St Edward's 150 Years - by Nicola Hunter

St Edward’s: 150 Years

Chapter 3 / Houses

Left: Matthew Havey (Segar’s House prefect) on the Shell punting trip, September 2012. Below: Harvesting strawberries in the Segar’s vegetable garden, June 2012.

Below:Steeplechase:Segar’sHousemasterDavid Gibbon and Assistant Housemaster Chris Pollitt in action on Port Meadow, October 2011.

‘One activity was occasional attempts on the record for the number of boys fitting into the confines of the horsebox with no part of the body protruding from the side or the top. Regretfully I cannot remember the record number!’ – Steven Handscombe, (G,1957–63)

Segar’s (G) This 150th year of St Edward’s also marks the tenth anniversary of the new Segar’s accommodation: the Segar’s boys and their Housemaster moved in September 2003 into what is still the newest and most modern building of all the boys’ houses. Segar’s boys are tremendously proud of their House, and loyal to it. We believe in having fun together. Mrs Gibbon bakes a cake for each boy who has a birthday during term time, using fresh eggs laid by the Segar’s chickens. On Saturday nights after their activities, all boarders eat a meal in their Housemaster’s kitchen, prepared by Mrs Gibbon, often helped by the boys themselves, and enjoy socialising together. The list of achievements of Segar’s boys this year is impressive both in teams and year groups, and individually. We were very proud when Angus Spratling was made Head of School and he, Charlie Everett (Head of House), Harry Kennedy and Frazer Worboys (Deputy Heads) – and all our Upper Sixth House Prefects – have helped to set the tone for a highly successful year. The Shells and Lower Sixth brought home the Best Play and Best Actor awards in the Shell Play and Film Festival. Our boys debated their way to the final of the Junior Interhouse Debating Competition, where they lost narrowly to a polished Oakthorpe team. We saw off all our opponents along the way to the final of the House Challenge Competition (similar to University Challenge), and met Kendall in the final, where we sadly lost narrowly. What really struck me in the House Challenge was the level of committed support from the whole House to our team.

In the House Singing Competition, our rendition of ‘Rock DJ’ was a committed, charged and enthusiastic effort, and a great show of House spirit and determination. It was without a doubt the best unison performance from this House since I started as Housemaster. We were thrilled to take home the cup for the best House Harmony, the highest honour in this competition, for our entry of ‘Oh What a Night’. The Lower Sixth are a year well-accustomed to academic success: in the days of year-group effort prizes they won the prize five out of six terms. Their diligence, commitment and leadership by example have rubbed off on the other year groups, particularly the Fifth Form. Peter Phillips achieved the top Current Affairs score in the Lower Sixth, and his brother, Will, the runner- up result in the Fourth Form, which was impressive.

I am incredibly proud of my Upper Sixth and their achievements and plans. Academically we are a powerhouse, and again we just need to glance in the direction of our House Prefects to see a shining example of dedication and excellence. Without exception, they are all high-flyers academically. They have high but achievable offers at some of the best universities in the UK and the US. I am very excited about their academic futures and their prospects in the world of work. But more than this, they are just the most delightful, charming, interesting, caring and personable young men. They are a credit to themselves, their families, the House and the School. David Gibbon Housemaster, Segar’s (G)

Inter-House football, March 2012.

House BBQ in Mr Gibbon’s garden, June 2012. Chad Moss’s 14th birthday party, September 2012.

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