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
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