I arrived at Bablake in January 2017 as Deputy Head and was immediately struck by the warm, supportive and purposeful atmosphere. Having worked in a variety of schools, it was apparent that Bablake is a special place. It was a great surprise to me that a couple of years later, I found myself leading the School and since my grandfather was a pupil here, I often wonder what he would have thought if he knew that I was Headmaster. It is a privilege to be at the helm of this remarkable school and I hope, during my time in charge, to protect the things that make Bablake unique. Exam results were again excellent, especially at GCSE. Having beaten records last year, we were able to again claim that we had achieved the best ever results! Over 52% of all grades were at 8 or 9 (the old A*) and the results placed us in the top twenty co-educational independent school nationally. Results and league tables, of course, are only part of the story; we are convinced that these incredible outcomes are because of the supportive community and the range of opportunities on offer. Over the summer we were able to refurbish the library. The design achieved the near-impossible task of taking the same room and increasing the number of places to work, creating a library office and making it a more welcoming space, while keeping books at the heart of the area. The refurbishment has gone down very well with pupils and staff and the room is packed at many times of the day. Some pupils now arrive in school early in the morning to get some of the best seats!
Sports teams have started the season on fine form, with the highlight, so far, being a 22-7 victory over King Henry VIII in the U18 national competition. The annual rugby fixture between the two schools is scheduled for Friday 15th November. You will know that independent schools are not currently the flavour of the month and are being blamed for many of society’s ills. We continue to offer more bursaries than most other independent schools and give support to education across the city. We would like to do more and have some interesting plans of how we could widen our work with other schools. Any change to how independent schools operate (such as VAT on fees) would significantly hit our capacity for this work and our ability to award bursaries. If this was to happen, it would change our intake and, in time, I think make Bablake a less welcoming and supportive place. If only we could go back to the days of assisted places and direct grant schools! We are not asking for anything except a hope that you will continue to tell anyone who will listen, why Bablake is an important part of education in Coventry.
I hope to catch up with many of you at future reunions.
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Seayonce (aka Daniel Wye) appeared at the Fringe, and was nominated for QX Cabaret Awards 2019 for best comedy act.
Rosie CEO of Student Minds, met the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, to talk about young people’s mental issues. Rosie joined Heads Together in a roundtable discussion sharing the experience of university students and exploring how they can collaborate to support and empower young people. Together they can hopefully shape the future of student mental health and improve the lives of millions of young people.
More outstanding news! Rosie has been awarded with an OBE in Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday 2019 Honours Lists: ow.ly/2ycP30oUJ6P
Seen on EGGHEADS earlier in the year.
“As a passionate mental health campaigner, I am overwhelmed and incredibly grateful to have received this honour which is a real testament to the movement building to create healthy university communities." Many congratulations.
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“So so blessed and grateful to have been able to attend Britain’s Asian Wedding Awards 2019 as a finalist, and even more grateful to have won the award for Henna Artist of the Year again. Thank you to whoever nominated and voted for me, and for all the consistent love and support. It was such a lovely evening with so many lovely, talented people in the wedding industry.” Ameena
Simeon appeared in the production 'Mother Courage' at The Royal Exchange in February. He received 5* reviews from Bablake critics David Prescott and Julian Bunce respectively.
I was very privileged recently to be invited to share John’s very special birthday celebrations. John, who is one of our oldest former pupils, a ’Lincoln Boy’ (see page 4) and a very dear friend of Bablake, celebrated his 90th birthday with a luncheon for close friends and family. We would like to wish John a very happy birthday from everyone here at school.
Recently seen on the TV series Tipping Point, former pupil Judith. Thanks to her brother Andy Jeans (Class of 1981) for sharing this.
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Over the past few years we have enjoyed some wonderful coffee mornings with former pupils, staff and some of the younger pupils from our lower school. This year we were delighted to be using the occasion to present a framed picture of Lincoln Cathedral, which will be displayed, alongside the Lincoln plaque, in the main school corridor. During 1940 a group of Bablake students (297) were evacuated to Lincoln as the city was constantly under the threat of bombing. This will serve as something within school to remind us all of this.
One of our lower year group classes,3PN, joined us later on in the morning; they chatted with the attendees and told them about their studies here at school, which were very different from when most of the guests were here! It was a very enjoyable occasion
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This event was organised by Adam Smyth - Class of 1992 “A great day was had by all. In the end we managed 20, which is great. A mix of players, dads and staff. We went to Coventry Rugby and did the hospitality so a sit down meal before the game. The food was really good as was the chance to sit down over a few beers to catch up. Unfortunately Coventry got beaten extremely comfortably but that didn't really detract from the catching up. Post rugby we had a few beers in a pub before going to one of the guy's bars as he owns a few. He put on the VIP room and I had some DVDs of our games from the 98/99 season, so we managed to watch some of them over more beers. Post that, a few of us carried on to a couple of other places before heading off. It didn't descend into the chaos I thought it might. Maybe we're just grown up, but having been back together as a group I'm not so sure! It really was a great effort by all with many travelling large distances and one coming from Paris. I've already been asked when the next one is by a few of them, including Ralph, so I'm taking that as a sign everyone enjoyed it. I'm sure there will be more in future.�
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This year’s London drinks was held in Whitehall on 19th February at an establishment just off Trafalgar Square; Walkers of Whitehall was an excellent choice and they proved to be wonderful hosts. Our attendees enjoyed drinks and a selection of finger foods. Thank you, Whitehalls, for your excellent hosting and accommodating all our requests. We had over 50 guests, ranging from the Class of 1939 through to the present day, as well as former members of staff. (see over page). Previous Headmaster John Watson shares a drink with Millie Ross Class of 2004
This is always a lovely event; however we are thinking of having a change for 2020, perhaps an evening in Birmingham??
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John Coplin - Class of 1945 Roslyn Wheeler - Class of 1976, Tim Hands - Class of 1976 Damon Wise - Class of 1977
Tony Averns Class of 1939 and Lantian Pinkney Class of 2010. Oldest and youngest - lovely photo!
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Pupils from the Class of 1976 met during the summer in Repton, Derbyshire for a catch-up. The photograph was kindly sent in by Debbie Jones, who lives in Canada but was in the UK on business‌. Shown in the photograph are:
Debbie Jones (nee Nixon), Richard Humpreys Martin Wolfenden, Dean Edwards Caron Grainiger, Penny Lynch
Bablake Class of 1973 have a yearly catch-up, usually at a waterhole in Coventry. This year it was at the Town Wall Tavern. Shown in the photograph which was taken by Greg Haywood are :
Steve Rundell, Steve Morris, Steve Hall, Craig Marston, Greg Weaver, Mark Harrison, Dai Rees, Mark Illsley, Russ Murden,Mark Harrison, Paul Beahan, and David Brown.
Former pupils from Class of 1957/58 gathered in Cambridge. The day was organised by Howard Skipp. Those gathered from left to right back row are :
Colin Charley, Alan Strachan (face hidden), Richard Pratt, Ken Dyson, Howard Skipp, David Timms. Left to right on the front row:
David Brown, David Wildgoose, Les Powell, Graham Sara, Bob Purbrick.
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“Here’s a photo of form 2L on our trip to Le Fousseau in 1993 - if I recall Mrs Field came with us as our French teacher at the time and is on the right of the photo - at least that’s what my memory recalls! Brings back some memories anyway :)” Umesh Patel - Class of 1991
Edinburgh Fringe ‘Canterbury Tale-ers’ 1990 Class of 1984
Photo by George Rowland Class of 1983 9
“This picture is especially for Jim Gascoigne (Class of 1961), whom, I remember as a fine actor when I was at school and is living testimony that drama keeps you young. Bill Hayes was often mentioned warmly in our conversations. Here he is with Roger Mann at a break in rehearsals of ‘She Stoops to Conquer’. Love the non-PC tobacco! Anyone who would like photos of the shows I produced please get in touch” Graham Nurser
The following photographs were sent to me by Michael Harris, School Vice-Captain 1951/2 and Class of 1944.
Headmaster Mr Seaborne with Professor Bodkin Guest of Honour at ‘Speech Day’ with Michael J Harris and A G Endicott
A G Endicott, School Captain 1951-52, with Michael J Harris, Vice-Captain and P J Bannister 10
The following photographs were taken from an old ‘Warwickshire & Worcester Life’ magazine from 1972 which was recently given to me by a member of staff. The Headmaster at the time was Mr E H Burrough. Can you recognise yourself or any of your friends ?
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Saturday 29th June was one of the most extraordinary days I have experienced in a long time. I had had reservations beforehand both about the format of the event and about the whole idea of combining the launch of the second edition of The Lion and the Stars with a Reunion for former pupils from the nineteenforties, –fifties and –sixties. In the end it all seemed to work brilliantly. Though it involved hours of talking about the book itself, the history of the School, the latest news on vividly remembered characters, the location of the nearest toilets and countless other things, it left me on such a high that I didn’t feel the exhaustion until many hours later. I had my doubts too about the whole idea that I should not only make a speech but then answer questions. What might I be asked, I wondered. When it came to it, I had been too busy to get nervous and was able to field inquiries about everything from the use of the Headmaster’s house to why we lost Baker and Billing Houses and from what I had thought it prudent not to include in the book to where Flap Atkinson got his nickname from. I must say that throughout the day Andrew Wright was a most affable and appreciative support. It was good to catch up a little with so many people, not least with four others from the Shell W/3L/4L/5P which took me up to O-Level fifty-odd years ago. I was delighted that Chris Bailey was able to be there, along with his wife, as our guest, to mark the very significant part his father Keith played in the making of the original book. It was good that both Martin Barker and Stuart Nuttall were able to share in the day. I was also delighted to catch up – though sadly only briefly – with Graham Burgess, whom I had not seen for some years. John Galsworthy told me afterwards that he had fully expected to be the oldest former pupil there, but in fact John Greenhill and Peter Godfrey, both veterans of the evacuation to Lincoln, vied for that distinction. Partly, of course, it was exciting to hear such glowing first reactions to the book itself. I couldn’t be more delighted with the look which Graphic Designer Dawn Cockcroft achieved with the finished product. Immodestly perhaps, I was also generally pleased with the written content. There are still errors in the detail but not glaring or frequent enough, I hope, to spoil a reader’s enjoyment. I like to think it would have been closer to total accuracy if we had kept to the original plan of launching the book in the autumn of this year. It is somewhat ironic that I agreed to bring that forward to precede John Watson’s departure before we knew that that departure itself was to be at Easter instead. The timing of the launch right at the end of the academic year did not make it easy to draw attention to the book’s availability. Nevertheless, initial sales have been encouraging. I manned a stall on Open Morning and hope to do so again at the Christmas Fayre. I also gave a talk to the Shells about the history of the School, as I have done the last two years. Amidst all this the usual mixture of archive matters has gone on as ever. I was particularly pleased to be able to give some information to someone who has come into possession of an aneroid barometer which was presented by the Bablake Staff to Mr William Morgan on his departure in 1906 to join the Daimler car company. At the same time the pupils gave him a smoking cabinet, a choice which hints at how things have changed in the intervening years. Though people sometimes talk as if I know everybody who has ever been at Bablake I know how far from the truth that is. One reminder of that was the moment when it dawned on me that Paul Strickland, who is one of three pupils from the nineteen-seventies to revisit Bablake in October, was unlikely, despite what i had assumed, to be an older brother of Mark Stickland!
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This is only a selection of photographs from the day. Click here‌. To view the complete album, please see Flickr album.
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“David, along with his brother Peter, another Old Wheatleyan who was class of 1942 (died 2017), attended many school events over the past few years; it was always a pleasure to welcome him back. A charming gentleman who will be sadly missed by his family, friends and those here at Bablake who enjoyed his company very much. He lived in Coventry all his life. After being evacuated during the war years, he attended the local school and his academic ability was recognised. He was awarded a scholarship to Bablake School. After leaving Bablake, David became an apprentice toolmaker at GEC . A change of direction in later years saw him become a Management Consultant. David was a man of many talents. Examples of his craftsmanship can be seen in a porch facing the walkway up to and inside All Saints church in Allesley, Coventry, as well as a sculpture in wood at Earlsdon Rugby Club. He and his wife Juliet married and settled in Allesley. He was well loved in his community in Allesley Village and very active in parish life, being involved in all different aspects of it from maintenance through to support with their events. His many friends consider it a privilege to have known him - he was known for his generous nature, encouragement, ingenious quizzes, philosophical sayings, sense of humour and ability to relate across generations. He will be very sadly missed.� Extract taken from the Allesley Village Parish magazine.
Everyone at Bablake was deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of Dr Richard Payne, who was a lecturer and environmental scientist at the University of York. Richard lost his life during an expedition on the slopes of Nanda a Devi. Richard was tragically caught in an avalanche in June of this year.
Obituaries We were extremely saddened to hear that the following former pupils have passed away: Name
Class of
Died
Name
Class of 1961
Died
Peter Arnatt
1939
March 2019
Geoff Bagley
David Amery
1943
August 2018
Raymond Stopher 1941
May 2019
Geoff Clamp
1935
September 2019
Dr Richard Payne
June 2019
1990
August 2018
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We received this very touching tribute to Peter from his son John. My father, Peter Arnatt, was the eldest of three boys, growing up in Foleshill in Coventry. His two brothers, Brian and Mark, were each born five years apart, with Mark arriving just before the outbreak of war. Peter gained a scholarship to Bablake (1939‑45), but soon afterwards the whole school was evacuated to Lincoln. His family were amazed, and very impressed, when he cycled the mammoth journey back to Foleshill to visit them, from his lodgings in Carholme Road, not far from the Bablake buildings on South Commons. We had a three‑generation family visit with my son, Richard, to the International Bomber Command Centre in December 2018, where Peter was overjoyed to be able to look out over the whole of the area encompassing his time at Bablake in Lincoln. He often regaled us with stories, recalling that he and his school friend, Joey Adams, would hang onto the back of lorries as they cycled to get a free ride, and once famously came unstuck and had to be rescued by US airmen, and were thrilled to be taken to their airbase to receive first aid! Peter’s first job was as an apprentice at Alfred Herbert, and is said to have appalled his mother, coming home in greasy overalls and smelling of oil and industry, despite his “good education”. He had to explain that the aim was to progress to an office job, which he soon did, at The Standard Motor Company (Triumph) and onto Massey Ferguson, as a Work Study Engineer. Peter soon joined the golf society, playing many matches at local clubs, and joined Maxstoke Park with Mark, where they spent many happy hours together. It was a great, shared hobby with an extended family of Masseys and Maxstoke golfing friends. Peter and Helen’s 50th Wedding Anniversary was celebrated at Bablake Old Boys’ Club in 2003 — an obvious venue from his early post‑school years playing snooker and socialising with classmates, before the family (Marilyn and I) arrived! Mum and Dad would spend the winter months in Tenerife and Florida during their retirement, and Peter was able to keep up his golf there too. Peter had a lifelong love of music, and his treasured Bang & Olufsen stereo in the early 1970s gave him many happy hours listening to classical pieces, Jacques Loussier, Rogers and Hammerstein, and Country and Western. Marilyn and I took him to Vienna for his 90th birthday for an unforgettable musical extravaganza weekend where he was treated like a Prince; benefitting from wheelchair access, preferential seating, and multiple impromptu “90 th birthday cakes” at various restaurants! He was enraptured by the performances and visibly moved to be able to hear each individual instrument he thought would be impossible wearing hearing aids. Peter had a placid and accommodating outlook, charming people with his patient, affable, gentlemanly manner. In later life, however, he might sometimes come close to exploding in a Victor Meldrew kind of way — particularly when wrestling with his beloved high‑tech gadgetry, with passwords and multiple remote controllers! He was a devoted husband, visiting Helen daily in her care home for her final few years, and they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with a card from the Queen. He faced Helen’s passing stoically one month later in October 2018, and turned his attention to his own creature comforts. He bought a new car just before Christmas, upgraded his music, mobile phone and TV, ordered a luxurious motor action bed, and was planning a move to Sidmouth to be by the sea close to me. Peter amazed his clinicians as he fought his battle with chronic kidney disease valiantly right up until the last, staving off dialysis which he did not want with a characteristically fastidious adherence to his diet and medication routine. The Bablake evacuation to Lincoln was commemorated at school on 19th March 2019. Sadly, Peter was by then in George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton, but managed to “join in” by video on his iPad from the recording I sent to him from my own attendance, slipping away in his sleep with Marilyn and I at his side, three days later. John Arnatt - Class of 1968 15
Some key members of staff left us this summer. We wish them well in all that they do, but they will be missed for all they did as long-serving and inspiring teachers, careers guides, synthetic pitch co-ordinators, members of the Senior Leadership Team, sports coaches and of course, Headmaster.
We are in the process of organising the Class of 2000 reunion, which will take place on Saturday 16 May 2020. I am working through the list of pupils from that year to ascertain if we have up to date contact information. If you are part of that year group, can you please ensure you contact me on sosullivan@bablake.coventry.sch.uk to ensure we have your details. To date I have received a lot of interest so it looks like we should have a good turnout! Many thanks Sylvia 16
Autumn 2019 Please stay in touch with us (follow the links below), or you can sign up yourself by registering directly on the website.
Remembrance Service 11th November 2019
Find out about forthcoming events and former pupil news.
Bablake Vs KHVIII Rugby Match 15th November 2019
Sylvia O’Sullivan Alumni Relations Officer Email: sosullivan@bablake.coventry.sch.uk Telephone: 024 76271259
Click on links below to view site: Register:
www.bablake.web-intouch.com/
Website:
www.bablake.com/former_pupils.php
www.facebook.com/groups./bablakereunited
www.twitter.com/bablakeschool
http://instagram.com./Bablakeofficial
Spring 2020 Spring Coffee Morning 24 March 2020 Former Pupils ‘Drinks’ Event Date & Venue TBA
Summer 2020 Class of 2000 Reunion 16th May 2020
Bablake Privacy Policy As I am sure you are aware, there are new data protection laws to help protect your personal information. Our former pupils are very important to us and we want to keep you informed of what is going on at the school. A Bablake alumni database shall be maintained and is referred to as the 'Old Wheatleyans'. The purpose of this is solely to retain contact information to enable former pupils/parents to exchange/receive relevant information and news regarding the school, including events, reunions, career advice, networking and newsletters. As has always been the case, you have the opportunity to un-subscribe at any time. We are assuming you are happy to continue receiving information from Bablake School. However, if you want to withdraw your consent, you can ask to be removed from our database by contacting our Alumni Office by emailing fpadministrator@bablake.coventry.sch.uk We will always respect your privacy and assure you that any personal information we have will be kept secure. Please see our Data Protection Policy http://www.bablake.com/terms for further information.
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