Bryanston author publishes novel The Three Camels

1 July 2008
Many congratulations to David Bourne, Senior Tutor and Geography teacher at Bryanston who has just successfully released his novel The Three Camels , a story about the people and landscape of North Cornwall. In particular, it is about two people who are thrown together by chance, when into their lives a young girl enters – turning them inside-out. The landscape will be recognised by many – until it bites back! Sales in the first week have topped 100 copies, with some of the early readers commenting:

“This is a wonderful read – entertaining, educational and exciting, all rolled into one. The author makes the landscape live and the story propels the reader through it. A compulsive drama … accessible to all.”

“… a sojourn through time and place. The narrative is measured and the characters believable but the impact of the first ‘shock’ is palpable. There is more than a hint of magic realism ….”

“There is a real touch of Philip Pullman about this.”

 

Available from:	Publication details:
£10 by post from The Bookroom, Bryanston Conference Centre, Blandford, Dorset	ISBN 978-0-9559577-0-3
Huckleberry’s, 39-41 Salisbury Street, Blandford, Dorset	Author: D C Bourne
Mowhay Gallery, Trebetherick, Wadebridge, Cornwall	Publisher: Trevennick Books
Wadebridge Bookshop, 43-45 Molesworth Street, Wadebridge, Cornwall

(11.7.08)
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Pupils perform The Crucible and a 'History of Rock'

1 - 4 July 2008
End of term celebrations saw Bryanston pupils perform the powerful play, The Crucible, and give a highly enjoyable tribute to rock music.

Playwright Arthur Miller penned The Crucible (1953) as Cold War paranoia pervaded the USA, and in direct response to the McCarthy hearings. Set in the tightly knit community of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, and based on written accounts of the witch trials held there, The Crucible offers audiences a historical analogy for this time of mass hysteria. Miller’s exploration of the human psyche and behavior makes the play an enduring piece of powerful theatre.

The 'History of Rock' gave fans of the genre a musical tour from the 50s to the present day with accomplished performances of favourite hits by artists such as Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Blur and Amy Winehouse. Pupils also showcased dance medleys from Flashdance and Jailhouse Rock and gave audiences a taster of the musical Grease, which will be performed next term.
Read more
(3.7.08)
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Saturday 21 June 2008
Bryanston welcomed back the Classes of 1998 and 1988 on a damp midsummer’s day, but the drizzle did nothing to dampen the spirits of the guests. The reception was held in a marquee on the AV lawn, where Sarah Thomas welcomed the OBs, their families and former staff back to Bryanston. After a relaxed lunch and very popular guided tours of the boarding houses and new buildings, the official reunion concluded with afternoon tea and a chance to watch the Leavers’ DVD from 1998.
(11.7.08)
Read more, View photo gallery
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Young Enterprise Distinctions

Congratulations to the following pupils who gained a distinction in their Young Enterprise exam:
Sophie Bourge, Jessica Denny, Eleanor Dowding, Jack Hughes, Charles Markus, Edward Pycraft, Alexander Rose, Rose Russell, Julian Sebag-Montefiore, Eleanor Shaikh, Venetia Syms, Mark Thompson, Thomas Wilson.
(17.6.08)
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Hadrian's Wall in 24hrs!

8 July 2008
A brave group of Bryanston staff are aiming to run, jog or walk the whole 84 mile length of Hadrian's Wall in under 24 hours in order to raise 1000 pounds for the British Heart Foundation.

The 'Whole of the Wall Gang', consisting of Richard Collcott, Quentin Craddock, Charles Holland, Will Lockett, Richard Perkins, Steve Richardson and Tom Scott, with Mike Pyrgos as minibus support driver, will undertake their journey on 8 July.

They have chosen to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation both for personal reasons and in memory of their colleague Paul Hart, who recently died suddenly of a heart attack. Donations can be made through the 'Whole of the Wall Gang' page on the Justgiving website.

We wish them very good luck, and please support them if you can.
Read tributes to Paul Hart
(3.6.08)
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Open-air Summer Concert

31 May 2008
On Saturday Bryanston parents, pupils and staff attended a magnificent Celebration of Music, held on Beechwood lawn. The concert, organised by Director of Music, Duncan Emerson, was held on a stage set up and decorated by Coade Hall staff, with professional lighting and attractive white draped back-drop. Rain was forecast but thankfully never came, and a large crowd settled down to enjoy the evening's entertainment starting at 7.00 p.m. with the senior brass trio, two saxophone quartets and the ‘Salisbury’ quartet singers. A pupil band with ‘C’ pupils performed superbly well and led into an impressive and highly enjoyable session by the Jazz Band.
50 pupils in the concert band played different medleys including Les Miserables and Grease. The band ‘The Yearning’ played with great style and it was good to see the pupils dancing. Nina Brooke and Lotti Cutrupi sang a duet which was followed by the impressive Dance Band. The Symphonic Concert Band performed Goldfinger with Ati Fisher singing the solo and Come on Baby, Light my Fire with Richard Mitchell and backing vocalists. Finally, the orchestra performed a medley from Pirates of the Caribbean with fireworks set in time to the music. There was a terrific atmosphere and it provided a dramatic and highly effective finish to a wonderful evening.
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(5.6.08)
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The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole

Thursday 15, Friday 16 and Saturday 17 May 2008
This term the Bryanston Junior Drama Society performed the ever-popular story of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend. The play was adapted by Townsend herself from the internationally best-selling children's book, and hilariously explores the trials and tribulations of the troubled, adolescent Adrian and his friends and family. The three performances were very well received and director Katy Witchell says "This year we have had so much fun! This is a show about which I shall remember the preparation as much as the performances ... Credit goes to the company for their hard work and dedication, they gave all they had to create larger-than-life, amusing characters and gave some admirable performances ... Special thanks should go to Duncan Emerson, the wonderfully supportive crew and to all the parents and friends who came so enthusiastically to spend a few hours with Adrian Mole and his bizarre companions." Read more
(29.5.08)
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A Taste of Asia and Instant Fruit Ice-Creams for Pupils

Tuesday 13 May, Wednesday 14 May 2008
Bryanston pupils were treated to a taste of Asia on Tuesday evening, when the school catering team worked with Chartwells caterers to prepare exotic dishes including teriyaki salmon with choy sum almonds and honey pineapples with minted palm sugar. The pupils were then presented with six foot long sugar-cane poles to sample. Wednesday saw them introduced to the latest in culinary technology, a special ice-cream maker that turned fruit into instant 'ice-cream' before their eyes.

Bryanston catering manager Mike Thorne said: “I’ve been working at Bryanston for 15 years now, and I still get excited about creating the “wow factor” for our pupils with a great selection of attractive and healthy menus. These events are just some of the examples of how we are actively encouraging pupils to try new things and eat a balanced diet.”
(14.5.08)
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Bryanston's 80th Birthday Celebration at the House of Lords

Thursday 24th April saw 260 members of the Bryanston family gathered at the House of Lords for a reception in the Cholmondley Room to celebrate Bryanston’s 80th birthday. The weather was kind and the Terrace, with its panoramic view of the Thames, was enjoyed by many. Bryanstonians travelled from far and wide to be there. Read more
(25.4.08)
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Charities Challenge

Sunday 20 April 2008
On Sunday the annual Charities Challenge took place at Bryanston. Pupils were invited to obtain sponsorship to take part in different sporting challenges: Rowing the Thames, Running a Marathon, Swimming the Channel, Climbing Everest, Continuous Tennis and Cycling. Points were awarded for performance in each sport and these formed the basis for sponsorship. There were some extraordinary personal achievements and by the end of the Challenge Bryanston pupils had:

• cycled 500kms
• climbed Everest from sea level to the summit (8848m)
• completed 4 individual marathons, 13 half marathons and more, far exceeding the target of 1000kms
• swum the English Channel and back
• rowed the length of the River Thames (364kms) and beyond
• played around 1000 games of tennis

The money raised will go to the School’s chosen children’s charities working in Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Africa. The School’s aim is to continue to develop its work with these charities, which care for children disadvantaged by war, disease, poverty and abandonment. Read more
(29.5.08)
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Musical Distinctions

Congratulations to the following pupils who gained a distinction in last term’s practical music exams:
Grade 3 Piano: Rozzie Curlett
Grade 6 Bassoon: Georgie Malcolm
Grade 7 Piano: Suzy Duggan
Grade 7 Violin: Robin Hughes-Chamberlain
(23.4.08)
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Young Enterprise

On Friday evening, the first ever competition took place between Bryanston's own Young Enterprise companies. Each company submitted a company report, designed its trade stand, answered judges' questions and finally made a five minute presentation to the judges and audience.

The Bizz with their Bryanston tracksuit bottoms, Shockwave with their Valentine's Day roses, Shine Out with their hot hoodies and Impact with their glow sticks and tea towel project provided stiff competition and the tightness of the competition was made clear by the time it took for the judges to pick the winners.

They said how impressed they had been by the efforts of the members of all companies, but, for their work in creating and selling the Bryanston Calendar, which is on sale at the now reduced price of £2, the judges chose as the winning company and Bryanston's representatives in the Dorset finals next term the company Future Now whose adviser is Justin Perry. Their Managing Director is Jessie Reynolds who collected the winner's salver.
(17.3.08)
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Eastern Regional Lunch

Jesus College played host to the second Bryanston Society Regional Lunch on 11 March 2008. All members of the Bryanston Society (OBs, parents current and former and former staff) living in the east of England were invited. We were delighted to be joined by 25 OBs... Read more
(17.3.08)
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Choral Concert at Christchurch Priory

On Friday 7 March, the beautiful and historic setting of Christchurch Priory was packed for an outstanding evening concert given by Bryanston's senior orchestra and choirs, and showcasing the remarkable gifts of two outstanding soloists drawn from within the ranks of the school's A2 music scholars. Read more
(10.3.08)
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Reading Relay Marks World Book Day

Members of Bryanston’s common room carried the baton for World Book Day on Thursday 6 March by taking part in a reading relay of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. The exciting story of the adventures of Jim Hawkins and his search for the buried treasure of the notorious pirate Captain Flint was read aloud in ten-minute relays, from the first word to the last, by a succession of teachers. Early-bird, Nick Kelly, began the first leg at 8am with the baton (or cutlass) passing throughout the day until the final chapter was concluded by Duncan Fowler-Watt at 4.35pm. The event took place at the entrance to the corridor which has been the English Department’s new home since its official move in January.
(10.3.08)
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OB Wins Oscar for Best Animated Short Film

Congratulations to OB Hugh Welchman (Sa '91) on winning the Oscar for the Best Animated Short Film at the recent Academy Awards. Hugh's winning entry was a 32-minute animated film version of Prokofiev’s 1936 classic Peter and the Wolf, set to a special new recording by the Philharmonia Orchestra.
(3.3.08)
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Sanger Centre Architects Win National Design Award

The Sanger Centre for Science and Mathematics has scooped first prize in the ‘Best Extension’ category at the British Council for School Environments (BCSE) inaugural awards for best practice in UK design and construction of schools. Judges commended the building, which was designed by Hopkins Architects, for demonstrating that ‘the right investment and approach can produce fantastic projects which we can be proud of and all learn from’. More details on the awards, including judging criteria and details of all the winners, are available from www.bcse.uk.net.
(14.2.08)
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Triumph for Bryanston Ski Team

The Bryanston ski team have scooped the prize for the best British non-professional team at the LSC British Schoolgirls’ Races, which took place in Flaine, France, on 26-30 January. Results from the two giant slalom and two slalom races were added together, with the best two racers’ results scoring. The team - Tamsin Hartley, Ella Hartley and Caroline Harris - handled the pressure of this tense event magnificently. Individually, Ella defended her cups from last year, winning both the giant slalom and the slalom for her age group.
(7.2.08)
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Happy 80th Birthday

On 24 January, Bryanston celebrated its 80th birthday. The school was founded in 1928 by J.G. Jeffreys, who used his confidence and enthusiasm to gain support and finance for the school during a period of severe economic instability. Just 23 pupils and 7 teachers occupied the school during its first term. To mark the occasion, a special assembly was held in the Coade Hall on Thursday and the dining room served some of the dishes that may have been on offer to the first Bryanston boys all those years ago. View archive images of Bryanston.
(28.1.08)
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Rugby Successes

Congratulations to OBs Adrian Griffiths and Tommy Booth on their selection for the England Students Rugby Squad. Tommy was captain in 2003 of Bryanston’s 1st XV. Both are currently at Bath University.

Another OB, Huw Bennett, has been selected for the full Welsh squad for the 2008 Six Nations. He plays professionally at Ospreys.
(20.1.08)
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