Dear Parents,
My tears nearly flowed yesterday afternoon at the Prep School. It is hard some days to remember that I am leaving, because life is extremely busy just at the moment, but I was in Bexhill for my weekly formal meeting with Maria Maslin when I was suddenly confronted by all the staff and children of the Prep and Nursery, waiting for me in the Assembly Hall. “Surprise, surprise” – I was quite overwhelmed and then they sat me at the front with balloons on my seat and they sang and acted and danced and recited just for me and slowly I became more and more aware of what I would be leaving behind and I started to feel very emotional. Each form or Key Stage had something for me. Year 6 had composed a poem in my honour and as usual the children performed their pieces with great discipline but aboundant smiles. Much of the performance was orchestrated by Faye Neave, the very talented music teacher at the Prep School but who was also a pupil in the Lower Sixth at the school in my first year as Head, 15 years ago and we talked afterwards about those early days at the school. “Do you remember when…..?”
Maria Maslin has to take much of the blame for this extravagant deception but I have of course forgiven her! At the end I was presented with an apple tree, an Egremont Russett, and it was such a brilliant present. Firstly because when I left the headship of my last school I was presented with a flowering cherry tree which has grown strongly in the Headmaster’s garden here in Battle and will be bequeathed to my successor – so I need a tree to remind me of BAS. Secondly, the intention for my new garden is that it should be productive as well as ornamental so a fruit bearing tree is particularly appropriate. It will be a very special reminder to me of my many, many happy visits to the Prep School and of all the wonderful work that has been carried out there over the last 15 years.
Best wishes
Roger Clark
Friday, 28 June 2013
Friday, 21 June 2013
21st June 2013 - Message from the Headmaster
Dear Parents
“Exciting, talented, enthusiastic, dynamic, committed” – not adjectives that I am anticipating to describe my performance in the Dads v Lads match this Sunday but those I would use to describe the performance of “Joseph” last night. There was a cast of 31 Year 9 and below – many of whom are new to the school this year. Jessica Condon, also brand new this year, directed with great skill, ably abetted by Judith Colman in her first full-time year in the school as Choral Director. They in turn were supported by John Langridge and Tony Payton with the music and by Linda Hopkins.
A major production requires hours and hours of rehearsal and massive input from all sorts of people. Thus the team was supported by costume makers and drama technicians and make-up ladies and set designers, by the office staff and by the many parents who supported the weekend rehearsals and provided the parental taxi service to enable their children to participate.
BUT IT WAS ALL WORTHWHILE. It was wonderful to be there.
I spent a delightful hour yesterday showing my 13 month old grandson the school. I suspect my memory of that event will be deeper than his. William seemed much more interested in his rice cake than in what I was telling him about the history of the Abbott’s Hall!
Everything at the moment seems to be a series of lasts. Tonight will be the last school production and I have had my last FOBAS meeting, my last Full Court meeting, my last parents’ evening and many more. Two weeks and a day until Speech Day and many farewells and lots and lots of thanks to all the wonderful people I have been privileged to know and work with. Fortunately there is so much going on that I will have precious little time to reflect on the meaning of it all.
Best wishes
Roger Clark
“Exciting, talented, enthusiastic, dynamic, committed” – not adjectives that I am anticipating to describe my performance in the Dads v Lads match this Sunday but those I would use to describe the performance of “Joseph” last night. There was a cast of 31 Year 9 and below – many of whom are new to the school this year. Jessica Condon, also brand new this year, directed with great skill, ably abetted by Judith Colman in her first full-time year in the school as Choral Director. They in turn were supported by John Langridge and Tony Payton with the music and by Linda Hopkins.
A major production requires hours and hours of rehearsal and massive input from all sorts of people. Thus the team was supported by costume makers and drama technicians and make-up ladies and set designers, by the office staff and by the many parents who supported the weekend rehearsals and provided the parental taxi service to enable their children to participate.
BUT IT WAS ALL WORTHWHILE. It was wonderful to be there.
I spent a delightful hour yesterday showing my 13 month old grandson the school. I suspect my memory of that event will be deeper than his. William seemed much more interested in his rice cake than in what I was telling him about the history of the Abbott’s Hall!
Everything at the moment seems to be a series of lasts. Tonight will be the last school production and I have had my last FOBAS meeting, my last Full Court meeting, my last parents’ evening and many more. Two weeks and a day until Speech Day and many farewells and lots and lots of thanks to all the wonderful people I have been privileged to know and work with. Fortunately there is so much going on that I will have precious little time to reflect on the meaning of it all.
Best wishes
Roger Clark
Friday, 14 June 2013
14th June 2013 - Message from the Headmaster
Dear Parents
What’s the old adage: “Dance like nobody’s watching”? Well, nobody’s watching when I dance and, if they are and they are kind people, they tend to feel instantly sorry for me. This was not so last night when Charlotte Bryant and Jane Coleman staged a truly magnificent Dance Show. Such improvement in one year is a massive tribute to Charlotte’s leadership and the dedication of the pupils. Like everything else in life high standards are rarely achieved without hours of hard work underlying them. It also lead me to appreciate once again the ephemeral quality of performance. If you were not there last night the moment has passed for ever and all the training and work was celebrated in an hour and a half of unrestrained enthusiasm, of energetic but disciplined, graceful, passionate performance. I was “blown away”! The variety and extensive repertoire were so impressive. Thanks to Jane Coleman the costumes were beautiful and there was a particularly enchanting interpretation of the “Nutcracker” when ballet pupils of all ages combined to stage a very convincing dance/drama. The Prep School dancers were not least among those who deserve mention. I have praise for all the dancers and in particular for Bethany Hill, the Dance Captain, who has given so much of herself to promote Dance at BAS. She certainly led from the front and showed how it should be done.
Dance, Drama and Music are not like Art where it is much easier to record and display your work. Performance is in the here and now and without video recording it is simply a memory, while talking about Art you are all invited to view the A Level Art and Textiles exhibition above and behind Costa in the High Street for the next seven days during opening hours. If you missed the Dance Show, be amazed by the creative force of our Fine Artists. Some of the work on display is equal to the very best Art and Textiles coming out of our schools nationally.
I will see many of you tomorrow at the hog roast counter, which is just one of many attractions of the Family Day.
Best wishes
Roger Clark
What’s the old adage: “Dance like nobody’s watching”? Well, nobody’s watching when I dance and, if they are and they are kind people, they tend to feel instantly sorry for me. This was not so last night when Charlotte Bryant and Jane Coleman staged a truly magnificent Dance Show. Such improvement in one year is a massive tribute to Charlotte’s leadership and the dedication of the pupils. Like everything else in life high standards are rarely achieved without hours of hard work underlying them. It also lead me to appreciate once again the ephemeral quality of performance. If you were not there last night the moment has passed for ever and all the training and work was celebrated in an hour and a half of unrestrained enthusiasm, of energetic but disciplined, graceful, passionate performance. I was “blown away”! The variety and extensive repertoire were so impressive. Thanks to Jane Coleman the costumes were beautiful and there was a particularly enchanting interpretation of the “Nutcracker” when ballet pupils of all ages combined to stage a very convincing dance/drama. The Prep School dancers were not least among those who deserve mention. I have praise for all the dancers and in particular for Bethany Hill, the Dance Captain, who has given so much of herself to promote Dance at BAS. She certainly led from the front and showed how it should be done.
Dance, Drama and Music are not like Art where it is much easier to record and display your work. Performance is in the here and now and without video recording it is simply a memory, while talking about Art you are all invited to view the A Level Art and Textiles exhibition above and behind Costa in the High Street for the next seven days during opening hours. If you missed the Dance Show, be amazed by the creative force of our Fine Artists. Some of the work on display is equal to the very best Art and Textiles coming out of our schools nationally.
I will see many of you tomorrow at the hog roast counter, which is just one of many attractions of the Family Day.
Best wishes
Roger Clark
Friday, 7 June 2013
7th June 2013 - Message from the Headmaster
Dear Parents
It must be nearly 30 years ago that I gave up playing regular cricket and I have probably played no more than five times in the intervening years and only once in the early part of this century. Thus it was with trepidation that I approached the Dads v Lads net practice last evening and found myself wearing a protective helmet for the first time in my life when I was batting. This morning having exercised unfamiliar muscles in bowling I ache in places I had forgotten that I had places. David Young has captained the Dads v Lads team for several years now and has kindly allowed me to play in the “big match” in a few weeks’ time. So more net practice next week and onwards and upwards!
This week I attended my last ever FOBAS meeting and I wanted to write in praise of the excellent work that FOBAS do on behalf of the school. As a committee, there is hardly room for the 16 members to crowd around my big office table and these wonderful parents have never been more active in giving up hours and hours of time to help run events and raise money for the school. Without FOBAS the school would be very much a lesser place and their contribution has always been significant during my 15 years here. The Summer Ball is of course one of the major events of the FOBAS year and this has involved so many parents over a long time and again I would really like to express my public gratitude to all those parents who have supported the school and continue to do so.
Finally, I find myself removed from the front page so that we can draw attention to the FAMILY DAY, next Saturday. Yes there is such a thing as a free lunch, so bring your family and enjoy a sumptuous lunch and some fun post prandial activities all at no cost. This is the day in the year when the family of the school comes together. I hope to see you there.
Best wishes
Roger Clark
It must be nearly 30 years ago that I gave up playing regular cricket and I have probably played no more than five times in the intervening years and only once in the early part of this century. Thus it was with trepidation that I approached the Dads v Lads net practice last evening and found myself wearing a protective helmet for the first time in my life when I was batting. This morning having exercised unfamiliar muscles in bowling I ache in places I had forgotten that I had places. David Young has captained the Dads v Lads team for several years now and has kindly allowed me to play in the “big match” in a few weeks’ time. So more net practice next week and onwards and upwards!
This week I attended my last ever FOBAS meeting and I wanted to write in praise of the excellent work that FOBAS do on behalf of the school. As a committee, there is hardly room for the 16 members to crowd around my big office table and these wonderful parents have never been more active in giving up hours and hours of time to help run events and raise money for the school. Without FOBAS the school would be very much a lesser place and their contribution has always been significant during my 15 years here. The Summer Ball is of course one of the major events of the FOBAS year and this has involved so many parents over a long time and again I would really like to express my public gratitude to all those parents who have supported the school and continue to do so.
Finally, I find myself removed from the front page so that we can draw attention to the FAMILY DAY, next Saturday. Yes there is such a thing as a free lunch, so bring your family and enjoy a sumptuous lunch and some fun post prandial activities all at no cost. This is the day in the year when the family of the school comes together. I hope to see you there.
Best wishes
Roger Clark
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