum reform at local level and with the 146

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Nuffield Science teaching project. He contributed his own research on earthworms to the Nuffield A-level Study Guide and practical guides. A new course requires a new textbook, and Michael began writing. The first edition of his A-level textbook, Biology: a Functional Approach, appeared in 1971 and was an immediate success. It ran through four editions and sold over a million copies. Its accessible style, simple diagrams and clear text were welcomed by students across the world. It had a remarkably long shelf life. Its successor, Advanced Biology, written with Michael Reiss and Grace Monger, did not appear until 2000. There are many people who claim that ‘Roberts’ got them their A-level grade. Michael moved to London in 1976 and began to write for the new Biology GCSE. He became a tutor on the Post Graduate Certificate of Education at the, then, Chelsea College. Ann Fullick, herself now a prolific textbook writer, recalls Michael as being, ‘incredibly supportive and mindful of the challenges and joys of teaching in inner London comprehensive schools.’ Michael became Head of Biology at Cheltenham College in 1980, and appointed Chris Rouan. Under Michael’s mentoring Chris became a successful author and a lifelong friend. Biology for Life was published in 1981 and was immediately popular, enabling Michael to become a full-time writer in 1982. Biology for Life ran to two editions. Dual Award Science caused Michael some soul-searching, but Biology, written with Neil Ingram (2001), did have the look and feel of Biology for Life’s ‘little brother.’ Michael had become a publishing industry: teachers’ guides, practical guides, classroom resources all followed. Michael was an international author, teacher and examiner. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and sat on its publications committee. It was Michael’s tenacity and patience that generated such quality textbooks. The move towards examination awarding bodies approving textbooks for use on their courses, brought the end to the universal textbook and led Michael to consider a gentler retirement and his wider interests. Travel, music, good company, food and wine, painting and sketching all filled his days, until his final illness took its toll.

Antony Shirras Anderson (Day Boy, 1954)

Tony Anderson, father of Nick Anderson (Thirlestaine, 1978) and grandfather of Tom Overbury (Southwood, 2008), died on 26 September 2025, aged 89. The following has been written by Nick. One afternoon in the autumn of 1945 a small boy stopped in Naunton Lane to watch some other boys playing rugger on the other side of the railings. The game looked like great fun. That evening he asked his father if he could go to the same school. His father, a GP who had just received a modest salary rise, agreed and the boy, Antony Shirras Anderson, who had been born in Hornsey in North London in 1935, started at the Junior a few days later.

Preferring one with a car, he obtained a position as a sales rep for a pharmaceutical company. He was good at the work and, swapping pharmaceuticals for marketing material and exhibition stands, he rose to become sales director and eventually the managing director of a company in Gloucester. A successful businessman, he eventually ran his own company. The perks of his work included travel, often to glamorous cities in Europe, and entertaining clients. He was fond of travel. His salary enabled him to afford holidays in exotic locations such as South America and South Africa. Sport continued to be one of his favourite pastimes. He played cricket for various local teams and hockey for Cheltenham’s Lansdown Hockey Club. In the 1970s he took up squash. In retirement he played golf every week with a group of friends from the village outside Gloucester where he and Janet lived and, when even this proved too onerous, he took up croquet. His last years were hard, but he bore the twin afflictions of Alzheimer’s disease and osteoporosis with fortitude and good humour. He died following a short illness on 26 September 2025. He leaves his wife Janet, son Nick, daughter Jane,, grandson Tom, granddaughter Tessa, and great-grandson Felix.

Martin Roger Andrews (H, 1959)

He very much enjoyed his time at College. He especially liked competitive team sport. To his enduring chagrin he never quite made the first XI at cricket or hockey, playing at best in the second or third teams. But he captained the House hockey and cricket teams. Indeed he was captain of the first Day Boy team to win Pots after the war. He was, however, a poor scholar. He was obliged to re-take his A levels at the technical college to secure the grades necessary for admission to Barts, where he planned to study medicine in order to become a GP like his father. Once at Barts, however, he devoted too much time to hockey and cricket and not, as he ruefully noted many years later, medicine. Consequently, he failed the second year. Twice. On the second occasion he was obliged to abandon reveries of a career in medicine. He returned to Cheltenham and married Janet, a girl who he had met at a Christmas party while still at College and with whom he had fallen in love. Then, unable to put off the evil day any longer, he reported for National Service. It wasn’t such a baneful turn of affairs. He passed out of Mons Officer Cadet School as senior under officer, an achievement of which he was inordinately proud for the rest of his life. He spent the second year in Nigeria, eventually becoming aide-de-camp to the governor, mostly occupied with organising cocktail parties. After National Service, with a wife and son to provide for and another child on the way, he urgently needed a job.

Martin Andrews, son of the late Bryan Andrews (H, 1927) and brother of Paddy Andrews (H, 1961), died on 20 August 2025, aged 83. The following tribute has been written by Paddy. Many years ago, at prep school, I was confronted by a burly ten-year-old Irish boy [the late Christopher Hoole (H, 1959)] who demanded to know, ‘Are you Big Andrews or Baby Andrews?’ ‘Baby Andrews’ I squeaked, and fled. Throughout our childhood and adolescence, Martin was Big Andrews to me – my guide and mentor, my sounding board – but after art college and publishing, as Art Editor of the Illustrated London News, Martin eventually, and perhaps reluctantly, returned to the fold and the family business, Kelpie Boat Services in Pembroke Dock, whereas I flitted round Switzerland and France like the unicorn that didn’t board Noah’s Ark. The Cheltonian 2025-26

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Martin was naturally a talented gardener; I remember our mother once reporting a big fruit on her courgette plant and he responded with, ‘Oh I’m overrun with the damn things.’

Philip Ralph Cleland (Cheltondale, 1961)

His humour was special, very much on the lines of the comedian Jack Dee, and he tended to emerge abruptly from apparent torpor with a pungent and funny remark. At College he was briefly nicknamed ‘Bolsh’ as, instead of ‘Yes Sir, no Sir, three bags full Sir’ when given an order, he would say, ‘Why?’ I’ll miss you – we’ll all miss you – Big Andrews. May your immortal soul rest in peace.

Robert Ian Campbell (Thirlestaine, 1967)

Dr Philip Cleland, brother of the late Geoffrey Cleland (Cheltondale, 1957), died on 16 January 2026, aged 82. The following tribute has been provided by Philip’s daughter. Cheltenham College was hugely significant for my father – and his brother Geoffrey – playing a hugely influential role in his life. Following the death of their father (Group Captain, RAF) as a result of the war, and ongoing illness of their mother, the RAF Benevolent Fund stepped in to pay for them both to board at Cheltenham College, giving them the stability, as well as the education, that they desperately needed.

Robert Campbell, brother of Adrian Campbell (Thirlestaine, 1968) and St John Campbell (Thirlestaine, 1975), died in February 2026, aged 77. The following tribute has been provided by Robert’s family. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Robert Ian Campbell, beloved husband, father, brother and friend, who left us in 2026 at the age of 77. Born in 1948, Robert lived a life marked by kindness, integrity and devotion to his family. He spent his childhood in Cheltenham, attending the junior and senior schools at Cheltenham College, where he was a member of Thirlestaine House. He went on to build a life and successful legal career in Hong Kong, the city that he called home for over fifty years. Robert shared a loving marriage with his wife, Amy, and was a proud father to his son, Patrick. Throughout his life, Robert touched many with his warmth and generosity. He had an endearing Scots sense of humour and he offered his wisdom freely. His presence enriched the lives of all who knew him and his legacy will live on forever in the hearts of his family and friends. Robert is survived by his wife Amy, his son Patrick and his brothers Adrian and St John.

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Philip thrived, making lifelong friends and representing the school in rugby on the 1st XV and cricket on the 1st XI. He went on to Birmingham Medical School and became a GP, working in Zimbabwe and at Grute Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, before spending 30 years looking after patients on the Welsh border (doing his own on-call). He was married to Lesley for 50 years. Together they had a 30-acre smallholding near Kington, on the Welsh border, where they kept rare breeds of farm animals, playing an active role in their survival. Conservation was a huge passion of Philip’s and he very much enjoyed creating woodland, ponds and wild flower meadows, winning a number of awards. Upon retirement, he regularly accompanied veterans to WW2 battlefield sites across Europe with the Not Forgotten Association as a doctor, to show his gratitude for what the RAF had given him. Dad very much enjoyed returning to Cheltenham College to talk to pupils about his experience in the years since and regularly attended Cheltonian Society events. I’d watch him wander the grounds, in quiet contemplation and gratitude for his time there. It was an experience he never forgot, and one which shaped his life and that of his family. Philip leaves his wife Lesley, children Emily and Tom, and grandchildren. He is deeply missed.

The following is the final stanza of a poem written by Philip’s daughter Emily and read at his funeral. When I speak to your friends and patients or anyone you came across, it seems, I’ll look for you. In the stories they tell, of what you did for them, how you impacted their lives beyond measure, your extraordinary antics and how you made them laugh. I’ll find you there, dad, in plain sight, In the way you touched so many lives and the legacy you created.

flying to the professionals. During the course of his life he visited, according to his own records, 43 separate countries, both for work purposes and for leisure. These included such places as Libya, Upper Volta, Ivory Coast, Namibia and China, to name just a few at random. Keith’s career centred around the manufacture and maintenance of large civil engineering projects around the world, mainly involving the construction of offshore oil rigs and aluminium smelters. Since he was principally employed by a Canadian company he eventually settled in that country, near their headquarters in Montreal.

In all of the many ways you got it so right.

Keith passed away peacefully in a hospice in Dorval on 5 December 2025.

Laurence Keith Dobson (Xt, 1966)

Richard Poole du Parcq (L, 1961)

Keith Dobson, son of the late Major-General A H G Dobson (Xt, 1929), brother of Mark Dobson (Xt, 1964) and greatgreat-grandson of Rev. William Dobson (Principal of Cheltenham College, 1845-59), died on 5 December 2025, aged 77.

Richard du Parcq passed away on 25 August 2025, aged 82. The following is an abridged version of the eulogy read at Richard’s funeral, provided by his family.

The following tribute has been provided by Keith’s brother. Laurence Keith Dobson, known to all by his second name Keith, was born in Germany on 5 April 1948, the second son of Major A H G Dobson (Xt, 1929) and great-great-grandson of Rev. William Dobson, the second Principal of Cheltenham College (1845-59). After leaving College with a handful of O-levels and A-levels, and before commencing a bachelor’s degree course in Civil Engineering at Cardiff University, Keith spent 15 weeks at sea on the sail training schooner Sir Winston Churchill – an experience which may have given him an appetite for foreign travel but probably put him off sea travel for life as he suffered badly from sea-sickness for much of the trip. Whilst at University he joined the Air Training Corps and accumulated quite a few hours in the air but, with a degree in Civil Engineering in his pocket, he decided to take a more comfortable seat in the back of the plane and leave the

Richard was born in 1943 in Surrey. The eldest child of John and Anne du Parcq, Richard then became an older brother to his sister Liz in 1947. The family moved house a fair amount, which resulted in him attending several different schools as a child. The family moved to Gloucestershire in 1954 and in 1956 Richard was awarded a scholarship to Cheltenham College. With him at Cheltenham was his friend Tim Stannard (L, 1959), who would go on to be Richard’s best man, and a new friend for life, Tony Sollars (L, 1961), who became Godfather to Richard’s second daughter, Chloe. In 1961 Richard started his chemistry degree at Exeter College, Oxford, followed immediately by his PhD. It was at Exeter College that Richard started rowing, developing a passion for the sport that would remain with him for the rest of his life. While at Exeter, Richard was part of the pilot series for a new television quiz show, University Challenge. In 1963, the programme followed a slightly different format

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to that of today: the team could make a maximum of three appearances in the series; even if they won all three, they would be replaced. In the end, Richard’s team won two and lost the third, due to their ignorance of popular music. Richard joined the Civil Service after leaving university, working as civil staff for the Metropolitan Police until retirement aged 60. In 1969 he joined Cygnet Rowing Club, and went on to be club captain in 1977, 1989 and 1990. Despite both working at Scotland Yard at the same time, Richard and Diane met through rowing, by Barnes Bridge (Diane was a member of the Civil Service Ladies’ Club next door). They married in 1973 and had 52 years – to the day – of wedded bliss. Mostly. The rowing club featured heavily in their children’s formative years. It encapsulated so much of what was important to Richard – a community that welcomed everyone and was built on a shared set of values. Richard went on to be Secretary, Treasurer and Vice-President of the club that he loved, taking his responsibilities seriously whilst making certain that everyone else also took their responsibilities seriously. Richard made many contributions to the sport throughout his life. After hanging up the oars Richard became an umpire, and in 2022 British Rowing recognised him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Driving holidays and camping were a mainstay of du Parcq summers, yet Richard’s pathological fear of motorways – driven mainly by his refusal to stump up for tolls on the continent – meant that the scenic route was always preferred. Whether being washed down a hillside in flash floods on an Italian camp site, being yelled at by a German farmer for being in the wrong orchard when stuffing their faces with cherries in the Black Forest, using a torch to light the broken dashboard of the Volvo on the autobahn, or hiking up a mountain in Provence with kids in tow, with no water, food or sunscreen, Richard’s love of European travel has rubbed off on all of his family. In his diary entry in early September 1973, Richard writes about their camping adventures whilst on honeymoon in Italy, making passing reference to the cholera outbreak in Italy at the time. Nothing, it seems, could get in the way of a good European camping experience. Richard and Diane never strayed far from Barnes Bridge, moving downriver to Hammersmith Bridge for 23 years, before returning to village life. St Mary’s Church in Barnes played a significant part in Richard’s life; being treasurer of the Parochial Church Council and participating in church life was important to him.

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Since retirement Richard has been an active member of the local community. Being the volunteer gardener at Barnes Primary School gave him a sense of immense pride, seeing the things that he loved being enjoyed by younger generations. He joined the Good Companions social group and found ways to maintain his strong relationships with others throughout his illness. People, community and the world around him were important to Richard. He didn’t shout this from the rooftops, rather he showed us all through his interest in all our lives and in his actions. Whether supporting at his daughter’s allotment, teaching us all about crop rotation and the absolute need to plant out broad beans no later than October, travelling into town for a choral performance, or making sure he kept a separate shopping list for the foodbank, Richard cared deeply for others but did not seek out – or need – any glory. A bit like his early days at Cygnet Rowing Club – he wasn’t really interested in winning or medals, he just wanted to bring people together and to enjoy their company.

Ernest John Eldridge (Day Boy, 1956) John Eldridge, brother of Roger Eldridge (Day Boy, 1958) and David Elridge (Thirlestaine, 1966) and father of Jonathan Eldridge (S, 1983) and Richard Eldridge (S, 1985), died on 6 September 2025, aged 87.

Nigel James Forrester Evans (Xt, 1956)

Nigel Evans, brother of Russell Evans (Xt, 1954), passed away on 4 November 2023, aged 85. At College, Nigel played on the Rugby 1st XV, Rowing VIII and the Boxing team. He attended St John’s College, Cambridge and went on to work at Rolls-Royce plc for 40 years, with senior appointments in Commercial and Headquarter functions. Nigel was the adored husband of Mary, devoted father of Tim, Polly and Sophie, and grandfather of Zac, Jake, Gabriella, Sasha, Ted, Oli and Alex. He is greatly missed.

John Allan Farrington (Xt, 1961)

John Farrington passed away on 15 June 2025 in Adelaide, South Australia aged 82. The following tribute has been provided by John’s family. John was born in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, England to an Australian father and British mother. His father was serving with the RAF, a Squadron Leader in Bomber Command who was shot down over Denmark and killed in 1944. Moving to Australia in 1946 John attended Scots School, Bathurst, NSW until he was 16. He then returned to England to join his mother and stepfather and to attend Cheltenham College and University College London. Following graduation in 1964 he returned to Australia.

the International Junior Cross Country Championship in San Sebastian in 1963. He represented Australia in the Olympic games at Mexico in 1968 and was named captain of the athletics team for Munich in 1972 but was unable to participate due to a last-minute injury. He was in the Commonwealth Games in Auckland in 1974 where he finished fifth in the marathon. His best marathon time of 2hrs 11mins 12sec was the fastest recorded in 1973. He won international races in several countries and was ranked in the world’s top 10 international marathon runners on four occasions during the 1970s. John was quietly spoken, shy and reserved by nature and was happiest in the comfort of home and in the company of family and friends. He bore his long illness with quiet dignity, stoicism and grace. It was the way he lived his life. He leaves his wife, Sue, his three sons, Mathew, Fletcher and Drew, and six grandchildren a wonderful legacy of love, respect, character and purpose. He will be most deeply missed.

Jonathan Anthony Genton (S, 1977)

Throughout his working life John held a number of professional management positions within university administration, in NSW and South Australia. He was employed in Canberra as part of the review of Australian Sport during the 1970s which led to the establishment of the Australian Institute of Sport. John spoke often of his all too short years at College. The warmth, engagement and encouragement he experienced there seemed a sharp contrast to the seemingly somewhat bleak and spartan years spent at boarding school in country New South Wales. He returned to College regularly during trips to England, to attend a reunion or just to stand on the sidelines watching a rugby match on a cold, wintry Saturday afternoon or spend a lazy day watching a College cricket match. And there was always the short walk to stand at the front door of Christowe House. His final visit, in April 2023, followed the diagnosis of his terminal illness. College was where John’s running talents blossomed. A keen and capable participant in a number of sports, his passion was long distance running, a passion that remained throughout his life. Yet he was not particularly competitive, always enjoying most his lengthy training runs through the bush tracks and fire trails of Australia’s national parks. John represented both England and Australia in athletics at international level. Representing England, he won

Jonathan Genton died suddenly in an accident on 4 December 2025, aged 65. The following tribute combines details provided by Jonathan’s family and edited excerpts from eulogies read at Jonathan’s memorial service held at Marlborough College Chapel. Jonathan was found to be extremely bright whilst at kindergarten in Cheltenham. He was fortunate to be awarded a full scholarship to attend College. His cricket was exceptional; he played in the 1st XI at College, as he did at Magdalen College Oxford when he attended to study Nuclear and Particle Physics, where he obtained a firstclass degree. After leaving Oxford, Jonathan first taught at Cranbrook School, as a Physics teacher, before transferring to Marlborough College in September 1987. He carried out many roles over his 38 years at Marlborough, including teacher of Astronomy, Head of Physics and Head of Science (or as he regularly called it, Head of Ignorance). Above all, Jonathan was an outstanding teacher – passionate about his subject and generously dedicated to The Cheltonian 2025-26

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sharing that passion. He was immensely knowledgeable, but what mattered most to him was teaching and sharing that knowledge with others. In 2010 he took a well-earned, year-long sabbatical, travelling the world and evidently reflecting on his future. On his return, he took on the role of Academic Administrator, masterminding the timetable. More recently, he became what was essentially the ‘College Oracle’ – basically if you needed an opinion on anything to do with Marlborough College, Jonathan was your man. He maintained contact with pupils – stretching the brightest, helping them prepare for university interviews, inspiring them to take their next giant leap. He also kept his hand in with teaching through the Summer School, where he tutored courses such as ‘Fun with Fundamental Physics.’ He was a great proponent of ‘lifelong learning’ and never stopped learning himself. Jonathan’s enthusiasm for physics and astronomy was infectious; you couldn’t help but lean in and listen. The wonderful thing was that Jonathan was as much at home discussing the virial theorem that dominates the dispersion of open clusters as he was discussing the weekend’s lacklustre performance of his beloved Cheltenham Town Football Club.

He went on to Oriel College, Oxford, where he was elected president of the Conservative Association. Initially working in management of textile and chemical engineering companies, Alan first entered Parliament in 1970 as MP for Middleton and Prestwich. He became MP for Saffron Walden in 1977 and stayed there until 2017, with his service being recognised with a knighthood in 1995. In 1997, Lord Haselhurst became Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. He was appointed a Life Peer in 2018. Paying tribute to Lord Haselhurst, Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, said, ‘He was a good and kind man, respected across both Houses, devoted to his family and admired by colleagues of every political persuasion.’ Outside of Parliament, his greatest interest was cricket. As The Daily Telegraph wrote on 11 June 2026, ‘Haselhurst’s passion for cricket was infectious … He was founding co-chairman in 1993 of the All-party Cricket Group, wrote several books on the game, and for 12 years served on the Essex County Cricket Club committee.’ Lord Haselhurst is survived by his wife Angela, daughter Emma and sons David and Mark.

David Treharne Dillon Hughes (L, 1949)

He loved wordplay, alliteration, acronyms, crossword clues and anything that made you think for a moment more. He had a great love of wine, loved to travel, enjoyed a good game of cricket, was always keen to don his black tie for a smart dinner, appreciated music and had a great singing voice, taking every opportunity to join choirs and the choral society. He truly enjoyed life. Losing Jonathan so suddenly has been shocking and hard for all of us. Let us not dwell on the end but rejoice in all that Jonathan brought to our lives – his warmth, his wit, his wisdom. We will always remember and be inspired by Mr Genton, JAG, Genters, Mr G, Jonathan.

Alan Gordon Barraclough Haselhurst (H, 1956)

Lord Alan Haselhurst died on 31 May 2026, aged 88.

Alan attended Cheltenham College from 1951 to 1956. He was a member of the Shakespeare Society and Debating Society – becoming Secretary in 1955-56 – where they debated such motions as ‘this House would like to be co-educated,’ ‘this House deplores the existence of the English Channel,’ and ‘this House has lost the art of enjoying itself.’ 152

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Dr David Hughes died on 19 June 2025, aged 93. The following tribute has been provided by David’s family. David was born in Cardiff and spent his childhood in Wales. He was educated at Cheltenham College and often reminisced about his happy times at school. He enjoyed many different sports, as well as poetry and the arts in addition to his academic sciences. He went on to read Medicine at Trinity College Oxford. At Oxford he enjoyed coxing and socialising, and his love of rowing continued throughout his life. He was President of the London Hospital Boat Club, a member of the Leander Club and attended Henley Royal Regatta every year where he entertained many of his friends. He continued to wear his old school blazer to the regatta even in his 80s. David had a distinguished medical career. He was the Medical Research Council scholarship research fellow

University of Oxford 1952-1954; Medical Specialist, Captain Royal Army Medical Corps BMH Hong Kong 1960-1961; Eli Lilly research fellow University of California San Francisco 1963-1964; Consultant Physician at the London Hospital Medical College; Head of Department of Clinical Investigation Wellcome Foundation 1978-1994; Director Dept. Resp. Medicine 1994-96; President of the International Society of Internal Medicine 1978-1980; RSM Section President, President of the Hunterian Society; General Medical Council Member 1993-96; the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries Member 1958, Court 1981-2004, Master 1992-1993. In addition, David published several books and numerous scientific papers. He maintained a cheerful and positive outlook throughout his life and mentored many medical colleagues. In his retirement he developed further his love of the theatre and was a stalwart supporter of the Kings Head Theatre at Islington. He also enjoyed attending a wide range of events at The Garrick Club, where he made many new friends. The recent photograph of him in this tribute is at his 90th birthday party held at the club. David was a much-loved father and had a strong relationship with all his grandchildren, many of whom shared his interests. He was predeceased by his wife Gloria, whom he nursed devotedly during her final illness. He leaves behind three children, two medical and one a theatrical agent, and four grandchildren.

Christopher ‘Chrix’ John Juckes (BH, 1956)

was the fourth of five Juckes boys to Dick and Dolly Juckes. The family has a strong connection with College; Dick was Housemaster of Cheltondale and Dolly’s sister Jill was married to the then Headmaster, Henry Hardy. Dick retired from school-mastering in 1949 and the family moved from Cheltenham to the village of Tredington near Tewkesbury, where Dick farmed with his brother. Chrix, along with his four brothers, attended both the Junior School and Senior School. Chrix does not come across as the most academic of pupils, being more interested in the countryside and animals. When it came to the beginning of the school term and boarding, Chrix did not want to leave his animals. He was persuaded back to school with the promise that he could take his donkey, riding the eight miles or so from Tredington to Cheltenham, the donkey spending the rest of term grazing around the school playing fields! At away sports matches, Chrix was known at times to take one of his racing pigeons on the bus and try to fly the results of the match back to school ahead of the returning team. On leaving Cheltenham College, Chrix went to Cirencester Agricultural College before turning his hand to the business of farming. Chrix’s farming career started with building a piggery on his uncle’s farm, which was featured in Farmer’s Weekly at the time. He then moved on to milking cows and building up a dairy herd at Tredington. It was at the wedding of his younger brother Frank that Chrix met Jenny Cuss – it was love at first sight and Chrix and Jenny married at Christchurch in Cheltenham in 1971. My first memories of my father are of a friendly giant, with the strength of ten men and hands like shovels. Always striding around the farm with great purpose and a bale of hay, a calf or a child on his shoulders!

Christopher Juckes (known as Chrix), son of Richard Juckes (College staff 1925-49 and Cheltondale Housemaster 193449), brother of David Juckes (BH, 1950), Tom Juckes (BH, 1951), Peter Juckes (BH, 1954) and Frank Juckes (BH, 1963), father of Ben Juckes (NH, 1991), and uncle of John Juckes (Cheltondale, 1978), Kit Juckes (Cheltondale, 1980), Tess Juckes (Ch, 1986) and Tim Juckes (NH, 1993), passed away on 28 February 2025, aged 86. The following tribute has been written by Chrix’s son, Ben. Chrix was born on 21 April 1938 at Aston-on-Clun in Shropshire, the home of his maternal grandparents. He

Family holidays were great fun, more often than not in Pembrokeshire, where the sun always seemed to shine. At the beach, with other fathers struggling with children’s buckets and spades, Chrix would arrive armed with the farm shovel and proceed to construct the largest sandcastles and sea defences, soon involving all the other children on the beach. Always looking to progress the farm, in the late 1970s Chrix moved the family, now including children Ben and Helen, from Tredington to Ash Farm House, Great Wolford in the Cotswolds. Chrix worked morning, noon and night to transform the farm and dairy. Alongside work and family, he enjoyed hunting to hounds and was chairman of the local NFU. There was also space for wildlife, with appearances by Chrix on the local TV, winning various conservation awards. After 25 years milking cows, there came an opportunity to move to the Welsh Marches and a gentler pace of life. The Cheltonian 2025-26

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Firstly, at Llancillo, Pandy and then The Old Rectory, Ewyas Harold, where Chrix and Jenny lived for the last 30+ years, working on the house and garden to make it a lovely home for family, friends and their B&B guests. Many of the guests returned year after year to enjoy the hospitality, plus Chrix’s cooked breakfasts and evening drinks. Chrix and Jenny busied themselves with village life. Alongside garden parties and supper parties raising funds for the church, they enjoyed reels club, gardening club, croquet and latterly bridge, to name but a few. Chrix always enjoyed the ‘taking part’ and the company of others, especially if there was an opportunity for some leg-pulling. Chrix had a wonderful sense of humour and wit, which remained with him to the last. He loved the company of family and a wide circle of friends. I will always remember him as someone who was totally happy, confident and comfortable within himself. He had a great drive and love of life and a huge love for his fellow man.

Hugh Richard Langrishe (Xt, 1940)

evacuated to Shrewsbury. Hugh was billeted at the home of a local solicitor and, although enjoyable with school meals being supplemented by large breakfasts and an additional high tea in the evening, there was nothing to achieve by staying on. Hugh began an engineering degree course at Edinburgh University but was selected for Officer training with the Fleet Air Arm in 1942. His war service took him to Australia and was covered in his memoir Naval Air Engineer published in 2021. Upon demobilisation, Hugh secured a place as a premium apprentice at the De Havilland Aeronautical Technical School. Upon completion of the training and several years of full-time work, it was with reluctance that Hugh left aviation for a job in production engineering. He then started a motor trading business in Ascot with his great friend and period motor racing personality Ron Flockhart. Hugh married Pamela in 1955. Jane was born in 1956 and Jack in 1959. After selling the business the family moved to Pembrokeshire where Hugh started a motor factor business as well as dabbling in market gardening. Retirement led to a move with Pam to Herefordshire where they took a full part in the community as well as visiting several Cheltonian Society events. His experience of motor sport in the 1950s led to a number of opportunities to write and talk about the period and he prepared and presented lectures on various aeronautical related subjects.

Hugh Langrishe, brother of Philip JD Langrishe (Xt, 1935) and cousin of Richard B Langrishe (Xt, 1901), Richard CG Langrishe (Xt, 1930), Nicholas Langrishe (Xt, 1960) and Richard D Langrishe (Xt, 1959), died on 25 November 2025, aged 102.

Hugh was blessed with an active state of mind and superb memory which endeared him to people of all ages right up until his death. A final helping of ice cream was a fitting end to a very happy life!

Malcolm John Leeding (Day Boy, 1958)

The College photo above shows Hugh winning the under-16 hurdles in 1939. The following obituary has been provided by Hugh’s children, Jack and Jane. Hugh died just short of his 103rd birthday in a nursing home in Leominster, Herefordshire having only moved there from his own home in Bromyard six days earlier. He was pre-deceased by his wife Pamela who died in 2023. Hugh was born in Bermuda. His father (Royal Army Medical Corps) was posted to Catterick in 1925, with the family moving to Edinburgh in 1928. Hugh attended Aysgarth School, Yorkshire before following his cousin RB Langrishe and brother PJD Langrishe to Cheltenham College. He was proud of his school although he left two terms early. He had passed his School Certificate and the school had been 154

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Malcolm Leeding passed away in December 2025, aged 85. The following tribute has been provided by Malcolm’s wife of 61 years, Prue. Malcolm attended the Junior School and College, before embarking on a long and successful career in local

government which saw him serve several councils before settling in Oxfordshire. He was also a dedicated contributor to various local causes, and continued this on retirement. His contribution was recognised by the award of an MBE for services to the local community in 2015. Malcolm maintained a strong affection for Cheltenham throughout his life, and took particular pleasure in the Cheltenham Cricket Festival and carol services in Chapel, both of which he continued to attend until very recently. Malcolm is greatly missed by his wife, Prue, sons Chris and Nick, daughters-in-law Joann and Hayley, and grandchildren Alasdair, Katie, Alf and Hannah.

Timothy George Lynch-Staunton (L, 1958)

and Grasshoppers. Tim cherished the lifelong friendships he made with those he played alongside. For many years during the winter months Tim played in goal for Weybridge Hawks Hockey Club. Tim was also a huge and avid fan of athletics and the much more niche area of athletics statistics. He was a member of NUTS (National Union of Track Statisticians) and was editor of Track Stats and NUTS Notes for a number of years. Able to retire at 58, Tim turned his focus to golf and became an involved member at The Drift Golf Club in East Horsley, playing twice a week in the roll up and also away days, winning a few events, getting his handicap down to eleven, but most importantly making a new group of friends, who meant a great deal to him. In retirement, Tim and Janet visited Lake Garda and the surrounding area on several occasions, as well as taking many trips around the British Isles, often coinciding with British Open Golf Championship venues. Despite having been diagnosed with prostate cancer in his late 60s, Tim maintained an active life into his early 80s when sadly he was diagnosed with bone and bowel cancer. This affected his ability to travel and later to leave the house. He bore these diseases humbly and stoically; he was clearly in far more pain and discomfort than he would ever say.

Tim Lynch-Staunton passed away on 15 November 2025, aged 85. The following tribute has been provided by Tim’s family. Tim was born during The Battle of Britain, on 5 August 1940, in Felpham, Sussex. At the age of eight, he went off to board at Cheltenham College Junior School, later progressing, at the age of 12, to the senior school. Whilst at Cheltenham, Tim played most sports, including squash, table tennis, and hockey. His main sport was cricket, at which he excelled. He represented the College 1st XI, Southern Schools and played at Lords.

Tim was nursed tirelessly by Janet. She is owed a huge debt of gratitude for the selfless care and love she gave him. A month prior to Tim’s passing they celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary.

Julian Ross Metcalfe (L, 1974)

After College, Tim joined the world of re-insurance where he spent the majority of his career. In 1961, when living in Weybridge, Surrey, Tim met Janet Hood, the daughter of a local doctor. Tim and Janet married at St James Church in Weybridge in October 1964. Tim continued to excel at cricket, joining Oatlands Park Cricket Club after leaving school, where he flourished in the 1st XI as a devilishly accurate, nagging, medium fast bowler, and also a fine batsman. Over a long career he became the second highest wicket taker in the club’s history – a tremendous achievement. Saturdays were league cricket days with visits all over Surrey and South London, and Sundays were set aside for ‘all day’ games – friendlies for teams such as Old Cheltonians in the Cricketer Cup, Frogs

Julian Metcalfe, uncle of Anna Lomax (Ch, 2006) and Andrew Lomax (Xt, 2009), died on 29 July 2025, aged 69. The following tribute has been provided by Julian’s family. Julian was born in Malaysia, his father was in the Malay Civil Service. Within a few days he was flown to England (when the journey took nearly a week) for treatment of jaundice

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at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where he was baptised

His daughter, Patricia, was born in 1997, one week after the

and given Holy Unction before an operation to remove

end of his assignment in Zagreb. She paid a brief visit, aged

his spleen. His father’s cousin looked after him for twelve

seven weeks, to assist the packers before returning to the

months by which time his parents had relocated to Northern

UK on a camping trip via Hungary, Slovakia, Eastern Poland,

Rhodesia (now Zambia). They advertised for a passenger

the Baltic States and Sweden. Julian always enjoyed a good

to Nairobi to take Julian with them. The family then drove

camping trip (one involved a lion in Botswana, another snow

back to what was Abercorn (now Mbala), on the edge of

in the Sinai Peninsula). Towards the end of his time in the FCO

Lake Tanginika in the far northeast of what is now Zambia,

his economic skills were put to good use in Estates managing

where his father was District Commissioner. He remembered

Foreign Office assets around the world, then, as the UK’s

Dr Kenneth Kuanda visiting, as the country was preparing for independence, and playing the guitar to the family after dinner. When the family visited England on home leave, and Julian was four, it was a foreign country to him – and the first time that he saw electricity. Initially home schooled in remote townships where his father was a District Commissioner, Julian was sent to boarding school, at the age of seven. After prep school at Horris Hill, near Newbury, he attended

carried out his last assignment. After retiring from the FCO, Julian worked with a charity (the IAPB International Association for the Prevention of Blindness) which raised money, especially government grants, for projects for the blind. This was of particular interest as Julian had lost the sight in one eye as a result of a car accident as a child.

Cheltenham College, maintaining contact with his

He subsequently worked in the security team of the Royal

Housemaster Guy Dodd (Leconfield Housemaster 1973-1982)

Academy and was the staff representative at a time when

and his wife Helen, and friends from College for all his life.

the security contract was switching from one company to

Following a gap year with Project Trust in South Africa and Botswana, Julian read Politics and Economics at Bristol University where he was active in the student anti-apartheid

another. During that switch most staff lost holiday pay worth hundreds of pounds. Julian held many meetings about this with Royal Academy and security company staff over several

movement. In later years he chaired the London Group

months but to no avail. Eventually he sent a letter headed,

Alumni Association, in addition to organising the annual

‘Robbery at the Royal Academy’ to the Chief Executives of

carol service, for which he recruited interesting speakers,

both companies and to the President and Chief Executive

including a former Head of MI5. On graduation he was an

of the Royal Academy. Within days, the President of the RA

Overseas Development Institute Fellow, returning to Africa

had given instructions that the issue be resolved, and staff

as the economist in the Health Ministry in Lilongwe, Malawi,

soon received the holiday pay owing to them. At the Royal

making new friends who would stay with him for the rest of

Academy, Julian introduced Patricia both to art and security

his life. There he met Rachel Jones who was to become his

management. He was also a lay representative on Quality

wife. They married in November 1983.

Care Commission inspections of care homes, hospitals and

Back in the UK, Julian undertook an MA in Development Economics at Sussex University and then entered the Government Economic Service attached to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. His first overseas posting was to Egypt. He subsequently joined the Diplomatic Service. In the 1990s the focus of his work switched to the Balkans: he was present at the negotiation of the Dayton Accords, establishing a framework for peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and was a peace-keeper in Bosnia, Deputy Head of the Eastern Adriatic Department and Deputy Ambassador in Zagreb. He drove out to Zagreb planning, on arrival, to swap his tent for the Intercontinental Hotel only to be billeted out, as the towering hotel was deemed too easy a target for incoming shells. The city came under fire from Kraina three days later. 156

Delegate to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva, he

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GP practices. Julian loved to travel and met his second wife Alison on a coach trip to Versailles in 2019. They enjoyed cruises and trips together. Even when Julian knew his cancer was spreading during his last year, he travelled in Europe, South Africa and USA. He collapsed and died with a glass of whiskey beside him, in the first-class lounge of Newark airport (which somehow seemed appropriate), as he prepared to return home, having achieved his ambition of a final overseas trip with his daughter Patricia. He is greatly missed by all who knew him.

Neal M. Poole (NH, 2009)

thought of in the workplace and by his family and friends. He loved nature, goodness, the environment and all that is pure and Godly. We only need think of his fearless, adventurous, compassionate, progressive spirit and he is with us in our heart, soul and mind with his gorgeous Elvis-like smile. ‘Grief is the price we pay for love.’ Neal is greatly loved by many and sorely missed. Peace be with you, Neal, whom I’m privileged to have as my cherished son. Your loving mother, Anita / Mum

Neal Poole, brother of Natasha (Ch, 2007), passed away in 2023, aged 32. The following tribute has been written by Neal’s mother, Anita, and some of his closest friends. It is with sadness that I write this obituary tribute for my dear, wonderful son Neal. He passed away suddenly and tragically in Australia, at the end of 2023, at only 32 years. The loss of Neal has been devastating for his family and friends. Neal is remembered affectionately and uniquely. He was a warm, fun, smiling, bright, sensitive child. He grew to become a hardworking, goal orientated, caring, handsome, exceptionally good, independent man, with a maturity and wisdom beyond his years. Popular, dyslexic and very intelligent in a quiet, calm, perceptive way, Neal went on to fulfil his goal of independence and serving three years in the New Zealand Army. He then for several years worked as a qualified chef in the high-pressure Australian LNG [liquified natural gas] industry, organising and cooking high quality meals for thousands in a relatively small team. He also worked in restaurants, functions and a company producing quality packaged foods for retail, including managing staff from disadvantaged backgrounds. At Christmas he sometimes volunteered to cook for charities and gave generously. Neal learned economics himself and taught himself to be financially astute, working towards a goal of his dream home. Despite many significant challenges – including trauma from an abusive girlfriend, a work injury that left him with a painful chronic illness, encroaching toxic neighbours, and extreme isolation during Australia’s strict Covid lockdowns – Neal renovated his home in the scenic Australian Hinterland mountain rainforest and overcame these stresses. It’s heartbreaking that we lost Neal at the end, alone, drained and unwell. Though his life was cut short, he squeezed into his 32 years all that was possible and more. I’m incredibly proud of my son’s character, integrity, ethics, achievements and calm, strong demeanour. Neal was non-judgmentally spiritual, a deep thinker, and was highly

The following are excerpts from condolences and tributes from some of Neal’s closest friends – Max and Tom in the UK, and Raf and Jenine in Australia (with whom Neal worked and shared a house, before he drove across the Outback to his new home in the mountains). Max: On reflecting on my years side by side with your wonderful son, I have only the best of memories. I feel that we grew up together, joined at the hip in our school days and holidays. Neal demonstrated and represented the spirit of individuality and morality. There will always be choices presented to children, teenagers and adults that leave them with difficult decisions. The temptation to fit in, to be cool, or to ignore your compass and steer off course. Neal never seemed to reach these moral paradoxes. He was simply Neal; he never tried to be someone he wasn’t. He was cool because of this and I looked up to him. Years later, meeting on one of Neal’s London trips, I was so impressed with his sense of self. He was calm, confident and clearly strong. Neal is kind, gentle and brave. The world will miss this great man. We are all richer for knowing him and poorer for losing him. Tom: Neal was a popular young man, albeit not overtly friendly with everyone. You felt honoured if Neal considered you a friend! His self-belief is something I’ve always tried to put into practice. Be true to yourself and follow your path no matter what, and Neal certainly led from the front. I always thought it was ironic, given he didn’t follow orders at school, that he joined the Army! I remember his ice cool demeanour and grin when we met on his trips back to the UK. Friends commented what a top bloke Neal was and how easy they felt around him and he with them. Sadly, after being so strong and fun loving, during Covid Neal seemed to be trapped by Australia’s isolation rules. With all the other issues going on in his last years and physical illnesses, it’s easy to see how disillusioned he became with life and this unsettled world. The Cheltonian 2025-26

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The loss of Neal is tragic. All that we can do now is continue to remember Neal, his impact on us, and the laughs we had along the way. Follow your instincts and enjoy the ride wherever it takes you, with a cheeky grin for good measure! Neal was built different – a maverick, one of a kind. You will always be remembered, Neal. Much love to you, my friend. Raf & Jenine: Neal was the kindest and most honest and humble person we’ve ever met. We always enjoyed our conversations. He will be forever remembered in our hearts and in our family. He was part of our wedding and our first son’s baptism. I will never forget my time working alongside him, the stories we shared and the plans we had for our futures. He was the best housemate we could’ve asked for and a great friend. Our deepest condolences.

Julian Warrilow Proctor (NH, 1960)

the American College of Radiology (ACR) and American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO). Julian could best be described as a humble, funny and immensely interesting, brilliant man. His exuberant and witty personality shone through in all and everything he did. An avid global explorer, researcher, physician, author, storyteller, outdoorsman and sportsman, whenever an opportunity to enjoy life was presented Julian was ‘bloody well in!’ Whether travelling, golfing, fishing, hunting, camping, skiing, playing hockey, kayaking, white water rafting or foraging the woods for potentially poisonous mushrooms, Julian loved being active and outdoors and with friends and family. A good friend put it best by saying, ‘Julian you are not just a friend ... you are an adventure.’ Known as the ‘Good Doctor’ for his amazing bedside manner, Julian always made time for his patients regardless of his own personal adventure of the day. His thoughtfulness and desire to help people went well beyond the walls of the hospitals and his touch was felt by an extensive group of friends and family. Those who knew him understand it would take too many pages to tell the full story of his rich life. Julian will be fondly missed and remembered as a wonderful brother, husband, father, healer and friend to all.

John Peter Radcliffe (Xt, 1952) Julian Proctor, brother of the late Nicholas Proctor (NH, 1960), died on 24 March 2021, aged 79. The following tribute has been provided by Julian’s family. Julian was born in Cheltenham, England, a son of the late lan Robert Proctor and Jean Gertrude Bremner. After attending the Junior School and College, Julian graduated from medical school and obtained his PhD in London, before moving to Canada as a Senior Investigator based out of McGil University Medical School in Montreal. From there he went to Pittsburgh to complete a residency in Radiation Oncology at Allegheny General Hospital, during which he met his wife and daughter while visiting a close friend in Washington DC. He then spent four years at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore. Julian returned to New Castle, PA and dedicated the rest of his career to Jameson Memorial Hospital and helped create the UPMC [University of Pittsburg Medical Center] Cancer Center. He remained involved with multiple UPMC Cancer Centers around the area until his retirement from clinical work in 2017, after which he continued to be involved doing accreditation site visits for the American College of Radiology until 2020. Over his many years of service Julian also earned fellowships with 158

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John Radcliffe, brother of the late Richard Radcliffe (Xt, 1954), Michael Radcliffe (Xt, 1958) and Dan Radcliffe (Xt, 1962), died on 5 December 2025, aged 90. The following obituary has been provided by Michael. The eldest of five children, John was born in Weybridge. He grew up near Bristol where his father was Experimental Manager and later Head of Flight Research for the Bristol Aeroplane Company. His mother Margery (née Lumsden), was an accomplished pianist with an ARCM diploma, composing children’s songs, which she broadcast on the BBC’s Children’s Hour. John went to The Wells House aged six, safe from the bombing of Bristol; later transferring to Stouts Hill. He

won a scholarship to College aged twelve. Two years later Christowe’s Housemaster, Mr Boutflower, broke the news to him that our father had been killed in an aeroplane crash and our lives were turned upside down. John played a hugely supportive role for our mother as she gathered the reins and set about completing the upbringing of the family she and our father had created together. At College John was streamed into the humanities, becoming a protégé of Mike Morgan. He applied to his father’s college in Cambridge, Trinity, but chose Clare when they offered him an exhibition in January 1952. Aged eighteen with a commission from the new sovereign, 2nd Lieutenant John Radcliffe joined the Royal Artillery in the 80th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment in command of a company of gunners based in the Suez Canal Zone. He spent his leave traveling to Jerusalem, Damascus and Petra. John went up to Clare in September 1954 to read history under Geoffrey Elton. In the University Library he first set eyes on Bridget Cuthbert, also reading history. In the long vacation, with Bridget and two other friends, they drove to Greece. John and Bridget were married in 1959. After a brief spell with UKAEA (UK Atomic Energy Authority) John joined the BBC as a World Service producer in 1961 based at Bush House. John’s subsequent move into schools’ television and educational broadcasting would see him navigate enormous technological and cultural shifts in broadcasting. As an executive producer in Continuing Education, John oversaw a remarkable range of innovative programmes including All in the Mind, a documentary about group psychotherapy. He collaborated with Irish journalist Nuala O’Faolain on a documentary series exploring the impact of the troubles on Northern Ireland and on Irish communities in London. He produced For the Love of Albert, working with playwright Alan Plater and actors from the Ken Campbell Road Show to guide viewers through their rights to claim benefits. In the 1980s John was the principal driving force for the BBC’s exploration of the world of computing in The Computer Literacy Project. He commissioned a home computer (the BBC Micro) to teach viewers how to program. The Computer Literacy Project was a milestone in the history of computing in Britain, helping inspire a generation of programmers. 1.2 million BBC Micros were sold. John became Head of the Open University Production Centre at Milton Keynes, overseeing the production of educational programmes; and then Head of BBC Select, the development of subscription television using decoder technology – an innovation overtaken by satellite broadcasting and the internet. When BBC Select was axed, John retired.

John’s next project was the Kipling Society website, and his contribution is best captured in this extract from the obituary written by Janet Montefiore for the Kipling Journal: ‘December 2025 was saddened for the Kipling Society by the death of John Radcliffe, creator and editor of the Society’s website, publicity officer and General Editor of the online New Reader’s Guide. The Kipling Society benefited immensely from John’s expertise, initiative and engaging personality. He taught himself HTML software and singlehandedly designed and maintained the Society’s website, checking it regularly, stitching in new files, and adding new features. ‘John headed the online New Reader’s Guide, bringing together a team of Kipling scholars to update Reginald Harbord’s 8-volume Reader’s Guide. This gargantuan work of co-operative scholarship, masterminded by John through his deep knowledge of Kipling, enthusiasm, IT skills, professional experience of team leadership, and his can-do attitude, has proved an invaluable research tool for Kipling researchers worldwide. As Chair of the Society, he initiated the 2007 conference at the University of Kent, and he was the moving spirit of the 2013 Vermont ‘Kipling in America’ conference. He supported the ‘Writing with Kipling’ project, and was present at every meeting until May 2025. His funeral, in Golders Green, conducted by his family, showed by how much he was loved and valued by so many people, young as well as old, who gathered to celebrate his life.’ With his enchanting smile, John made friends and found kindred spirits wherever he went. In later life, he never made a train journey without having a fascinating conversation with a fellow passenger. Bridget sadly died in 1999. John subsequently married Sheila (née Butler), whom he had met at the Open University. After Sheila died in 2016, John made a new home for himself in Linton Street, Islington. Despite worsening age-related macular degeneration, John moved his avid reading over to audio-books and kept up keenly with world events. John was a marvellous host, who had many dear friends. At family gatherings he played the guitar and piano, and enjoyed singing folk songs. He took a keen interest in the lives and careers of his three children and their families, holidaying abroad with his grandchildren. John is survived by his children, Virginia, Jonathan and Polly, and his six grandchildren, Ruby, Iona, Sidney, Olivia, Frank and Noah.

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John Charles Richards (Xt, 1958) Ched Richards, brother of Stuart Richards (Xt, 1961), passed away in the United States in May 2023, aged 82. Ched played for the 1st XV and 1st hockey teams and was an avid reader, spending much of his spare time in the ‘Big Modern’ library. Ched presented the Library with an engraved chair which remains there today.

Martin Stuart Steadman (Xt, 1951)

Martin was a devoted husband and father whose interests included sailing, bird watching, natural history and classical music. He was always anxious to encourage us to learn and experience new things. We went on many journeys of discovery including to Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. A memorable trip was a four-month adventure around the USA in 1993, taken on our way back to the UK after a working stint in Singapore. We took in many famous geographical sights such as the Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon. He is very dearly missed by me and our daughter, Georgina, and our wider family and close friends.

Thomas Stuart Aylmer Thornton (Day Boy, 1957)

Martin Steadman passed away on 2 May 2023, aged 87. The following has been written by Martin’s wife, Regina Steadman.

Tom Thornton, father of Philip Thornton (H, 1983), son of Cyril Joseph Thornton OBE (H, 1889) and nephew of Charles Thornton (H, 1889 and Head of Cheltenham College Junior Department 1911-1923), died on 26 March 2024, aged 85.

My beloved husband, Martin Steadman, passed away peacefully at home on 2 May 2023. He had been undergoing treatment for melanoma for several months but sadly, it was not successful.

Jeremy John Wood (NH, 1982)

Martin started off as a boarder at the Junior School and then went on to the Senior School. He was a keen rower, played rugby and his interest in natural history was probably ignited during his early years in the Junior School. He was also in the College orchestra and played the trombone. Martin left College aged 16 to join the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth as a cadet and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Apart from commissions with Royal Navy ships, he also had shore-based loan service jobs with the Royal Malaysian Navy and Royal Brunei Malay Regiment. He left the Royal Navy in 1978 and continued working in the maritime industry, including a period in 1979 to 1982 building the PZ class of patrol boats for the Malaysian Police. He returned to the UK in 1983 and had a short appointment in Antigua before coming back to England to be part of a team setting up a new Marina at Portsmouth. He retired in 1997 and returned to Cheltenham.

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Jeremy Wood, brother of Christopher Wood (NH, 1978) and father of Benjamin Wood (NH, 2017) and Hannah Wood (W, 2020), died unexpectedly from pneumonia in Nairobi on 4 May 2026, aged 61. The following obituary has been provided by Jeremy’s family. Jeremy was born in Nairobi on 10 December 1964, joining his older brother Christopher and, as Christopher fondly

recalled in his eulogy, completing the ‘fourth corner of the family square.’ Their parents, Ron and Ailsa Wood, had both moved to Kenya in the early 1950s, meeting while working respectively for the Colonial Police Service and British Education in the Kenya Colony. From the beginning Jeremy was energetic, mischievous and insatiably curious. As a young boy he developed an early fascination with anything mechanical, preferring toy lawnmowers and vacuum cleaners to conventional toys. This fascination with gadgets and machinery remained with him throughout his life. He was also captivated by aviation from a very young age, an enthusiasm that would become a lifelong passion and later be passed on enthusiastically to his son Benjamin. Jeremy began his education at Marlborough House, the family school run by his mother in Westlands, Nairobi, before becoming a boarder at Kenton College and later joining Cheltenham College, first at the Junior School and subsequently at Newick House. Friends and contemporaries remember him as great company: witty, irreverent, sociable and constantly entertaining. Stories from his school years included elaborate practical jokes, apple-pie beds, inventive use of fire exits and a mischievous streak that never entirely disappeared. One contemporary recalled Jeremy’s enthusiasm for the CB radio craze of the early 1980s, which proved unexpectedly useful when Newick House conducted a nocturnal ‘rocket campaign’ against Christowe. While miniature rockets flew across the November sky, Jeremy calmly coordinated lookouts and communications, relishing the unfolding chaos as only he could. His humour emerged early in life; family members recalled how, as a boy, he once attempted to rewrite the Tintin books ‘more realistically’ – complete with profanities – before the manuscript was swiftly confiscated by his older brother. At College, Jeremy became an RAF cadet, reflecting the deep interest in flying that remained central throughout his life. After school he returned briefly to Kenya, gaining his private pilot’s licence at Wilson Airport, before heading to Switzerland to study at the Les Roches Hotel Management School in Crans-Montana. There he discovered another lifelong passion – cooking – and while undertaking an internship in Ouchy met Tanja, who would later become his wife. Friends would later become regular beneficiaries of his culinary talents, with Jeremy earning a reputation as an

exceptional cook and generous host whose dinner parties were often as memorable for the laughter as they were for the food. In June 1999 their son, Benjamin, was born, followed two years later by their daughter, Hannah. In late 2002 the family returned permanently to Kenya after Jeremy joined his father in expanding Nairobi Vintners into a leading wine and spirits importer and distributor in Kenya. Over the following two decades he became a well-known and highly respected figure within the local hospitality and drinks industry, combining sharp commercial instincts with his characteristic warmth, humour and ability to build lasting relationships. Family life in Kenya revolved around safaris, weekends at the coast and time spent with friends and extended family. Jeremy particularly loved Watamu and later purchased a boat, Imbuko, which quickly became his pride and joy. Named after the Xhosa word roughly meaning ‘admiration for,’ Imbuko became synonymous with Jeremy himself: generous hospitality, laughter, sangria of questionable strength, family and friends gathered aboard, and long evenings watching the sun set over Mida Creek. One of Jeremy’s greatest qualities was his loyalty to others. Close friends describe him as ‘an oasis of sanity’ whose unwavering friendship, stoic support and irrepressible humour helped many people through difficult periods in their lives. His humour – often mischievous, occasionally outrageous and always quick-witted – was legendary amongst those who knew him. He had an extraordinary ability to bring levity even to difficult situations. Yet beneath the jokes lay immense kindness, compassion and steadfast loyalty. Jeremy was deeply devoted to his family and immensely proud of his children. In September 2013 he proudly returned to Cheltenham College to drop Benjamin off at Newick House, a particularly meaningful occasion as Benjamin was allocated the very same cubicle Jeremy himself had occupied decades earlier, a moment Jeremy regarded as a perfect full circle. He is survived by his wife Tanja, children Benjamin and Hannah, brother Christopher, extended family and a wide circle of friends across the world. He will be remembered with enormous affection, admiration and gratitude by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Obituaries are also published throughout the year on the Cheltonian Society website: cheltoniansociety.org/pages/obituaries These tributes have been provided by family members or those who knew the deceased very well. We are extremely grateful to Hannah Dale, Archives Manager, for the research she has carried out and for providing many of the College photographs. Please get in touch to let us know of any obituaries or notices for our website and the next edition of The Cheltonian. society@cheltenhamcollege.org 01242 265694 The Cheltonian 2025-26

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English bone china Prep mug English bone china College mug

English bone china House mugs (all Houses available) Cheltonian Society black soft finish 80-sheet lined A5 notebook with ball point pen

Pack of two pairs of socks One size (sizes 6-11)

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Cheltonian Society 330ml bubble base glass tumbler OC silk tie

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Ken Messer watercolour prints Limited Edition (250) mounted print College silver cufflinks Ian Weatherhead Limited Edition (300) prints Greeting cards available from the Cheltonian Society Prints and Framed Prints are available direct from D’Arcy Gallery – please contact us for details.

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Acknowledgements The editor would like to thank the following for allowing the use of their images in this publication: Gillman & Soame photographers. The photographs of Speech Day Prizes and staff Valete have been reproduced by kind permission of Gillman & Soame photographers and can be ordered online at https://www.gsimagebank.co.uk/ cheltenhamcollege/t/ikw1bk2026

Editorial Notes Old Houses will be named in full. The following abbreviations are used for current Houses: A

Ashmead

Leconfield

BH Boyne House

NH Newick House

Ch Chandos

The Queen’s House

CL College Lawn

Southwood

Xt Christowe

W Westal

Our thanks

Too many to list here, but many thanks go to the great number of pupils, teachers, support staff, OCs and Housemasters and Housemistresses who have kindly provided articles, information and images for this edition. The editor, Laurette Thomas, would like to thank: Kate Human for her excellent content from the Cheltonian Society; Ellie Moore for her amazing work with images; Rachel Hellier for her superb photography and work with images; Spencer Huggett, Dion Douglas and Hannah Corden for their excellent photography; Tessa Gingell for her expert input; Hannah Dale for her research and information from the College Archive; and College Office, in particular Helen Price, for their invaluable support. On behalf of Cheltenham College, the editor would like to express the school’s gratitude to Mat Jolly of Jolly Good Design for the graphic design.

Hazelwell

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