Page 30 - OM Newsletter - Issue 43 - 2020

OM EVENTS IN 2019
No.5 Reunion 21 September 19
The Housemaster of No.5, Richard Howitt, began by explaining his connections to Malvern College. He too was a pupil in a school where Hugh Carson was Headmaster (Denstone), he knew of George Chesterton through a friend of George and had, of course, read Andy Murtagh’s biography of George, which ‘gave [him] a real insight into what [he] had agreed to take on... [he] too had played first-class cricket and teaches geography.’ One final credential: the Howitts’ labrador is called Foster.
We are grateful to Richard for allowing us to publish excerpts from his speech.
No.5 remains a house full of energy, full of spirit and full of outstanding young men! Your typical number fiver still immerses himself in the plethora of activities on offer, and I cannot think of a single area of school life where we don’t thrive. Sport is still one of our strongest suits; even during my short tenure, the boys have won just about every sports cup going. This includes House Rugby, House Football and House Cricket competitions at every level and in every age group. And of course, we must not forget about our cross-country prowess: for the five successive years No.5 has won the Ferrets’ Cup a and had the winner of the Ledder.
Our strengths stretch much further than just the games fields. In recent years, we have had boys accepted at Oxbridge, we have had boys in lead roles in school drama productions, we had two boys navigate across Costa Rica coast-to-coast using only human power, our inter-House Maths team conquered all- comers last summer and our CCF and DofE participation remains very strong. We also won the Adjudicator’s Cup in the House Singing Competition last year, an outcome that we had not experienced for a while.
When you tour No.5 later this afternoon you’ll notice that much has changed: notably a complete refurbishment of every study bedroom, and upgrades to all common areas and the duty room. There are, of course, things that haven’t changed: the yard, the dining room, tardies, the red door, the House spirit, the lifelong friendships forged and I’m guessing the early morning runs. Nevertheless, whether changed or completely unchanged the boys well know – as I am sure you do too – how lucky they are to be part of such a great house. But then again, I’m preaching to the converted! I hope that you have a lovely afternoon.
30 | Old Malvernian Newsletter