STRS in the News - Autumn Term 2005

 School Honours Top Sixth Formers

20 December 2005

Scott Yearsley, Jon Roskilly, Seb Partlett, James Hyett-Hudman, Aled Jones & Ciàran Conway
Recipients of Rich's Top Honour for Service to the School
Photographed here with Peter Glanville who presented them with their lapel badges at Final Assembly

 Rugby Awards Just Reward for Hard-working Season at All Levels

Colours & Merit Award Winners - Season 2005

At our final assembly of the Autumn Term, we were privileged to have Guest of Honour Peter Glanville who took time off from his Gloucester RFC training duties to present the rugby cups, colours and awards to over 40 boys. Southgate collected both the House Rugby cups, proving much stronger than the other Houses in both competitions. Of special note the U15 team which only lost one of its 15 fixtures. The team is currently in the third round of the Daily Mail Vase, so we wish them good luck for next term! Our U12s also made a good start to their school rugby careers by winning the Churchdown School 10s Tournament in November.

Rugby at Rich's is looking very sound with even better prospects for next season. The prospective tour of Australia in 2007 should provide a high point in school rugby for many of the junior players featured in our pictures here.

U15 Colts Squad
Bright hopes for a good run in the Daily Mail Vase next term



Senior Colours Winners



Southgate Clean Sweep!
Chris Surman & James Enderby receive Junior & Senior House Rugby Cups from Peter Glanville



U13 Merit Certificate Winners



An in-between moment ...



Oliver Priest - Recipient of the Mervyn Moody Trophy

Rugby Season Round Up

 Pantosea Island - A Smash Hit!

7th, 8th & 9th December

English teacher Mr David Lewis' irreverent 'take' on the traditional pantomime proved a rip-roaring success. A 'Musical Pantomime Extravaganza' which threw a whole host of traditional panto characters together in settings perhaps inspired by reality TV shows with educational overtones. Songs, music and additional material were provided by Head of Spanish Mr Tony Hearn. A happy cast, excellent orchestra pit and enthusiastic production crew helped create a throughly entertaining and amusing production! You'd have to have seen it to fully appreciate it all - and if you weren't there you missed a veritable treat!!

 Local Charity Benefits From School Fund-raising Efforts

The Meningitis Trust - a Gloucestershire charity with its headquarters situated in Stroud - gave an informative talk to a morning assembly about its work and the vital support it gives to combating the devastating and often life-threatening disease meningitis. It wasn't so long ago that one of our boys fell foul of this nasty disease - fortunately he eventually recovered to full health but it was a long process, during which time his family was grateful for the support of the Meningitis Trust.

During the assembly, a cheque for £1000 was presented to the Trust's representatives. Half of this was raised by the 44th Gloucester (STRS) Explorer Scout Unit (based at the school) by running a Year 7/8 Disco, the other half from loose change collections made every week during form period. The Explorer Scouts added a further £375.42 from their sponsorship efforts in walking the 21 mile "5 Valleys Walk" earlier in the term.

 Local Derby Games pull in the crowds at Oakleaze!

12 November 2005

A cold but sunny Saturday morning drew the supporters in their hundreds (or so it seemed!) onto the Oakleaze fields for this local derby clash! Parents and old boys joined in vociferous and partisan support as the Rich's boys in royal blue clashed with their old grammar school rivals in maroon from Crypt.

Across the three matches staged today it end honours even - the U15s put on display of fast open rugby with clinical handling and watertight defence to overwhelm their opposite numbers by 35 points to nil. The U13 'A' team fixture yielded a 17-5 victory to Crypt, whose bigger physical presence gave them the edge. But the biggest roars floated up from the U13 'B' team match in which both sides more than compensated for any deficiency in skills and tactics with a performance of great spirit and terrific heart in a game which flowed from one end to the other and whose final 10 nail-biting minutes provided one old boy to breathlessly comment that it was one of the most exciting and passionately contested games he'd ever seen! The final result?  10 - 10.

 School Artists Stage Local Exhibition

Visitors to Holy Trinity church in Longlevens during October will be able to see some of the fine artwork produced by our A-level and GCSE art students as part of their coursework.

Head of Art Mr Roger Lockey welcomed the opportunity to display publicly the students' artwork - it is a shame that so much quality work does not get the airing it deserves.

 Year 7 Enjoy Stratford Visits

Once again each of the new year 7 forms spent an enjoyable three-day residential trip in Stratford Upon Avon. A regular feature of the Year 7 induction programme, these visits are designed to help the recent young arrivals get to know their form mates, develop friendships and generate a form group spirit.

Each form, together with their form tutor and other supporting staff, spend three days of activities and visits in this famous historical town. Brass rubbing, a treasure trail, open-top bus tours, swimming, crazy golf, visits to the Butterfly Centre and Gaydon Heritage Motor Museum all figure in the itinerary. They spend two nights in the Stratford Youth Hostel - for some this can be quite daunting as their first time away from parents and family. For many the long walking was a tiresome chore - a reflection on today's over-reliance on motorised transport? - but everyone fully agreed the Stratford Trip was packed full of exciting and interesting things to do and see ... the best trip EVER!

 House Art 2005 - Largest Number of Entries Ever!

A very large entry from all houses this year meant Mr Lockey had his work cut out as adjudicator.

The competition was very close, with all year groups producing a wide variety of pieces to high artistic standards.

The overall winner was Southgate - just!

For a full report and samples click on the picture!

 House Badminton 2005

House Badminton returned this year to the Cock House arena after an absence of many years.

In the Senior competition there was much talk about Northgate's superiority but it was Eastgate who emerged unbeaten after some tough games against all the other houses.

In the Junior competition Westgate were eventual winners in an extremely close and even contest.

Competition Results

 Children in Need Quiz Night

 Friday 18th November 2005

Make a note in your diaries! The school's Explorer Scout Unit - 44th Gloucester - is running the first of its bi-annual quiz nights in the School Hall on Friday 18th November and this one will be raising money for Children in Need. So get swotting up your general knowledge, put on your thinking caps and get down to this fun evening out! And bring a bear as your team mascot - you never know, it might earn you a couple of extra bonus points!!

A big thank you to everyone who supported the evening - we are able to send off a cheque for £400 to "Children In Need"

 Old Boy Hands Out the Prizes at Speech Day

23 September 2005

Dr James Methven, Dean of Oriel College Oxford, was Guest of Honour at our Annual Awards and Speech Day. An Old Richian himself, Dr Methven commented on the special relationship between staff and pupils that creates a fertile environment for education to thrive. As well as handing out prizes and awards, Dr Methven spent a day at the school teaching and taking part in lessons, which led him to remark on the care and attention for the individual within the school community.

Dr James Methven MA MPhil DPhil with our other honoured guests



Chris Gallant & Hannah Healy in convivial conversation



Daniel Whisson receives his prize from Dr Methven
Daniel gained six 'A' Levels all at grade A - a fantastic achievement



David Hook - Old Richians Association Chairman - chats with Dr Methven



District Explorer Scout Commissioner Lucy Bradley presents Queen's Scout Awards to
Adam Lewis, Samuel Johnson & Chris Gallant from the school's 44th Gloucester Explorer Scout Unit
Sam Coe also gained this top prestigious award but was teaching in Guyana for his gap year

 New School Captains

12 September 2005

In school assembly today our new school captains Ciarán Conway and Hannah Healy received their gowns of office from last year's captains Sophie Keates & Chris Gallant. Six Observators also received their gowns; they are - Nick Davies, Aled Jones, Blake Kendrick, Katherine Lyons, Rebecca Townsend & Harry Windsor.

Ciarán, Hannah, Sophie & Chris



Sophie & Chris with School Captains & Observators for 2005/6

 New Staff at Rich's

September 2005

Sir Thomas Rich's welcomes 8 new members of teaching staff for the start of term:

Mr R G Williams PE/Games	Mrs T Horton English	Mr J A Davies Psychology	Mr M D Haynes Chemistry
Mrs S L James Design & Technology	Mrs J K Mee Biology	Miss M Preen Geography	Mrs F J Banks Business Studies

 Just for the Craic!

The school's Explorer Scout Unit - the 44th - spent a week in southwest Ireland during the summer break where they climbed Ireland's highest peak Carrantouhill (3411ft), part of MacGillycuddy's Reeks. They also did some rock climbing by the Gap of Dunloe, made a big splash at the Aqua Dome in Tralee, cycled up over the Healy Pass, fished - successfully! - for their own supper (but you should've seen the one that got away!!), celebrated with a local Hurling team their mighty Cup victory and just enjoyed the 'craich' wherever they rested their billet.

Read about their Irish Tales

.... new news coming shortly ...

Compiled by PCR