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Dear OO,
It is a pleasure to be writing to you again at the end of another lively School year and with another
Upper Sixth now members of the Old Oundelian Club. You will be pleased to hear that the educational breadth that informed your School days has moulded them, too, and that the values of friendship and decency abound in these young adults – just as they do in you.
I have, as ever, enjoyed seeing many of you over the year, coming away from each gathering with new insights into the School of today through the lens of a particular time or a particular activity.
The recent Oundle Lecture given by Professor Maxwell Hutchinson (D 66), for example, encouraged today’s Lower Sixth to understand the architecture of their School as it had inspired our speaker decades before.
The memorial service for Ioan Thomas only a few days later brought together OOs from across the generations, many now eminent in their field, but all for that afternoon simply former pupils united in affection and gratitude for a man who shaped their lives.
As for the groups, it should come as no surprise that whether it be the OO Troubleshooters, OO Lodge, London OOs, Multisports Weekend or OO Henley gathering, there is a
common thread that runs through all in the form of excellent company and stimulating conversation.
We started this academic year with a special buzz about The Berrystead, as Scott House opened its doors for the first time to the First and Second Form day children, the House itself created brilliantly by our own estates team from former staff accommodation and classrooms. Sir David Attenborough’s visit to open the House named in memory of his friend and mentor, OO Sir Peter Scott, was deeply memorable, not least for the example of modesty and respect for others offered by Sir David and for the presence of Sir Peter’s family.
In May we had the first Sports Day on the new athletics track. The landscaping gives the track the feeling of a welcoming stadium and there was an air of celebration about the whole day that is hard to convey in writing. Sir Howard Stringer (Ldr 60) opened the new track in front of the whole School, gathered around new House banners on the brightest of Oundle afternoons. It was joyous.
We have ended the year with the weather being no friend to summer sport. However, we put out our first eight for many years at the York Regatta, at which we also had a win among the younger pupils. Across the year, teams have given us much to celebrate in every year group, girls’
football enjoying an unbeaten season and entering the ISFA League next year, for instance. The example of Tom (G 16) and Ben Curry (S 16) offers continuous inspiration to all our pupils, particularly the 1st XV. Individually, current pupils represent their county, region and country across the widest range of sports, from riding to netball, from badminton to cricket and many in between, each going about their School lives with their feet firmly on the ground.
Next year will bring great excitement as the Sports Centre opens to the School and community in the Lent Term. At that point, the old pool will be decommissioned and filled in, followed by the necessary making good of that area. We anticipate, therefore, that the formal opening will take place in the first half of the Michaelmas Term 2020.
Throughout the year we will be marking the 30th anniversary of co- education at Oundle, on which we have already consulted a number of OOs. Please let me know of anything you would especially like us to consider as we plan events.
We end this year by saying farewell to a number of very long-serving staff, in particular to Megan Smedley, Viv Gascoine and Gary Phillips. Over the past 19 years as Registrar, Gary will have brought some of you – and your children and grandchildren – to the gates of the School, while Viv and Megan will have influenced many of you thereafter in your education.
The pupils make the School and their teachers guide them in order that they might emerge as the best version of themselves. Whether or not you know it, you as OOs inspire and support them through your enduring interest in the School you share. Thank you.
With very best wishes from all of us, Sarah
LETTER
The Head
Sarah Kerr-Dineen looks back at another lively School year and forward to the 30th anniversary of co-education at Oundle
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Sarah Kerr-Dineen with Sir David Attenborough on the occasion of the opening of Scott House
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