St Edward's 150 Years - by Nicola Hunter

St Edward’s: 150 Years

Chapter 3 / Houses

Left:The view through the upper staircasewindow in Apsley. Below: Erik Bagger in full flight for the U14A. Bottom:The cast of Loot , January 2013: Luke Stevenson, Celia Higson(Oakthorpe),JamesBuxton,SimonBurns,WillSargent and Alex Hayes (seated).

Centre left: Ollie Richards,Housemaster, with his family. Left: Apsley’s pupils andmuralonthestairs. Below: House Challenge team, 2013.

Apsley (E) As we saw in the introduction to this chapter, Apsley took its name from Apsley Paddox, the building half a mile to the north of the School, bought in 1925 under Warden Kendall. Apsley is on the north side of the Quad, where it is central to the School. We draw great strength and pride from that: Apsley is at the heart of the School both physically and emotionally. I have just started my third year as Housemaster and have been very aware that in recent years Apsley has enjoyed great success in the dramatic life of the School. In January 2013 there was a fantastic House production of Loot by Joe Orton, and in the previous term we had six cast members of the School production of Romeo and Juliet . No other House can boast of such impressive involvement. The subject is popular both at GCSE and A Level. Creative ability does not end there: we contribute to choirs, various orchestras and some of the work that the boys create in the Art Department and in Design and Technology is remarkable. There is real talent within these walls in all things creative. This extends to the sports fields and rivers as well. First teams in major and minor sports have been very well represented by Apsley boys in recent years, as have the whole range of teams in the Lower School. The 2012 undefeated Yearling A XV had four Apsley boys in it. Recent House competition success has come in the Senior Tennis and Junior Football events. In addition to all of

this, at the heart of all that happens in Apsley and the School is a real focus on the academic life. Boys are encouraged to be purposeful and effective workers and to understand the value of what they put in to their work and what they subsequently get out of it. And so the picture builds of what Apsley is and what it stands for: a place where all talents can be recognised and encouraged, where pupils feel able to make the most of the many wonderful opportunities they have available to them and where they can grow as individuals in a supportive

environment. The relationship between year groups is excellent and something that the younger boys can really learn from. We have an eye always on the future and intend that the boys will be ambitious, happy, grounded and successful, while learning to think of others. Ollie Richards Housemaster, Apsley (E)

Apsley in the sun.

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